Blog Kiosk 4/26/2012:

Topps on twitter recently shared some photos from the bowels of their offices in Duryea, PA.  It included pics of some game-used jersey's they use to put into cards.  Check out the Dee Gordan gamer above (pic via @Topps twitter), and a huge stockpile of gamers below (pic via @Topps twitter).

• I sympathize with what Jon is saying at Dodger Thoughts.  I too would keep a caught foul ball, and would never consider handing it over to anybody. 
• Greg, why do you taunt me so?  He post up a recent autographed card of former Dodgers prospect Carlos Santana at Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle.  He would have been a very formidable bat in our lineup.
• Guerra passes a concussion test after being whacked in the face by a hard liner, via True Blue LA.
• The screaming about Javy Guerra is a bit irrational.  Remember, patience is a virtue in Baseball.  Steve Dilbeck seems to agree as he writes that "Javy Guerra Has Earned the Right to Rebound as Dodgers Closer."

Sure, watch him closely, but this is a guy who has only been on the job for four months. Cut him some slack.

All he did last year was convert 21 of 23 save opportunities. He’s 7 of 9 this year. Not exactly the same as last season, but it doesn’t mean the sky is falling.

• DodgersBobble was at the Angels FanFest last weekend and has his story and a  bunch of pictures to prove it.  Unfortunately, I had no idea this event was going on, so apologize for not listing it on my calendar.  RBI Collecting has their own post up about the Angels FanFest.
• Left Field Pavilion beautifies a Jon SooHoo pic of Andre Ethier, here.
• I could watch this for hours.  The USC Song Girls were at Dodger Stadium and here's a video to prove it.  I didn't go to USC, but I have to say that I have always loved their fight song. 
• FanGraphs interviews Ralph Branca.

DL: How big was baseball in New York in the 1940s and 1950s?

RB: It was really big. We had three teams and it was the only time a city ever had three teams. There were three different rooting interests and everybody was a real, real fan of their team. Giants fans were big for the Giants, and the same for Yankees and Dodgers fans. Everybody thought their team was the greatest.

• The very first sketch of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is set to go on auction, via The Sun.  Click on the pic to embiggen.

Collection: Schmoll SPX

Here is another 2005 Upper Deck SPx autographed card in my collection.  As I had previously mentioned, I love this design.  On top of that, the Dodgers autograph checklist (there are 9 total) features several promising young Dodgers.  All of whom either starred for other teams or sputtered out.  That being said, several current Dodger stars were a little too young to be included.  Which is too bad.  They would have looked great on these cards.  Sometimes, when I'm bored at night thinking about it, I imagine what it might look like to have either Matt Kemp or Clayton Kershaw emblazoned on front.  Oh well, maybe a a future heritage version might be in the works when (or if) Upper Deck gets back its Baseball license. 

This card is of former Dodgers reliever Steve Schmoll.  In the past I've shown both the Russell Martin and Jason Werth cards.  See those previous post here and here.  So far I am missing just one more Dodger autograph to complete this little subset- the card of former starter DJ Houlton.  Fortunately, the Houlton is far from rare.

BTW, Schmoll was the very first Logan White signing to make it to the pro's. He was signed as a free agent out of college by White before the 2003 draft, and played for the Dodgers before Broxton was called up.