2014 Topps Museum Baseball - The Scarce Dodger Insert Cards

This is my final post featuring Dodger cards that can be found in 2014 Topps Museum packs.  Go here to check out my past post from this set.  This time, I show some of the more scarce Dodger cards.

Momentous Material Dual Jumbo Relics

Below are the Momentous Material Dual Jumbo Relics booklets.  Unfortunately, I only have one pic of a card available.  Directly below is the Dodger Checklist:

• #MMDJR-GK Zack Greinke  & Clayton Kershaw
• #MMDJR-KG Zack Greinke & Matt Kemp
• #MMDJR-PC Yasiel Puig & Cespedes
• #MMDJR-RG Adrian Gonzalez & Hanley Ramirez

#MMDJR-PC Yasiel Puig & Cespedes

Below are the Momentous Material Dual Jumbo Lumber Relic Booklets.  Missine in the photos below is the Adrian Gonzalez & Joey Votto (#MMDJL-GV )  Jumbo Booklet and the Hyun-Jin Ryu & Zack Greinke (#MMDJL-RGR)  Jumbo Booklet.

Momentous Material Dual Jumbo Lumber Relics Books

#MMDJL-GK Clayton Kershaw & Zack Greinke

#MMDJL-KH Bryce Harper & Matt Kemp

#MMDJL-RG Adrian Gonzalez & Hanley Ramirez

Jumbo Lumber Bat Nameplate Relics

There numerous Dodger "1 of 1" Jumbo Lumber Bat Nameplate Relics that are available.  Below is a complete Dodger checklist.  Also, examples of the Matt Kemp and one of the Hanley Ramirez cards have been found and shared online.

• #JLNP-AG Adrian Gonzalez
• #JLNP-DSN Duke Snider
• #JLNP-DSU Duke Snider
• #JLNP-HAN Hanley Ramirez
• #JLNP-HR Hanley Ramirez
• #JLNP-HRA Hanley Ramirez
• #JLNP-HRM Hanley Ramirez
• #JLNP-MK Matt Kemp
• #JLNP-MKE Matt Kemp
• #JLNP-PR Pee Wee Reese

#JLNP-MKE Matt Kemp

(eBay auction link)

#JLNP-HR Hanley Ramirez

(eBay auction link)

#JLNP-DSN Duke Snider

(eBay auction link)

Momentous Material Laundry Tag Relics

There numerous Dodger "1 of 1" Momentous Material Laundry Tag Relics that are available.  Below is a complete Dodger checklist.  Also, examples of the Zack Greinke and one of the Adrian Gonzalez cards have been found and shared online.

• #MMLT-AE Andre Ethier
• #MMLT-AGD Adrian Gonzalez
• #MMLT-AGO Adrian Gonzalez
• #MMLT-CBI Chad Billingsley
• #MMLT-CKE Clayton Kershaw
• #MMLT-DG Dee Gordon
• #MMLT-MK Matt Kemp
• #MMLT-YP Yasiel Puig
• #MMLT-ZG Zack Greinke

#MMLT-ZG Zack Greinke

(eBay auction link)

Adrian Gonzalez

(eBay auction link)

Museum Memorabilia MLB Logo

There numerous Dodger "1 of 1" Museum Memorabilia MLB Logo Relics that are available.  Below is a complete Dodger checklist.  Unfortunately, I have yet to see a Dodger MLB Logo card.  I have included an image of the Wade Miley card as reference.

• #MM-AET Andre Ethier
• #MM-AG Adrian Gonzalez
• #MM-CC Carl Crawford
• #MM-CK Clayton Kershaw
• #MM-MK Matt Kemp
• #MM-YP Yasiel Puig
• #MM-ZG Zack Greinke

Framed Jersey Nameplate Box Loader

#JNP-YP Yasiel Puig (a preview image provided by Topps)

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A Chad Billingsley Autographed Card Added to the Collection

With Chad progressing nicely from his Tommy John surgery last year, I thought it would be time to add another Billingsley to my collection.  Featured here is a 2008 Upper Deck Masterpieces 'Capture on Canvas' autographed relic card of Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley. 

Unfortunately, I may have jumped the gun.  Per a recent story from Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, Billingsley left a rehab start on Sunday a bit early due to an unusual tingle he felt while on the mound.  Overall, he went 1 1/3 innings, threw 18 pitches and was sharp against the first three batters.

"It didn't sound good, but it sounds like the tests when [team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache] looked at him it looked pretty good," manager Don Mattingly said after the game. "They felt pretty good about it. It gave us a little scare too, but we got the good news during the game."

It is not thought to be anything serious.  (crossing my fingers)  Hopefully, we'll see him on the mound at Dodger Stadium soon.  With starters falling by the waysides lately, it'll be nice to get him back.

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Dodgers Memorabilia at REA Auctions - Dodgers' Themed George Sosnak Painted Baseballs

Here is my second post featuring Dodgers memorabilia found at REA.  Yesterday, I featured some historically significant Dodger memorabilia (you can see that post here).  This time, I share several painted baseballs created by noted Baseball folk artist George Sosnak.  I should note that I absolutely love this guys work. 

George Sosnak was one of the earliest recognized artisans to use a Baseball as his medium.  In 1956, during his time as an umpire in Pioneer League, he fulfilled a fan request for a painted Baseball.  Soon, his work became legendary, and everybody under the sun requested his work.  Notably, he rarely turned down a request, and often gave the balls away as personal gifts.  Sure, he got paid from time to time, but that wasn't his motivation.  He needed an outlet, and painting on Baseball's became it.

