2018 Topps Tribute - The Dodgers Relic Cards

Here is a look at several relic subsets available in packs of Topps 2018 Tribute Baseball. Featured are the Dodgers' cards in the dual combo and triple relics, Stamp of Approval and the 2018 Rookies subsets.

Dual Relics Combo

#DR-CSE Carlos Correa & Corey Seager

Blog Kiosk: 3/30/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Beautiful.

Photos above and to the right via Dodgers on twitter - Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018. You can watch Kirk Gibson's ceremonial first pitch here.

On another note, I'm not gonna get worked up about losing Opening Day to the Giants - as much as it sucks. It was a great game, and a perfect reminder of not only how wonderful this game is, but also of how maddening it really is. I love it so much it makes me want to pull my hair out.

In case you don't already know, the Dodgers lost a close one, 1-0. Here is a boxscore. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1966 Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale end their legendary holdout when they signed contracts for $130,000 and $105,000, respectively. The holdout last 32 days. In 1981 the Dodgers traded Mickey Hatcher (and a couple other minor leaguers) to the Twins for Kenny Landreaux. In 1988 the Dodgers signed free agent veteran catcher Rick Dempsey.
• Happy Birthday, Nig Fuller!

2018 Topps Tribute - The Dodgers Base Cards

With the first day of the season in full swing I thought I would take a moment to put up pics of Topps newest Baseball set of the year. Officially released yesterday, featured are all of the Dodgers' base cards found in packs of 2018 Topps Tribute. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base

#2 Clayton Kershaw           #12 Corey Seager

Blog Kiosk: 3/29/2018 - Dodgers Links - Opening Day Odds and Ends

You will rarely see a more fantastic Opening Day snapshot than the one above. Featured is a circa 1941 fan-taken photograph of the famed facade of Ebbets Field. It recently sold on eBay at $31.00. (auction link here).

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2004 the Dodgers purchased outfielder Jason Grabowski from the A's. They also traded reliever Jason Frasor to the Blue Jays for outfielder Jason Werth. In 2008 the Dodgers played a pregame exhibition game at the LA Coliseum against the Boston Red Sox in celebration of the 50th annniversary of the club's move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. A crowd of 115,300 attended -- the largest to ever see a Baseball game.
• Happy Birthday, Hank Gastright, Rube Dessau, Lee Meyer, Gibby Brack, Tommy Holmes, Mike Ramsey & Brian Jordan!

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Lasorda, Hershiser & Gibson

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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Tommy Lasorda, Orel Hershiser & Kirk Gibson are signing autographs on Sat, March 31st from 10:00 am – 11:30 am at the Sports Authentics store in Rowland Heights. Go here for more information. This is a pay event.
Gibson $99 per autograph, $49 inscriptions
Lasorda $99 per autograph, $49 inscriptions
Hershiser $79 per autograph, $39 inscriptions
$249 VIP Combo Ticket

Sports Authentics
1600 South Azusa Avenue
Rowland Heights, CA, 91748
(714)761-6414

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Opening Day - Giants Series Starts Thursday - Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

Opening Day is here! The first series of the 2018 season begins on Thursday against our hated rivals -- Giants. Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand. BTW, free complimentary WiFi is available Dodger Stadium. Find "DodgersWifi", review and accept the Terms & Conditions. Here are some important links:

• 2018 Broadcast Schedule
• Parking Information 
• Special Events Schedule
• Promotions & Giveaways Schedule
• Silent Auction Schedule 
• Friday Night Fireworks Schedule 
• Viva Los Dodgers Schedule
• Dodger Stadium Parking / Transportation 
• Dodger Stadium Express / LA Metro  

Advance parking prices will be $15 and parking at the gate will be $25 in 2018. Also, the team will continue to offer $5 parking in Lots 13 and 14, which are on Stadium Way, adjacent to the Los Angeles Fire Department training center, a short walk east of the main Vin Scully Avenue-Gate A entrance to Dodger Stadium. A free shuttle will be available for disabled fans. The lots will open to the public at the same time as the other Dodger Stadium parking lots.

