Blog Kiosk: 12/31/2015 - Dodger Links - All About Kazmir

Here's another fantastic vintage International News press photo I ran into on eBay.  It is dated September 23, 1951 and features Phillies outfielder Richie Ashburn, Gil Hodges and the days umpire in the middle.  Via the description on the reverse:

Ump Larry Goetz (center) presents $500 US Bonds Singer Awards (Jack Singer, INP writer killed in WWII) to Ashburn and Hodges their Good Sportsmanship.

BTW, the Dodgers defeated the Phillies, 6-2, that afternoon.  Dodger starting pitcher Preacher Roe pitched a complete game for the victory.  Also, Roy Campanella hit his 36th home run of the season, and Andy Pafko hit his 26th.  Below are more links to check out:

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Farhan Zaidi comments briefly on Aroldis Chapman."  The gist:

We did come to an agreement in principle (to acquire Chapman), but as (additional) details came to light, we just weren’t comfortable making the move. 

• Sports Illustrated shares a whole bunch of Sandy Koufax photographs here.  
• BTW, Scott Kamir recently upgraded his twitter profile pic, and it's in line with tradition.  Check it out on the right.
• Via ESPN: "Kazmir's numbers compare to those of baseball's best left-handed starters" (link here)
• Rick Honeycutt speaks with the MLB Network about Kazmir, here.  (link here)
• Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs throws in his two cents; "Dodgers Give Iwakuma Money to Scott Kazmir."

For the Dodgers, this isn’t a major move. That’s a weird thing to say about a $48-million free-agent contract, but Kazmir isn’t going to be one of the stars on the roster. He’s depth, a potential No. 2 starter in a rotation full of No. 2 candidates behind the No. 1. I don’t know if Kazmir is better than Brett Anderson. I don’t know if Kazmir is more dependable than Brett Anderson. I don’t know what Hyun-Jin Ryu is going to do after his shoulder surgery. The most important thing here is a bit of stability. Kazmir comes with his question marks, but his presence removes one question mark from the Dodgers’ list. Others remain, but you can’t address everything. Nor do you need to with the season months away.

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Dodgers are all right with lefty Kazmir."

Via Farhan Zaidi: “He was really a fastball-breaking guy in the Tampa days,” Zaidi said. “In Oakland, he really evolved into a fastball-changeup guy. His changeup is one of the best in baseball. I think when pitchers have that type of athleticism, that ability to adapt as pitchers … those guys tend to be more successful.”

• Adrian Gonzalez wonders aloud (on twitter) about the implications to him with an all-lefty starting staff:

@BrettAnderson35 @Dodgers @ClaytonKersh22 all right-handed lineups, will I get a ground ball all year?

— Adrian Gonzalez (@AdrianTitan23) December 30, 2015

• Panini America shares a bunch of preview pics of their newest Baseball card set: 2015 Elite Extra Edition.  (Link here) It is now available in stores.  Below are autographed cards of Corey Seager, Julio Urias and Grant Holmes.

• Awesome!  Paul Lukas at UniWatch takes a look at Harlem Globetrotter uniforms throughout the years (link here).
• Via Danny Rockett at Bleed Cubbie Blue, "Buck O'Neil, Unsung Cubs Hero: An Interview With The President Of The Negro Leagues Museum."  I link to this only because of my undying respect for this Baseball legend.

Of particular interest to Cubs fans was Mr. Kendrick's description of Buck O'Neil, who was instrumental in bringing down the walls of segregated baseball, by being hired by the Cubs as the first African-American scout and coach in the Major Leagues. He is credited with bringing Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Lou Brock, among others, to the Cubs and serving as an inspiration and father figure to many of the first black players

"There's no denying Buck O'Neil's influence on Ernie Banks, on Lou Brock, on Billy Williams, all those guys that came up for the Cubs, George Altman, Gene Baker," Mr. Kendrick said. "Buck took Ernie under his wing. Buck O'Neill was like a father figure to Ernie, He taught him how to be a pro."

