Friday, December 17, 2010

‘Roy Campanella Night’ Featured on MLB Network

Be sure to check out the MLB Network this weekend, Saturday at 9:00 PM EST (6:00 PM PST). Turn on those DVR's. From the MLB Network Press Release:
Roy Campanella Night’ will be featured in a new episode of MLB Network Countdown: Fan Moments on Saturday, December 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET. ‘Roy Campanella Night,’ when 93,000 fans came to pay tribute to the paralyzed Campanella at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1959, will be ranked alongside other famous fan moments, including:

- Jeffrey Maier interfering with Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tony Tarasco's attempt to catch a home run off the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter during Game One of the 1996 ALCS;

- Steve Bartman obstructing with Chicago Cubs outfielder Moises Alou’s attempt to catch a foul ball during Game Six of the 2003 NLCS;

- Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Rick Monday grabbing the American flag away from would-be flag-burners;

- and ‘Disco Demolition Night,’ when fans brought their disco records to be blown up at Chicago’s Comiskey Park during a doubleheader in 1979.

Dodgers to Play in Las Vegas

Now this is a Spring Training event I can get behind. The Dodger will be playing a Spring Training exhibition game at Cashman Field in Las Vegas for the 2nd consecutive year. From the Dodgers press release:
The Dodgers announced today that the club will play a Spring Training game against the Chicago Cubs at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 13, 2011. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and the Las Vegas 51s of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays will host both clubs at Cashman Field for this exhibition game.

The Dodgers will return to Cashman Field for the second straight season and sixth overall appearance (2001-03, 2006, 2010). The Las Vegas 51s were the farm club of the Dodgers for eight seasons (2001-2008). Game time will be announced at a later date.

Ticket information is not available yet, but I suspect it will be coming soon. More information available here at the Las Vegas 51's website. The Cubs will also be playing the Reds the day before, March 12, at Cashman Field.

Walter Alston Original Topps Art

Over the past several years Topps has been going into their archives and selling some original art from their vintage card sets. They have primarily sold them through eBay under ToppsVault. The below item likely came from one of those sales, but is now being sold by an independent dealer. It is the original drawing used for the reverse of Walter Alston's 1969 Topps card. I must say this piece is pretty awesome- though the price is a little too rich for my blood.