It was Jackie Robinson weekend. As you know, ballplayers throughout the league wore #42 to honor the great Dodger. Take a look at the cap the Dodgers wore on the right, via Chris Creamer at Sportslogos.net .
BTW, this weekend was not entirely celebratory. Chadwick Boseman, the fantastic actor who played Jackie in the 2013 film ‘42,’ died of colon cancer at the age of 43 on Friday -- on Jackie Robinson Day.
Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter . Below are more links to check out:
This ...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
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I am playing catch-up with some recently released Topps Now cards. First, there are two Dodger cards available right now, following their sweep of the Giants yesterday. After that, three additional cards had been released by Topps over the past week -- that I failed to write about -- so I'll share those at the bottom of this post.
First, Mookie Betts recorded his 1,000th career hit during the first game of yesterdays doubleheader. Check out the Topps Now card created by Topps above and bel...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
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As you surely know by now, Vin Scully has consigned a whole bunch of his personal memorabilia to Hunt Auctions, and frankly it's overwhelming. There's a ton of stuff, and bids are starting to reach lofty heights -- after being open for just a day or two.
I have yet to go through the entire catalog, but so far I think the cream of the crop might be his 1955 World Series ring. That's right folks! His championship ring is on the block and right now it sits at $13,750.00 -- with the possibly it...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
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Hey baseball fans! Even in a shortened 2020 season, we are sure to see some crazy home run numbers across Major League Baseball, a trend that will only continue to pick up as we advance deeper into the 21st century. But with an emphasis on power comes the slow demise of one of baseball's most underrated and exciting statistics: the stolen base. Most baseball fans like to think that base-stealing was always as common as it was right before the new millennium, but that's actually inc...
From Baseball with Matt
| over 5 years ago
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On Sunday the Dodgers honored the memories of Gianna and Kobe Bryant on what would have been his 42nd birthday. In addition to the pregame ceremony, Gianna and Kobe’s uniform numbers were painted on the pitchers mound for today’s game against the Rockies. See it above. Pic via @Dodgers on twitter :
Below are more links to check out:
This Day in Dodgers History : In 1960 Vin Scully famously had fans at Dodger Stadium wish third base umpire Frank Secory a happy birthday durin...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
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Just another Dodger victory.
Last nights win was brought to you by Clayton Kershaw. He went seven strong innings, struck out a season high eleven batters and allowed just one run to lead the Dodgers in their 6-1 ( boxscore ) victory over the Mariners. On top of that, Clayton now has the second most strikeouts in Dodger franchise history -- leaping over Don Drysdale's mark of 2,486. Kershaw's 2,493 strikeouts is just 203 short of Don Sutton's record as a Dodger. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodg...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
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Here is a look at all of the Dodgers found in packs of Topps 2020 Bowman Sterling brand. Go here for a complete checklist .
Many of the Dodgers top prospects are a part of this set; including Dustin May and Gavin Lux. It is also notable that Andy Pages, the ballplayers who had been traded to the Angels as part of the Joc Pederson trade that was cancelled, also has an autographed card available here.
As you know, this is a mid to high-end product that will cost you about $300 for a box of...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
| 1 read
Grotesk, AKA Kimou Meyer, is a Swiss-born graphic designer who burst onto the New York art scene in 1999. A decade later he would help start a creative art agency, Doubleday & Cartwright , and work with companies like Nike, Apple, EA Sports, ESPN, Red Bull, Mercedes Benz and others. Today, he takes his minimalist sensibility and wood sculpture aesthetic and applies it to Topps Baseball cards. Featured here is his Project 2020 card of Jackie Robinson. Per Zio at The Hundreds :
I th...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
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A couple of weeks back Topps released their Topps Chrome brand of Baseball cards, and I now have pics of all the Dodgers available in packs. Check them all out below. Go here for a complete checklist.
Base
#13 Max Muncy #77 Cody Bellinger
#91 Brusdar Graterol #95 Edwin Rios
#100 Mookie Betts #104 Walker Buehler
#114 Tony Go...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
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Seven in-a-row, Baby!
Last night Tony Gonsolin not only extended his scoreless innings streak (14.2), he also helped the Dodgers win their seventh consecutive game. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider :
“I think I’m just feeling a lot more comfortable up here,” Gonsolin said. “I’m trying to go out there and take advantage of every opportunity that I get.”
Photo above via Tony Gonsolin on twitter . Below are more links to check out:
This Day in Dodgers History : In 1983 t...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
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I really hate Leaf sometimes, and this set is an example of why. Featured here are cards from their recently released Trinity brand of baseball cards -- except it's not designated as a set from 2020. Instead, Leaf is calling this their 2019 Leaf Trinity baseball set. Considering that we are already in the eighth month of 2020 makes Leaf's dating absurd. Nevertheless, I've got pics of the three Dodger prospects in the set. Check them all out below. Go here for a complete checklist .
Clear ...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
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Last night the Seager brothers trotted out on the field to play each other for the first time in their careers, and their play didn't disappoint. They both had multiple hits, including home runs that no doubt impressed the other. Unfortunately for them, only one team can win the game. Per Alden Gonzalez at ESPN :
"You're still trying to win a game," (Corey) Seager said Monday, "but when you got around him, it was hard not to see your brother in the opponent."
...
"He only got thr...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
| 2 reads
A couple of weekends back was Topps annual National Baseball Card Day, and as you know free packs of an exclusive set were handed out to collectors at local card shops. The set consist of a 30-card base set and only one Dodger was included -- Cody Bellinger. There are also randomly inserted autographed cards, of which two are Dodgers'. Check them all out below. Go here for a complete checklist.
