Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 8

Dodger fans peering through the fence, via Jon SooHoo/ Los Angeles Dodgers.

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

(Kemp breaks in on a scouts conference call to say hi, via Twitter @SteveLyons12)

• ALMOST GAME TIME: The Dodgers completed their second day of full squad workouts this afternoon and all was business as usual. Only four more workouts remain before the first game of the Cactus League campaign on March 5 at 1:05 p.m. against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch - Glendale. The Dodgers’ first home game at Camelback Ranch will be the following day against the San Francisco Giants.

• YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE: Dodger pitchers were back on the mounds throwing live batting practice today and among those who tossed were Chad Billingsley, Aaron Harang, Ronald Belisario, Jamey Wright, Josh Lindblom, Nathan Eovaldi, Ramon Troncoso, Chris Withrow, Michael Antonini and Josh Wall.

(Photo Credit Jon SooHoo/ Los Angeles Dodgers)

• BEST OF THE BEST: However, the main attraction today was 2011 National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw squaring off with Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and James Loney during his live batting practice session. As Kershaw walked off the mound, Adam Kennedy and Mark Ellis arrived at the field, with Kennedy asking the 21-game winner, “Are you throwing?” To which Kershaw replied, “I’m done.” Kennedy waited a half beat and deadpanned, “You’re lucky,” before breaking into a wide smile.

(Kershaw pitching to Kemp, via twitvid @Dodgers)

• THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL: This morning was the annual Cactus League Breakfast and this year the hosts were none other than the Dodgers, White Sox and Camelback Ranch – Glendale. Hundreds of local politicians, sponsors, civic leaders and baseball folks enjoyed a buffet breakfast and speeches from several team personnel, including Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda, Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti, White Sox Vice President, Player Development Buddy Bell and White Sox broadcaster Steve Stone.

• NON-ROSTER SPOTLIGHT: One catcher has literally stood out among the Dodger backstops and that’s the 6’ 4” California native Gorman “Griff” Erickson. The 24-year-old San Diego resident was selected by the Dodgers in the 15^th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft and hit a combined .293 and set career highs with 13 homers and 66 RBI in 104 games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga. Erickson was the starting catcher in the California League All-Star Game in 2011.

(Dee Gordon & Andre Ethier during first full squad meeting, via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers)

• LEAP DAY MADNESS: According to the wonderful people at baseball-reference.com
  , there have been just 11 players in baseball history born on Feb. 29. Of those, only one played for the Dodgers, as Ed Appleton pitched for the Brooklyn Robins from 1915-16, going 5-12 with a 3.25 ERA in 48 games (13 starts). The most recent big leaguer who can only celebrate a birthday once every four years is Terrence Long, who played from 1999-2006.

• SIGN HERE PLEASE: Today was autograph day at Camelback Ranch and the Dodgers signed hundreds of balls, jerseys, photos and bats that will be auctioned off for charity, donated or given away throughout the season.

• SAY CHEESE: This Friday is photo day at Camelback Ranch – Glendale This year, a bevy of entities will be taking part, including the Associated Press, Getty Images, Dodger radio partner AM 570 Fox Sports Radio, MLB International, MLB Photos, Baseball Magazine Sha, Dodger broadcast partner KCAL 9, Topps and MLB.com.

• DREAM A LITTLE DREAM: Tomorrow, the Dodgers will hold their annual open tryout here at Camelback Ranch – Glendale, hosted by the amateur scouting department. The tryout will take place from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and potential prospects can call 323-224-1512 for details and instructions.

I Wholeheartedly Disagree

There was an editorial posted last night at the LA Times that had me scratching my head. Check it out here.

It tried to take a reasoned approach to the pending sale of the franchise by asking fans to focus on the operations of the team. That is, we should be hopeful for better management of the organization.

It's important to stay focused on the main issue: to get the team under new, healthier management.

At the same time it acknowledges the negative fan reaction to reports that McCourt is seeking to still own the parking lots- effectively becoming a landlord to the team.

Fans are already grousing that they won't go to the games or park in the lots if McCourt keeps them.

Of course, the writer glosses over this.

