even now i am still celebrating

it's been just almost three weeks since the dodgers won the world series, and about one week since i received the game 6 topps now cards that i ordered to commemorate the event. i had a post last week that railed a bit on topps and a couple of their cards from this year's "now" release, so i will try to focus on the positives here.

mookie betts

there is so much joy in how mookie plays the game. i love it. his reaction when making a big catch or hitting a big home run is infectious. it took me awhile this season to understand the "keep the wheels turning" motion he would make after legging out a double, but there is no confusion about the celebration he enjoyed after hitting a solo home run in the 9th inning of game 6. i am happy his exuberance was captured on cardboard.

dodger bullpen

dodger pitchers struck out 16 rays in game 6, and i agree with topps in counting the game's "opener", tony gonsolin as part of the bullpen. the dodgers used seven pitchers in all that night (not pictured are dylan floro, alex wood, pedro baez, and brusdar graterol), but victor gonzalez got the win and julio urias the save, so it made sense to show them on the front.  wood is the only other pitcher who gets a mention on the back:

since he was part of the threesome that topps thought "issued most of the damaged". check your tense there, topps. 

julio urias

i was happy to see dave roberts keep urias in the game for the ninth inning. in fact, i think he handled the bullpen well in games 5 and 6, which is to say that his moves proved successful. urias became the fourth dodger southpaw to end a clinching world series game for the dodgers - johnny podres (1955), sandy koufax (1963 and 1965), and steve howe (1981). in fact the only other two pitchers to close out a championship for the dodgers are larry sherry (1959) and orel hershiser (1988). urias is also second all-time to fernando valenzuela in postseason wins by a mexican pitcher.

champions!

i am assuming topps is saving the on-field team photo for 2021 heritage card #1 (which will be awesome), but this is ok, too.  having missed out on a card of the 1981 world series mound celebration back in 1982, i do appreciate this scene being featured.  there we have max muncy, gonsolin, urias, austin barnes, baez, wood, and graterol, with the famous chico (francisco herrera) coming in to the fray.  as the scene unfolded, i realized that there was no concern about fans rushing the field, and so the discarded hats and gloves were safe until chico could go back and round them all up.  

corey seager

i have to say i was a bit surprised that seager was named mvp. he had the numbers, sure, but mookie betts would have been my choice. mookie was held hitless in the two games the dodgers lost, but in the other four, he was the key to the offense, particularly in games 5 and 6. plus, his stolen base and run scored on a fielder's choice in game 1 afforded the dodgers some breathing room. in fact, he lived up to the hype and the theme of the 2020 topps stadium club bash

and burn

insert.

no matter, the dodgers are world champions and there will be plenty more cardboard to collect that documents that fact!