A Blue Heaven Interview with Artist Gustavo Vasquez

Several weeks back I reached out to a local artist who oftentimes paints the Dodgers for an Blue Heaven Interview.  As you may know, from time to time I like to put together these kind of features to highlight artwork, books or anything (really) that I find enjoyable.  I've had a lot of fun with these, but never has someone's story been as captivating and inspiring as this one.

Gustavo Vasquez story is about dreams... And of chasing those dreams.  It's about realizing a talent and letting it take you wherever it may.  This is a tale that has gone from sacrifice to poverty to even a taste of success - no matter how fleeting that has been so far.  It's a biography that still has many pages left to be written, and I hope that by the time it is all said and done it ends with the kind of success dreams are made of.

Please meet self taught artist Gustavo Vasquez in the photo above.  Feel free to check out his Facebook page called "Painter of Champions" here.  My interview with him is below. 

A Blue Heaven Interview with Baseball Artist Monty Sheldon

Yesterday, I shared with you Monty Sheldon's most recent artistic creation - a painted Artball® of Yasiel Puig.  Check out that post here.  When I first came across that painted ball I immediately reached out to Monty to see if he'd be willing to answer some questions.  Thankfully, he was happy to oblige.

As you may already know, Monty Sheldon is an artist who primarily paints about Baseball using a baseball as his canvas.  He has also drawn sketch cards that have been used by Helmar Brewing and Topps for their card sets.  Feel free to check out his facebook page that includes hundreds of photos, and his website.

Below is my interview with Monty Sheldon.

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Monty, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for me.  I’ve admired you work for several years and have always wondered what inspired you to paint on a Baseball? 

MS: Ernest, Thank you very much for the kind words and for taking the time to ask me about my art!

One day while visiting the Tacoma Dome memorabilia show near Seattle back in 1997, a good friend and dealer at the show, Mark Macrae, asked me if I had ever thought about painting on a baseball before.  Mark knew that I was an artist and that I worked for Dark Horse Comics at the time and he thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask.  He mentioned that a couple of tables over were examples of another artist (Eric Black) and that I should go check it out.

Now at that time I had many different passions in life, none of which really crossed paths with each other.  When I looked at Eric’s baseball art I can honestly say I had an epiphany.  With that one object I realized I could combine my passion for baseball, art, and collectables.  Over 570 baseballs later and I still feel the same way.

A Blue Heaven Chat with Riley Breckenridge of Puig Destroyer

It sure seems like the past couple of weeks has been all about Yasiel Puig.

And, why not?  The Dodgers have been in the dumps, so anything that can divert our attention, even for a little bit, would surely be welcomed.  As it happened, Puig ended up being much more than a temporary departure from our losing ways.  He has become the "next big thing".

Heck, Yasiel Puig's greatness even spawned a new band called Puig Destroyer, and last week the very first track from their first recording went live.  Listen to it at the very bottom.

Well, being an aging metalhead myself, I decided to reach out to a band member for a fun interview.  So, a big Blue Heaven thank you to Riley Breckenridge for taking the time to answer some questions, via email. As you'll notice, I tried to be funny, but that's just not my forte.  Anyway, check out the chat below.  BTW, bandmate Ian Miller also gave an interview to Decibel Magazine that you can check out right here.  You can also get a Puig Destroyer T-shirt here, follow them on twitter here, and as proof of their Baseball fandom bona fides check out their Baseball blog called Productive Outs.

Now, on to the interview.

Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions regarding your new band, Puig Destroyer.

Q:  Obviously, as a die-hard Dodger fan the idea of a Puig inspired band makes so much sense.  I wonder, though how did this entire concept come together?

A:  It's silly, really. The name "Puig Destroyer" came up, in passing, during a discussion of Puig on an episode of the weekly Productive Outs podcast that I do with my good friend Ian Miller. There's an awesome grindcore band called Pig Destroyer that we're both fans of, and I said something along the lines of "There should be a grindcore band called Puig Destroyer". Nine days after that utterance, we are that band. I sent Ian the drum track for "One Man, Five Tools" the next day, he wrote a bass line for it immediately, I enlisted my good friend (and Giants fan) Mike Minnick from Curl Up and Die to do vocals, and Ian pulled Jon Howell (his bandmate in Kowloon Walled City) to play guitar. We'll have an EP done fairly soon.

