Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Ron Cey and Derrel Thomas

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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The Hollywood Park Casino is hosting a Dodgers watch party tonight, Wednesday, May 24th, and Ron Cey will be there to meet and greet fans. Go here for more information.

7:00pm 10:00pm
Hollywood Park Casino
3883 West Century Boulevard
Inglewood, CA, 90303
(310)330-2800

2017 Topps Now - #179 - Clayton Kershaw and Logan Forsythe

Last nights thrilling extra inning affair earned another 2017 Topps Now card for Dodger fans, and for once it doesn't highlight the heroics of Cody Bellinger. Instead, it allows us to bask in the wonder of Clayton Kershaw phenomenal start against the Cardinals and Logan Forsythe's seemingly improbable hit after flailing miserably all night long. (Topps Now link here) As you know, collectors and fans have until tomorrow afternoon to place an order for this card. Per Ken Gurnick and Jenifer Langosch at MLB.com:

"Once it happens, after that fourth one (strike out), I was like, 'OK, well something needs to change,'" said Forsythe. "But that was even the case after the first one. I was like, 'All right, make an adjustment.' Sometimes it takes a little bit or a couple more at bats to find it. Luckily, I was able to get the barrel and make a play."

2017 Topps Pro Debut - All the Dodgers Base Cards

If you're interested in taking a look at some of the top prospects within the game then Topps Pro Debut Baseball brand is your set. This product is basically Topps flagship card set for the minor leagues, and it officially hits stores today. Featured here are all of the Dodger base cards in the set. Go here for a complete checklist.

As a testament to how productive our farm system has been this set includes ten Dodger youngsters in a base set of 200 players -- 5% of the total cards in the base set.

All of the top prospects are here -- Verdugo, Alvalrez, White and even Bellinger. A name not seen is Julio Urias, but you can easily forgive Topps for believing that his minor league days were over (obviously, they erred in that assumption). Another big prospect missing is Walker Buehler, but I suspect he had yet thrown a pitch (post-Tommy John surgery) when the checklist was put together. So, I'll give Topps a pass for now for not including him.

Base

#6 Andrew Sopko             #42 Yadier Alvarez

Blog Kiosk: 5/24/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This was a hard crash, and hopefully Joc Pederson, who got the worst of it, won't suffer any long-term effects. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"Luckily, nothing too bad," said Pederson. "Hopefully it comes back better tomorrow and I keep working on it from there. It was just a tough ball in the middle of the gap. Part of playing the outfield, sometimes it happens."

As you can see in the series of photos this was quite a trainwreck, and both Puig and Pederson are fortunate to have been able to walk away from it. Only Puig remained in the game.

BTW, the Dodgers defeated the Cards, 2-1, on a run-scoring double off the bat of Logan Forsythe. On a side note, former Dodger closer Jonathon Broxton gave up the winning hit. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“It’s why its awesome to have Logan back,” said Clayton Kershaw, who went nine innings before four relievers held the Cardinals scoreless through the next three innings. “He had a rough night before that. Same guy at the plate. Doesn’t change. Grinds through another at-bat and puts a great swing on a ball and wins us the game his first game back. Just a testament to him and the way he approaches the game.”

Photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017. Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 Carl Furillo hit a three-run pinch-hit first inning home run against the Phillies at Ebbets Field. The early pinch-hit at-bat only occurred because Philly manager Ben Chapman (yeah, that guy) chose to use his right-handed starting pitcher for Brooklyn's first two batters only -- Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson. Then substituted in a lefty for the next three batters. In 1973 the Dodgers and Mets play a 19-inning marathon at Dodger Stadium that takes a then-club record five hours and 42 minutes to complete. The Dodgers lost, 7-3. Outfielder Willie Davis would collect six hits -- tying a NL record. In 2000 sixteen Dodger players and coaches are suspended (a total of 60 games for players and 24 games for coaches) for a fighting incident at Wrigley Field that resulted in numerous players jumping in the stands on May 16th.
• Happy Birthday, Billy Otterson, Fred Jacklitsch, Joe Oeschger, Gus Felix, Clancy Smyres, Ellie Rodriguez, Carlos Hernandez, Jason Grabowski, Jae Weong Seo,  Brad Penny & Andrew Toles!