Will Ferrell: Dodger Super Fan

For those who watched Game 5 of the NLCS (and for those who consider yourselves true Dodger fans, your answer should be nothing other than "yes"), you experienced the delight of comedian extraordinaire Will Ferrell introducing the Dodger lineup prior to the first pitch. If you didn't get a chance to see it, here it is:

Unlike many Hollywood Johnny-come-lately types, who hop onto the Dodger or Laker bandwagon whenever they become the hot ticket in town, Ferrell—who grew up in Southern California and is a USC grad—is clearly a dyed-in-the-wool Dodger fan with a deep understanding of the team's history. Need evidence? Look no further than the name and number on the back of Ferrell's jersey.

That's right: Will Ferrell was sporting a Vic Davalillo jersey. Clearly, the man knows his Dodger history. I'm sure it's ditto for Ron Burgundy. Stay classy, Chavez Ravine!

 

Top 5: Steve Garvey Cards

To Dodger fans of my generation, Steve Garvey was more than just a baseball star; he was a superhero, a demigod, a personification of all that's right and good in the world. Anchoring baseball's most famous infield, Garvey was a hit machine who elevated his game whenever playing on the grandest stages, whether the All-Star Game (he took home two Mid-season Classic MVP awards), the Championship Series, or the World Series. Clean-cut, durable, powerful, clutch—The Garv was idolized by millions of youngsters, myself included.

For this reason, his cards were some of the hottest commodities in circulation. Narrowing down my list of favorite Garvey cards to just five took some doing, but here they are.

5. 1978 Topps

1978 Topps: check. Garvey striking a distinguished pose: check. All Star designation: check. Enough said.

4. 1971 Topps

Obviously shot at the Dodgers' former spring training facility in Vero Beach, FL, a very youthful-looking Steve Garvey makes his baseball card debut in the 1971 Topps set. At the time, Garvey was still a third-base prospect. But his erratic arm led to a shift to first base, which cleared the way for Ron Cey to take over the hot corner. One unusual aspect of this card is the facsimile signature. First of all, it reads, "Steven P. Garvey," rather than the typical "Steve Garvey." But even more odd is that it looks nothing like his later signature (see the 1977 card below for a comparison). Now I suppose it's possible that Mr. Clean completely reconfigured his signature once he became a full-time big leaguer. But my guess is that Topps hadn't yet gotten the rookie's signature and instead just had some office flunky sign it. Either way, it's a terrific card

3. 1977 Topps

1977 Topps is a very underrated set in my opinion. Its design—plain white border, team name in colored block letters—is very simple. But that works to its advantage, placing more focus on the images—smart move, considering that the 1977 set consists of a larger-than-usual number of action shots. Here, the four-time Gold Glover is poised to spring into action as soon as the ball is put in play. And of course, the card indicates Garvey's All Star status—always appreciated. Nice card.

2. 1972 Topps

This card represents the unusual case where a famous player's most valuable card isn't his rookie. Released as part of the rare sixth (and final) series of the 1972 Topps set, a mint condition '72 Garvey can fetch over $200. For this reason, it was my most sought-after Garvey card and was the last of His Topps cards that I acquired. And there's no denying that this card is a gem.

The 1972 Topps set is my all-time favorite, what with the elaborate, colorful borders; the psychedelic hand-crafted lettering; the vibrant photo colors; and the surfeit of all-time greats (e.g, Aaron, Clemente, Mays, Killebrew, Robinson) and valuable rookies (e.g., Carlton Fisk/Cecil Cooper, Ron Cey). Garvey's card—showing a young Mr. Clean following through on a practice swing—is unquestionably one of the set's highlights.

1. 1974 Topps

Res ipsa loquitur—"the thing speaks for itself."

I learned this Latin phrase in grad school, and it perfectly applies to the '74 Topps Garvey. Just one glance reveals its awesomeness, requiring little further explanation. But ... I can't resist adding my own evaluation.