For the fans, this shouldn't be about the real estate, it should be about the game.

To this, I say NO!

The writer is mistaken. The fans are thinking about the game when they are desirous of a clean break from the McCourt era. They are thinking about the health of the franchise and the ability of the new owner to field a good team. The fans realize that one cannot go without the other. If the Dodgers are to field a competitive team and win then the owner needs to have full control of all the resources necessary to get that done. And yes, that includes ownership of the parking lots.

Look, I understand what the screams from the True Blue faithful sounds like. As the editorial states:

The goal of the sale is not to punish McCourt but to restore the team's luster.

I agree with this. He's been through enough, but so have we. All we ask for is real change. A change that requires a break from the recent past.

Legendary Auctions: Drysdale and Some Vintage Baseball

This is my third post featuring items from Legendary Auctions and this time I focus on some nice vintage Baseball memorabilia, but before I go there I wanted to point to one last Dodger related item that I failed to mention previously. Below is a 1960 Don Drysdale game-used jersey. Museum worthy, no doubt.

(Auction Link)

Now, on to some vintage Baseball collectibles. In the late 19th Century there are only a handful of cards that feature women playing the national game. Below is one of those items. It is a large cabinet card (measuring 5" x 7.5") and is designated as H807-2 Virginia Brights Polka Dot Nine. This was produced in 1884 and features a women in a very unusual uniform. She is wearing a bib style jersey with bloomer pants emblazoned with polka dots throughout. It is doubtful that she was an actual player, but is likely a model hired to sell cigarettes to the adoring Base Ball public.

(Auction Link)

This pin features Old Hoss Radbourn. He is known as one of the more vile, pugnacious and rude ballplayers to every play the game. His wild nature is legendary. In fact, he is credited with being the first person ever photographed giving the "bird" (middle finger). This pin is 4" in diameter and was produced in his hometown of Bloomington, Illinois in tribute to Radbourn's death in 1897. It dates to 1898 and is thought to be the only example to still exist.

(Auction Link)

Take a gander at one of the pioneers of Base Ball. This is a 1888 N173 Old Judge Cabinet of Harry Wright. From the auction description:

For many folks, talk of the "Wright Brothers" conjures images of Wilbur, Orville, Kitty Hawk and a biplane. But baseball history buffs know better. Harry and George Wright were nationally famous decades before aviation came along! The elder Harry managed George and the other trailblazing 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings, then took his powerhouse team to Boston and captured four straight National Association titles. By the time of this stately Old Judge portrait, Harry Wright was five campaigns into a 12-year managerial tenure with the lowly Philadelphia Quakers/Phillies—a franchise perennially hamstrung by miserly ownership. The crowning achievement of Wright’s leadership was the mid-1880s implementation of an innovative "southern trip" for preseason warm-weather conditioning. Soon every team hopped on the annual bandwagon of spring training. Wright’s career came to an end in 1893. He died in October of 1895 and received long-overdue enshrinment in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.

(Auction Link)

Collection: Carl Erskine GOTG

Here is my 2001 Fleer "Greats of the Game" autographed card of Dodger legend Carl Erskine.

Here is something I didn't know about Erskine until I checked out his website recently:

Earned his nickname “Oisk” from Brooklyn fans who called him “Cal Oyskin” in their “Brooklynese” accents; last name eventually shortened to “Oisk” when yelled from the stands of Ebbets Field, the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

2012 Topps Baseball- Sandy Koufax Golden Greats Set

Here are the 2012 Topps Sandy Koufax Golden Greats set of five cards. As always, click any pic to enbiggen.Click on any pic to embiggen.

Blog Kiosk: 2/28/2012

Panini provides more early pics from their upcoming Prime Cuts Baseball, via Knights Lance. Check out the Matt Kemp signature card above.

• The Albuquerque Isotopes are holding their own National Anthem auditions on March 3rd at Isotopes Park. Registration required. Go here for details. Remember, the Dodgers will have their auditions on March 31st.
• Check out Tony Jackson's great story at ESPN about Todd Coffey.