Base
#14 Cody Bellinger
Autographs
#AU-GL Gavin Lux ...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
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As you surely know by now, the Seagers -- Corey and Kyle -- played against each other for the first time in their career last night. Better yet, they both homered in the game -- becoming the first brothers to do so for opposing teams in the same game since 2001. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com :
“It was hard almost to stay focused with him out there, you want to go talk to him,” said Corey. “And he’s a talker, he wanted me to go over there. You try to be in the moment as much as possible. Y...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
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Is Keibert Ruiz the future at catcher for the Dodgers?
Only time will tell, but for the moment he is the cat's meow. Yesterday afternoon he collecting his first career hit by whacking a solo home run in his first career at-bat. Hilariously, his teammates decided to have a little fun with him afterwards. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com :
Dugout ribbing about how “baseball's easy” could barely wait until Ruiz finished his first home run trot.
“They also said it’s downhill from here,” said ...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
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We are in the midst of experiencing a Dodgers' catching renaissance. First, we saw Will Smith wow the fans. Now, it's Keibert Ruiz's turn. In his first career at-bat yesterday afternoon he smashed a home run. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider :
“It was very exciting,” Ruiz said after the Dodgers’ 8–3 win that swept the series in Anaheim. “First time being in the big leagues, I just was focused on getting a fastball and making contact. Happy to be here with all these guys and keep learning....
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
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The newest Sandy Koufax Topps Project 2020 card was created by Queens artist Sophia Chang. Per Nick Diunte at Forbes :
“Working on these cards, you're really seeing a piece of American culture,” she said.
BTW, you can watch Sophia chat with fellow Project 2020 artist Blake Jamieson on YouTube here .
Go here to check the Koufax card out and order the card from Topps online. A complete checklist of all the cards in the set can be found here . The reverse of the card is on the...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
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You knew this card was coming.
Featured here is Mookie's 2020 Topps Now card celebrating his record tying feat last night. As you know, he hit three crushing home runs against the burgeoning Padres to tie a Major League record for three-homer games in a career at six (6) -- joining Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa. With it still being so early in his career, Betts will no doubt break this record soon. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com :
“Of course. I’m human,” said Betts. “But I work so hard, man, I ...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
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Look who got their awards last night -- Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger. Unfortunately, Cody has been struggling at the plate this season. Mookie, on the other hand, is heating up... big time! He celebrating yesterdays award ceremony by walloping three homers to tie a Major League record for three-homer games in a career at six (6) -- tying Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa.
Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter . Below are more links to check out:
This Day in Dodgers History : In 1919 &n...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
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Hey baseball fans! Thus far into the abridged 2020 MLB season, it seems that former and present members of the Colorado Rockies (DJ LeMahieu and Charlie Blackmon) are some of the best hitters in baseball in terms of batting average. DJ is now on the Yankees, but when he played a mile above sea level, he did, in fact, win a batting title. But why are hitters on the Rockies so good? The answer is simple, and I kind of already hinted at it when I said "a mile above sea level." That's right: it's ...
From Baseball with Matt
| over 5 years ago
| 2 reads
Welcome to the 1,000 hit club, Justin!
As you surely know by now, Justin Turner reached 1,000 hits for his career last night. It came off a double in the second inning of the game. Unfortunately, his personal achievement would not lead to a Dodger victory. Nevertheless, I am sure it's a feat he never imagined accomplishing when he came to the Dodgers spring training came as an unsigned free agent in 2014. Per Alyson Footer at MLB.com :
“That's a big positive from tonight, and somet...
From Dodgers Blue Heaven
| over 5 years ago
| 1 read
Hey baseball fans! Relievers are sometimes called firemen because, well, they put out fires, "relieving" the starters they replace on the mound by getting out of jams. This didn't come from nowhere, however, because it was actually the nickname of one of the first modern-day relievers baseball ever saw, Johnny "Fireman" Murphy. So, let's talk about him! When I started blogging about baseball history eight years ago, my grandfather, who grew up in the Bronx, told me about how he used to work in...
From Baseball with Matt
| over 5 years ago
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Hey baseball fans! The Detroit Tigers are one of the most storied franchises of the American League, originating as a part of the AL's inaugural season in 1901. With this history comes many Hall of Famers, but no Detroit legend, whether it be Hank Greenberg or Al Kaline, can compete with the meteoric rise and fall of "The Bird," Mark Fidrych. Mark Fidrych was a non-roster invitee for the Tigers in 1976, officially joining Detroit's MLB roster in late April. He was lanky and curly-haired,...
From Baseball with Matt
| over 5 years ago
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Hey baseball fans! The NFL recently opened discussions about changing the name of the Washington Redskins to something more appropriate. This has prompted the MLB to consider the Cleveland Indians, who got rid of their red-faced Native American mascot and logo, Chief Wahoo, in 2018 (on Columbus Day, of all days). The Redskins moniker is definitely worse than Cleveland's, but it still begs the question: if the Indians change their name, to what will it be changed? I'll be proposing five of thes...
From Baseball with Matt
| over 5 years ago
| 1 read
Hey baseball fans! It's Derek Jeter's birthday! However, because I'm sure some of you think I love him a little too much, we're not going to discuss the Captain today. Instead, let's talk about one of the best players who played in the state in which Jeter grew up. Yes, Mr. November is from New Jersey and rooted for the Yankees, but he attended and was drafted out of Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Let's see: who's an awesome player who played for the Tigers? Oh, of course! It's Mr...
From Baseball with Matt
| over 5 years ago
| 1 read