2017 Topps High-Tek - The Dodgers Base Cards

Newly released this week is Topps 2017 High-Tek Baseball packs, and featured below are all six Dodgers' base cards. Go here to see a complete checklist.

As you know, this set has numerous base background pattern variations available for each player. From what I can tell, there are 16 different patterns and each player has eight different background pattern variations to chase after.

Base

#HT-CK Clayton Kershaw        #HT-CBE Cody Bellinger

Blog Kiosk: 11/16/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Here is another original Willard Mullin drawing I ran into while pursuing the Heritage Auction catalog. (auction link) It dates to the 1956 season and prominently features mascots for the Dodgers, Giants, Braves and Reds.

The famed Brooklyn Dodger "Bum" is seen strutting his stuff while wearing a Sal Maglie button on his lapel. At the same time the NY Giants mascot is on the bottom right screaming "Sic Transit Gloria Fifty-One." In other words, our ol' foe is lamenting the prestige lost since their glorious 1951 season that saw Bobby Thomson hit a walk-off homer to win the pennant. After all, as the cartoon says, many of the players on that Giants team have now moved on -- Maglie to the Dodgers, Thomson to the Braves and starting pitcher Larry Jansen to the Reds.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1966 Sandy Koufax missed out on winning his second MVP award by ten votes to Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente.  As you know, this would be Koufax's last major league season. 
• Happy Birthday, Joe Strauss, Glenn Burke & Julio Lugo!

2017 Panini National Treasures - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

At long last here are the Dodgers non-base cards found in packs of 2017 Panini National Treasures. Go here for a complete checklist.

All-Decade Relics

#5 Mike Piazza

2017 Topps Now - Cody Bellinger Wins the NL Rookie of the Year Award

Above is the 2017 Topps Now commemorative card celebrating Cody Bellinger's unanimous selection as the 2017 National League Rookie of the Year. Go here to check it out and order. You still have a few hours before they close its sale. As you can see, the reverse of the card includes only his 2017 statistics.

Blog Kiosk: 11/15/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Check out the 1991 Dodgers in the photo above. It was shared by Dodgers photograph Jon SooHoo on his blog yesterday, and it features a travelling contingent of Dodger players in Mexico for an exhibition series during Spring Training. In light of recent news that the Dodgers and Padres would be playing a series of games in Monterrey, Mexico next season, this photo is very timely.

As you may recall, the Dodgers headed south in 1991 to play a couple of exhibition games against the local club, Industriales de Monterrey, and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Notably, the game against the Brewers marks one of the last starts Fernando Valenzuela threw in Dodgers Blue, and he was magnificent that day. He went five innings, allowed only two hits, gave up one run, and even drove in a run on a single. Best yet, 27,000 of his countrymen came out to cheer, scream and whistle their appreciation for the Mexican born pitcher. Per Bill Plascke at the LA Times:

It was only an exhibition. But to those who understand Valenzuela's search for shreds of Fernandomania, it was much more. 

"We knew Fernando's importance to his country before we came down here, but to see it, to feel, to hear it . . . it was an extraordinary moment," said Peter O'Malley, the Dodger owner who had a front row seat at Estadia Monterrey. "This is one of the most exciting experiences I've had since I've been with the ballclub."

A couple of weeks later, with the regular season looming, Fernando Valenzuela would be released by the Dodgers. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1962 Dodger Hall of Famer Don Drysdale is named the NL Cy Young Award winner.  He went 25-9 with an 2.83 ERA, 19 complete games and 232 strike outs.  In 1988 Dodgers outfielder and legend Kirk Gibson was named the NL MVP.  
• Happy Birthday, Pat Ragan, Jay Partridge, Mickey Livingston, Jack Smith & Pedro Borbón!

A $1 Million Jackie Robinson Jersey

I'm astounded by the recent sale values of vintage memorabilia. A Babe Ruth game jersey can sell for millions. The original rules for basketball written by James Naismith himself sold for over $4 million a few years ago. The owner of the Montreal Royals and Brooklyn Dodgers first-year contracts of Jack Robinson are expecting millions when it finally comes to bid. Above is another million dollar Robinson item that is currently available at Heritage. (auction link) Featured is Jackie Robinson's rookie jersey from the 1947 season. It is already valued at $1,250,000 with nine total bids and just five days to go.  Best yet, it comes with a letter of provenance from Mrs. Rachel Robinson: