Blog Kiosk: 4/7/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's an awfully awkward looking photograph that appears to feature newest Dodger Ray Sanders meeting Jackie Robinson, with Pee Wee Reese in tow. It is dated to March 12, 1948 and is available through REA (auction link).

As you may know, less than a week back the Dodgers traded Eddie Stanky to the Braves for Sanders, but eventually sent him back to Boston since he had not fully recovered from injuries suffered the previous year.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1969 Dodger reliever Bill Singer is the first Major Leaguer to officially be credited with a new fangled stat called the 'save.' It was on Opening Day in Cincinnati, and Singer pitched three scoreless innings to maintain a 3-2 victory over the Reds. Eric Stephen at True Blue LA wrote a story about it here. In 1977, on Opening Day, Don Sutton was directed to throw a gopher ball on the first pitch of the game to the Giants lead-off hitter Gary Thomasson. That ball would then be given to the home plate umpire to be sent to Cooperstown. As you might expect, the Giant batter instead hit the pitch for a home run. He claims he had no idea about the plan (yhea, right!).

"They told him that the first ball he threw would be sent to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown," Lasorda said. "Well, the first ball he threw was hit by Gary Thomasson halfway up the bleachers. I said to him, ‘They wanted to send the ball to Cooperstown; they didn’t want someone to hit it there.’" 

This is the same game Frank Sinatra kept his promise to Tommy Lasorda by performing the national anthem at Dodger Stadium.  In 1979 the Dodgers traded pitcher Rick Rhoden to the Pirates for pitcher Jerry Reuss.

• Happy Birthday, Bobby Mitchell, Brett Tomko, Ronnie Belliard & Adrian Beltre!

Blog Kiosk: 2/6/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Whoa! Check out that catch!

With the opening of spring training around the corner, I find myself searching for vintage spring training press photos like the one above. It is a 1954 United Press pic of a player on the bubble -- trying to make the team. Per the descriptor on the reverse (eBay auction link):

Bobbin' Bobby... Vero Beach, FLA: From the expression on Bobby Morgan's face, perhaps the ball landed just a bit too hard in the pocket of his mitt. The Brooklyn Dodgers chief utility man is training at the camp in Vero Beach, Florida, with the prospect of landing the regular third baseman's job. 2/27/54.

Bobby would not get that job. Instead, he would be traded to the Phillies a month later to become Philadelphia's starting shortstop. The Dodgers decided to go with veteran Billy Cox -- with 26-year old youngster Don Hoak as backup.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley, in a last ditch effort to save baseball in Brooklyn, lends his public support for a Wagner-Cashmore plan to build a $30-million Brooklyn sports center -- promising to purchase $4 million worth of the bonds. Unfortunately of them, lack of funding from the city's Board of Estimates killed the plan. In 2014 the Dodgers officially signed a free agent minor league contract with third baseman Justin Turner. He had just been released by the Mets, and was only given an invitation to spring training by the Dodgers. To the surprise of many, Turner would have a breakout season and become an important leader in the clubhouse.
• Happy Birthday, Babe Ruth, Andy Sommerville, Rube Ward, Red Downey & Glenn Wright!

Blog Kiosk: 11/6/2018 - Dodgers Links - Vote! It's Election Day!

Here's another Spring Training pic from yesteryear, as found on eBay. Dated March 7, 1950 and taken by the legendary Herb Scharfman, we see six Dodgers all vying for an opening at the third base position that upcoming season. Per the description on the reverse:

All Pulling for the Same Job
Vero Beach, FLA... There are plenty of strings attached to the third base job with the Brooklyn Dodgers as these six candidates try the position at the Vero Beach camp of the Bums. Left to right: Bob Morgan, Clarence (Buddy) Hicks, Johnny Jorgenson, Billy Cox, Everett (Rocky) Bridges and Eddie Miksis.

As you may know, rookie Bobby Morgan was the Opening Day starter, but eventually lost the starting job to Billy Cox by mid-season. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1974 Dodgers hurler Dr. Mike Marshall becomes the first reliever to win a Cy Young award. He had set a MLB record for appearances at 106 and innings pitched for a reliever at 208.1. That's right, a reliever threw over 200 innings and got into over 65% of all Dodger games that season. In 1996 Dodger outfielder Todd Hollandsworth is named the winner of the Rookie of the Year award. He is the fifth consecutive Dodger to win this award and the 16th overall in franchise history. In 2006 Dodger fan Charles Littleton, a 22-year old Saginaw Valley State University student, is TASERed by Saginaw (MI) police when he refuses to remove his Dodger cap during a City Council meeting. He is there to receive extra credit for a sociology class. See a news report here. In 2014 the Dodgers officially hire Zaidi Farhan to be their new General Manager. He takes over a  position previously held by Ned Colletti. 
• Happy Birthday, Bob Darnell, John Candelaria & Chad Curtis!

Blog Kiosk: 6/4/2018 - Dodgers Links - Sweep!

Max Muncy helped power the Dodgers to come from behind and defeat the Rockies in Colorado, 10-7. He walloped two homers; including a three-run shot in the third inning that brought the Dodgers within two runs of tying the game. They would eventually win and sweep the Rockies in the ninth inning. Per Ken Gunick at MLB.com:

"Every time [he's] in the box, it feels like he's going to get a hit," said manager Dave Roberts. "The energy he brings in the middle of the lineup or top of the order, he's productive."

Photo above of Max Muncy via Matt Kelley at MLB.com on Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1964 Sandy Koufax threw his third no-hitter of his career. He blanked the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium, 3-0. Overall, he recorded 12 strike outs and allowed just one walk. In 1968 Don Drysdale threw his sixth consecutive shutout of the season, extending his scoreless streak to 54 innings, when he defeated the Pirates, 5-0. This is also the day Robert Kennedy made note of Drysdale's efforts in a speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the CA primary. You can watch that portion of the speech here. Soon thereafter, he would be assassinated. In 1972 the Dodgers retired Roy Campanella's number - #39. In 1998 the Dodgers traded Hideo Nomo to the Mets for Dave Mlicki and Greg McMichael. In 1990 Dodgers ace Ramón Martínez struck out 18 Atlanta batters to defeat the Braves, 2-0. His effort tied a club record for strike outs in a game with Sandy Koufax, and was one short of the Major League record.
• Happy Birthday, Lee Magee, George Watkins & Rick Wilkins!

Blog Kiosk: 3/22/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Considering the Dodgers current predicament I thought today would be a perfect time the point out the above March 7, 1949 Spring Training AP press photo I ran into on eBay (link here). Featured are a group of young farmhands working on learning the intricacies of playing third base. Via the descriptor on the reverse:

"HOW TO BAG A THIRD BASE POSITION.  Coach Milton Stock, Ed Stanky's Father-In-Law, who once played third base himself, teaches Brooklyn Dodgers third base candidates the fine points of covering the bag during a session at Vero Beach, Fla. left to right are: Johnny Jorgensen, Eddie Miskis, Buddy Hicks, Don Ramazotti, Billy Cox and Bob Morgan."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1962 a former Giant who still remains anonymous revealed that the Giants had help during the 1951 playoffs against the Dodgers (this is the series where Bobby Thompson hit that infamous homer). They had a sign-stealing clubhouse spy at their home field for three months of the season. In 1993 Indians pitchers Steven Olin, Bob Ojeda and Tim Crews (a former Dodger) are in a boating accident at Little Lake Nellie in Clermont, Florida that kills both Olin and Crews. Ojeda is seriously injured in the crash.
• Happy Birthday, Bill McClellan, Overton Tremper, Ramon Martinez & Juan Uribe!

Blog Kiosk: 7/26/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

As a departure from the mundane, Bobby Morgan is seen in the vintage press photo (via an eBay listing) above aiming at his target during spring training, 1950.  Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Bobby Morgan, Brooklyn Dodgers rookie infielder from Oklahoma City, Okla., sets his sights on a bat during training at the Dodgers Vero Beach, Fla., spring training camp. March 5.  Morgan was voted the Most Valuable Player in the International League last year while playing with Montreal.  He compiled a batting average last year of .337. 

Bobby did make the club as the teams starting third baseman in 1950, but didn't enjoy the same success he had with the Royals.  He batted just .226 on the year.  Thereafter, he became primarily an utility guy on the diamond for the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1951 Dodgers outfielder Jim Russell becomes the first player in Major League history to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in a single game for the second time in a career.  In 1990 Mike Sharperson became the first player in LA Dodgers history to start at every infield position during a season.
• Happy Birthday, Hoyt Wilhelm!