Blog Kiosk: 12/7/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Here's an March 5, 1951 Acme Press Photo taken during Spring Training activities in Vero Beach featuring Dodgers outfielder Tommy Brown, alongside his father Bill Brown. (eBay Auction Link) Per the descriptor on the reverse:

A COUPLE OF CANDIDATES.  Vero Beach, Fla.:  Reversing the usual trend, Bill Brown has decided to follow in the spike-prints of his son Tommy.  Here he works out with the young Brooklyn slugger at the Dodgers spring training camp in Vero Beach.  Chuck Dressen: please take note.

Below are more links to checkout:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2005 Grady Little is named the manager of the Dodgers. He would be the skipper the club for two seasons -- recording a 170-154 record. In 2013 the Dodgers signed free agent reliever Brian Wilson. Wilson would wear Dodger Blue for two seasons -- recording an overall 4-5 record in Los Angeles, 3.77 ERA, 3.79 FIP and one save as a middle reliever. In 2015 a trade between the Reds and Dodgers involving reliever Aroldis Chapman is held up after a police report is unearthed that details a gun incident at the pitchers home. As a result, Chapman faced possible suspension under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.
• Happy Birthday, Mike Baxter, Tom Lovett, Ryan Theriot & Yasiel Puig!

1982 Union Oil Dodger Player Portraits - The Complete Set

It occurred to me recently that I had never bothered to scan and share this set on this blog - which kind of puzzles me.  After all, it's probably a set most Dodger fans in their late-30's or older remember the most, and in my opinion it is the one set all Dodger collectors should own.  Featured here (finally) are scans of the 1982 Union Oil Dodger Player Portraits featuring artwork by Nicholas Volpe.

As you may know, Volpe had lent his work to the Dodgers for several 1960's portrait photo sets, so this promotional item was meant to reintroduce the artist to the teams newest fans.  Check out my previous post on a couple of those sets here (1962 & 1969).  The set consist of 26 sheets and features a player portrait against a black background.  They measure 8.5" x 11", has a reverse filled with all kinds of biographical information (as seen below) and were distributed by Union 76 gas stations throughout the Southland.  If I remember right, you received a free portrait for every 8 gallon fill-up.  The set is very plentiful in the collectors market, so it shouldn't cost much to purchase.  My price guide indicates $15.00 for the set, but that's from over 10 years ago.  Still, I don't expect it to sell for much more than that today.

As you can see, the set I have has been autographed by every member of the team; including Vin Scully.  As you can imagine, this set is a favorite in my collection.

Below is the rest of the set. Click any pic to embiggen.  Go below the fold to check them all out.

Take a Look at the 1983 Dodgers Postcard Set

I recently purchased another decent sized lot of Dodgers postcards and found a complete 1983 Dodgers postcard set within it.  What luck, eh?

Check them all out in this post.  Click any pic to embiggen.

The 1983 Dodgers Postcard set features 12 postcards.  They were produced by Mike Roberts Color Productions out of Oakland, California.  They are numbered from #C35508 to #C35519.  A complete checklist is at the very bottom.

Below is an example of what the reverse of the postcards look like.  As you can see, the card number can be found on the lower left side.  Here is a complete checklist of the 1983 postcard set:

#C35508 Dusty Baker
#C35509 Burt Hooton
#C35510 Steve Howe
#C35511 Dave Stewart
#C35512 Mike Marshall
#C35513 Bob Welch
#C35514 Bill Russell
#C35515 Fernando Valenzuela
#C35516 Mike Scioscia
#C35517 SteveSax
#C35518 Steve Yeager
#C35519 Greg Brock

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Blog Kiosk: 3/28/2013

So... Can I take one of these home?  Above is a pic tweeted by the @Dodgers of one of the giant bobbleheads that have been installed at Dodger Stadium.  Can you say Conan O'Brien?

• Is it too early to say that Dodger Thoughts is back?  Jon Weisman pens a great piece focused on the often unappreciated greatness of Burt Hooton.
• Lyle Spencer at MLB.com tells us that Chan Ho Park believes in Ryu's skills.

 "Wait until May, June," said Park, who was a big brother figure for Ryu in 2012 on the staff of the Hanwha Eagles of South Korea and has been in the Dodgers' camp late this spring. "He's going to get better. That's how he is. He gets stronger and sharper as the season goes on. As long as he stays comfortable, he'll be fine."

