2016 Topps New Era Cap Baseball Cards at LIDS - Joc Pederson

It appears we have entered into a new era of retail sponsored Baseball cards.  In the 80's there were numerous specialized sets sold by retail stores throughout North America.  You could go to places like Toys "R" Us, K-Mart, Kay-Bee Toys or Woolworth's to pick up an exclusive set.  You could also find cards in specific products like Ralston-Purina dog food or Nestle's.  Then it suddenly all stopped.  The Baseball craze was over, and partnership deals between card manufacturers and the retail sector had all but ended.  Now, twenty years or so later, we have our second retail exclusive Baseball card set of the year.

Featured here are the 2016 Topps New Era Caps Baseball cards.  This follows on the heels of the Walmart cards created by Topps earlier in the season. 

As you can see, the cards use the exact same design as the Topps flagship set this year, but includes a unique new photo.  The base set consist of only the nine ballplayers who are also New Era spokesman.  BTW, a New Era Ambassadors Cap Relics card and an autographed relic card also exist as limited inserts.  Go here for a complete checklist. 

Collectors can get these cards by visiting your local LIDS store and purchasing any New Era MLB cap.  You will then receive one unopened pack of four cards (example shown above). 

There is only one Dodger player available.  Check out the Joc Pederson card below.  I do not have a pic of either the relic or autograph relic to share.  Also, the autograph relic card is an "1 of 1" card.

#4 Joc Pederson

#NEPR-JP Joc Pederson

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Blog Kiosk: 6/7/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig & Goff

Yasiel Puig and the presumptive Rams starting QB Jared Goff are now best friends.  After being drafted in late April by the Rams word spread quickly that not only is Goff a SF Giants fan but he was also a Puig-hater.  Jared Goff had made an uncouth comment about Puig on twitter back in 2013.  See my post about that here.

As you can imagine, a mini brouhaha occurred.  Folks expressed their disdain online.  Fans started to take sides.  Bloggers wrote a bunch of stories.  Soon thereafter, Puig and Goff exchanged greetings on social media, and then they quickly buried the hatchet.  Yasiel Puig even offering to escort Goff around town.  Fast forward to yesterday and we get the makings of an Los Angeles love-fest.  They met before the game for the first time, and it now seems clear that are now buddies.  Via ESPN:

"We made up a long time ago, but it was good to talk to him," Goff said. "He's a real cool guy. It was funny. It was something I tweeted when I was like 17 years old. He thought it was funny and it's cool to be down here. It's a good chance to meet him through that crazy way."

BTW, Goff was not the only Rams player in attendance.  Five other teammates came out to meet the Dodger Stadium crowd.  Check them out wearing Dodger Blue on the right.

Photo at the very top via @Dodgers on twitter.  The pic on the above right via @RamsNFL on twitter. Go here to check out a bunch of pics from Jon SooHoo from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1898 Charles Ebbets took over as manager of the team.  His team would go 38-68 under him.  The next year Ned Hanlon came on board to skipper the team.  In 1957 Jackie Robinson, along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., receive honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws from Howard University. In 1982 Steve Garvey becomes the fifth player in MLB history to play in 1,000 consecutive games.He would receive a one-minute standing ovation from the Dodger Stadium crowd.  In 1995 Tommy Lasorda would win his 1,500th game as manager in a victory over the Expos.