Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Monday's Flag Day



Today is the Dodgers unofficial Flag Day celebration, and we have Rick Monday to thank for that.

Below, Rick Monday describes exactly what happened in Dodger Stadium on April 25, 1976.

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Nothing But Dodgers

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.
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 As has been a tradition for a while now, the Dodgers will have a former players signing free autographs before home games this coming weekend in Autograph Alley at Dodger Stadium.  Autograph Alley is located in centerfield and is accessible through the rear entrance.  On Sunday all signings are at the Viva Los Doyers celebration in the Dodgers parking lot.  Below is a schedule:
Friday
Al Downing 
5:10 PM – 6:30 PM
Saturday
Tommy Davis 
4:10 PM – 5:30 PM
 
Sunday (at Viva Los Doyers)
Billy Ashley 
11:10 PM – 12:30 PM
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Current Dodgers closer Javy Guerra will be signing free autographs at the Shops at Montebello in the Center Court on Saturday.  Go here for details.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Shops at Montebello
at the Center Court

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If what I've listed so far isn't enough then go over to the Frank & Sons Collectible Show in the City of Industry.  Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Dee Gordon are signing.  Flyers are below. Click any of the pics to enlarge.



Blog Kiosk: 4/25/2012

Panini unveiled more preview picks of their upcoming 2011 Limited Baseball set that is coming out soon.  See them here.  They showed off a couple of Dodgers autographed prospect cards of Justin Boudreaux and Pratt Maynard.
  • Here's an excellent update from Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts on the progress of some Dodger prospects in Albuquerque with the help from Albuquerque sports reporter Christopher Jackson.
Sands and the Topes’ coaching staff are confident he can turn things around, but lordy, that boy seems stubborn. They tell him “lay off the first pitch” and he goes up and swings away from the start.
  • Go to LFP and check out the Dodger Video that's posted up.  It's incredible.
  • Chad Moriyama thinks the MLB should ban plate collisions and takeout slides.  I wholeheartedly disagree.  I might accept banning home plate collisions, but takeout slides are an integral part of the game.  The idea that a man running towards second base should not be allowed to break up a potential double play is ludicrous. 
  • GCRL shows off some recent "Through The Mail" autographs of some Dodgers.
  • Kevin Nelson at Sports Collectors Digest writes about, "The Importance of Nisei Baseball in Japanese Internment Camps."
  • The Sisterhood of the Traveling Jersey (from GasLamp Ball) recently visited Dodger Stadium and has a post up to prove it.
  • Sports Collectors Daily picks out 5 of the best vintage Baseball card investments.
  • As expected, LA Kings goalie Jonathon Quick has been nominated as a finalist for the Vezina Trophy that is given out to the leagues best goalie, via Kings Insider.
  • Check out this soon-to-be released animated graphic novel called "Bottom of the Ninth" that was created by Ryan Woodward.  It looks great.  Link here.  A preview video trailer is below.
YUP!  Always dreamed about this when I was a kid….an ANIMATED graphic novel!!!  Took me 40 years to realize this dream, well…40 years of dreaming – 4 insane months of animating, drawing, drinking caffeine, and acting like a 10 year old again.

Video Link: