A couple of years ago I shared a story about 3-year old Christian Haupt. Check that out here. He had gained some fame as a little Baseball prodigy and an uber-Dodger fan. He earned a cameo role in the Adam Sandler film "That's My Boy" as a Baseball playing kid, and would soon become the youngest person to ever throw a first pitch at a Major League Baseball game at the age of 3 in 2012. The above photo, taken by Photographer Mark J. Terrill of the AP, of that first pitch went a bit viral at the time.
A couple of years later his fame appears to not have abated. Just before the recently concluded All-Star Game in Minnesota Christian was the main actor in a FOX pregame show introduction. Check it out at the very bottom. Below is a photo of the film-shoot for the video, provided by his mom.
Wow! It's amazing what this kid has done in just a few short years. BTW, the kid is still a phenom on the field. He currently plays on Orlando Cepeda's traveling Baseball team for youths - who knew there was such a thing?
Christian Haupt might be the luckiest kid in the world. He had been running around Dodgertown West at Camelback Ranch last week, and provided some photos to prove it. Check them out below. BTW, feel free to check my post from last year featuring Christian as a 3-year old prodigy Baseball stud acting in an Adam Sandler movie.
You can now call me envious. Not only did he get Matt Kemp to sign a photo for him, but is that a base, as well. Wow!
Now, I'm sure the next photo will have you all green with envy. Christian's Mom tells me that they had an opportunity to spend some time with Vin Scully.
Then, Rick Monday let him sit in his seat.
Finally, the radio duo of Petros and Money decided to got into the act.
Over the weekend I received a pic from inside Dodger Stadium during the FanFest activities on Saturday. As you can see they appear to be in the process of adding the ceilings to the new basement clubhouse area.
On top of that, the sender of the photo above is also the mother of Christian Haupt, the Baseball phenom. As you likely recall, I had written about him several times over the past year ( here, here and here). Well, he was at the FanFest and had an opportunity to hang out backstage. While there, Chrstian got a personalized signed Baseball from Tommy Lasorda. See it below. It says, "To Christian, a future Dodger." This would be great to get as a kid. I know it's something I would treasure forever.
Remember Christian Haupt -- the 3-year old Dodger fan with Baseball skills? Well, the photo of him throwing out the first pitch last year made ESPN LA's list of Top Photos of 2012- see it here. I had featured him previously here, here and here.
Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy lets us know that Adam Kennedy is opening a Baseball development facility in Anaheim, and the open house will be this coming Monday and Tuesday. He also notes that newest Dodgers Skip Schumaker will be at a grand opening tomorrow afternoon at the South Bay Refinery Baseball training facility.
Just in case you are wondering, the Padres are holding their FanFest on Saturday, February 9th. Go to Gas Lamp Ball for information.
Panini shares a story of a collector who opened a pack of their cards and won a Babe Ruth rookie card. Wow!
2012 Topps Triple Threads is officially out. Topps shared the above photo of the Jackie Robinson bat knob card on twitter in celebration. Below is a really great looking Steve Garvey book card they shared. Both of these cards are "1 of 1". BTW, I'll be featuring cards from the set, including base cards and some of the relics, soon
So, wait a minute here... Kershaw might pitch again this season. Why are we playing with danger. Via Mike Fiammetta at MLB.com we find out that Clayton got a second opinion.
Clayton Kershaw was examined Tuesday by a hip specialist, who said the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner can continue to pitch without risking further damage to his right hip, but the Dodgers will not allow Kershaw to take the mound if the pain persists.
Q: What are the similarities between hockey and baseball?
A: “I think the grind. You don’t play every day in hockey but the
physical grind of playing an NHL season is not easy, much like playing
baseball where you play it every single day. They’re different type of
sports, baseball’s not a contact sport as hockey is, but the daily
grind, traveling all the time and getting ready to play every day is
very similar. From an athletic standpoint you need great hand-eye
coordination in both sports.”
Michael Winerip at the New York Times shares some letters from his father who had written to both Lou Gehrig and Jackie Robinson with a questionnaire. Check out their responses back to him. Jackie named HOF Al Barlick as his favorite umpire, Branch Rickey as the greatest influence on his career, Dick Tracy was his favorite comic, and his favorite song was Mona Lisa.