Furthermore, Opening Day means temporary parking restriction near Dodger Stadium, per a tweet from the LAPD:

#DodgersOpeningDay: Avoid traffic congestion & remember of the temporary parking restriction near #DodgersStadium. Between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on March 29th, there will be restricted parking on Palm Row (Stadium Way) between Scott Road and Academy Road. #LAPD pic.twitter.com/6drQIOyOz0

— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) March 28, 2018

--------------------

Thursday, March 29th at 4:08 PM

Clayton Kershaw vs Ty Blach

TV: ESPN
*Watch Online at ESPN here

Radio: 570 LA Sports, KTNQ 1020

Blog Kiosk: 3/28/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

So, that happened last night.

As you surely know by now, Dodger Stadium was beset with a unseemly leak on the field that forced an early end to the last spring game of the season. A sewer pipe had burst, and if you've ever been witness to such a thing then you know this was the right call. Nobody should have to sit around and possibly get into contact with any of that dirty water.

They ended up calling the game in the fifth inning -- with the Dodgers leading the Angels 4-3. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“Apparently, in the middle of the fifth inning, there was a pipe backup on two different levels of the stadium,” Kasten said. “We don’t know exactly where the backup was or what caused it. It had something to do with a main pipe here as well as a main pipe outside. The city is aware of it. The city is on the scene, and they’re trying to figure that out. We could’ve stayed there and tried to locate it, address it, work on the field…we had no idea how long that would take.”

You can watch Kasten talk about it here. Both photos above via Doug Padilla on Twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1991 the Dodgers released longtime Dodger starter Fernando Valenzuela.  Per an AP article in the Lodi News-Sentinel:

"I will never forget Fernando and all he has done for me and the Los Angeles Dodgers," manager Tom Lasorda said. "It was a privilege and honor to manage him over the years because he was without a doubt a great talent and a great competitor. I want to thank him for all the memories."

Welcome to the Blue, Cory Mazzoni!

As a reminder that something is always happening with the Dodgers we learn today that the club has claimed another player off the waiver wire. With Opening Day around the corner the Dodgers have taken recently waived right-handed pitcher Cory Mazzoni from the Chicago Cubs. To make room for Cory the Dodgers DFA's outfielder Trayce Thompson. Also, Mazzoni will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Per a Dodgers press release:

Mazzoni, 28, has appeared in 14 career Major League games over two seasons with the San Diego Padres (2015, ’17). In 116 career minor league games (53 starts), Mazzoni has gone 27-15 with seven saves and has posted a 3.79 ERA with the Mets (2011-14) and Padres (2015-17) organizations. He has struck out 365 batters against 94 walks in 366.0 minor league innings, while holding hitters to a .260 average.

A Dodgers-Mets Connection at Lelands Auction

I thought this would be fun to share -- even if it's not entirely about the Dodgers.

The New York Mets played their first season of Major League ball in 1962, and in order to create excitement and interest within the community management reached out to several former Brooklyn players. They signed up former Brooklynites Charlie Neal, Don Zimmer, Roger Craig, Billy Loes and the great Gil Hodges. Then they had Casey Stengel skipper the troupe.

As an homage to both the ol' Brooklyn team and the new New York club noted Daily News sports cartoonist Bill Gallo created the above image, and as you can see it also includes an outline of another old Brooklyn friend -- the Dodgers Bum originally created by Willard Mullin. (Auction Link) BTW, the jovial looking man in the background is Mets GM George Weiss.

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Blog Kiosk: 3/27/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I can't get enough of these guys.

Pic above of Yasiel Puig attempting to land a wet one on Turner Ward via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2012 Frank McCourt agrees to sell the Dodgers to a group headed by Stan Kasten, Guggenheim Partners and Magic Johnson for $2 billion.  He also sold the parking lots to the same group for $150 million (while retaining partial ownership).
• Happy Birthday, George Magoon, Bill Collins, Vince Sherlock, Newt Kimball, Wes Covington, Bill Sudakis & Adam Melhuse!

Blog Kiosk: 2/26/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Yasiel Puig lead from the batters box last night as he blasted a solo homer and a legged double to help the Dodgers defeat the Angels in Anaheim. Via Doug Padilla at MLB.com:

"Can I say right now that he is going to hit third every day? Absolutely not," manager Dave Roberts said of Puig after a 4-2 win in the Freeway Series opener at Angel Stadium. "But I think that I will give him a little bit of a runway to show that he deserves that opportunity."
...
"I think probably the more I thought about Yasiel and the presence he has in the box, him against right-handed pitching, and the at-bat quality last year, [he] has been very consistent," Roberts said. "So I think that right now, losing [Turner], it's an opportunity for [Puig] and gives us a chance to be considerably better with J.T. not in the lineup."