• Vincent Bonsignore at the Daily News writes a great piece on the rise of Luis Cruz.

"I was hungry to be in the big leagues and I knew I could play here. I just never had a real chance to play," Cruz said. "But you just keep waiting and waiting for that chance and then try to take advantage of it when it comes." 

• Dustin Nosler at Feelin' Kinda Blue lets us know that both Billingsley and Lilly are likely to start season on the DL.
• You should check this out if you're artistically inclined.  Via the Baseball Hall of Fame, the US Mint will have a coin design competition for a 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame Coin that will be made.

• Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs explores the consequences of the new balk rule.
• MLB and the Players Union recently released PED test results going back to the start of the 2011 season to the end of the 2012 playoffs.  See the press release here.

A total of 5,136 samples -- 3,955 urine tests and 1,181 blood tests -- were collected and analyzed during the time period. Eighteen of the results were positive and resulted in discipline. Seven were for performance-enhancing substances, including four for testosterone and one each for Clenbuterol, Clostebol and Tamoxifen. Eleven were for stimulants, 10 for Adderall and one for d-amphetamine.

There were 119 Therapeutic Use Exemptions granted for Attention Deficit Disorder (116), Hypertension (2) and Hypogonadism (1).

• As you probably know, the LA Kings visited the White House the other day in honor of their Stanley Cup victory last season.  Go to the LA Kings Insider official team blog to see some photos from their visit.

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Some Burt Hooton Autograph Cards

Burt Hooton was a very good pitcher for the Dodgers.  He was known for his mastery of a knuckle-curve that allowed him to win 112 games as a Dodger in 10 season.  Overall, Hooton started 265 games in Blue, completing 65 of them, while recording a 3.14 ERA, an ERA+ of 113, and a WAR of 24.3.  Burt Hooton will also be remembered for a great nickname- "Happy".  I guess with the kind of numbers described above, you've got to be happy camper. 

Featured here are a handful of Burt "Happy" Hooton autographed Baseball cards in my collection.  Above and directly below is a 2006 Fleer Greats of the Game Nickname Greats autographed card of Hooton.

Below are a couple of 2005 Upper Deck Past Time Pennants autographed cards of Burt Hooton.  As you can see, there are two different versions shown below.  The card on the left is a silver variation, and on the right is a bronze variation.  From my understanding, a gold variation also exist.

Below is what the reverse of the cards look like.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball Reference:

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: DodgersFest 2012!!

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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DodgersFest 2012!  The big, end of the season, Dodgers themed autograph show is coming this Saturday to Frank & Sons in the City of Industry.  18 members of the Dodgers family will be there.  This promises to be a great event.  As always, admission is free.  All times below are subject to change.

Frank & Sons 
19649 San Jose Avenue 
Industry, CA 91748 

I'll start it off by announcing that Magic Johnson will be signing that afternoon starting at 1:00 PM, and ending whenever the demand stops.  You can also get autographs from the great Dodgers infield of the 70's- Garvey, Russell, Lopes and Cey.  There is a Dodgers Infield Super Ticket available, as well.  Details are below, or go here for more information.

Magic Johnson 

1:00pm until completion
small - flat items up to and including 11x14: $99. medium - large flats, baseballs, minis (bats, helmets & mini basketballs) shoes, floor pieces, figurines & equipment: $119. large - bats, helmets, basketballs, jerseys & artwork: $149. inscriptions: $49.

Al "The Bull" Ferrara

9:30am – 11:00am
FREE Autographs

Bill Russell

10:00am – 11:30am
small: $25. medium: $30. large: $35. inscription: $10.

Davey Lopes

10:00am – 11:30am
small: $30. medium: $35. large: $40. inscription: $10.

Ron Cey

10:00am – 11:30am
small: $30. medium: $35. large: $40. inscription: $10.

Steve Garvey

10:00am – 11:30am
small: $35. medium: $40. large: $50. inscription: $10.

****Infield Super Ticket (Super Ticket is one ticket for each member of the Infield) 

balls and small flats up to & including 11x14: $99.
large flats, minis, caps & equipment: $119. 
helmets, bats & jerseys: $139.

Maury Wills

11:00am – 12:30pm
small: $25. medium: $35. large: $45. inscription: $15.

