Dodgers Blue Heaven: 2019 Topps Now - #92 - Joc Pederson's Walk-Off and a Look at Puig's Card

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

2019 Topps Now - #92 - Joc Pederson's Walk-Off and a Look at Puig's Card

What an electrifying evening Jackie Robinson Day turned out to be. Along with all of the 'pomp and circumstance' that goes with this Baseball holiday, we got to witness a thrilling ballgame.

First of all, our staff ace, Clayton Kershaw, got on the mound for the first time this season. Unfortunately, his presence was no match for the recently traded Yasiel Puig. He promptly hit a first inning homer to give his new club an early lead. Then, with the game tied up in the eighth inning, Matt Kemp -- the other piece traded this winter -- knocked in the go-ahead run for the Reds on a single off of Kenley Jansen. Lastly, Joc Pederson came up to bat in the ninth inning to slam a game-winning two-run walk-off home run to win the game in grand fashion. Wowzers!

That last moment above has been awarded a new 2019 Topps Now card. Check it out above. Go here to check it out and order. Below is what's written on the reverse:

With a runner aboard and his team trailing, 3-2, in the bottom of the ninth inning, Joc Pederson turned on a hanging breaking pitch and sent it over the wall in right center field. Pederson admired the two-run shot as it left the bat before trotting around the bases and celebrating the dramatic, 4-3, walk-off victory with his teammates.

BTW, there are a couple of other Topps Now cards available today that I thought worth mentioning. Directly above and below is a Jackie Robinson Day card honoring the occasion. Unfortunately, it doesn't feature a Dodger -- although, I think the Jackie Robinson shoe seen on the reverse might be of a Dodger player. Go here to check it out and order.

On another note, I really wish they used a photo featuring Rachel Robinson and/or her two kids for this card. The Robinson family was at Dodger Stadium, and I thought that backdrop would've been perfect for cardboard magic.

The other card I wanted to mention is Yasiel Puig's first Topps Now card as a Red. See it below. Go here to check it out and order. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

“He put a great swing on the ball,” Kershaw said. “Unfortunately, seen him do that for a while. Thankful it didn’t beat us and I settled down. Obviously, Puig’s first at-bat back, there’s a lot of emotions on both sides. I’m sure he’s very happy with it, and rightfully so. You don’t want to give up a homer to anybody, but probably a little extra tonight.”