  "It was all about the learning experience for me,'' Coffey said. "It was tough. People talk about how much money baseball players make, but a lot of people don't know about the hardships ballplayers have when they're in the low minors, trying to work their way up. You don't make a lot of money. And it's tough to get a job in the offseason because who is going to hire somebody when they know they have to leave after a few months?''

• Tony Jackson unveils this seasons marketing slogan, via Twitter.
• Nathan Eovaldi is the new meatball king, via Tommy Lasorda on Twitter.
• Do not like, but will learn to accept. Hiroki Kuroda in pinstripes. Check it out here.
  
• Earliest known Babe Ruth game-worn jersey to go on the auction block, via SCD. It may reach $1Mil in bidding.
  
• Connie Marrero, MLB's oldest living player, finally receives his pension, via Peter Bjarkman.

  MLB’s Players Association has finally classified Marrero among a group of needy pre-1980 players who don’t qualify for standard pensions but deserve to be compensated nonetheless. The result will finally be the long overdue and considerable MLB financial compensation so desperately needed.

• Dustin Palmateer at Baseball Prospectus "Sizes Up the CBA Again."

  In late November of 2011, Major League Baseball and the Players Association reached a new five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (PDF), guaranteeing 21 straight years of labor peace. The new CBA features some radical changes, however, and many fans, analysts, and executives are worried about how those changes might impact an already sizable gap between small- and large-market franchises.

• My new favorite website: Bad Spring Training Twitpics.
  

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 7

Don Mattingly stands at the plate while Chris Capuano throws in his bullpen session (pic via twitter @Dodgers)

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

• EVERYDAY: Dodger Manager Don Mattingly addressed the full squad for the first time this morning and let each player know what his expectations were for the team. Mattingly’s mantra of “everyday” has carried over into his second year as Dodger skipper, following an 82-win rookie campaign. In addition to Mattingly, General Manager Ned Colletti, Director, Team Travel Scott Akasaki and bench coach Trey Hillman all spoke to the club. Also on hand were Dodger Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda and Dodger legends Maury Wills, Steve Yeager and Shawn Green. Los Angeles’ first Spring Training game is in six days on March 5 at 1:05 p.m. against the White Sox. The Dodgers’ first home game at Camelback Ranch will be the following day against the Giants.

• DEALING NOT DONE: Dodger pitchers Mike MacDougal and Ted Lilly threw bullpens today, catching up with most of the other hurlers, who had a day off from throwing before they toss live batting practice on Thursday. MacDougal missed a side session a few days ago and Lilly was late to camp due to the birth of his daughter last week. Five pitchers did toss live batting practice today as LHP Wilfredo Ledezma, RHP Angel Guzman, RHP Fernando Nieve, RHP Ryan Tucker and LHP Scott Rice all took the mound.

(Mark Ellis in the batting cage, via FSWest picplz)

• MASTER CLASS: This afternoon, first base coach Davey Lopes talked baserunning with all the position players in camp for more than 30 minutes. One could hear a pin drop as Lopes opined on the mental and situational aspects necessary to being a successful base runner. Lopes, entering his second year as a Dodger coach after wearing Dodger Blue for 10 seasons as a player,made an instant impact for Los Angeles in 2011 as the Dodgers’ stolen-base percentage of 75.9 was the second-best mark since moving to Los Angeles in 1958, trailing the 1962 club’s 82.2 mark. The Dodgers ranked fourth in the National League with 126 steals and had the circuit’s fifth-best stolen base percentage (126 SB/40 CS) in 2011. Both marks were significant improvements over the team’s 92 steals and 64.8% success rate in 2010.

• LEAP OF FAITH: Tomorrow is February 29, or Leap Day, meaning that this year “Beastmode” will be 24/7, 366. The Dodgers have made the playoffs in four of the last six leap years (1988, 1996, 2004, 2008), including two straight.

• OI OI OI!: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to outfielder Trent Oeltjen, who turns 29 today. Oeltjen set career highs last season in games (61), at-bats (71), RBI (6), walks (13) and stolen bases (6) while the team went 38-23 when he appeared in a game. Oeltjen’s 99 career big league games rank fifth all-time for an Australian-born position player and he is the fourth Aussie to play for the Dodgers. Fellow countryman Shane Lindsay is vying to become the fifth, but the non-roster right-hander has yet to see action this spring due to a strained lat.