An Interview with Jillian - Dodger Art on Dodger Trays

As some of you know, I love to feature great artwork focused the Dodgers, and often jump at the opportunity to share their work here.  Well, a couple of weeks ago I was turned onto the artistic stylings of a fan named Jillian who has been taking her skills to a new and unique level.  BTW, a big hat tip to Cathy for pointing me to her. 

Jillian is an ardent and creative Dodger fan who has a passion for drawing.  So, over the past three years she has combine her skill with the ubiquitous food tray found throughout the stadium in order to create something beautiful.  It is Dodger art on Dodger food trays, and I am smitten.  You can check out more of her work on her Facebook page here: Dodger Art by Jillian.  Thankfully, Jillian took a few moments to come onto Dodgers Blue Heaven to let us know a little bit about her work.  Check out that interview below.

Q: Jillian, thank you for taking some time to answer some questions.  I am always interested in Dodgers art and was excited to see your work on such an unusual medium.  How did you come up with the idea to draw on the food trays?  When did you start doing it?  Are the Dodgers your main focus of your art?

A FanCave Interview with Dodger Fan, Aaron Roberts

Back in February I ran a series of interviews featuring the three Dodger representatives vying for a chance to reside in the MLB FanCave home in New York City during the 2013 season.  By all accounts, the FanCave is an opportunity to have the kind of job most of us dreamed of as a child.  Participants would spend all day watching, talking and expressing their love for the game.  Better yet, you didn't have to feign impartiality like a reporter sitting in a press box.  Instead, you were expected to be partisan... loud, proud and partisan.

As the initial contest went on they whittled the contestants down to 9, and one Dodger fan made the cut.  His name is Aaron Roberts from Huntington Beach, and he was kind enough to provide another interview for Dodger Blue Heaven readers.  Check out what he said below.  If you want to check out my previous interview with him go here.

Also, since we are on the subject of the FanCave, I thought I would pass along a note about a FanCave contest that you can win.  Right now, the Dodgers and MLB will give one lucky Dodger fan a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to New York City on April 23-24 while the Dodgers are in town! The winner will get a VIP experience, including a visit to the MLB Fan Cave, exclusive access to a Dodgers game at Citi Field and more! Go here for more details.  All you have to do is post a photo on Instagram using #AWholeNewBlue that shows why YOU are the ultimate Dodgers fan!

(twitter link)

Anyway, my interview with Aaron is below:

(twitter link)

Q: Hey, Aaron!  Congratulations on making it to the MLB FanCave.  I can’t tell you how great it is to see a True Blue Dodger fan representing us in New York.  It’s even better knowing that the Giants got shut out.  Unfortunately, other than Kershaw, the Dodgers couldn’t quite do the same on the field during the first series.  That being said, do you have any encouraging words for Dodgers’ fans as we cross our fingers and hope that they can right the ship?

A: I don’t think any encouragement is needed. Dodgers fans are some of the toughest and most faithful in all of Baseball. It’s definitely not time to panic yet. Our pitching was great and our hitting was also very good. I know people will disagree with me on that but Kemp and Adrian were both hitting the ball on the screws. Unfortunately they hit them directly to someone but those balls will start to drop and we’ll get those base runners in. If there are any Blue Bloods out there that are starting to worry, remember It’s only 3 games into the season and we won one of them. Being 1 and 2 is a lot better than being 0 and 3 and as much as it absolutely pains me to use this reference, the Giants started out 0 and 3 last season and we all saw what happened in October. So keep the Faith Dodgers fans, big things are coming.