Start with the card's uncommon landscape orientation, which immediately imbues it with a distinctive flair. Then there's the photo of Garvey gracefully striding towards home plate, wielding his bat like a scepter. The coolness of his bearing can't be overstated. Garvey's dignified image is offset against a background of blurred faces, which lends the photo a slightly otherworldly feel. The look is so artistic that it almost looks more like a painting than photograph. Without question, it's one of the greatest pictures ever captured on cardboard.

I would kill to get the original negative of the photo and use it to make a 30" x 40" print to hang on my office wall (or better yet, the living room!). I don't exaggerate when I say this card should someday be on display in the Louvre. (Well, maybe I exaggerate a little, but not much!)

 

Kid K Dominates in Game 1

Clayton Kershaw was absolutely filthy last night, limiting the Braves to three hits and a single run over seven innings while fanning 12—the most by a Dodger pitcher in game postseason game since Sandy Koufax K'd 15 Yankees in Game 1 of the 1963 World Series. He scuffled a bit in the 4th inning, in which he gave up his only run, and at times he struggled with his command. But it's a testament to Kershaw's greatness that on a night he wasn't at his best, he still registered one of the top pitching performances in the Dodgers' storied history. And he's only 25. Amazing.

In honor of Kershaw's stellar effort last night, here's a 1972 Topps card of Clayton I made recently. (I'm biased, but I think it looks better than the '72 Topps design cards of Kid K found in 2013 Archives and the 2013 Series 1 mini insert set.) Enjoy!

 

Top 5: Ron Cey Cards

Behind Steve Garvey, Ron Cey was the second most prominent member of the legendary Dodger infield of the '70s and early '80s . And yet, even though he received his share of accolades during his career, I still think his accomplishments are somewhat underappreciated. He had 10 seasons with 20+ home runs and swatted 316 long balls in his career. His batting average may not have been overwhelming (career .261). But he had a very discerning eye at the plate, as attested by his career .354 on base percentage. Plus, he had an excellent glove at the hot corner (go back and watch Game 3 of the '81 World Series if you need a refresher). One can make a very strong case that Cey was the most indispensable Dodger of his era.

Throughout his career, the Penguin certainly had his fair share of classic cards. Here are my five favorite.

5. 1978 Kellogg's

Of the many oddball baseball card sets that have been released over the years, the Kellogg's 3-D sets were my favorite (followed closely by the Hostess cards, about which I'll more to say in a later post). This Ron Cey from 1978 is a fine exemplar of those great sets.

4. 1978 Topps

As I've already said in prior posts, 1978 Topps was the first set that I religiously collected. Thus, a Ron Cey from this set was a lock to make this list. Not a lot of action in this card. But the All Star designation and that awesome mustache are more than enough more to make this a classic.

3. 1976 Topps

I always thought this was a particularly cool card, what with the Penguin wielding a piece of lumber before taking some hacks during pre-game BP. With those flexed forearms, he looks every bit the power hitter that he was.

2. 1974 Topps

After being part of 3-in-1 rookie cards in '72 and '73, Ron Cey finally got his first standalone card in '74, and it's a doozy. The full-body shot shows the Penguin uncoiling a monster cut, his upward gaze indicating he got all of the pitch. Whenever I look at this card, I always imagine Vin Scully exclaiming, "A high flyball to deep left center field! A way back! She is GONE!" Without question, the best action shot of Cey ever captured on cardboard.

1. 1975 Topps

This was the first Ron Cey card I ever owned, and it remains my favorite. The background at Dodger Stadium is sublime, with the colors of the grass, dirt, and stadium seats perfectly complementing the vibrant multicolor card border. And Cey's pose is perfectly regal. Add to this the All Star designation (which I always love), and you have all the ingredients for a classic card.

BONUS: Best 3-in-1 Rookie Card

One of the most sought-after cards of the '70s, this cardboard gem features the two best NL third basemen of the Me Decade (though it's a little odd to see Ron and Mike sans their trademark mustaches). And then there's the bespectacled Mr. Hilton (career OPS .564 over 161 games). At least he can brag to his grandchildren that his rookie card is one of the most valuable in existence.