Blog Kiosk: 12/8/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

A clearly concerned Don Newcombe looks on as Phillies third-baseman Willie Jones receives emergency treatment after being hit in the head by a fastball during a spring training game in Clearwater, FL. The vintage UPI press photo is from March 27, 1956, and is currently at auction on eBay.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 the Dodgers made a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates that netted them Billy Cox, Gene Mauch and Preacher Rowe for Hal Gregg, Vic Lombardi and Dixie Walker. As you know, Jackie Robinson playing for Brooklyn precipitated this trade when Dixie Walker made it known to the front office that he did not want to play with him. In 2006 the Dodgers signed free agent outfield Luis Gonzalez to a one-year contract.
• Happy Birthday, Eddie Dent, Alan Foster, Jolbert Cabrera & Reed Johnson!

Blog Kiosk: 12/1/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I absolutely love this photo. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

So you think the Dodgers might have some pennant jitters? Well, you couldn't tell by the looks of this carefree group of Sandy Koufax (l), Maury Wills (r) and Don Drysdale (shirtless background) tossing a football around a hallway outside the Dodger locker room before their game with the Cardinals here 9/26/1966. Wet weather prevented batting and infield practice before the game, but this trio of Dodger aces showed their unconcern by finding a football and throwing a few passes to each other.

You can check out the eBay listing for this vintage 1966 UPI Press Photo here. Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1966 the Dodgers trade Maury Wills to Pittsburgh for Bob Bailey and Gene Michael.
• Happy Birthday, Matt Broderick, Ed Reulbach, Les Munns, Lefty Sloat, Pete Wojey, Cal McLish, Greg McMichael, Cookie Lavagetto & Walter Alston!

Blog Kiosk: 10/20/2017 - Dodgers Links - World Series Bound!

Wow!

That was as dominating a win as you'll ever see. From the get go, the Dodgers attacked, and all the Cubs could do was crawl into their dens and contemplate the upcoming hibernation season.

We are going to World Series, baby! WooHoo!

Above is a fantastic pic of the Scully's celebrating the Dodgers win, via Cat Scully on twitter. I also thought the photo on the right, as shared by Justin Turner himself on twitter, deserves some praise. That's a great shot.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1988 the Dodgers defeated the A's in Game 5 of the World Series to win the championship at the Oakland Coliseum.  Orel Hershiser pitched a complete game, struck out nine and gave up four singles in the 5-2 victory.  He would also be named MVP of the series.  Mickey Hatcher hit a first inning two-run home run to start the offense for the Dodgers.
• Happy Birthday:  John Russell, Jigger Statz, Jack Franklin, Pat McGlothin, Juan Marichal & Rudy Seanez!

Blog Kiosk: 9/29/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The most wonderful hazing ritual in sports continues unabated.

Yesterday afternoon, just prior to their leaving for the last regular season roadtrip, the Dodgers dressed up their rookies in hilarious Halloween-styled costumes. Check out all the 'rooks" above, along with a handful of veterans having a good laugh.

Pic above via @Dodgers/Jon SooHoo on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1951 Don Newcombe became the first African-American 20-game winner when he and the Dodgers defeated the Phillies, 5-0. In 1959 the Dodgers won game two to sweep a three-game playoff against the Milwaukee Braves to win the National League pennant. They had ended the regular season in a tie, 86-68. The victory came in the 12th inning when Carl Furillo knocked in Duke Snider with a single. In 1976 Tommy Lasorda is named the new manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He succeeds Walter "Smokey" Alston who compiled a 2040-1613 record during an 23-year career as the Dodgers manager. In 1979 Manny Mota set a Major League record with his 146th career pinch hit at Dodger Stadium against the Chicago Cubs. In 2000 Gary Sheffield tied the Dodgers franchise mark for home runs in a season at 43.  He hit it off of Padres pitcher Woody Williams in San Diego. 
• Happy Birthday, Dave Orr, Gus Weyhing, Hunkey Hines, Harry Lumley, Oris Hockett & Joe Thurston!

Blog Kiosk: 8/4/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It is Yu Darvish Day! He'll pitch his first game as a Dodger this evening against the Mets, starting at 4:10 PM PST.

In other news, the Dodgers defeated the Braves last night, 7-4. Chris Taylor continues to just hit. He hit his 13th homer of the season to lead the club. Per Mark Bowman and Jaylon Thompson at MLB.com:

"It was a hitter's count with a guy in scoring position," Taylor said. "I wanted to be aggressive and be ready for the fastball. He has good life on his fastball, and I wanted to get in front as he left the pitch over the middle."