MLB FanCave Contestant Interview with Mark Fabrick

This is my final post focused on the 2013 MLB FanCave.  As many of you already know, the MLB FanCave is back for a second season.  Currently, there are 52 Baseball fan contestants remaining, and out of that number there are 3 verified Dodger fans vying for a chance to immerse themselves into the game.  They will eventually whittle it down to a final 9 with the help of fans like you.  Go here to see them all.  Voting ends next week.

Since I am fanatically pro-Dodger, I thought it would be interesting to hear directly from those folks who want to represent us.  The other day, I shared an interview with FanCave contestant Thomas Aaron Roberts.  Check out that interview here.  Yesterday, I featured Jeremy Dorn.  See his interview here.  Today, I have up Mark Fabrick.  See his FanCave voting here.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mark.fabrick

Twitter: @MarkFabrick

Instagram: markfabrick

Contributing writer for dodgersnation.com

Above are his particulars, and below is my informal email interview provided in full.  I asked the same question to all three contestants; with exception of the last one.  So, on to the questions.

Why should this Dodger fan trust you to represent the Dodger faithful at MLB's FanCave?  What would you say are your Dodger fan bona fides?

I am a true blue Dodger fan, I know the roster in and out, I'm a L.A. native and have seen all of their great and not so great moments.  I know all of the teams key players through the years from Ramon Martinez to Raul Mondesi to Shawn Green to Kevin Brown to Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw.  I generally attend a dozen or so games a year, less this year having started grad school.  If there's a game, it is on, and if I'm at work or at class, you better believe I'm checking my phone for score updates.  I also write for DodgersNation.com so I'm always digging for stats to back up my articles.  My love of baseball coincides with my love of movies and TV so I bring kind of the perfect representation of Los Angeles to the Fan Cave.  Much like my video I've alway wanted to do a Wayne's World style talk show from my garage, the Fan Cave allows me to do that and more.  I'll will bring my passion and enthusiasm for Dodgers baseball to the Cave, as well as my affection for comedy and satire, and overall appreciation for all things pop culture.

MLB FanCave Contestant Interview with Jeremy Dorn

This is my second post focused on the 2013 MLB FanCave.  As many of you already know, the MLB FanCave is back for a second season.  Currently, there are 52 Baseball fan contestants remaining, and out of that number there are 3 verified Dodger fans vying for a chance to immerse themselves into the game.  They will eventually whittle it down to a final 9 with the help of fans like you.  Go here to see them all.  Voting ends next week.

Since I am fanatically pro-Dodger, I thought it would be interesting to hear directly from those folks who want to represent us.  Yesterday, I shared an interview with FanCave contestant Thomas Aaron Roberts.  Check out that interview here.  Tomorrow, I'll have up Mark Fabrick.  But, todays special feature interview is with Dodger fan Jeremy Dorn.  See his FanCave voting here.

Twitter: @Jamblinman
Facebook: JeremyDornMLBFanCave
Featured columnist at Bleacher Report: profile
Blog/Podcast: Three Up, Three Down

Above are his particulars, and below is my informal email interview provided in full.  I asked the same question to all three contestants; with exception of the last one (which was meant to be a little fun).  BTW, Jeremy has been extremely active on Reddit.  In fact, later this evening he will be doing a AMA 'Ask Me Anything'.  Go here to check that out.  Anyway, on to the questions.

So, Jeremy why should this Dodger fan trust you to represent the Dodger faithful at MLB's FanCave?  What would you say are your Dodger fan bona fides?

I have a unique back story as a Dodgers fan. My parents were both raised in Southern California and moved up to the San Francisco Bay Area before I was born. But my dad, being a diehard Dodgers fan, was not going to let his firstborn root for the rival Giants he had despised his whole life. So I've been born, raised, and am still living in the enemy's den -- Giants country. Because of that, I have a great perspective on the rivalry itself and have spent most of my baseball fan life explaining why the Dodgers trump the Giants, all while in a hostile environment. If I can survive 24 years here wearing Dodger Blue, I think I can be a great representative in the Fan Cave for this team. Despite the distance, I make multiple road trips down to L.A. to catch game

MLB FanCave Contestant Interview with Tom Roberts

As many of you already know, the MLB FanCave is back for a second season.  Currently, there are 52 Baseball fan contestants remaining, and out of that number there are 3 verified Dodger fans vying for a chance to immerse themselves into the game.  They will eventually whittle it down to a final 9 with the help of fans like you.  Go here to see them all.  Voting ends next week.