• Gellman at Sports Cards Uncensored shares his list of the "Best and Worst of 2015."

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Blog Kiosk: 8/27/2015 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

You gotta like the Dodgers recent offensive explosion at the plate.  Yesterday, they hit three home runs in the 4th inning to propel the team to a 5-0 lead over the Reds.  They would eventually win 7-4.  Photo above via @SportsNetLA on twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• Via Nick Diunte at Baseball Happenings, "How Dan Bankhead nearly incited a riot during his MLB debut." 

“See, here’s what I always heard. Dan was scared to death that he was going to hit a white boy with a pitch,” Buck O’Neil said in Joe Posnanski’s, ‘The Soul of Baseball.’ “He thought there might be some sort of riot if he did it. Dan was from Alabama just like your father. But Satchel became a man of the world. Dan was always from Alabama, you know what I mean? He heard all those people calling him names, making those threats, and he was scared. He’d seen black men get lynched.” 

• Rob Arthur at FiveThirtyEight takes a look at, "The Happiest And Saddest Fans In Baseball."  Basically, everyone starts out happy and optimistic, but that quickly devolves into fear and angst as the season winds down.
• Some prospect news.  Via David Hood at True Blue LA, "Alex Verdugo hits for the cycle in Quakes Romp."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Los Angeles Dodgers beginning to find some bullpen solutions."

"You try to stay with those guys, knowing they have the stuff," Mattingly said. "We have some youth, but we also have a couple guys who are capable of getting hot, and that's really what we need -- for a couple guys to really get hot and allow us to put some combinations out there."

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Ellis taking hot bat back to bench."

"My bad habit is when I have free time, I tinker, tinker, tinker to make my swing the best I can," said Ellis. "The problem with that is that I'm in between swings every time I go to the plate. I made the decision to make it simple, and I feel I really took off."

• Congratulations to LA King broadcaster Jim Fox!  Via Jon Rosen at the LA Kings Insider, "Jim Fox to be inducted into the SCSB Hall of Fame."

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Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Exhibit in Gardena

Thanks to a blog post by Roberto Baly of Vin Scully is My Homeboy, I visited the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Exhibit in Gardena, and it was well worth the time.  I had known that the museum sponsored a travelling exhibit, so when I found out they were nearby, I had to check it out.  Unfortunately, it's not a particularly large exhibit (just a single room), but there were some notable items to see.  One of these days, I will make a trip to Kansas City to see the actual museum.

For those interested in this exhibit, it is at the Nakaoka Community Center at 1670 West 162nd Street in Gardena.  It runs only until Thursday, February 13th, so if you want to check it out you need to get there right away.  Exhibit hours are: 9am - 9pm Monday -Friday, and 9am to 6pm on Sunday.

Now, on to some of my photos.  Click any pic to embiggen. 

There were several large graphic displays featuring Negro League Baseball history.  Did you know that the Kansas City Monarchs were one of the first teams to have night-time Baseball?

Check out this incredible panoramic photograph from Opening Day, 1942.  It featured the Kansas City Monarchs, and includes a couple of notable players.  On the photo on the left, you can see the great Satchel Paige (second on the left) and fellow Hall of Famer Hilton Smith (shortest person on the far right).  On the photo on the right is should-be Hall of Famer Buck O'Neil (at center).

Below is another panoramic team photograph.  It is from Opening Day, 1924.  It includes such greats as Rube Foster, Louis Santop and Biz Mackey.

This next photo is of the famed Pittsburgh area Negro League team, Homestead Grays.  The year the photo was taken wasn't provided.  Also, details about who the players are was also not provided, but I think I recognized a couple of players.  The fellow in the top row, third on the left, looks a lot like Josh Gibson.  In fact, I'm certain that's him.  I also believe that the person on Gibson's right is Cuban great Martin Dihigo.