Photo above via Seiko Darvis on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1941 Dodgers backstop Mickey Owen became the first catcher to field three foul flies in the same inning -- during the third inning of an 11-6 win over the Giants. In 1942 the Dodgers and Giants played a game that ended up in a 1-1 tie at the Polo Grounds. It should've ended in a 5-1 Brooklyn victory when Pee Wee Reese whacked a grand slam in the ninth inning, but that was negated due to a wartime curfew of 9:10 PM. This would be the last twilight-wartime game played. In 1948 future Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell called his first Major League game. He was filling in for Dodgers legend Red Barber, who was recovering from a bleeding ulcer. The Dodgers attained Harwell's rights by trading catcher Cliff Dapper to the Atlanta Crackers -- the first and only time a trade like this was ever done. In 1980 Maury Wills becomes the manager for the Seattle Mariners. He is the third black manager in MLB history. 
• Happy Birthday, Dolf Luque, Tuck Stainback, Joe Pignatano, Eric Weaver, Eric Milton, Luke Allen, Alex Castellanos & Mike Freeman!

Blog Kiosk: 6/9/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Last night the Dodgers hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation's third annual Blue Diamond Gala at Dodger Stadium (featuring Maroon 5 and Earth, Wind & Fire on stage), and it was a star studded affair. Along with normal cast of current and former Dodger players in attendance you could find folks like Larry King, Mario Lopez, Eric Stonestreet and members of the Los Angeles Chargers milling about. Per Ryan Posner at MLB.com:

"This event has been pretty incredible over the last few years in helping build the foundation," Adrian Gonzalez said. " [The gala] is definitely a lot of fun and it's doing great things for kids in the Los Angeles community."
...
"It's kind of nice to get out of your element of baseball for a minute and do something like this," Seager said. "It's definitely pretty cool to have the concert in the outfield, too."

(pic via AM570 on twitter)

Photo at the very top via Steve Garvey on twitter. The B&W pics of Justin Turner and Clayton Kershaw via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1919 Dodgers starter and Hall of Famer Rube Marquard breaks his leg running the bases during the game against Cincinnati, ending his season. This next one is wild. In 1945 it was alleged that a recent medically discharged soldier was assaulted by Dodger manager Leo Durocher as he was being held by a Brooklyn patrolman during the sixth inning of that afternoons ballgame at Ebbets Field. He sustained a fractured jaw and other wounds. It is alleged that he was heckling Brooklyn's manager during the game. Durocher would be arrested the next day on felonious assault, but charges would be dropped soon thereafter after the fan receives over $6,000 from the Dodgers for his injuries. Branch Rickey would later defend Durocher, saying we are a "team of ferocious gentleman." In 1955 the Dodgers traded Joe Black to the Reds for Bob Borowski. In 1990 Eddie Murray hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the game against the Padres in San Diego.  Having done this for the tenth time in his career, he ties a MLB record with Mickey Mantle.
• Happy Birthday, Duke Esterbrook, Mack Wheat & Irish Meusel!
  

Blog Kiosk: 6/2/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The pursuit of historic Baseballs was alive and well in the 50's. Featured above is a early August 1957 AP press photo of Gil Hodges with the Chicago Cubs fan who snagged Gil's record 13th career grand slam. (eBay link) (boxscore link) Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Gil Hodges gets ball he hit for record 13th grand slam yesterday from Robert Chilla, 28, who recovered it in left field bleachers.  Chilla got new ball in exchange.

The blast came off of lefty pitcher Dick Littlefield during the fifth inning. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1995 Japanese All-Star Hideo Nomo wins his first Major League game after five no-decisions. He would go eight innings, walked three and strike out six batters to defeat the Mets, 2-1, at Dodger Stadium.
• Happy Birthday, Sloppy Thurston, René Valdés, Bob Lillis, Gene Michael, Lemmie Miller, Chance Sanford & Chin-hui Tsao!

Blog Kiosk: 4/28/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Corey Seager knows how to celebrate his birthday with style. Yesterday afternoon against the Giants, on his 23rd birthday, he launched his fifth home run of the young season in the first inning of the game. The knock is the 19th time in Dodger history that a player hit a round-tripper on his birthday, and the first time it's been done since Matt Kemp in 2014. As for the rest of the game, Julio Urias was impressive in his first outing of the year and the Dodgers offense finally rallied to win the game in the 10th inning. Per Chris Haft and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"The way that we've sort of been inconsistent with the different facets of the game and to be one game under .500, I think we're in a good place," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "This was a hard-fought series. They celebrated their wins over us and to be two games down in the loss column and salvage a split, to see the life we had in the last inning, this was a big win for us."

