The Case of Mark Walters

When another Dutch Dodgers fan (yes, there are at least two of us over here) asked me what my opinion was on the whole Mark Walter business I was honest: I didn't really (want to) follow it. I just want the boys to reach the World Series again. But he had a point and maybe I just had to delve deeper into it, if only to be prepared when shit was about to hit the fan.
Turned out, shit was already over the place, sadly enough.Exactly why I don't follow behind the scenes developments. Last time I was interested in that kinda stuff was when Frank McCourt used the team as his personal bank. When that idiot was finally gone I was certain seven fat years would be upon us. Looking back it's been way more than that. Why would I look at owners? They bought players and they won championships. That's all I wanted!

The Case
Mark Walter is under a major federal investigation by the FBI, SEC, and insurance regulators over allegations that two insurance companies under his control improperly funneled up to $21 billion in policyholder funds into his own business empire. So there's that! If you can disect that sentence.
Now, Walter was already pushed to sell his stake in the LA Lakers for $12.5 billion. This should trigger massive amounts of alarm bells for his other team, our Dodgers.
Beyond initial questions into whether insurance capital was improperly leveraged to finance the team's $2.15 billion acquisition in 2012, direct financial ties like a multi-million-dollar loan to Dodger Tickets LLC have breached the firewall between his insurers and the franchise. Consequently, if forced liquidations or Major League Baseball sanctions occur due to an unfair financial advantage, Walter could be pressured to sell his $7.8B controlling stake in the club or face league penalties. It all seems to be of no consequence to Shohei Ohtani. His massive $680 million deferred salary remains legally protected in escrow.
As can be expected, the commissioner hasn't taken any formal action and maintains a wait and see strategy, we all know him for not doing anything (read: take the 'piece of metal' from the cheating Astros).

Fan Reactions
Fans of the 29 other teams are having a field day with this news. Especially those rooting for the Asstros. They were outraged when Dodgers fans wanted an astersk behind the 2017 World Series steal. Now those fans want asterisks dor cheating off the field. Saying that pumping millions of dollars into buying good players is financial doping. Even pushing the "You stole signs, they stole life insurance money." idea. Sad life!
The counter by Dodger fans has been great, claiming "White-collar financial double-dealing by an owner behind closed doors doesn't change what happens on the field, whereas stealing signs directly altered pitches during the World Series." This, of course, I agree with 100%!

where this ends? Anyones guess! Will it affect our boys... probably not, but the backlash is real.

For now I leqve you eith a timeline of the most important events.

Timeline: Mark Walter Financial Inquiry & Sports Empire

March 2012

Acquisition of the Los Angeles Dodgers

The investment group led by Mark Walter and Magic Johnson buys the Los Angeles Dodgers for a then-record amount of $2.15 billion. Walter contributes relatively little cash himself; regulators approve hundreds of millions originating from insurance companies under his control.

January 2014

Policyholders' Lawsuit Promptly Withdrawn

Two policyholders file a federal lawsuit accusing Walter of using their insurance funds as a "personal ATM" to buy the Dodgers. Mysteriously, the case is voluntarily dismissed just one day later.

June 2025

Expansion to the Los Angeles Lakers

Walter further expands his sports empire, purchasing a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team for $10 billion through his holding company TWG Global.

Fall 2025 (~September)

Criminal Probe & FBI Seizure

The situation escalates behind the scenes. Following an internal whistleblower report, the federal government launches a criminal investigation. The FBI seizes Mark Walter's phone and computer at an airport.

Early 2026

Correction of Related-Party Loans ($21 Billion)

Credit rating agency Fitch and financial regulators force Walter's insurance companies (Delaware Life and Clear Spring Life) to open their books. The percentage of loans Walter extended to his own affiliated entities must be administratively corrected from 3% to 42% (approximately $21 billion).

August 2026

Emergency Sale of LA Lakers Stake

Pressure to repay billions in cash becomes so intense that Walter sells his stake in the LA Lakers to Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger in an emergency transaction for a record-breaking $12.5 billion.

Late August 2026

Official Statements from MLB and Holding

Both Major League Baseball (MLB) and Walter's holding company release official statements. While Walter insists the original acquisition of the Dodgers was entirely lawful and that the club is not for sale, MLB confirms it is closely monitoring the situation.

September 2026 (Current)

Exposé Documentary Series & Calls for Sanctions

A high-profile investigative documentary series by journalist Pablo Torre reveals new details showing how Magic Johnson and the Dodgers' TV rights firm are entangled in this web of multi-billion-dollar loans. Calls for sporting sanctions or a forced sale of the Dodgers by MLB grow across American media.

Dodgers in Toronto

No, this isn't a post about the 2025 World Series games! Now that that's off my chest, let's start! :) I always wanted to visit Toronto and seeing the World Series made that wish burn a bit brighter. So when I saw our boys were playing the Blue Jays this year I booked a flight and got tickets for the first two games at Rogers Centre, which I like to call Dodgers Centre ever since the World Series last year.