Photo of Puig above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1953 the St. Louis Browns returned pitcher Tommy Lasorda to the Dodgers after having just purchased him a month prior. In 1984 Jackie Robinson was awarded, posthumously, the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan in a White House ceremony. Rachel Robinson accepted the award on her late husband's behalf. At the time Jackie was just the third ballplayer to be given the distinction (Moe Berg and Joe DiMaggio were the others). You can watch the presentation here. In 1991 the Dodgers free agent catcher and future Hall of Famer Gary Carter to a one-year $500,000 contract. 
• Happy Birthday, Jack McCarthy, Joe Klugmann, José Vizcaíno & Frank Lankford!

2018 Topps Gypsy Queen - All the Dodgers Variation/Error Base Cards

Yesterday I poked fun at Topps for a misguided error card they created for their Gypsy Queen set. Today I share with you a full slate of Dodger errors and variations found in the Gypsy Queen base set; including a card that almost makes up for the Seager snafu. Directly below is the second Dodgers "Team Swap Error" card and it features the great Mike Trout designated as a Dodger.

Team Swap Error Variations

#1 Mike Trout

Blog Kiosk: 3/23/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Just another vintage spring training pic to get you excited for the upcoming season. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Dated Mar 6, 1949 - WHITMAN FLIES OUT IN INTRA-SQUAD GAME.  Dick Whitman, Dodger outfielder, flies put in first inning of the first intra-squad game for the Brooklyn club at their Vero Beach, Fla., training camp.  Catcher Lembo and umpire Andrews watch the ball sail to the outfield." (eBay link)

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1951 the Brooklyn Dodgers sign a 21-year lease with the City of Vero Beach to build their spring training facility at an old abandoned Naval base. It would be known as Dodgertown. In 2002 the Dodgers traded Jorge Nunez and Matt Herges to the Expos for Guillermo Mota and Wilkin Ruan.
• Happy Birthday, Barney Koch, Jerry Brooks, Joel Peralta & John Link!

This Might be the Worst Dodger Card Ever Made

Topps, you should be ashamed of yourself.

This is an monstrosity. Its grotesqueness is only matched by its hideousness. This is a freak card and I want to burn every last one of them.

Corey Seager... A Giant! .... No!

2018 Topps Gypsy Queen - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

Here is a look at all of the Dodgers' inserts available in packs of Topps 2018 Gypsy Queen Baseball card set. I hope to have pics of all the various base variations soon, so stay tuned for that.

Gypsy Queen Autographs

#GQA-AT Andrew Toles        #GQA-AV Alex Verdugo

Blog Kiosk: 3/22/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Considering the Dodgers current predicament I thought today would be a perfect time the point out the above March 7, 1949 Spring Training AP press photo I ran into on eBay (link here). Featured are a group of young farmhands working on learning the intricacies of playing third base. Via the descriptor on the reverse:

"HOW TO BAG A THIRD BASE POSITION.  Coach Milton Stock, Ed Stanky's Father-In-Law, who once played third base himself, teaches Brooklyn Dodgers third base candidates the fine points of covering the bag during a session at Vero Beach, Fla. left to right are: Johnny Jorgensen, Eddie Miskis, Buddy Hicks, Don Ramazotti, Billy Cox and Bob Morgan."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1962 a former Giant who still remains anonymous revealed that the Giants had help during the 1951 playoffs against the Dodgers (this is the series where Bobby Thompson hit that infamous homer). They had a sign-stealing clubhouse spy at their home field for three months of the season. In 1993 Indians pitchers Steven Olin, Bob Ojeda and Tim Crews (a former Dodger) are in a boating accident at Little Lake Nellie in Clermont, Florida that kills both Olin and Crews. Ojeda is seriously injured in the crash.
• Happy Birthday, Bill McClellan, Overton Tremper, Ramon Martinez & Juan Uribe!

2018 Topps Gypsy Queen - All the Dodgers Base Cards

New in stores today is Topps 2018 Gypsy Queen Baseball card brand. Named after a late 19th century tobacco set, Gypsy Queen offers vintage looking designs and a guaranteed two autographs per hobby box. Below are all of the Dodgers' base cards in the set. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base

#76 Chris Taylor               #112 Logan Forsythe

Blog Kiosk: 3/21/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I missed out on the Dodgers' First Look event yesterday afternoon. This is an annual soiree put together to introduce the upcoming seasons stadium menu items and giveaways to the local media. They brought out all kinds of new items; including a carne asada torta that I will have to try out.