(Javy Guerra is getting scanned by MLBPA & Sony for inclusion in video games, pic via Twitter @Dodgers)

• LOOK MOM, VIDEO GAMES!: The good people from Sony were at Camelback Ranch – Glendale early this morning, scanning the faces of several Dodgers for the various video games, including “MLB: The Show.” Those getting brought to life in video were Dodger Manager Don Mattingly, Tim Federowicz, Justin Sellers, Nathan Eovaldi, Rubby De La Rosa, Javy Guerra, Jerry Sands, Josh Lindblom and Shane Lindsay.

• BRING YOUR SPIKES: On Thursday, the Dodgers will hold their annual open tryout here at Camelback Ranch – Glendale, hosted by the amateur scouting department. The tryout will take place from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and potential prospects can call 323-224-1512 for details and instructions.

Card Creations: I Made Some Homemade Dee Gordon Racing Cards

In my mind, Jon SooHoo has etched his name along side some of the greatest photographers to work for the Dodgers. He is easily on par with names like Herbie Scharfman and the great Barney Stein. He is that good. Heck, all you have to do is check out his photo blog to see his skills.

For Instance, yesterday he posted up some great photos featuring our new lead-off hitter Dee Gordon with a couple of great Dodger base stealers from the past, Maury Wills and Davey Lopes. In fact, the photos are so good I decided to create a handful of photoshopped card creations using some vintage racing card designs for everyone to enjoy. See them below.

I'm hardly a pro at making these, but as time goes by I get a little better. I can only hope they are half as good as SooHoo's work. Go here to check out my other Card Creations I've made in the past.

Below are the three speedsters on a 1991 Traks card.
I thought this 1991 Maxx card design was perfect for this Dee Gordon photo.

Dee Gordon at the starting line. I used a 1988 Maxx card design.

Legendary Auctions: More Vintage Dodger Photos

Following up on my post from last week, here are some more vintage Dodger photographs Legendary Auctions currently has available. Check them out below.

Here is a team photograph of the 1947 Dodgers that features rookie Jackie Robinson.

(Auction Link)

I'll let the auction description take it from here:

Something about the nighttime setting, the photographer's flashbulb and the dugout backdrop have crystallized into sheer photographic perfection here. You almost never see this level of fine detail and high resolution in news service photos. Yet every line on the players' faces and even the textured fabric of their garments is all acutely visible. There's practically a magical quality to the 8" x 10" photo, which captures Major League trailblazers Don Newcombe, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Larry Doby during a barnstorming game between the "Jackie Robinson All-Stars" and the Richmond Giants at Mooers Field on October 13, 1948.

(Auction Link)

This photo has amazing clarity. Pee Wee Reese crosses the plate after hitting one of his four home runs in the 1952 World Series.

(Auction Link)

The Dodgers are excited to play prior to the start of Game 1 of the 1956 World Series. The news caption on the reverse states,

"READY FOR PLAY BALL—Coming out of the Dodger dugout (left to right) are catcher Roy Campanella, rightfielder Carl Furillo, first baseman Gil Hodges, leftfielder Sandy Amoros, third baseman Jackie Robinson, centerfielder Duke Snider, shortstop Pee Wee Reese, second baseman Jim Gilliam obscured by pitcher Sal Maglie."

(Auction Link)

This is a photo by Herb Scharfman- one of Baseballs great post war photographers. He worked for International News, The New York Mirror and the Brooklyn Dodgers. His work also graced the pages of Sports Illustrated from its inception. The news caption on the reverse describes the event below.

"DODGERS MAKE IT DOUBLE IN SETTING HOME-RUN RECORD - Roy Campanella, left, and Duke Snider have reason for the broad grins as they pose with arm loads of bats in the Dodger clubhouse. Campy and the Duke are tied in homers with 41 apiece. They also score a 'first' for the Dodgers in marking the first time that two men on one team have tacked up 41 homers. And finally, Campanella and Snider topped by one home run the record set by Gil Hodges."

