Actual Prizes For The #kershawwalletcardcontest

I have been running my #walletcard contest here on the blog and on Instagram for the past couple of months but held off on showing what you are all playing for. On the blog I ran a poll on what Kershaw autograph you would prefer. An 8x10 signed photo or a team ball that includes his autograph but has smudges on some of the other signatures. The ball won out in a 2 to 1 difference so finally here are the prizes you have your choice from at the end of the contest. For reference on how these will be dolled out and "rules" on the contest feel free to read about it HERE . I might add an autograph or two as the contest continues but no guarantees. I will say that every 5 follows that the blog adds I will FOR SURE add an autograph. Pimp it !!!

Pedro Baez signed card.

Acquired by Austin at the 2015 Dodger Fest and generously donated.

Thank you again Aus.

Topps Ricky Nolasco

I'm kind of curious which will be the last taken. This or the Baez card.

Topps Paco Rodriguez

Topps Finest orange parallel Jerry Sands

Bowman Chrome refractor parall Chris Withrow

Topps mini Hanley Ramirez

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and now the ball

Matt Kemp underneath the logo

Smeared Shane Victorino

Luis Cruz

A.J. Ellis on the sweet spot

Chris Capuano

Andre Ethier

Mark Ellis

Josh Lindblom

Tony Gwynn Jr.

Aarong Haran

Kenley Jansen

and the man himself

Clayton Kershaw

So there you go. I hope everyone likes the prizes and as always good luck to you all and thank you for playing. Remember, pimping out the contest on your blog earns you points and the more followers the blog receives the more autographs I will add.

Thank you for reading and have a blessed day.

-Penguin

Card(s) of the Day - 2014 Topps : Base Blue ( Wal-Mart ) Parallels ( A Whole Lot of Dodgers )

Time to really make a dent if not just complete the whole blue parallel set from this year's Topps set. I wanted to get as many as possible of the Dodgers so I didn't have to search for them anymore and move onto other projects. Found a seller that had a majority of what I was looking for at pennies on the dollar.

It pains me to see Brandon in a Dodger uniform knowing that unless he is traded ( God willing ) or released he is here for two more years.

I just love Young's card for the fact that he is doing a baseball play with his eyes closed shut. A professional but glad he did not resign with the Dodgers in the off season. On the other hand I hope Hanley does come to an agreement on an extension in the next few weeks.

Sophomore slump? I have a feeling that Ryu will not fall into that category and look for him to be a solid number 3 in the rotation. Adrian hopefully will be up to his playoff Mickey Mouse antics and produces like usual but with a little more pop.

The lightening rod
The wild horse
Yasiel
This will be an interesting year and other than Kemp I think he will be a main x-factor on how far the Dodgers go.

10 blue cards down and only Nolasco and the two Kershaw League Leader cards are left for me to complete this parallel set. Hopefully I can lock those down soon.

Signed Ball of the Day : Mark Ellis ( ROMLB Sweet Spot )

Mark has had a decent if not great career. He has spent the last two seasons with the boys in blue. He has played for them, the A's and the Rockies with most of those years with Oakland. While not great at the plate as he has amassed a batting average of only .265 which includes over 1300 hits, his main contribution is his sure hands at second base. While not as flashy as other players in the game he constantly got the job done and was solid year in and year out. At the end of the 2013 season the Dodgers did not pick up his option for the 2014 season but with the new kid Guerrero coming in to take his spot at 2B I still held out hope that the Dodgers will bring back Mark at a lower price to mentor Guerrero and give the team a reliable back up on the field and maybe one of the last chances for Mark to pick up a ring.

Back in 2012 I acquired Mark's autograph on a team ball ( someday I'll do a post on that whole ball ) but coming into this year I turned my attention once again to doing single signed balls of the players. Went to enough games at Dodger Stadium and yet I was never able to get Mark to sign a ball for me. Through the year I always kept an eye on eBay for a pre authenticated ball of his and most had high buy it nows but I occasionally found some that were not. Finally a couple months ago I was able to win an auction for a PSA variety for just over $16. With the cost of the ball and authentication process combined costing over $25 you just can't beat that price when you factor in time and patience for the signature when here you don't have to as it's already on the ball. The ball collection keeps growing.

Card(s) of the Day - 2013 Topps : Full Dodgers Team Set From Retail Factory Box

Day 2 and entry 2 of my Christmas gift from the wife.

Yesterday as seen HERE the main prize for me was the Ryu photo variation that is only found in the retail factory set. The rest of the non-Dodgers will be used for trade to bring in more Dodgers. One way or another the wife is going to be getting me Dodger stuff whether its direct or I have to hustle for it.
= )

Anyways, instead of me hunting for the individual cards of all the Dodgers I was able just to pull them out of the box and be done with looking for them on the bay. Though I have some of them already its always nice to have dups to be used for trades, contests, etc. Though there is nothing specifically "special" about the cards I wanted them all. So everyone into the pool.

Dee, Andre and Kid K

Joe " I cant believe his was a Dodger " Blanton, LL Kershaw and Jansen

Paco, Get well soon Chad and underrated Choate

Nice guy Chris, Why are you still here Josh and Mickey Mouse Adrian

2014 Comeback Player of the Year Kemp, Thank God you retired Lilly and the bane of our bullpen League

Nice blurry Pic Matthew. WTF ??

Harriston, HanRam and Part time wrestler Greinke

Ellis, Cruz and Crawford

Trade with Fellow Blogger : Chavez Ravining ( Trade Number 1 )

Finally completed a trade with Alex from Chavez Ravining . He loves to run contests which I have not been fortunate enough to win yet but I am holding out hope for one that ends this Thursday. So I wanted to jump in and do my own contest and he happened to win my 2nd one as seen HERE . He is trying to complete a rainbow set of the Dodgers from this year's Topps Chrome set and I saw that he needed a purple Kemp which I had one to spare so I approached him on a trade and sent him the card with his contest winnings. I had nothing specific that I wanted back so I just informed him what I collected and send whatever which he did. I had zero 2013 Topps cards so everything he sent was useful.

An intense looking Zack, Crawford and a great picture of a bat flipping Hanley

Great start but that wasn't all

Another rookie card of Ryu, sure hands Ellis and thankfully long gone Cruz

Six down and then Alex tops it off with some Chrome

Mmm.. Chrome. I know I need the Topps Chrome ( 2 silver ones ) but I think I might have the Hanley which is fine as if I do I will pay it forward somehow.

Nine cards in total. A great package to get prior to Christmas. Thank you again to Alex and watch both our blogs for contests and insight. Trade two is in the process and should be up within the week.