Sue Jo at Dodger Insider provided some details and plenty of photos from the event, here. David Young at True Blue LA put together his own write-up: New Food Items (here) and Giveaways (here).

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. BTW, it's Chipper Jones Day in Georgia today. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1966 the Dodgers and Astros are the first Major League teams to play on artificial grass when they face each other for a spring training game in the Astrodome.
• Happy Birthday, Mysterious Walker, Bill Lamar, Jim Hughes, Tommy Davis & Carlos Monasterios!

Lelands has the Coolest Dodgers Pillow You Will Ever See

I want this so bad.

Unfortunately, my wallet is holding me back. At this point -- it's currently priced at $365 at the time of this posting with three days to go -- I am confident it'll close at a value well beyond what I am willing to pay.

Oh well... I guess I'll have to enjoy it from afar.

Featured is a real vintage Brooklyn Dodgers flannel jersey that has been sewed up into a pillow. According to the auction (link here) it was created by the wife of one-time Dodger and future Hall of Famer Paul "Big Poison" Waner. As you may know, Waner wore Dodger Blue intermittently over a four year period from 1941 to 1944 -- during the tail end of his illustrious career.

As for the pillow, it is not likely to be game-used by Waner. As a Dodger he only wore the numbers #1 and #24, so this isn't one of his. He also never coached for the Dodgers during his retirement. Although, he could have worn this as a guest during one of the numerous Old-Timers Games throughout the years, so that's a possibility.

BTW, the #43 was first worn in franchise history by pitcher Johnny Van Cuyk starting 1947 -- three years after Waner's last season in Brooklyn. So, how he and his wife came across the jersey is anybody's guess.

All I can really say about this pillow is that it is one of the greatest oddball memorabilia items I've ever seen.

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2018 Topps Opening Day - The Base Variation, Short Prints and Auto'd Dodgers Cards

Here is one last look at Dodgers' cards found in packs of Topps Opening Day brand. Featured below is the one Kershaw base variation, several other base-looking short prints and autographed cards. Clearly, the best cards shown are the Stadium Signature cards featuring Kershaw, Maeda and Bellinger signing autographs for fans.

Base Variations

#1 Clayton Kershaw - Dugout
Base                               Variation

Blog Kiosk: 3/20/2018 - Dodgers Links - Noooooo!

!#%&!@#%&!!!!

Insert expletives above. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

Turner was hoping the X-rays would show something different, but he got the news after the game about the fracture and will talk to the doctors Tuesday to try to find out more. 

“It definitely wasn’t what I wanted to hear,” Turner said. “It started to feel better and better as I was in there doing X-rays, so I was pretty hopeful they would come back negative. You get the news, and it’s tough.”

Photo above via Nicholas Quay/Camelback Ranch at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1934 the great Babe Didrikson pitched the first inning against the Dodgers during an spring training game versus the Phildalphia A's at McCurdy Field in Frederick, Maryland. She walked one and gave up no hits. In 2005 the Dodgers traded starting pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii to the Mets for catcher Jason Phillips. In 2008 the Dodgers make their Cactus League debut. For the first time they would spend their spring training in Arizona. They would beat the White Sox in Phoenix, 8-2. 
• Happy Birthday, Pat Corrales, Mike Griffin, Joe McGinnity, Johnny Butler, Jim Golden, Terry McDermott, Rick Parker & Will Brunson!

A Peek at Dodgers' Holiday & Special Event Uniforms

With the seasons start just around the corner we now get a look at several of the holiday and special event uniforms, caps and socks for the upcoming season. Go here for more information. Starting with Jackie Robinson Day, Sunday, April 15th, we see a jazzy new logo (seen above) and some cool socks (seen below).

2018 Panini Stars & Stripes USA - Dodgers Prospect Jeren Kendall

This is one of those sets that very likely will expand its Dodgers' checklist over the coming few years. After all, there are cards here for teenagers (under 15-years of age) and college athletes that are members of Team USA, and many of these kids may eventually find themselves within a minor league system somewhere.

Featured here is Panini's Stars & Stripes USA Baseball brand, and below is the only current Dodger within it -- Jeren Kendall. As you know, Kendall was the Dodgers 2017 first draft pick (23rd overall). Go here for a complete checklist.

