There were 50 different card sets to go through, so I had a heck of a time narrowing my picks down to just ten cards. No doubt I missed some of your favorites. This time I tried to just focus on only base cards or inexpensive inserts, and I stayed far away from autographs and relic cards (save the "Honorable Mentions" at the very bottom).
Take a look at my choices below, and let me know if you agree. Better yet, what would be your picks? Click on any pic to embiggen.
#10
There is no better way to start this list than with Topps 2014 Opening Day set and the "Superstar Celebrations" insert card of Yasiel Puig sliding into home. This card immortalizes Puig's very first walk-off hit (a home run) in a game against the Cincinnati Reds on July 28, 2013. The score was 0-0 in the bottom of the 11th inning and right-hander Curtis Partch was on the mound. On an 0-1 count with the bases empty Puig unloaded, flipped his bat and slid into home to put an exclamation point on his endeavors. Watch a video of the event here. Go here to check out all of the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Topps Opening Day
#SC-25 Yasiel Puig
#9
Some of you might think I'm crazy for including this card, but I just couldn't help it. The card is so goofy... So brilliantly ugly... So fantastically stupid... That I couldn't help but think of it as being so bad, it's awesome. Featured here is Upper Deck's Goodwin Champions card of Ron Cey, "The Penguin" in a tuxedo. Get it? Go here to check out the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions
#4 Ron Cey
#8
Carl Crawford had a fantastic Game 3 during the 2013 NLDS series against the Atlanta Braves. He slugged a go-ahead three-run home run early in the game, scored three times and made a catch into the Dodger Stadium stands that has forever been immortalized with a card. Featured at #8 is the Topps Gypsy Queen "Glove Stories" insert card of Carl Crawford making that catch. You can also watch his feat here. Go here to check out the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Topps Gypsy Queen
#GS-CC Carl Crawford
#7
As many of you know, I am a huge hockey fan. And my favorite all-time player is former Kings centerman Marcel Dionne. His rookie card (in a Detroit Red Wings uniform) is from the 1971-1972 OPC set; which happens to be one of my favorite hockey sets of all-time. Featured at #7 on my list is the 2014 Topps Archives insert card of Yasiel Puig on a 1971-1972 card design. Check it out below. Go here to check out the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Topps Archives
#71H-YP Yasiel Puig
#6
I admit it. I miss Matt Kemp. And I fear he'll make the Padres a contender - the same way Garvey made them a contender so many years ago. Featured at #6 is his Stadium Club base card that reminds me a bit of Bo Jackson's 1990 Score card. Go here to check out the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Topps Stadium Club
#145 Matt Kemp
#5
Dee Gordon was probably the most likable Dodger of 2014. He worked hard to make a difference and eventually earned his very first All-Star game invitation. No doubt, he'll be missed in the Dodger clubhouse. At #5 is his Topps Series 2 base card of him doing what he does best. Gordon is trying to bunt for a base hit while sporting Mother's Day pink. Go here to check out the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Topps Series 2
#587 Dee Gordon
#4
I just think this is a goofy card of this former Dodger. He's got his cap worn high-up, as if he's got a giant bushel of hair impeding his ability to wear it normally. Best yet (or worse yet, depending on your allegiance), this card is a "Before They Were Great" insert card; meaning he had to leave Dodger Blue before he became the Hall of Famer he is today.Yeah... that trade still hurts. But I'm not bitter. What happened happened, and there's nothing we can do about it now. Instead, I prefer to celebrate that he once had an opportunity to wear Dodger Blue. The card below is a "Before They Were Great" insert card of Pedro Martinez from Series 1. Go here to check out the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Topps Series 1
#BG-13 Pedro Martinez
#3
Could there possible be a funnier Dodger card than this? Clayton Kershaw looks like such a dork. Feature at #3 is Kershaw's 2014 Topps Series 1 short-printed insert base card. Go here to check out the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Topps Series 1
#400 (w/ Series 2 numbering) Clayton Kershaw
#2
I just love cards that use athletic action photos like the one below. Here is Justin Turner's 2014 Topps Update base card. Go here to check out the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Topps Update
#US-68 Justin Turner
#1
I just can't get enough of the friendship/relationship between BFF's Yasiel Puig and Hyun-Jin Ryu. They genuinely seem to both love the game they play and each other. So the Topps Chrome base variation card of them fooling around was an easy pick as my favorite card of 2014. Check it out below. Go here to check out the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Topps Chrome
#107 Hyun-Jin Ryu
Don't think for a second that this list is done yet. I wanted to make note of several cards that just barely missed the cut. Check out the Honorable Mentions below.
Honorable Mentions
These mascot patch cards are fun. Go here to check out the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Topps Pro Debut - Mascot Manufactured Patches
#MM-LL Lou E. Loon #MM-LO Looie
Great Lakes Loons Chattanooga Lookouts
Great Lakes Loons Chattanooga Lookouts
Only two Dodger prospects are featured in Leaf Trinity, and these two inscription cards of them are great. I can't wait to see these two guys in Dodger Blue. Go here to check out the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Leaf Trinity - Signatures
#A-DS1 Darnell Sweeney #A-GH1 Grant Holmes
I don't think there's a card on the market today that best exemplifies Puig's utter joy for the game than the Dynasty card below. Unfortunately, it'll cost an "arm and a leg" to add this card to your collection. Go here to check out the other Dodger cards in this set.
2014 Topps Dynasty
#Yasiel Puig
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