2017 Topps Now -- #424 -- Yu Darvish is a Dodger!

I don't quite know if I would consider this Yu Darvish's first Dodgers Baseball card, but it'll have to do

As you surely know, Yu Darvish is now a Dodger, and as has been custom Topps has issued a 2017 Topps Now card to commemorate the trade. See it above and below. Sadly, there are no individual cards for the other two new Dodgers -- Tony Cingrani and Tony Watson.

Check Out This New Vin Scully Card - From the 2017 National Sports Collectors Convention

This past weekend was the 38th annual National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, and as collectors know it's an event that features numerous promos and giveaways. Fans flock to the booths run by Topps, Panini and Upper Deck in order to open up limited edition packs filled with exclusive cards, relics and autographs. Collectors also signed up for a special VIP passes that not only provided free autographs, but also a handful of promo cards to take home. One of those promo's is shown here.

Meet Yu Darvish -- In Video Form

I came across a video last night (thanks to a post by a Rangers fan on the Dodgers reddit) that made me immediately realize that I must share it here.... And heck, there's got to be other stuff online too. After all, this is the 21st century and nothing escapes the watchful eye of a fame-obsessed society like ours. Besides, I hadn't thought much of Darvish beyond the media circus that surrounded him when he first got signed. So, in the interest of learning about who he is I figured I should search high and especially low for anything that tells us about the man (and makes me laugh, too).

Firstly, here's the video that got me on this quest. I'm not entirely sure what event it originates from, but it's clearly a team sponsored show. It's from his rookie season -- 2012. Featured below is a musical skit by three scantily dressed Rangers rookies (Yu Darvish, Robbie Ross, Brandon Snyder) singing the Shania Twain song, "Man, I Feel Like A Woman." And, it's not lip-synced. Enjoy!

Blog Kiosk: 8/1/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This does make me feel kinda bad. After all, their loss ended up being our gain. Featured above is a AP Wire Photo from the very last Brooklyn Dodger day game at Ebbets Field. It is currently on auction at RMY Auctions. Go here to check it out. Per the descriptor:

Dated, September 22nd -- The Loyal Few -- Only 6,662 fans showed up at Ebbets Field today to watch Dodgers play Philadelphia in what may be the final day game to be played by the Dodgers in New York City. The club, reportedly moving to Los Angeles, has only one more game in this ball park -- Tuesday night against Pittsburgh. The Dodgers, last year's National League champs, rewarded the loyal few with a 7-3 win over Philadelphia. There were no ceremonies to mark what was probably the last Sunday of Brooklyn Dodger baseball.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1957 Gil Hodges hit not only his 13th grand slam of his career to set a new National League record, but it also proved to be the last gran slam in the history of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
• Happy Birthday, Joe Shaute, Howard Freigau, Myron White, Dave Anderson & Brian Bohanon!