Eric Stonestreet of "Modern Family" fame was kicked out of a Dodger game for a little altercation, via TMZ.
Three year old Christian Haupt is everywhere. Here, Joe McDonnell at FoxSports writes about the pitching prodigy.
Christian Haupt is just three-years-old. That's not a typo. He's really
just three. And with the perfect motion — at least for a prodigy — he
threw the ball harder, straighter and longer than most of the men, women
or children chosen to throw out the ceremonial first pitch over the
course of a season in Chavez Ravine.
And this kid is passionately Baseball crazy.
"He started watching a black and white baseball documentary one time,
and it was the only show he would watch on television for a
year-and-a-half. He would watch it for 10 or 20 minutes a day—nothing
else. Not a live game; not cartoons. So, that's when we knew he had the
passion."
Fans of L.A.'s Big Blue, your team's Chavez Ravine digs are destined for a new look. The Los Angeles Dodgers have selected Ashton Design to do a renovation of the historic baseball stadium.
The Baltimore-based firm made the announcement themselves on their site blog,
revealing two members of "team Ashton," Jonathan Han and Ronnie Younts,
have already been doing some preliminary walk-throughs of the venue.
AEG is for sale. They are the owner of the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and the Galaxy. Via The Fourth Period.
A few months back I featured a preschooler named Christian Haupt who was obsessed with the Dodgers, was already way ahead of his peers when it came to playing the game, and parlayed that into an appearance in the recent Adam Sandler film "That's My Boy". See that story here.
Well, Christian just had a chance to throw the first pitch this past Tuesday to the delight of his family and the crowd. His mom was kind enough to forward along some pictures and a video of the event, and you'll notice that Christian does his best Clayton Kershaw impression while on the mound. Although he didn't reach the plate with his throw, he did get it there on a bounce with a sold throw from the mound; especially for a 3 year old. Really, this kid is that young.
Here is a video of Christian Haupt throwing out the first pitch.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a little story about Christian Haupt. See that story here. This kid can swing the bat, catch the ball, and is a veritable Hollywood up-'n-coming star. Well... maybe he's not a Hollywood star yet, but this kid sure does love the Dodgers and he can play ball. So, I was very glad to hear from his mother that Christian will soon be throwing out the honorary first pitch at Dodger Stadium. It will happen on September 4th. Good luck kiddo! I have no doubt he will throw a strike.
Along with this great news, they were kind enough to pass along some pics they took from this weekends Photo Day. See them below.
This is a story of a 3 year old child obsessed with the Dodgers and Baseball. Of course, that alone isn't unusual. After all, this is America and Baseball (regardless of what football fans say) is our nations pastime. What does make this unique is that this little tyke has some skills. Heck, we might be looking at the next Bryce Harper here. I jest, of course. He's got a few more years before scouts start knocking down the door.
Christian Haupt is a Thousands Oaks kid with a ferocious love of the game and the Dodgers (obviously this kid is smart, too). And let me note that I'm not being facetious when I say he has skills. After watching a little video on him I think prodigy might be a good word to describe him. In fact, he is so good he was able to parlay his early childhood brilliance into a Hollywood acting role in Adam Sandler's "That's My Boy." You can see a trailer for the film, here, and see little Christian towards the end.
You'll note that some Hollywood magic is used, but don't let that form your basis of judgement. This 3 year old can play. I mean, have any of y'all watched 3 year olds play ball. It's hilarious. They are so uncoordinated at that age. On top of that, most children have no clue what is going on. Christian Haupt, though has a Baseball IQ that is clearly off the charts. His Mom sent along a link to a video featuring Christian during filming and I have to admit that I am very impressed. I think scouts need to put this kids name down on their tickler file to check back on in a decade or so from now. Anyway, watch the video below.
Do you see what I mean? That kid can throw, catch and swing a bat- and he's only 3! 3! Actually, he was just a few weeks short of three when this was filmed. Holy Moly!
Christian's attire at Dodger Stadium — a full baseball uniform with
cleats — doesn't merit a second glance, but it does warrant a few stares
when he goes to school or the family attends church.
"Even if it's in the heat of summer, he wears full baseball clothes
with the high socks and long pants," his mother said. "He won't wear
shorts even if it's 100 degrees. He never takes it off. I have a laundry
pile every week with 10 pairs of white pants with grass stains all over
and holes in the knees."