Base

#82 Jeren Kendall

Blog Kiosk: 3/19/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Thew Dodgers came out with green St. Patrick's Day caps for Saturday's festivities. Unfortunately, Ryu wasn't exactly stellar, but improving. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I thought Ryu was considerably better than the line," Roberts said after Ryu was charged with five runs on seven hits in three innings of the Dodgers' 5-2 loss to the White Sox. 

"There was a double play that wasn't turned. Pitch count got up because of that. I thought there were some pitches he was squeezed. I thought he threw the ball well. Velocity was good. The change, cutter/slider, continues to improve. Happy he finished the third with a double play.

Photo above of Hyun-Jin Ryu via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 on Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Ed McKeever, Roy Evans, Paul Powell, Jeff Hamilton, David Ross & Clayton Kershaw!

2018 Topps Opening Day - The Dodgers Insert Cards

Featured here are the Opening Day Stars, National Anthem, Opening Day Checklist, Relics, Before Opening Day and MLB Sticker insert cards found in packs of Topps 2018 Opening Day set. I hope to have pics of the Dodgers variations and autographed cards soon.

Opening Day Stars

#ODS-AV Alex Verdugo       #ODS-CS Corey Seager

Blog Kiosk: 3/15/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The passage of time sure can ease the grief.

Featured above is a vintage, circa June 1956, photograph that captures Dodger legends Duke Snider and Gil Hodges on the verge of "tomahawking" former Giants hero Bobby Thompson. As you know, in 1951 Thompson hit "The Shot Heard Round the World" that ended the Dodgers chances for a world title that season. This pic recently sold at an RMY Auction for a very affordable $34. On another note, I'm extremely angry at myself for missing this item, as well as several others, from this auction. It closed this past weekend and I just plain forgot about it.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1945 the Dodgers opened their spring camp at Bear Mountain State Park in upstate New York due to wartime travel restrictions. There were real worries that German U-boats would attack the eastern coast of America During WWII. This is the third straight year the Dodgers would practice here. In 1975 the Dodgers signed 37 year-old former Giants Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal to a free agent contract. He would retire from the game a little over a month later on April 17th. 
• Happy Birthday, Doc Casey, Ralph Miller, Rosy Ryan, Lou Fette, Dick Scott, Mickey Hatcher & Trayce Thompson!

2018 Topps Opening Day - All the Dodgers Base Cards

I was going to go on a mini-rant about this set, but as I looked closer I realized that Topps has made some changes - at least with regards to the Dodgers'. For the most part, the Topps' Opening Day brand is as boring as can be. They typically use not only the exact same design as their flagship, but also use the same pics. And the only difference would be a jazzy "Opening Day" logo on the front. This time around they mixed it up a bit.

Of the eleven Dodgers' in the base set only two use the exact photograph as its flagship counterpart -- Yasiel Puig and Cody Bellinger. The cards of Kershaw, Verdugo, Buehler and Wood use brand new pics. On top of that, we get a first look at 2018 Topps cards for Seager, Turner, Taylor, Jansen and Darvish (none of whom are in Series 1). This is quite a departure from years past.

Check out the Dodger base cards below. As of this posting, there are no known variations to chase after, but that could change as folks continue to open the product. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base

#1 Clayton Kershaw               #57 Yasiel Puig

Blog Kiosk: 3/14/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

(Via Reddit u/TARS_CASE)

RIP, Stephen Hawking. Per BBC:

"At the time, I thought my life was over and that I would never realise the potential I felt I had. But now, 50 years later, I can be quietly satisfied with my life." 

Speaking to the BBC in 2002, his mother, Isobelle, described him as a "very normal young man". 

She said: "He liked parties. He liked pretty girls - only pretty ones. He liked adventure and he did, to some extent, like work."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1932 the Dodgers sent 23-year old future Hall of Famer Ernie Lombardi, the still very effective Babe Herman and Wally Gilbert to the Reds for Joe Stripp, Tony Cuccinello and Clyde Sukeforth.
• Happy Birthday, Bill Holbert, Jud Daley, John Miller, Mike Strahler, Kevin Brown & Jose Nunez!

Bellinger is a Mystery Redemption for 2017 Topps Stadium Club

On the heals of yesterdays announcement we find out that Cody Bellinger isn't only a "mystery redemption" for last years Finest set, but also for Topps 2017 Stadium Club brand. Check out that Bellinger card above.

