A Dodger Christmas Card and a Letter to a Fan at BST Auctions

With the Baseball world's attention focused on the playoffs, I thought it would be a nice little respite before the start of this evenings Game 4 to point to an auction currently ongoing. Shown here are a couple of Dodgers related items that jumped out at me in BST's current auction.

Since the holidays are just around the corner I though the above 1955 Dodgers Christmas card would be fun to point out. (Auction Link) As you know, this year was the franchises first championship, so naturally their Christmas card had to reflect that. Above is both the front and back of the card. Below is a team photograph that was placed inside. As you can see, it reads on the reverse:

Ned Colletti Took Some Time This Morning for a Reddit AMA

When you're a part of a club that prides itself on newfangled ideas about how to play the game, it makes sense that you'd go to the world's best viral website -- Reddit. This morning former Dodgers GM and current Senior Advisor Ned Colletti jumped on to popular website to participate in a AMA (Ask Me Anything). Go here to see the entire interaction.

Below are some choice outtakes. The first being about Justin Turner.

Fantasy Baseball Cards from Game 3

Clearly, I'm addicted.

Featured here are a bunch of new fantasy Baseball cards I put together that focus on Game 3 of the NLCS between the Dodgers and Cubs. Go here or here to check out the fantasy cards I made of Game 1 and Game 2.

My favorite of the group is the horizontal 2007 Topps card seen directly below. I'll let Chris Cwik at Big League Stew tell you all about what is going on in the pic:

This incident took place in the top of the ninth inning. Puig smacked a line drive single off the ivy out in left field. He wasn’t satisfied with that, however, and decided to test Kyle Schwarber’s defense by charging toward second. Schwarber played the ball perfectly off the wall, and fired a strike to Baez at second. Baez put down the tag, and then put an exclamation point on it with the finger wag.

Ha! Now on to the rest of the cards.

2017 Topps Now - #779, #780 & #781 - Dodgers Win Game 3

I still find it amazing that of all of the young rising stars that joined LA in the late-aughts, it is Andre Ethier who still remains in Dodger Blue. He has been a survivor, like those fools stranded on an island for our enjoyment, and the results we experienced last night is a testament to his guile and perseverance. Andre Ethier is a veteran leader on this club, and I think it's fair to say that everyone on the team appreciates not only his experience, but also his ability to still affect a ballgame. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“Very, very happy for him, and the game honors you,” Roberts said. “And a guy like Andre who has done it the right way for such a long time and repeatedly said he just wanted to be a part of this and to prepare every single day like he’s going to play, and when that opportunity presented itself, he was ready. For him to come through and perform and pick us up the way he did is no surprise. It’s just a credit to his professionalism.”

Blog Kiosk: 10/18/2017 - Dodgers Links - Dodgers Take 3-0 Series Lead

They could do no wrong last night. Just about everything the Dodgers tried worked - to an almost mystifying degree. Balls were dropped, grounders booted, extra bases were taken and a pitcher (who can't hit a lick) was walked during an obvious pinch-hit situation with the bases loaded on four straight.

Yeah... It was one of those games, and unlike the Dodgers storied past we did not end up the butt of jokes the next day. Instead, everyone is wondering if this steam locomotive can be stopped. Per Ken Gurnick and Carrie Muskat at MLB.com:

"I think that, right now, we're just laser-focused on trying to win baseball games," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "So that obviously, if [a sweep] presents itself, obviously it will be great. But right now our focus is [Cubs Game 4 starter Jake] Arrieta and trying to figure out a way to win a baseball game tomorrow night."

These guys are far from content.

Photo above of LA City Hall in Dodger Blue via Mayor Eric Garcetti on twitter. Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1977 Yankees outfielder Reggie Jackson broke LA's heart. He walloped three homers on three consecutive pitches against the Dodgers to win Game 6 and the World Series. If you must you can watch highlights here.
• Happy Birthday, Burt Shotton, Wally Millies, Roy Cullenbine, Andy Carey, Jerry Royster, Alan Mills & Alex Cora!