Wednesday, March 04, 2009

This Day in Dodger Baseball

The Brooklyn Dodger captain, Pee Wee Reese, was elected by the Veterans Committee into the Hall of Fame on this day 25 years ago.
"... As important as his play on the field was to the Dodgers, his actions off the field may have meant even more. The Ekron, Ky., native helped smooth the path for baseball's integration pioneers when he openly welcomed Jackie Robinson to the Dodgers. Robinson spent his first season in 1947 as a first baseman, then switched to second base the next year -- teaming with Reese for five seasons to create one of baseball's best double-play combinations."
Click here to listen to Pee Wee's Hall of Fame Induction speech.

Here is Pee Wee Reese's official website.

Our Seemingly Long Manny Distraction Is Over

Ramirez and the Dodgers have agreed in principal on a two-year, $45 million contract, pending a physical.

The outfielder, his agents Scott Boras and Mike Fiore, and Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and general manager Ned Colletti met in Los Angeles (this morning) to finalize the deal.

Have we just clinched a playoff spot? Who else in the West can come close to competing against us?

MEARS: 1960's Dodger Pins

I've been a fairly active collector of Dodger pins for quite sometime. So, I like to think that I've, at least, seen most modern day issues. Imagine my surprise when I saw this group of circa 1960's player pins at the recent MEARS Auction.

These pins measure 3 1/2 inches in diameter, have a red background with a black & white player photo surrounded by a white border near the top of the pin. On the bottom the players name is in bold white letters. All of these pins retain their original cardboard backs. I have 2 other very similar pins of Sandy Koufax and Maury Wills, but they have color photos instead of black & white pictures.