(Auction Link)

From the auction description,

Gathered here are all the key figures of Brooklyn's Game 1 triumph over the Yankees in the '52 World Series. Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider and Pee Wee Reese contributed home runs; Joe Black got the mound victory; and Chuck Dressen piloted the team to success.

(Auction Link)

Collection: Steve Garvey Donruss Signature

Here is my 2001 Donruss Signature Series Team Trademarks autographed card of Steve Garvey. It is numbered 82 out of 182.

You can never have too many Garvey autographed cards. This is 1 of 12 that I have in my collection.

2012 Topps Baseball- Jackie Robinson Golden Greats Set

This is definitely one of the nicest inserts available in 2012 Topps. Here is the five card Golden Greats insert set of Jackie Robinson. Click on any pic to enlarge.
I love the biographies on the reverse. Be sure to click on any pic to embiggen.

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 6

Manny Mota doing some signing near his trusted bike, pic via twitter @poloascencio.

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

• THE GANG’S ALL HERE!: All 62 players (20 non-roster invitees) have reported to Dodger camp with position players reporting for physicals this morning at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. The full squad will start workouts tomorrow leading up to Los Angeles’ first Spring Training game a week from today on March 5 at 1:05 p.m. against the White Sox. The Dodgers’ first home game at Camelback Ranch will be the following day against the Giants.

• THROWING IT OUT THERE: Dodger pitchers switched up their routine today and threw their bullpens on the Major League side with Chris Capuano, John Grabow, Matt Guerrier, Todd Coffey, Javy Guerra, Scott Elbert, Kenley Jansen, Ramon Troncoso, Ronald Belisario, Will Savage, Alberto Castillo, Josh Wall, Matt Chico and Stephen Fife on the mounds. Last year, the Dodgers ranked among the Major League leaders in strikeouts (1,265, 4^th), ERA (3.54, 5^th) and opponents’ batting average (.241, 5^th).

(Javy Guerra signing for a fan, via Jon SooHoo twitter @Dodgers)

• RACE BASETRACK: This morning, Dee Gordon, Davey Lopes and Maury Wills took their speed offsite to the Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale for a Dodgers Magazine photoshoot. The Spring Training edition of the magazine featuring the three speedsters will be available at the club’s first home Cactus League game on March 6. The trio has stolen a combined 1,167 bases over the course of their careers with Wills (490) and Lopes (418) ranking first and second in franchise history. Gordon tied for second among Major League rookies last season with his 24 steals and became the first Dodger since Harvey Hendrick on June 12, 1928 to steal three bases in an inning, doing so in the seventh inning on July 1 against the Angels.

• 

(Dee Gordon, Maury Wills & Davey Lopes, photo credit Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

• NOTHING MINOR ABOUT IT: Today, 51 Dodger minor leaguers opened early camp ahead of pitchers and catchers reporting on March 3 (the full group of 160 players reports on March 9). Last season, six of the Dodgers’ seven minor league affiliates ended the season with winning records and the teams’ cumulative .543 winning percentage (414-349) was the second highest behind only Texas’ .565 mark (431-332). In addition, four of the seven clubs reached the postseason and the AZL Dodgers won the Arizona Summer League championship.

• REMEMBERING THE DUKE: Today marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Hall of Fame outfielder Duke Snider. The All-Star center fielder won two World Series championships in his 16 seasons with the Dodgers from 1947-62 and ranks as the franchise’s all-time leader in home runs (389) and RBI (1,271). Last season, the Dodgers wore a No. 4 uniform patch and held a special bobblehead night to honor the memory of one of the franchise’s all-time great players.

(Maury Wills, pic via Twitter Jon SooHoo @Dodgers)

• I’VE SEEN YOU BEFORE: More familiar faces arrived at Camelback Ranch – Glendale this morning with members of the Dodgers’ Marketing and Community Affairs departments arriving in Arizona. Erik Braverman, Greg Taylor, Tom Darin, Erick Vazquez and Jonathan Dietrich will be in town for the next week gathering footage for various Dodger Media Network shows and asking questions of the players that will air on the big board this season, while Cindi Adler, Laura Levinson and David Brennan will assist with the collection of autographs on Wednesday to help with donation requests throughout the greater Los Angeles community.