Toronto is big! It's not that different from US cities. Large department stores, loads of homeless people, but also a city underneath the city. An easy way to move around the place during those cold winters.

I really hoped to book a room at the City Centre Marriott which has rooms looking out over the baseball field. They were a few hundred dollars when I looked for a room in April in January, but prices skyrocketed in March to several thousand dollars. Ofcourse! The Dodgers were coming!

We visited the bar with field view in the beginning of the afternoon, Dodger fans were there as well, checking in into the hotel or just roaming the bar like us. I didn't have to fear being the only Dodger fan at the games.

The first night Rogers Centre was filled with almost 41,000 fans. The booing, when a Dodgers player came to bat, was loud, but I couldn't blame them. Theoscar was amazing with four RBI's. Plenty of homeruns by Hernandez, Freeman, Ohtani, Rushing (twice). Wrobleski had a great outing where Scherzer was done after 2 innings. All in all a great night out.

The next night Yamamoto was on the mound and pitched 6 solid innings. Díaz got the save. No homeruns but a great outing: 4-1.

I was impressed by the stadium. Really a nice place to visit again when the boys play here.

Old Blue New

I wanted to write a book about our boys in blue for some time, but never really had the peace of mind to sit behind my laptop and type. Which is weird, because I do write my short posts on this blog. Somehow I didn't know what kind of angle I could go with. Then, a few weeks before visiting Toronto to see the boys play, I got this urge. A story was forming and I saw before me a beginning, and an end. It was the middle part I had to figure out.

First thing I had was a title, it's a bit out there, but if you read the book, you'll get it. I conjured up an older man so the protagonist had someone to reflect upon. He had to be old enough to have seen the Dodgers play in Brooklyn. The stage turned out to be New York City, around the 2024 World Series.

I visited one game in Yankee Stadium and stayed in NYC for a few days myself so I could incorporate real life experiences together with made up ones. It was fun to delve deeper into my knowledge of the boys in blue and regurgitate facts from (auto)biographies I'd read throughout the years.

I don't want to spoil anything nore, So I'll leave you with the back cover blurb.

"When a Dodgers fan from the Netherlands decides to fly to New York City to attend the 2024 World Series games at Yankee Stadium, he encounters an interesting old man. Both of them Dodgers fans, but worlds apart."

Mike Olson 1/1 baseball card

I like baseball cards. I’ve never collected then religiously, mostly because I’m not from the US and getting hold of them isn’t very easy. Regular cards aren’t worth very much. Older cards, or those with famous players can cost you an arm and a leg. Grated vintage cards reach insane prices. Nowadays, the baseball card producers try to make cards more desirable by stamping them 1/100 or 1/10 and even 1/1. The 1/100 could be a the image of a player with a green border, the 1/10 could be the same image but with an orange border and 1/1 could be the same image but with a yellow border. Even the 1/1 isn’t unique, because the only thing different is the border color. That’s all! Yes, there is only one, but it still feels a bit like cheating.

To have a 1/1 unique baseball card, how cool would that be? Well, meet Michael Olson! I came across his work through his Instagram account. This guy hand draws baseball cards from scratch. Yes, he also draws ice hockey and football, truly… anything you want.

Now that was something I would be into. I would come up with a player I’d like a hand drawn card of. Took me no time, he just popped in there: Joe Kelly! This guy had brought some more swagger to the Dodgers team. He was the personification of the ‘Not Like Us’ movement with his ‘nice swing bitch’ pouty face.

But the pouty face had been done over and over and I just wanted a happy Joe card so I chose as a reference photo a shot of Joe in his mariachi jacket (belonging to Grover Castro of Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar) which he traded for with a game worn jersey. He wore it to the White House celebration of the 2020 World Series title and threw the ceremonial first pitch in it before game 1 of the national League Wild Card Series in 2025.

So that’s the image I send to Mike and he was all happy about making it into a hand drawn card. He suggested using the Topps layout from the 1988 baseball card series, because it’s Joe’s birth year. I thought that was a great idea. Also because the Dodgers won the World Series in 1988.

A few months later it was done and, damn, that’s one fine card! It’s so much better than any numbered or limited regular card. It even has room on the back for Joe to sign it, if I ever bump into him.

The work is outstanding, the communication with Mike is smooth, he is a very friendly guy who thinks along with you about the overall look and feel of the card. His wife Mary designed the packaging and it’s all one big party receiving it and do the unboxing.

So, if you have a favorite player and you like unique art, visit Mike Olson’s website. He also sells pre-drawn cards so there is a good chance you’ll find a card there that strikes your fancy. Check out his Instagram account @mikeolsonart for recent projects. If you want to see his video presentation of my Mariachi Kelly card go here and here.

