Loney to Bowling is like Trump to Reality TV

Get it? You wouldn't immediately relate James Loney with bowling, but, there he goes, he's ready to embark on his hosting, for the third straight year, of the 6th annual State Farm Dodger Dream Foundation Bowling Extravaganza this coming Monday, May 3, 2010.

Come out a spend an evening bowling with the Dodgers. You can even bid on special auction items, as well, to support a great cause.

Attendees can bid on more than 40 unique items in the silent auction including: a LA Kings team signed jersey, Blake Griffin signed LA Clippers Jersey, and autographed game-used baseball bats from Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and Russell Martin. A special “Green Monster” live auction featuring two tickets on the Green Monster at Fenway Park to the Sunday, June 20 Dodgers vs. Red Sox game, airfare for two on JetBlue Airways and a two-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Boston will also be held.

Lanes are still available for purchase by calling (323) 224-1413.

WHO:Dodgers James Loney, Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, Manny Ramirez, Clayton Kershaw, Blake DeWitt, Reed Johnson, Ramon Troncoso, A.J. Ellis, Charlie Haeger, George Sherrill, Ken Howell, Mariano Duncan and Rick Honeycutt

Celebrity bowlers include: James Denton, Alyssa Milano, Tom Arnold, David Arquette, Paul Wall, Jonathan Silverman, Jennifer Finnigan, Greg Grunberg, James Kyson Lee, Scott Porter, Peter Jacobson, Omar Miller, Rex Lin, Hoobastank, Doug Savant, Justin Hartley and Lindsay Hartley

WHERE: Lucky Strike Lanes L.A. LIVE at 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles

WHEN: Monday, May 3, 2010

6:00 p.m. Registration

7:00 p.m. Bowling & Dinner

10:00 p.m. Awards

10:30 p.m. Event Concludes

Topps National Chicle's Are In

The set that was panned by collectors when examples were made public several months ago is finally out. The 2010 Topps Chicle Baseball set is now live and numerous examples can now be found all over the internet. For more detailed information regarding this set go to sportscardradio.com.

The set is throwback to a vintage mid-1930's football card set called "National Chicle" that featured painted drawing of that era's players. They were originally done in an art deco design with bold coloring and unusual color schemes.

The 2010 Baseball version does it's best to emulate that old style and I think they did a good job of it. Previous complaints from the hobby were very premature. At least 12 different sports artist were commission to do the drawings; including Monty Sheldon, who I wrote about briefly yesterday.

There are a whole bunch of Dodgers, both current and old, so I've decided to break this up into a couple of different post. I'll start with some of the inserts first and then follow up with a post in the next few days of the base cards in the set. Before we see some of the drawings, though, check out this very limited Jackie Robinson patch insert card numbered to only 50. Apparently, only one patch card is found in every 1600 packs, so it is very scarce.
Below are 3 relic cards of Dodger players that include either a game-used bat or uniform piece embedded within it. A checklist I had seen previously indicated that Matt Kemp also has a relic card, but I have yet to see one.

Pee Wee Reese

Manny Ramirez

Andre Ethier

The next 3 cards are a part of the cabinet series insert set. One card is found in a large over-sized pack in each box. I don't have the exact dimensions, but they are much larger than the average Baseball card and only slightly bigger than a postcard. The Jackie Robinson card is my favorite, so far.

Pee Wee Reese

Jackie Robinson

Roy Campanella