2018 Topps Now - #OS19 - Walker Buehler is ROY Finalist

Two years ago Corey Seager won the NL ROY Award. Last year Cody Bellinger took home that trophy. Now, it's potentially Walker Buehler's turn to make it three Dodgers in a row. Unfortunately, he's got some major competition. Announced yesterday, Buehler, Nationals outfielder Juan Soto and Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. are vying for the 2018 Rookie of the Year crown. In celebration of these three finalist Topps has made a 2018 Topps Now card for each of them. Featured here is Buehler's card. Go here to check it out and order. Below is what's written on the reverse:

Following a brilliant 2018 campaign, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler was nominated as a finalist for the National League Rookie Of The Year Award on November 5, 2018.

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2018 Piece of the Game Baseball Authentic Masterpieces by Monty Sheldon

This just might be the greatest Baseball product ever conceived.

No, seriously! This is incredible! Unbelievable! It's fantastically rare and wonderfully artistic. Heck, it's hard to believe any product could ever get better than this. Unfortunately, you have to be filthy rich to buy it. In fact, this product is geared towards the box-breaker phenomenon - so as to share and alleviate the hurt a complete box would cost you.

Featured here is the 2018 Piece of the Game Baseball Authentic Masterpieces that consist solely of one-of-a-kind game-used and autographed painted Baseballs by noted artist Monty Sheldon. There are only 15 total boxes being made and each box consist of 10 painted Baseballs. So, there are only 150 Baseballs available for the collecting public. Go here for a complete checklist. You can also check out more pics here.

Puig Kisses as Fantasy Custom Baseball Cards

There is no doubt in my mind that their respect and affection for each other is real.

As you surely know by now, Dodger batting coach Turner Ward is heading to Cincinnati to take over hitting duties for the Reds next season. As a result, the age of the 'Puig Kiss' is now over. Never again will we get to enjoy the wonder of sloppy wet-ones in the Dodger dugout. Well... At least, we won't be seeing Yasiel Puig manhandling Turner Ward again. And since it's likely all of Dodger Nation will miss this spontaneous love affair I thought it appropriate to make a bunch of fantasy custom Baseball cards to commemorate it.

Blog Kiosk: 11/6/2018 - Dodgers Links - Vote! It's Election Day!

Here's another Spring Training pic from yesteryear, as found on eBay. Dated March 7, 1950 and taken by the legendary Herb Scharfman, we see six Dodgers all vying for an opening at the third base position that upcoming season. Per the description on the reverse:

All Pulling for the Same Job
Vero Beach, FLA... There are plenty of strings attached to the third base job with the Brooklyn Dodgers as these six candidates try the position at the Vero Beach camp of the Bums. Left to right: Bob Morgan, Clarence (Buddy) Hicks, Johnny Jorgenson, Billy Cox, Everett (Rocky) Bridges and Eddie Miksis.

As you may know, rookie Bobby Morgan was the Opening Day starter, but eventually lost the starting job to Billy Cox by mid-season. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1974 Dodgers hurler Dr. Mike Marshall becomes the first reliever to win a Cy Young award. He had set a MLB record for appearances at 106 and innings pitched for a reliever at 208.1. That's right, a reliever threw over 200 innings and got into over 65% of all Dodger games that season. In 1996 Dodger outfielder Todd Hollandsworth is named the winner of the Rookie of the Year award. He is the fifth consecutive Dodger to win this award and the 16th overall in franchise history. In 2006 Dodger fan Charles Littleton, a 22-year old Saginaw Valley State University student, is TASERed by Saginaw (MI) police when he refuses to remove his Dodger cap during a City Council meeting. He is there to receive extra credit for a sociology class. See a news report here. In 2014 the Dodgers officially hire Zaidi Farhan to be their new General Manager. He takes over a  position previously held by Ned Colletti. 
• Happy Birthday, Bob Darnell, John Candelaria & Chad Curtis!