Rick Honeycutt

11:00am – 12:30pm
small: $29. medium: $39. large: $49. inscription: $15.

Burt Hooton

11:30am – 1:00pm
small: $39. medium: $49. large: $59. inscription: $20.

Don Newcombe

11:30am – 1:00pm
small: $39. medium: $49. large: $59. inscription: $20.

Wally Moon

11:30am – 1:00pm
small: $39. medium: $49. large: $59. inscriptions: $20.

Wes Parker

11:30am – 1:00pm
small: $29. medium: $39. large: $49. inscription: $15.

Charlie Hough

1:00pm – 2:30pm
small: $15. medium: $20. large: $25. inscription: $10.

Jaime Jarrin

1:00pm – 2:30pm
small: $49. medium: $59. large: $69. inscription: $20.

Steve Yeager

1:00pm – 2:30pm
small: $20. medium: $25. large: $35. inscription: $10.

Dave Hansen

2:00pm – 3:30pm
small: $20. medium: $25. large: $35. inscription: $10.

Reggie Smith

2:00pm – 3:30pm
small: $29. medium: $39. large: $49. inscription: $15.

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Collection: Happy Hooton 2005 UD AutoFacts

Burt "Happy" Hooton had a fine Dodger career.  He joined LA in 1975 in a trade that sent Geoff Zahn to the Cubs.  Hooton went on to pitch in 10 seasons in Blue while compiling a Dodgers career record of 112-84 with a 3.14 ERA.  Happy was a member of the 1981 World Championship club and had a postseason record of 6-3.

Featured here is a 2005 Upper Deck MLB Artifacts Auto-Facts card of Burt Hooton from my collection.  As the card back states,

"traded to Los Angeles from Chicago in May 1975, Hooton was the winning pitcher for the Dodgers in the finalgame of the 1981 World Series against the rival Yankees."

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities

Just to start, please check out the Autograph/ Events Calendar for a large listing of events.

And I want to make a quick comment. Screw those Yankees.

This coming weekend there will be a big card show in New Jersey. If you are in the area go here for details. The show celebrates the Yankees 1977 World Championship that saw Reggie Jackson belt 3 homers in one game against us. Unsurprisingly, they call the show the "Return to Glory" show. Along with a large number of former Yanks in attendance will be several Dodgers. Those special guest include Steve Yeager (who was behind the plate for all 3 Reggie homers), Burt Hooton (who gave up homer #1), Elias Sosa (who gave up homer #2), and Charlie Hough (who gave up homer #3).

35 years later and the Yankees are still rubbing it in.

Now to a Southland event.
First pointed out by Jesse at LA Inspiration, the LA Convention Center will be hosting the 9th Annual Fit Expo this weekend (Sat & Sun). Along with dumbbells, exercise tapes and all the food supplements you could want there will be numerous celebrities on hand to sign autographs. Go here for a complete list. Here is a short list:

• Mike Tyson; Saturday;
  11:00 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Intro at the MaxReps Stage
  11:15 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Autos/Photos ($129/$139) Gallery of Legends Booth
• Tito Ortiz; Saturday;
  Celebrity UFC Fighter
  Owner of Punishment Athletics
• Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake; Sunday;
  Heavyweight Champion
  10:30-10:45 a.m. Main Stage Q&A
  10:45-12:00 p.m. and
  1:00-2:30 p.m. American ICON Autographs Booth – Autos/Photos (add charge)
• Josh Saunders; Sat & Sun;
  Goalkeeper US Soccer League- LA Galaxy
  
• A handful of LA Temptation Lingerie Football players. You read that right!
  

• D’aundre Reed; Sat & Sun;
  Minnesota Vikings; NFL Football Player; Autograph/Meet & Greet with product purchase

• Chauncey Davis; Sat & Sun;
  Chicago Bears; NFL Football Player; Autograph/Meet & Greet with product purchase

• Rudy Tomjanovich; sat & Sun;
  Former LA Lakers Coach; Current NBA Scout for the LA Lakers

  Sat. 3:00-5:00 p.m.
  Sun. 10:00-1:00 p.m.

• Lisa Leslie; Sat & Sun;
  Top WNBA Basketball Player

  Sat. & Sun. 1:30-3:00 p.m.

And this is just a short list. There are a whole bunch of well-known MMA, UFC, fitness, bodybuilding, wrestlers, chefs and nutritionist slated to appear.