we've been waiting for beckett

just over four years ago, i lamented the fact that the dodgers had not had a pitcher throw a no-hitter since 1996.  yesterday, i watched from my couch as josh beckett recorded the last three outs of the game to end his first career no-hitter and the dodgers' run of futility in that department.  here's a 2013 topps stickers 'card' of beckett that i must have been saving for this occasion.

i also had this carl crawford sticker from the same set ready to go in the scanned folder, so why not today?

even though crawford was 0 for 5 in the game.

if there is any down side to the no-no, it is that vin scully didn't get to call it.  i believe he has called every other dodger no-hitter since carl erskine's second career no-no which was thrown in 1956.  i like charley steiner, but it just wasn't the same.

we will all be on johnny vander meer watch in a few days, but for now i'll just enjoy the fact that another dodger pitcher has thrown a no-hitter.  only three more to catch sandy koufax...

…but hopefully there will be some beckett no-hitter cards in some future releases, including the next round of gypsy queen if there is such a thing.

kemp and kershaw go together like a horse and carriage

happy new year!  i'm not making any resolutions, but i would like to see the dodgers' front office resolve to give clayton kershaw what he wants and sign him to an extension, and also resolve to not trade matt kemp.  i am willing to hitch the team's fortunes to these two guys and see what happens.

with that, let's have a look at a few kershaw and kemp cards that i've been scanning but not posting for a while.  we'll start with a 2011 panini playoff contenders combo card of the two

here's another combo card - these two are like peas and carrots - this one is from 2013 topps heritage

now for some shiny solo stuff - 2013 topps finest kershaw

and kemp

and a kemp refractor

2013 topps tribute kershaw

and kemp

here's a 2011 bowman international parallel, reminding us that kershaw is from texas.

kemp's home state of oklahoma also makes an appearance on that card.  see?  they're even neighbors!

here's a matt kemp 2012 topps mini card that was handed out at the national convention

now for a 2010 upper deck biography kershaw

and a 2011 topps marquee kemp - the blue parallel version

here's a 2010 bowman chrome kershaw

and a 2010 bowman platinum kemp

obviously, most of kemp's cards show him with a bat, but he does have a few that show him fielding or on the bases.  pretty much all of kershaw's cards show him pitching.  i'm hoping that 2014 opening day at least shows him at the plate delivering his 2013 opening day home run against the giants.  but if the rest of his cards show him pitching in dodger stadium like this 2011 bowman finest futures card, i won't complain.

here's a black bordered 2008 topps allen & ginter kemp mini that i picked up on sportlots for 18 cents a couple months ago.

and here's a 2009 upper deck goodwin champions kershaw that i've had scanned for a while

just a few more - 2013 bowman platinum kemp

and 2009 upper deck signature stars kershaw

and last but not least - some 2013 topps stickers of kemp

and kershaw

man, do i hope these two stick together with the dodgers.  in 2014 and beyond.

i hope i'm not stuck with these...

a mid-week meeting last week put me in close proximity to a toys r us store.  i decided to make time to check out their card kiosk.  i bought some flagship and opening day (more on that later) but also picked up a couple of packs of 2013 topps stickers for some reason.  i haven't purchased stickers for 30 years or so.  i did get one dodger out of the two packs - adrian gonzalez

but had no real luck beyond that.  i quickly wondered why i had purchased the packs.  here are all the stickers that i pulled.  let me know if you are interested in any of these (other than yo adrian!) and i will get a trade stack going.

i have been a magnet this year for giants and blue jays.  i do kind of like the mascot stickers, although i am glad that the dodgers don't have a mascot.  i wish the phanatic's sticker showed him with tommy lasorda.  those were good times.