Photo above via Justin Turner on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1900 Brooklyn Superbas outfielder Fielder Jones becomes the first modern day Dodger player to hit a grand slam. It was accomplished at Brooklyn's Washington Park. In 1982 the Dodgers traded Leo Hernandez to Baltimore for professional pinch-hitter Jose Morales. In 1985 Fernando Valenzuela set a major league record by extending his consecutive scoreless innings streak at the start of the season to 41 frames when he blanks San Diego for eight innings. The Padres would then score off Fernando in the ninth inning when Tony Gwynn hit a game winning homer to defeat the Dodgers, 1-0.
• Happy Birthday, Jim Poole!
  

Blog Kiosk: 4/14/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Cold bats on a cold day continue to hamper the Dodgers. Yesterday, they could not muster a hit when they needed it most. They went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position; which only added to their woes against the Cubs. Over the pasty three games they are 1-for-24 with runners in scoring position. Ironically, 1-for-24 equates to a 0.042 average -- maybe the Baseball gods are having a bit of fun with us as we enter Jackie Robinson weekend. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“When you’ve got to have that hit to push a couple across, we haven’t got it yet. I know it’s not for lack of effort. Maybe a little (wanting it) too much.” — Dave Roberts

The Dodgers got blanked, 4-0. Ryu struggled through 4 2/3 inning, allowing two home runs with the wind blowing in. Per John Jackson at MLB.com:

"The velocity was a little bit down today," Roberts said. "He touched 91 [mph] but pitched at 87, 88. I thought he left a couple of fastballs out over [the plate], one to Rizzo and one to Russell. I thought the changeup was really good.

Photo at the very top via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017. Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1931 47-year old Brooklyn Robins hurler Jack Quinn becomes the oldest pitcher to start an Opening Day game. He would lose to the Boston Braves, 7-4. In 1964 Sandy Koufax made his only Opening Day start for the Dodgers. He faced the St. Louis Cardinals and threw a six-hit shutout, 4-0. It is also his ninth career complete game without allowing a walk.
• Happy Birthday, Jack Radtke, Greg Maddux, Mike Trombley, Brad Ausmus & Carlos Perez!
  

Blog Kiosk: 3/31/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Spring Odds and Ends

Early in spring Clayton Kershaw and family hosted ballplayers from several other teams in Arizona to Spring Training PingPong4Purpose charity event, and was kind enough to share some pics at the Kershaw's Challenge website (link here).

A little over 150 people attended the event, making donations at the door to KC. 50% of the proceeds were to be donated to Kershaw’s Challenge (handicap building project) and the other 50% would be donated to the winner’s choice charity. We were blown away with what the event raised. Just over $14,000 was donated the night-of! Incredible. Clayton and his partner Scott ended up pulling out the big win in the end…as well as Dodger bragging rights until next year’s event.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1948 the Dodgers played their very first exhibition game at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida. They played against their top farm team, the Montreal Royals, and defeated them 5-4.  Jackie Robinson hit a first inning home run.  Per HistoricDodgertown.com:

Florida Governor Millard Caldwell threw the ceremonial first pitch at so-called “Ebbets Field No. 2.” A sign reading “You Are Now Entering Dodgertown” welcomed a strong showing of some 6,000 fans, paying $1.25 in the grandstands and bolstered the idea of more games being played on base in the future. Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler, who had suspended Manager Durocher one year earlier, shook hands with “The Lip” and wished him good luck. Vero Mayor Merrill P. Barber looked on and a contingent of the Brooklyn National Guard, who had traveled to Florida to watch the Dodgers, was introduced and went home with a “load of oranges presented to them by the Vero Beach Jaycees.”

• Happy Birthday, Bill Hallman, Gene Snyder & Balvino Galvez!
  

Blog Kiosk: 2/17/2017 - Dodgers Links - Spring is Here

Spring training is officially underway.  There are 32 pitchers and six catchers currently in camp.  Additionally, several position players; including Justin Turner, Corey Seager and Joc Pederson, have also arrived ahead of their Tuesday reporting date.  In other news, Yasiel Puig is also at Camelback Ranch and he brought a little friend, per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

Yasiel Puig has arrived in Dodgers camp, bringing with him a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, housed in a wood box with "The Walking Dead" stamped on the outside. Spring training now has begun.

I suppose Puig is hoping to unleash his inner beast -- just like Negan.

Photo above of Dave Roberts first team meeting of Spring, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017.  Go here to check out more great pics from Jon SooHoo of the Dodgers first workout yesterday.  Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Ed Brandt, Ike Boone, Rod Dedeaux (also the longtime USC Baseball manager), Ed Chandler & Roger Craig!