• BRING YOUR SPIKES: On Wednesday, the Dodgers will hold their annual open tryout here at Camelback Ranch – Glendale, hosted by the amateur scouting department. The tryout will take place from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and potential prospects can call 323-224-1512 for details and instructions.

Blog Kiosk: 2/27/2011

Matt Kemp takes a stroll, pic via Twitter @PaulVizzle.

• Check out this great story from Eric Stephen at True Blue LA on what the typical day is like this early in Spring Training. Great stuff.
  
• This is just a helpful reminder. If you are not checking out Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo's website daily then you are really missing out. Here are some random pics from Spring Training on the 26th. Then the 25th. The 24th. The 23rd. The 22nd.
  
• Filed under "Getting to Know a New Player" Tony Jackson tells us a little bit about starter Chris Capuano.
• Old Time Family Baseball looks at the assorted food tweets of Tommy Lasorda. That man sure loves to eat.
  
• Andre Ethier got a little testy with reporters on his first day at Camelback Ranch, via Tony Jackson ESPN.

  Ethier eventually got around to saying he feels fine now, but not before responding to a friendly greeting of, “Did you have a good winter?'' with a curt, “We're not here to talk about that.'' He later responded to another question about why he was being so abrupt by saying, “I'm not your buddy. You're not my buddy. We're not going to sit here and have a bar-type conversation.''

• Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts points to interesting article featuring the proposed dome stadium planned by O'Malley in Brooklyn.
  
• "Why Do Managers Wear Uniforms?" via Mental Floss (Hat Tip: Rob Neyer)

  According to John Thorn, the official historian of Major League Baseball, it goes back to the earliest days of the game.
  

• Stacie Wheeler at Lasorda's Lair shares her top 10 favorite Baseball films.
• Here is a great editorial by Chris Lamb at the LA Times about Jackie Robinson and his trip to his very first Spring Training in Florida.

  Robinson stayed up into the early hours of the morning bitterly recounting what he and his wife had been through, seething over what the Greyhound bus driver had called him. "He was very annoyed and hurt," Rowe later remembered. "He had been called a 'boy.' This man had become a 'boy.'"

Collection: Fans of the Game- Corbin Bernsen

The great Roger Dorn.

This is my 2004 Playoff Honors"Fans of the Game" autographed card of Dodger fan Corbin Bernsen.

I really wish card companies made more of these cards. It would great to find out and chase after the cards of some of the more notable Dodger fans. Just don't make a Kardashian card. Khloe Kardashian claims to be a Dodger fan. I would hate to have to add that to my collection. On the other hand, I would kill for a Alyssa Milano card.
I love this scene from the movie Major League.

Video Link:

Hunt Auctions: Some Dodger Uniforms

Hunt Auctions is running their monthly internet auction right now and they feature several vintage Dodger uniforms that caught my eye. Check them out below.

Here is a Pedro Guerrero professional model Dodgers jacket. It has all of the appropriate tags that denote Major League use. I think I'd look pretty good in this.

(Auction Link)

This is a 1983 Kenny Landreaux professional model Dodgers uniform. I love the 25th Anniversary patch on the sleeve.

(Auction Link)

Here is a 1983 Mike Marshall professional model Dodgers jersey.

(Auction Link)

2012 Topps Baseball- Dodgers Insert Cards

Following up on my earlier post, here are some of the Dodgers insert cards from the 2012 Topps Baseball card set that I received in my group case break. I'll feature the Golden Greats set of Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax in future post.

This is a Timeless Talents card featuring Matt Kemp with Willie Mays.
Look how they compare.
The mini cards fashioned after the 1987 Topps set are very cool looking. Unfortunately, only Andre Ethier is available in Series 1.
I love that Topps uses the same kind of card stock used in the vintage 1987 set.
Here are the Golden Moments insert cards of Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw. These cards just do not look right. Obviously, they are geared to include a relic or signature, but just look odd and incomplete on their own. They should have added some additional flare to make them look more attractive.
Dee Gordon is a part of our Gold Future.