Here are some more Negro League displays.

There were also several negro league uniforms, that must be reproductions.

The back wall of the room was wonderfully decorated like an outfield wall.

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Blog Kiosk: 11/11/2011

Nice hat, Matt! I think Brandon Phillips is a bad influence. BTW, that's a real possum fur touk. (pic via BrandonPhillips Lockerz twitter)

• Jamey Carroll is close to signing a multi-year deal, via MLB Trade Rumors. Sounds like the Dodgers are not in the picture. Some good not trading him did us. UPDATE: Looks like a done deal. Carroll to sign with Twins, via MLB Trade Rumors.
  
• Rod Barajas leaves for Pittsburgh, via Dodger Thoughts.
  
• Baseball by the Letters hears from former Dodger Carl Erskine.

  "I usually receive eight or ten letters on the average each day. I try to answer right away, because when I can't, they pile up.
  
  I do them all myself and read each one. I consider fans the backbone of the game -- and I consider signing an extension of my career."

• The Kansas City Star writes about the Negro League Baseball Museum and the top 5 can't miss exhibits there.
  
• REA believes that all of the 2001 Barry Bonds Home Run Jerseys sold by Bonds own authentication company are fake. Figures!
  
• A Star Trek premium card is being released, at $50 per pack, and it includes an autographed Christian Slater card. As Beckett notes, instead of receiving payment for his signature Slater received a collection of Star Trek cards instead.
• Landon Evanson at Bugs & Cranks has a 2 part interview with Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro League Baseball Museum, regarding the legacy of Buck O'Neil: Part1, Part 2.
  
• College Football has Sandusky, MLB had Donald Fitzgerald. This is a story that I have never heard of before. It's incredibly sad and disgusting. Via The Post Game.
  
• On this Veterans Day, here is a great video (originally put up by Sully Baseball) featuring Ted Williams and his time as a jet pilot in the Korean War.

Video Link:

Blog Kiosk: 11/9/2011

Former Dodger Lee Lacy hanging out with Student Run LA at Banning High. (Pic via @SRLA twitter)

• Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts writes about the 1981 Dodgers and the recent reunion cards show this past weekend.
  
• LA Times names Sandy Koufax the greatest sports figure in LA history.
  
• Check out these great photos from the 1981 reunion show at Vin Scully is My Homeboy. And more here.
  
• True Blue LA reviews the 2011 Chattanooga Lookouts season.
  
• Bloomberg says that Time Warner is considering making a bid too.
  
• Landon Evanson recalls his interview with the great Buck O'Neil at Bugs & Cranks. This is a great read!
  
• Federal Game Used Jersey Probe Cast a Suspicious Eye on Card Manufacturers. A commentary by Gellman at Sportscards Uncensored.
  
• National Hockey Card Day is coming to America in February, via Cardboard Connection.
  
• Most hobbies are harmless. This mans hobby got him arrested. He tried to built a nuclear reactor at his home. Via treehugger.
  
• Check out some great vintage photos taken by a fan of the Jaba sail barge set from Return of the Jedi, via Giant Freakin Robot.

  Back in the spring of 1982 when a Star Wars fan Mike Davis heard rumors that production on a movie called Blue Harvest: Horror Beyond Imagination was out in the desert, filming in a Southern California region known as Buttercup Valley. Mike decided to go camping in the desert nearby and check it out. He started hiking with his friends and this is what they found.

  See even more photos here at Prop Store.
  

Buck O'Neil: You Will Always be Remembered

November 11, 1911- October 6, 2006

"God's been good to me. They didn't think Buck was good enough to be in the Hall of Fame. That's the way they thought about it and that's the way it is, so we're going to live with that. Now, if I'm a Hall of Famer for you, that's all right with me. Just keep loving old Buck. Don't weep for Buck. No, man, be happy, be thankful."

With great respect I thank you... for your wisdom, your passion and your patience. You are one of America's great Americans.