As you know, there were two "mystery redemption" cards randomly inserted into packs of Topps July release - 2017 Stadium Club. Below is a listing of those redemptions.

• Mystery Redemption #1 – Cody Bellinger
• Mystery Redemption #2 – Ian Happ

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Plenty of Dodgers Memorabilia at SCP Auctions

SCP is currently running their annual Spring auction and it includes plenty of shiny Dodgers hardware to drool over. First, though, I wanted to point to a couple of fantastic game-used items that stuck out to me. First of all, check out the pristine catchers glove above. It is a Roy Campanella gamer and comes from the family of former Dodger Carl Furillo. (Auction Link)

This next item has an unusual background and provenance. The Brooklyn cap on the right is purported to be a gamer once worn by Jackie Robinson and it was attained by a fan sitting behind the Dodger dugout. (Auction Link) Per the auction description.

He acquired it decades ago from an old friend who had owned the treasured keepsake since he obtained it himself in the seats behind the Dodgers dugout at Ebbets Field upon Jackie Robinson removing it from his head and casting it into the crowd. The cap was later bestowed upon our consignor, with this verbal history, as a means to settle a debt incurred by his friend. As with many such stories, they must be taken with a grain of salt, however, when the cap arrived at our offices we were taken aback by its compelling physical traits.

Blog Kiosk: 3/13/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It's all about family, ain't it?

Kenley spent plenty of time with his young son, Kaden, at Camelback Ranch yesterday. He wrote:

One day you'll be too big for my arms, but papa will always remember these times

Photo above via Kenley's twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1917 Dodger skipper Wilbert Robinson performed some spring antics on the field. After hearing that Gabby Street caught a Baseball thrown from the Washington Monument, Robinson bragged that he could catch a ball dropped from an airplane. So, the stunt was set up, but as legend has it young outfielder Casey Stengel had something else in mind. He substituted a grapefruit for the Baseball. Said fruit was then gloved by Robinson as it fell, but it exploded on his chest. Having seen the fruits red innards splashed all over himself Wilbert exclaimed, "Help me, Lads, I'm covered with my own blood!" Then, he tasted it. On a side note, it has since been revealed that Stengel was not the genius behind this prank. Ruth Law, the pilot, substituted part of her lunch when she realized she forgot to bring a baseball.
• Happy Birthday, Chappie McFarland, Tom Flood, Mal Eason, Lew Malone, Don Bessent, Don Miles & Mariano Duncan!

New Autographed Cody Bellinger Rookie Card to Chase - 2017 Topps Finest

Better late than never, eh?

It has just been announced, via Topps blog, that one of the "Mystery Redemption Autograph" cards inserted into packs of Topps 2017 Finest Baseball card packs will be of Cody Bellinger. You can see that card above.

Originally released in early June of last year, three "Mystery Redemption Autograph" cards were inserted into packs. Below is a listing of who you will get once you turn them in:

• Mystery Redemption #1 – Cody Bellinger
• Mystery Redemption #2 – Ian Happ
• Mystery Redemption #3 – Bradley Zimmer

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Blog Kiosk: 3/12/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Born in Brooklyn in the early 40's, Sen. Bernie Sanders maintains his love for the club -- even as he moved to the northeast and became a Senator in Vermont. Yesterday, he visited the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch and spent plenty of time talking Baseball with Dave Roberts (as shown in the pic above) and hitting with Yasiel Puig (per pic on the right). Both photos are via Sanders' twitter here and here.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1989 the Dodgers traded outfielder Mike Devereaux to Baltimore for starting pitcher Mike Morgan. Morgan would stay in LA for three seasons -- compiling a 33-36 record with an 3.06 ERA, 3.38 FIP and a 1.162 WHIP. In 2003 Mets catcher Mike Piazza charged the mound to go after Dodgers reliever Guillermo Mota during a spring training game at Thomas J. White Stadium in Port St. Lucie, FL. Mota plunked Piazza on the shoulder, so Piazza stormed after him -- even going into the Dodgers clubhouse. Both players would be suspended five games. 
• Happy Birthday, Frank Schneiberg, Bob Barr, Jim Wynn, Darryl Strawberry, Shawn Gilbert, Steve Finley, Raul Mondesi & Greg Hansell!