Dodgers Blue Heaven: 2017 Topps Now -- #351, #355, #356 -- Puig's Homers, Bellinger's Cycle and Wood's Eleventh Win

Monday, July 17, 2017

2017 Topps Now -- #351, #355, #356 -- Puig's Homers, Bellinger's Cycle and Wood's Eleventh Win

I am late again with several Topps Now cards released over the weekend. On Friday evening Yasiel Puig carried the Dodgers to a 6-4 victory over Miami to open the second half of the season, and he did it in dramatic fashion.

With the Dodgers down by a run in the ninth inning Yasiel Puig came up to bat with two men on and two out against AJ Ramos. Quickly, the Marlins closer got to a 1-2 count. So, the Dodgers were down to their last strike. Unfortunately for him, Puig was prepared. He walloped the next pitch over the centerfield wall to put the Dodgers up for good. Per Glenn Sattellat MLB.com:

"He threw a ball outside," Puig said. "I got it with a check swing. I was waiting for it to come again, higher inside, and he threw it." ..

"I'm trying to get to 20 and break all my personal records, but the most important part is that my team wins and that we reach the World Series."

UPDATE: The total print run for the above Puig card is 389 copies.

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Then the very next day, Saturday, both Cody Bellinger and starter Alex Wood earned two more 2017 Dodgers' Topps Now cards. In fact, both of these cards are still available to order from Topps (as of this posting), but time is running out.

First, Cody Bellinger become the first Dodgers rookie in their history to have hit for the cycle. Go here to check it out and order. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“There’s been a lot of things I’ve done this year I’ve never done in the past,” Bellinger said Saturday to SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo. “It’s a crazy roller coaster. I’m just trying to keep it going.”

Per the description on the reverse of the Bellinger card:

Cody Bellinger added himself to the history books by hitting for the cycle against the Miami Marlins. Bellinger is now the first Dodgers rookie in history to hit for the cycle. He destroyed Marlins pitching, going 4-5 with three RBI and two runs. His amazing performance helped deliver a 7-1 Dodgers victory over the Marlins.

UPDATE: The total print run for the above Cody Bellinger card is 5,383 copies.

Coinciding with Cody's big game, Alex Wood's set his own Dodgers record.

He became the first Dodger pitcher in the modern era to start the year 11-0. Overall, Alex went six scoreless innings. He struck out four, walked one and allowed just three hits. Per Patrick Pinak and Glenn Sattell at MLB.com:

"I didn't think my stuff was the best, but we fought through those first two innings and kind of stayed out of trouble," Wood said. "It's easy when you score seven runs, as long as you don't have an awful one, you've got a good chance to win. We've been a lot of fun to watch, and hopefully we'll keep going."

This card too is still available, but for only a short time -- til about 10:30 AM PST today. Go here to check it out and order. Per the description on the reverse of the Wood's card:

Alex Wood pitched six scoreless innings against the Marlins and struck out four. His masterful performance landed him the win and pushed his record to 11-0, becoming the first Dodgers pitcher in the modern era to start a season 11-0. The win also made him the third National League pitcher since 1961 to start the season winning his first 11 decisions.

UPDATE: The total print run for the Alex Wood card is 504 copies.

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UPDATE: I just realized that I forgot all about a group of Cody Bellinger autographed cards released by Topps on Sunday -- to go along with his card celebrating his Cycle. As with other similar issues, these groups of autographed card are already sold out. Below is a look at what was available.

#356A (#/49 @ $249.99) #356B (#/25 @ $399.99)