Tuesday, November 14, 2017

A $1 Million Jackie Robinson Jersey


I'm astounded by the recent sale values of vintage memorabilia. A Babe Ruth game jersey can sell for millions. The original rules for basketball written by James Naismith himself sold for over $4 million a few years ago. The owner of the Montreal Royals and Brooklyn Dodgers first-year contracts of Jack Robinson are expecting millions when it finally comes to bid. Above is another million dollar Robinson item that is currently available at Heritage. (auction link) Featured is Jackie Robinson's rookie jersey from the 1947 season. It is already valued at $1,250,000 with nine total bids and just five days to go.  Best yet, it comes with a letter of provenance from Mrs. Rachel Robinson:

2017 Topps Now - Puig and the Entire Dodgers Team Earn Wilson Defense Awards


Here is another group of Topps Nows cards released over this past weekend that I failed to post about. Featured are cards celebrating awards won by Yasiel Puig and the entire Dodgers team.

The card directly above honors Yasiel's much deserved 2017 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year award in Right Field. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:
While committing just one error all year, Puig’s combination of range and arm strength made him a regular in the Dodger lineup regardless of how he was hitting during the season (though he also set career highs in home runs and RBI in 2017). 
He led all National League right fielders in ultimate zone rating (UZR — 12.1) and tied Jason Heyward for the most defensive runs saved (DRS) at the position in the NL (18). He also led all NL right fielders in FanGraphs’ defensive runs above average stat, which measures a player’s defensive value relative to league average.

Blog Kiosk: 11/14/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends


Check out this fantastic photo tweeted out by Alex Cheremeteff‏. Dated to 5/29/1953, it features several old-tyme Dodgers ushering in a new season for the Uptown Little League at Kennard Field, Pittsburgh. On the top row are (from L-R) Roy Campanella, Gair Allie, Jackie Robinson, Joe Black, Carlos Bernier, Sam Narron, and Ronald Gray holding shoes on left. Photo was taken by Pittsburgh photographer Charles “Teenie” Harris during his 40-year career with the Pittsburgh Courier. I also ran into another photo of Harris' from this day located in the archives of the Carnegie Museum of Art that you can check out on the right.

Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodgers History: In 1979 the Dodgers signed free agent starting pitcher David Goltz to a six-year $3MM contract. The former eight-year Twins veteran went 9-19 with a 4.25 ERA in three season with the team before being release in 1982.
  • Happy Birthday, Harry HowellRed SheridanJim BrewerTim Hamulak!