Since I am fanatically pro-Dodger, I thought it would be interesting to hear directly from those folks who want to represent us.  Thankfully, the contestants had the same thing in mind.  So, starting today til Friday, I will put up information about all 3 Dodger fans, and share some words they were kind enough to pass along.

First up is Huntington Beach native and super-Dodger-fan-man Thomas Aaron Roberts.  See his FanCave voting here.

Twitter: @BertsBall
Hashtag: #CapeInTheCave
Facebook: BertsBall
Blog:  BertsBall

Above are his particulars, and below is my informal email interview provided in full.  I asked the same question to all three contestants; with exception of the last one (which was meant to be a little fun).

Why should this Dodger fan trust you to represent the Dodger faithful at MLB's FanCave?  What would you say are your Dodger fan bona fides?

I would love to have the support of Dodger fans everywhere. I'm a True Blue believer when it comes to the Dodgers and truly feel that there isn't a bigger fan of the Boys in Blue than me. I know the players, the stats, the traditions and the history. But most of all, I know the game itself. Every March, I drive to Arizona to watch 4 Dodger Spring Training games and get a taste of the upcoming season. I write for two blogs about the Dodgers and also have my own blog chronicling my thoughts on the Dodgers. I bleed blue and will represent the Dodgers with passion, knowledge, personality, respect and excitement. I've had dinner with Tommy Lasorda, met Steve Garvey at the Hall of Fame, been blown off by Kirk Gibson, retweeted by Jerry Hairston Jr., written articles about Vin Scully, and drank beer with Jerry Sands (former Dodger top prospect) Baseball is my heart and the Dodgers are my blood.

An Incredible Jackie Robinson Painted Glove and Interview with the Artist - Sean Kane

Do you see that glove above?  It's got to be the coolest thing you've ever seen... right?  Well, it get's even better.  Look at the reverse side of the glove below.  Just brilliant!

Last week I stumbled upon the website of an artist named Sean Kane (through twitter) and I couldn't be more pleased by what I saw.  As you can see, Sean has taken Baseball art to another level.  Sure, I've seen Baseballs with drawings on them.  I've seen uniforms that have been painted on.  I've even seen artwork done on bases.  But this is the first time I've run across art on a glove- a vintage glove no less.

His website is called Painted Glove Collectibles, and he recently completed the beautiful Jackie Robinson glove you see here.  In fact, I do not think he has a Buyer for it yet, so if you're so inclined I suggest heading over there.  Here is the link again.

Being an inquisitive fellow, I decided to reach out to Sean for a short interview about his work and inspiration.  Thankfully, he was happy to oblige.  Check it out below.

• I was very happy to come across your website the other day, and really enjoyed seeing your artwork.  It is certainly unique.   I was wondering what was your inspiration?  How did you come up with the idea?

The inspiration for my baseball art on classic gloves just seems to have emerged from my dual love of both art and baseball and tinkering with how to overlap the two in a distinct way. I've always drawn and painted and have been enchanted by the look of baseball since I was a boy, from the uniforms to the baseball cards, to the game-day program covers and stadium designs. 

I don't recall exactly what prompted painting on gloves, other than I've been painting on all sorts of things throughout my life, including on batting helmets as a boy -- I recall using quite a bit of paint to create my own Expos tri-colored helmet, among others!  A few years ago I created and sold painted baseballs as gifts for newborns and parents called Baby Baseballs.

An Brief Artist Interview: Tommervik

I was recently checking out eBay and ran across a series of original paintings that caught my eye. Now, I'm not an art aficionado, by any means, but I do take note of things I like. I was struck by the abstract view of these Dodgers ballplayers in action.

