Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Congrats, Jim Thome! You're a Hall of Famer!


I don't care what you say. Jim Thome is a Dodger Hall of Famer!

I jest, of course. After all, Thome spent a very short amount of time in Dodger Blue during the 2009 season -- having been traded to the team as a late-season pinch-hit threat for the playoff run. During that season he never got on the field, and only recorded four hits in 17 at-bats. In the playoffs he went 1-2 with a walk.

Regardless of his short stint in Blue I felt it necessary to make a bunch of Thome fantasy Dodgers Baseball cards in his honor. Check out all nine in this post.

Gil Hodges in "The Geisha Boy"


Steiner Sports, the famed retailer of sports memorabilia, is currently running their Winter Classic Auction, and it happens to include a very unusual item that is notable to both Dodger fans and fans of Jerry Lewis. Featured above is a 1958 Day Player Agreement between Dodgers first baseman Gil Hodges and Paramount Pictures (auction link here).

As you can see, the agreement is for his appearance in an Jerry Lewis 1958 comedy called "The Geisha Boy." Having never seen the flick and being the curious sort, I decided to do some research and share that here. Per IMBD, we find out what this movie is all about:
Gilbert Wooley (Jerry Lewis) is a second-rate magician who is sent to entertain the troops in the pacific. During his time in Japan he becomes attached to a little orphan boy.

Blog Kiosk: 1/24/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends


The Dodgers Community Tour yesterday included a special visit by Yasiel Puig at a local McDonald's and Joc Pederson for a doggie 'Meet & Greet.' Per Michael Duerte at NBC Los Angeles:
Puig signed autographs for fans and employees, and posed for pictures throughout the hours that he was there, saying that he couldn't eat too much McDonald's on the day as he was preparing for Spring Training which takes place next month in Glendale, Arizona. 
"For spring training, I can't eat too much McDonald's today," Puig told the employees at the restaurant. "All of my team is at the stadium right now... Practice and be ready for spring training and make a good year and try to win the championship."
Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Pic on the right via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018. Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodgers HistoryIn 1939 former Dodger Wee Willie Keeler (along with George Sisler and Eddie Collins) are elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Keeler famously said, "hit 'em where they ain't." In 1963 the Dodgers acquired Don Zimmer in a trade with the Reds for a minor leaguer.  This is Don's second stint with the team; having originally been signed by them as an amateur in 1949 and rising up their ranks. In 2006 the Dodgers signed free agent reliever and soon-to-be legend Joe Beimel. In 2014 the Dodgers signed free agent utilityman Chone Figgins.
  • Happy Birthday, Jim LindseyNeal Finn & Scott Kazmir!