2013 Topps Hanley Ramirez Chasing History Autograph

I got a little bit of a late start buying up 2013 baseball cards. The last couple of years I bought up as much as I could as soon as new product came out. This year I decided to take a different approach by waiting. In a couple of cases I've gotten some great deals by being patient.

One of those deals was this 2013 Topps Hanley Ramirez Chasing History autograph. I really wanted to pick up a Hanley certified auto when he joined the Dodgers last year, but decided to hold out til one was released with him in a Los Angeles uniform. 

Hanley, who has been on the disabled list since tearing a ligament in his right thumb while playing in the World Baseball Classic, took batting practice in Baltimore last week and is trying to return in time for his bobblehead night on April 30. 

Luis Cruz Dodger Bobblehead - Cruuuuuz!

I know a lot of Dodger fans were wondering why the team didn't give Luis "Cochito" Cruz a bobblehead in 2013. After putting up some good numbers and becoming a fan favorite in 2012, it seemed like giving him a bobble was a no-brainer. 

Well, the Dodgers may not have given Luis a bobble, but the people at BobblesGalore.com did. There are only 144 of these limited edition Forever Collectibles bobbleheads available. The gloved Cruz bobble stands in a defensive position atop a Dodger pennant base and each one is individually serial numbered to 144.

The Luis Cruz bobblehead, which will be available in July, can be pre-ordered now by clicking here. They're $35 each, but dodgerbobble.com readers can use the promo code bobblesgalore10 for a 10% discount.  

Trade With Plaschke, Thy Sweater Is Argyle

I've had six opportunities to get the autograph of Dodger  pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu. All six times the Korean rookie has either denied me, skipped over me or in the case of Dodgers FanFest I happened to be in the wrong line. So when my boy Greg from Plaschke, Thy Sweater Is Argyle was able to get the Ryu sig at FanFest, I saw an opportunity to get the autograph that had eluded me so many times.

Now, I didn't want to mess around because I knew Greg had waited a long time in the hot Dodger Stadium parking lot before he got Ryu's auto, so I immediately offered to overpay for the sweet spot signature. I gave up quite a bit, but I honestly didn't mind trading so much because it's one less autograph I have to worry about getting this year. You can see everything I sent Greg here.

Besides the Ryu sweet spot auto, Greg was nice enough to include a beautiful 2012 Prime Cuts Matt Kemp/Clayton Kershaw jersey/bat card.

Thanks again to Greg for this great trade. Even though it took a few weeks get done, it was well worth it. I can't wait for the next one!

Bobblehead Preview: Matt Kemp

Last week the Dodgers released the image of 2013 bobblehead #2, Matt Kemp. Presented by United Healthcare, this bobblehead will be given to the first 50,000 fans in attendance on Tuesday, May 14 when the Dodgers play the Washington Nationals.

I'm really diggin' Matt's signature homerun swing on this bobble. And even though I hate that the Dodgers are giving away 10 more bobbleheads this year, I can never get enough Matt Kemp items, so I'm not hating on this one.

Adrian Gonzalez Dodger Bobblehead

When Adrian Gonzalez became a Dodger last year, I couldn't wait for him to get a bobblehead. Now he's finally got one. BobblesGalore.com just released AGon's first ever Dodger bobblehead.

Limited to just 2,013, this Legends of the Diamonds bobblehead has a goatee'd Adrian in a defensive pose sitting atop a Dodger pennant base. Regular price is $39.95, but it's on sale now for $24.95. You can pick one up by clicking here. And don't forget to check out all the bobbleheads at BobblesGalore.com.

Player Appearance: Mike Piazza

Former Dodger Mike Piazza's new book, "Long Shot" hit bookstores and Amazon nationwide today, but New Yorkers got a chance to pick it up one day early. As a matter of fact, Mr. Piazza was on hand at the Barnes & Noble in Manhattan Monday signing copies of his memoir. Hundreds of fans lined up in crappy NY weather to meet the catching great. One of those in line was my younger sister Karen, who was nice enough to pick up a signed copy for me.  

When she arrived at B&N, her and another lady were told no more books were available. Luckily that women raised hell and they let her and my sister buy a book, making them the very last two in line. Like most book signings, no outside items were allowed and there was no personalizing or pictures with Mike.

The line outside of Barnes& Noble

I wanted to say thanks Karen for picking this up for me. I really appreciate it. Even though I didn't get to meet one of my favorite Dodgers of all-time, I'm still happy to add this to the autograph collection. 

Don Sutton Gets Bobblehead Number Four

The Dodgers finally announced who will get bobblehead number four in the 2013 series. Hall of Famer Don Sutton will get that honor on Thursday, June 6. The Dodgers will be playing the Atlanta Braves that night and Sutton just happens to be on the Barvos' broadcast team.

From Dodgers.com:

Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton will be honored with a Bobblehead Night on June 6, when the Dodgers host the Atlanta Braves.

Sutton, now a Braves announcer but for 16 seasons a mainstay of the Dodgers' rotation, has been added to an expanded lineup of 10 bobbleheads for the 2013 season.

The collection consists of Hanley Ramirez on April 30 (vs. COL), Matt Kemp on May 14 (vs. WSH), Jaime Jarrín on May 25 (vs. STL), Sandy Koufax on June 27 (vs. PHI), Adrian Gonzalez on July 11 (vs. COL), Vin Scully on July 25 (vs. CIN), Hideo Nomo on Aug. 10 (vs. TB), Rick Monday on Aug. 27 (vs. CHC) and Magic Johnson on Sept. 12 (vs. SF).

Sutton, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998, still holds the Dodgers franchise record for wins (233), starts (533), games (550), strikeouts (2,696), innings pitched (3,814) and shutouts (52). He won 324 games in his career and was a four-time All-Star, and the Midsummer Classic's MVP Award in 1977.

I never expected Don Sutton to get one of the ten bobbles, but I think it was a great choice by the Dodgers.