Pieces of Johnny Podres

After the daffiness years and 5 lost World Series against the Yankees it was, finally, next year! A bunch of guys who, especially since the arrival of Robinson, almost finished first multiple times, did it. Took them seven games, but who was counting? Nothing came easy in Brooklyn, certainly not a World Series win. But in 1955 it was their time.

It was the year of Jackie stealing home and Duke Snider hitting 2 homers in game 4 ánd 5! But the series MVP was 2 game winner Johnny Podres. He pitched two complete games and shut out the Yankees in game 7 to give Brooklyn its overdue first World Series Championship.

He would go on to win a total of four World Series titles, play in four All Star games and was the National League ERA leader in 1957. Another interesting fact: Podres hit .313 in World Series games.

Now, with a career like that I was amazed to find some Podres baseball cards "cheap". With today's prices for modern day players like Ohtani $30 for two cards isn't bad for a World Series MVP.

Card #1: 2003 - Upper Deck - Sweet Spot Classic - Game Used Memorabilia

Card #2: 2005 - Upper Deck - Sweet Spot Classic - Signatures

"Game Used"
The Sweet Spot card is pretty straight forward. The Game Used piece of jersey is debatable. Because what is 'game used'? I tried to get an answer online which wasn't easy. The best infomration came from reddit and it's kinda disappointing. Game worn or game used means it was worn during a game, but that could also have been an exhibition game or minor league game AND it might not have been worn by the player on the card.
Now, if it specifically says (like it does on the Podres card) it was worn by him, only then can you be sure he wore it. Still a chance he wore it during spring training or something.
Still, while these cards can readily be found, I'm very happy with them. Remembering one of Dodgers' best!

Hollywood Ending: The Official World Series Championship Commemorative Book - Review

Rarely was a book review as easy as this one. ‘Hollywood Ending: The Official World Series Championship Commemorative Book’ is exactly what I hoped for. It was advertised directly after the Dodgers won the World Series in November, but it finally came out in February. Still, it was totally worth the wait.

It’s a good size coffee table book with a minimum of text so there is ample space for photos. This is precisely what you want. Visuals from the incredible regular and post season run.The photos are neatly put in chapters which makes it easy to relive the series you want.

Verdict
Seems like a waste to go on and on about the book. It's simply great. Loads of photos,all the exciting plays caught on camera. Skybox Press did a great job putting it together like this and it's quite affordable: $40.

2025 World Series Champions - Topps NOW 15-Card Team Set

Topps, well known publisher of baseball cards, released the 15 card team set of the 2025 World Series champions. I ordered 2 sets in November and they arrived in January. Topps was very transparent about the fact the set was a bit delayed, shipping was smooth, packaging sturdy.

I was a bit surprised the packs themselves were flimsy. At least compared to the set released after the 2020 World Series win. The 2020 set was shipped in a box and a hard plastic case. This year the packs came in a small cardboard envelope stuffed with a plastic pouch containing the cards.

The Set
Every set is comprised of the same 15 cards, all stacked in the same order: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, Blake Snell, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Tyler Glasnow, Tommy Edman, Max Muncy, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Will Klein, Enrique Hernandez, Clayton Kershaw, Roki Sasaki, Team Celebration and last but not least one:

guaranteed numbered parallel or

image variation or

autograph/Triple Autograph or

parallel

Now, here’s where it gets tricky. This is Topps Now so you get to know how many sets are gonna be out there. So, at the end of the ordering window (first week of November) it turned out there would be 118,459 sets printed. Now, this is the amount of parallels/short prints we get:

/99 Green Foil

/50 Gold Foil

/25 Orange Foil

/10 Black Foil

/5 Red Foil

/1 FoilFractor

That's not a lot to look forward to. The chance of getting anything worthwile is close to zero.

Should I Open it or Should I Keep it Sealed?
These sets cost $75 each, a total of $178 for two sets including shipping to Europe. When they arrived, I wrestled with the thought of maybe keeping them sealed because I see them for sale from $150 to $300 and even higher on Ebay. But curiosity got the better of me. Maybe I DID get that 1 of 1 triple auto card with Yamamoto, Ohtani and Sasaki.

I had some luck with earlier sets. When I bought the 2020 Championship set, see blog about that set, I did get a /99 signed Corey Seager card which was amazing! So, why keep the sets sealed? I dug in!

The Cards
As far as design goes, the cards look very clean and the photo’s used are great. It really takes you back to some of the exciting World Series action. I was surprised not to find Miguel Rojas or Andy Pages in the set. They did their part, didn’t they?
The first set had an alternative short run pic of Yamamoto. Nice but nothing fancy. The second set had an alternative short run pic of Kershaw. Turnes out there was some misinformation on the back as well. Kershaw is a 2 time World Series winner, not three. More about that later!

Verdict
Nice set! But don't pay $75 for a chance to get an autograph or parallel. Buy the base set from Ebay and enjoy the memories.