Yulieski Gurriel Fantasy Dodgers Baseball Cards

I hope I'm not jinxing things here, but I couldn't stop myself from making a couple fantasy Baseball cards featuring Cuban superstar third baseman (who can play second base, BTW) Yulieski Gurriel.

As you know, he recently visited Dodger Stadium to give the Dodgers brass a private workout.  There's no word yet on how everything went or what the Dodgers thought.  What we do know is that Yulieski would look pretty good in Blue.  Check out his Instagram to see what I mean (@el_yuly10)

Since he was kind enough to share a couple photos of himself in Dodger Blue I, naturally, had to make a couple fantasy Baseball cards using his pics. Check them out above.

BTW, I'm a bit perplexed by the spelling of his name.  Is his last name spelled Gurriel or Gourriel?  Most online sources us the spelling of Gourriel.  His own Instagram page, on the other hand, spells his own last name as Gurriel.  So, that's what I decided to use on the above two cards.  I also figured I'd make the cards with the alternate spelling.  You can see those below.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

2016 Topps Series 2 - The Dodgers Double Play Rip Cards

Here is something different for a Topps flagship Baseball card set.  Although, the concept is far from new.  They've had similar cards available in packs of Allen & Ginter for years.

Featured here is a checklist of the Dodgers' Double Play Rip cards.  So far, I've only seen one Dodger Rip card online, and you can see it above (see auction listing here).  It is one of five Adrian Gonzalez Rip cards that are available.  BTW, each card is a "1 of 1", and as the name suggest there is a mini card hidden within the card.  That mini card is also a "1 of 1" rarity.  Per the Topps blog:

Double Play is a new game added to 2016 Topps Baseball Series 2 with baseball fans rooting for the player on the card to fulfill his predicted event. For example, if you rip the card and the mini card inside says Mike Trout hits a home run on September 18, 2016, - and he hits a home run on that date – you win the prize listed on the mini card.

The prizes range from a unique Topps card, an autograph card, memorabilia, MLB authentic items, a trip to the World Series, the All-Star Game, and much more.

2016 Topps Now - #175 - Yasiel Puig's Incredible Walk Off Last Night

You knew this coming.

Yasiel Puig now has a 2016 Topps Now card to call his own, and it highlights his remarkable Little League-styled, inside-the-park, error filled, walk-off home run to defeat the Washington Nationals last night.  That's a lot to say in one breath.

Go here to check out the card at Topps.  You have until tomorrow afternoon to place an order.

Oh!... If you want to see the at-bat go here.  It's worth your time to watch over and over again.  Via Jack Baer at MLB.com:

"We were all talking about it in the food room just right now, just trying to think about any ending like that we've seen," Ellis said. "To see something like that and to see Yasiel circle the bases, it's really exciting, especially for me being right there at home plate as he crossed. Just a really exciting moment to hear the crowd come alive as he circled."

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 6/23/2016 - Dodgers Links - Six Wins in a Row!

What's happening?!

All of the sudden the Dodgers are getting all the breaks.

It started innocently enough when in the first inning Chase Utley scored his 1,000th career run on a wild pitch to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.  Via Jack Baer at MLB.com:

"It's a cool accomplishment. I've been fortunate to be on a lot of good teams. They could swing the bat, constantly driving guys in. It's really more of a team accomplishment than an individual accomplishment."

Then, with the game tied at two in the top of the fifth inning, a game of pickle inside of a circus suddenly showed up on the field.  Nationals pitcher Joe Ross hit a high pop fly to the first base side that saw three Dodgers fielders converge towards the right field stands.  Utley got to the ball first, but was only able to haphazardly swipe at it with his glove.  Fortunately, he deflected it towards a charging Adrian Gonzalez.  It bounced off AGone's leg, barely missing the grasp of his left hand and fell towards the ground between his feet.  Then, with the reflexes of a jaguar, Adrian grabbed the ball with his glove just inches before bouncing on the dirt.  Wow!  Go here to watch a video of the catch.

Remarkable, eh?   Obviously the Baseball gods were not going to let the Dodgers lose this game.  With them down by a run in the ninth and the tying run on first base, Yasiel Puig hit a sharp ground ball through the middle that was misplayed by the centerfielder.  This crucial error resulted in a Little League-styled inside-the-park walk-off home run victory.  Watch it here.  You can listen to Puig talk about the bizarre ending here.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN:

"I was ready for the hit, and nobody thought that the ball would go through," Puig said through an interpreter. "So when I did see the ball go through, I had to talk to my hamstring so I can figure out how far I could go on the bases."

All the photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1930 the Dodgers record twelve consecutive hits against the Pirates during the sixth and seventh innings.  This includes two home runs being hit by Babe Herman. In 1956 Don Zimmer is hit in the face with a pitch; breaking his cheekbone.