2018 Topps Archives Signature Series Retired Player Edition - The Dodgers Cards

Last week Topps released their second Archives Signature product and this time they focus on retired ballplayers. As you'll recall, they released their active player edition in July (link here). This particular brand includes a checklist that has 14 ballplayers who once wore Dodger Blue, but I've only been able to find Dodger cards for ten of those former Dodgers. So far, signed Dodger cards of Andruw Jones (thank goodness), Bobby Bonilla, Pedro Martinez and Rickey Henderson have not yet been unearthed. Go here for a complete checklist. Check out the known signed Dodger buyback cards below. BTW, all Sandy Koufax cards come as a redemption.

On another note, the checklist indicates something called "Special Autographs", and that checklist includes six different older Dodger players. They are all "1 of 1's" and feature mostly vintage era cards that have been signed.

Retired Player Edition Encased Buyback Autographs

• #Andruw Jones -- None seen
• #Bobby Bonilla -- None Seen
• #Pedro Martinez -- None Seen
• #Rickey Henderson -- None Seen

#Bill Madlock

1986 Topps                          1987 Topps

Some Custom Fantasy Dodger Cards of their NLDS Celebration

I just couldn't help myself. Yesterday evening I decided to grab some pics from Dodger Insider and make a bunch of fantasy custom baseball cards. My favorites are the champagne/beer laden pics at the very bottom. Although, the above Kemp/Maeda split card, reminiscent of the dual cards in 1983 Fleer, has me patting myself on the back.

Blog Kiosk: 10/10/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I apologize for the watermark on the above photo. It's obviously not my pic. It is an 1953 Unit D Press Photo that I just ran into on eBay (link here), and I found it fascinating enough to share here. As you can see, it features Carl Furillo wearing an unusual looking headpiece. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Carl Furillo's head got plenty sore after being hit by pitched balls six times, so the Dodger outfielder's sporting this "Martian-Looking" headgear these days. The plastic gadget fits into Furillo's cap, and saved him from serious injury, July 29, when still another pitched ball made contact during the Dodgers-Cubs game. Furillo says he's quit baseball if he couldn't wear it!

As you'll recall, this isn't the first time a Dodger had sought to protect their head during at-bats. In 1948 Jackie Robinson had done the same -- he had a fiberglass-and-cloth composite sewn into his cap. You can check out a little story where I wrote about it here.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1961 the Mets drafted Dodgers legend Gil Hodges off the Dodgers roster as a part of the expansion draft. In 1978 the Dodgers retired the number of Dodger player/coach Jim Gilliam -- 19.  He had died just two days prior from an cerebral hemorrhage.  The ceremony preceded Game 1 of the World Series against the Yankees.
• Happy Birthday, Ad Gumbert, Fay Thomas, Rich During, Harry Eisenstat, Lee Pfund & Ramon Martinez!