(Auction Link)

They were painted by Tommervik who has been very prolific. There are 145 paintings listed on eBay, and the range of subject matters not only includes sports but also pop culture. The opening asking prices are exorbitant, but I believe the artist is looking for offers to consider. I did a little bit of research and found that this artist has been written about before, most notably on various Star Wars websites. Check out an interview on TorWars here. I figured I should give it a try and communicate with the artist myself, as well.

(Auction Link)

Thanks for taking the time to write back to me. Do you have any artistic influences?

My artistic influence is painting, I like all different types of genres. I like art history.

How long have you been painting? Did you study art? If so, where?

A Dodger Book: When the Dodgers Were Bridegrooms

How much do you really know about the Dodgers? Sure, you've heard of Charles Ebbets and his palace called Ebbets Field. And you know of the ballplayers with names like Durocher, Reese, Snider and Robinson who have been spoken and written about in ad nauseam, but how about McGunnigle, Adonis Terry or Charles Byrne.

Well, I have to admit, before finding out about this new book I had no idea who they were either.

Fortunately, these past Dodger characters have not been lost to time. Ronald Shafer, who wrote "When the Dodgers Were Bridegrooms," puts us through a time capsule that explores the birth of the Brooklyn franchise to the early 20th century, and I had an opportunity to asked him a couple of questions about it. Check it out below. Also, go to his website, here, for more information about the book.

1: Please tell me how you came up with the idea of this book?

I got the idea for the book after my wife, Mary, told me that her great-grandfather, Bill McGunnigle managed the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and invented the catcher's mitt. I found out that according to an 1895 baseball guide, Mac was indeed credited with being the first to use in mitt in 1875 (actually, a pair of bricklayer's gloves). I also found that the Bridegrooms were the same team that later became the Dodgers.

2: Considering we are looking at the late 19th Century, how did you do the research to fill out a complete story about the team and cast of characters? Resources must have been limited, and with the passage of time, stories a bit muddled.

Interview With the Author: Jim Vitti- Brooklyn Dodgers in Cuba

As I wrote about previously, "Brooklyn Dodgers in Cuba" is a new book being released on the 28th of this month by Arcadia Publishing. When I first heard about it I immediately sent along some questions to the author, Jim Vitti, hoping to hear more about the book and his experience in writing it. Thankfully, he responded back.

Jim Vitti's two year journey about the Dodgers in Cuba started during his research for a book about Baseball on Catalina Island- a book subsequently called "Chicago Cubs: Baseball on Catalina Island."

While researching that one, I stumbled onto the notion of ‘baseball on islands.’ Two of our favorite concepts, but like hot dogs and chocolate you usually don’t think of them at the same time. But a nifty notion, which I began to explore . . .

Soon, he discovered that Baseball was played on islands throughout the world.

But what caught my interest was the Dodger camps in Cuba...

So it seemed like a natural semi-sequel, and off to the races I went. The interesting irony is the completely different feel of the stories: The Cubs on Catalina is springtime, youthful and innocent . . . while The Brooklyn Dodgers in Cuba is booze and broads and betting and bullets – a steamy summer night.

This is about where I realized that this book would likely include much of the gossip and wild tales I had been seeking. So, instead of trying to recapture his words I thought it would be best to let the rest of the interview continue in his own words. It's a bit long, but it is really worth the read- especially the final part when I ask, "was Ernest Hemingway a Dodger fan?" You Betcha!

Did you have an opportunity to interview, not only former Dodgers from the time period, but also Cuban players and fans?

That was such a treat – I got to interview 41 Dodgers who played there (including the last living player from 1941 and the last one from 1942, helping add to the depth beyond the 1947 story). I also talked to about three dozen other non-Dodgers who played there. The timing was good but sad: two dozen have died since the interviews, so a silver lining is at least their tales are recorded here.

I did get to interview some Cuban players and fans, including Connie Marrero – who’s now the oldest living major leaguer (99) – living with his family in Cuba, lucid as can be. (On pitching against DiMaggio: “I punched him out” . . . about Robinson stealing 2nd: “on the catcher, not on me” . . . on seeing Castro pitch; was Fidel any good? “Let us say he liked to pitch.”)