His work can be found at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the American Folk Art Museum in New York City and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library (it includes a ball commemorating JFK’s Opening Day pitch at a 1962 Senators game).

All said, he has painted at least 800 Baseballs; while other estimates put the number as high as 3,000.  Dave Bailey wrote a great article about George Sosnak at Sports Collectors Digest that is worth a read.  Check that out here.

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Below is a Branch Rickey painted ball.  On one panel it commemorates the signing of Jackie Robinson to the Dodgers, and on another is his Hall of Fame plaque.

This next Baseball is of Jackie Robinson.  This ball appears to be unfinished, and may have originally come from a mini-hoard purchased from Sosnak's widow after his death.

This next George Sosnak painted Baseball commemorates Johnny Podres and the "1955 World Series - Game 7".  One panel features Podres embracing Roy Campanella after the Game 7 win.

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Autograph Opportunities During the Remaining Homestand at Dodger Stadium - Ashley, Lacy, Leary and Landreaux

Just when I thought the Dodgers had abandoned having former Dodger players sign autographs prior to games (with exception of the Sunday Viva Los Dodgers events) they go ahead and schedule two players for today and tomorrow.

It may have been the case that there were signers for the Giants series, so I obviously missed that news if that was the case.

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Tuesday, April 8, 7:10 PM against Tigers

For today's game against the Tigers, the first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a hooded sweatshirt. You can see a pic of it on the right. Also, Ice-Cube will throw out the first pitch and announce the Dodgers’ starting lineup. Former Dodgers Billy Ashley (in right-field pavilion plaza) and Lee Lacy (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 5:10 PM to 7:30 PM.  There will be face painters, caricature artist and a balloon maker in a pavilion areas.

All auto gates and left-field, left pavilion and club level gates open at 5:10 p.m. and all stadium gates open at 5:40 PM.  BTW, Dodger PA announcer Eric Smith returns today.

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Wednesday, April 9, 7:10 PM against Tigers

For this 7:10 game the left-field, left pavilion and club level gates open at 5:10 p.m. and all stadium gates open at 5:40 PM.  Brazilian race car driver and three-time INDY 500 winner Helio Castroneves will throw out the first pitch.  All attendees will also receive a Minion paper fan and a coupon for Universal Studios.  You can see the fan on the left.

Former Dodgers Tim Leary (in right-field pavilion plaza) and Kenny Landreaux (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 5:10 PM to 7:30 PM. 

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Blog Kiosk: 4/8/2014 - Dodgers Links - Dr. Jobe's Memorial at Dodger Stadium, AJ to have Surgery and Kenley Jansen's Fastball

Dr. Frank Jobe's Memorial Service was held at Dodger Stadium yesterday.  Featured above is Vin Scully opening up the ceremony.  Pic via @Dodgers on twitter.  An AP report of the event at the LA Times is here.  Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider shares his report here; including video.  You can check out a bunch of photos from Jon SooHoo here.

• Dave Cameron at FanGraphs writes, "A Thing Maybe Worth Noting: Kenley Jansen’s Velocity."

Yes, that top line is correct: PITCHF/x has already classified more 97+ mph pitches from Kenley Jansen this year than it did all of last year. Maybe more staggering is the cumulative percentage of the top three lines; of his pitches greater than 90 mph this year, 51% of them have been recorded at 95.0 mph or faster, compared to just 7.2% last year. 

• Mark Langill at Dodger Insider writes about, "Mickey Rooney’s Dodger Stadium show."  As you may know, Mickey Rooney passed away this weekend.  RIP, Mickey Rooney.
• Are you kidding me?  AJ Ellis to have surgery today, via a @Dodgers tweet last night.  I suspect Tim Federowicz will be back.  Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider has mroe information here.

 

#Dodgers catcher AJ Ellis is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee for a meniscus tear tomorrow morning in Los Angeles.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 8, 2014

AJ responded thusly:

Blown away yet unsurprised by support of @Dodgers fans. Have total confidence in Dr.ElAttrache and Med Dept to have me back on field ASAP
— AJ Ellis (@AJEllis17) April 8, 2014

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Like Ausmus, Ellis seems like future manager."

“I love the mental side of the game, the strategic part of the game,” Ellis said. “I love having conversations after the game, just learning from Don Mattingly and Tim Wallach and Rick Honeycutt and just trying to devour as much about this great game of baseball as I can.” 

• I don't want to get too excited here, but I think Matt Kemp is back.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Matt Kemp: 'That's my swing right there'."

"My second home run, that's when I know I'm hitting the ball good, when I'm going to right field," Kemp said. "That's my swing right there."

• Via Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, "Former Dodger Raul Mondesi says Yasiel Puig reminds him of himself."

“He’s still young,” Mondesi said. “People make mistakes when they start playing that young.

“They have to let him develop without putting too much pressure on him. Little by little, he’ll get to where he has to get and he’ll help the team win a lot of games.”

• Topps 2014 Gypsy Queen official goes live on Wednesday.  Check out a bunch of preview pics from Topps facebook page, here.  Check out a couple of Dodger cards below.

• Matthew Glidden at Number 5 Type Collection shares a card of Brooklyn Dodger Larry French from a 1975 TCMA set.

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