Blog Kiosk: 3/18/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a look at the Dodgers 2020 on-field cap. As you can see, it includes a patch for the upcoming All-Star Game. Pic above via New Era on twitter. BTW, below is a look at the St. Patrick's Day Dodger cap for this year, below (via Dodger Blue)

(Emmett Kelly by Art Rogers/LA Times)

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1942 two African-American ballplayers, Jackie Robinson and Nate Moreland, showed up at the White Sox spring training home at Brookside Park in Pasadena and requested a tryout. They met manager Jimmy Dykes and were allowed to hit the field, but as you know nothing would come of it. In 1958 famed clown Emmett Kelly, signed by the Dodgers to play the teams mascot in Brooklyn, announced that his contract had not been renewed to join the team in LA. The veteran circus performer believes the size of the Coliseum, the club's new home on the West Coast, is just "too big for one clown".
• Happy Birthday, Oscar Walker, Johnny Cooney, Gerónimo Berroa & Scott Podsednik!

2019 Topps Heritage High Number -- All the Dodger Cards

Last week Topps released their 2019 Topps Heritage High Number brand, and I've got pics of most of the Dodger cards to share below. Go here for a complete checklist.

Several players receive a Dodger card for the very first time (please correct me if I'm wrong). Reliever Scott Alexander, who has been with the club for two seasons, finally gets his own card. Strangely, Drew Jackson, who hasn't been high on the Dodgers prospect radar, also gets a card. Finally, Connor Joe, who was plucked by the Reds as a Rule 5 pick this season, traded to the Giants and then returned to the Dodgers weeks later, also gets a Dodger card.

Base

#522 A.J. Pollock                #528 Joe Kelly

Blog Kiosk: 4/15/2019 - Dodgers Links - Happy Jackie Robinson Day!

Chicken Strip was fantastic yesterday afternoon - halting a Dodgers' six game slide that saw them lose their early season lead in the Western Division. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

In the longest outing of Stripling’s Major League career, he needed only 88 pitches to get through eight innings of work Sunday afternoon in a 7–1 win to stop the skid. 

“Just the way that he and Austin (Barnes) were in sync today was as good as I’ve seen any pitcher-catcher combo,” said manager Dave Roberts.

Photo above Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers 2019 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1909, Opening Day, the Brooklyn Superbas were no-hit by Red Ames of the Giants at the Polo Grounds for nine innings, but eventually prevailed to defeat the crosstown rival in the 13th inning, 3-0. On a side note, the Giants outfield recorded no putouts and the Superbas winning pitcher was Kaiser Wilhelm. In 1915 the Brooklyn Robins are no-hit by future Hall of Famer Rube Marquard of the Giants at the Polo Grounds, 2-0.  In 1947 Jackie Robinson makes his Major League debut at Ebbets Field. He would go 0-for-3, but would also score the go ahead run in the seventh inning after reaching base on an error during a sacrifice bunt. The Dodgers won the game 5-3. In 1958 the Dodgers and Giants play their first major league game on the West Coast. Unfortunately, Ruben Gomez of the Giants blanked the Dodgers at Seals Stadium in San Francisco, 8-0.
• Happy Birthday, Hub Collins, Jack Sheehan, Ted Sizemore, Willie Davis, Jeremy Burnitz & Milton Bradley!

Blog Kiosk: 12/13/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The Dodgers held their annual Children's Holiday Party at Dodger Stadium yesterday, and as you can see fun was had by all. Featured above is Cody Bellinger getting pelted by a group of cheerful youngsters.

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 the Dodgers tried to do the unthinkable. They announced a trade that would send legendary second baseman Jackie Robinson to the hated NY Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $35,000. It would be voided the next day. Jackie then announce his retirement from the game a few weeks later. In 2001 the Dodgers received Cesar Izturis and Paul Quantril in a trade with Toronto for Chad Ricketts and Luke Prokopec. In 2003 the Dodgers traded Kevin Brown to the Yankees for Brandon Weeden,Yhency Brazoban and Jeff Weaver. In 2005 the Dodgers signed free agent veteran catcher Sandy Alomar. Also, they traded troubled outfielder Milton Bradley and Antonio Perez to the A's for future fan-favorite Andre Ethier.
• Happy Birthday, Joe Landrum, Steve Wilson, Nate Oliver, Ricky Nolasco, George Shuba, Carl Erskine & Billy Loes! 

Blog Kiosk: 8/23/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Buehler was fantastic last night, and I don't think it's hyperbole to say that he's on his way towards becoming an ace. Kenley Jansen, on the otherhand, hasn't been right since coming back from heart issues experienced in Colorado. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"Life sometimes is a fairy tale," he said. "Everything was going well. Just got stopped with A-Fib [atrial fibrillation] and here I am. Just got to figure out how to get out of this mess." 

Jansen hesitated, then sidestepped a question about any lingering side effects from his condition or the prescribed medication. 

"Sometimes, you just got to go through it, no excuse. You would never hear that from me," he said. "Feel good or not feeling good, no excuse, just tough it out. Last two days weren't my days. Be ready Friday. I just need one game, I'm very confident I'll get it back."

Once again, I mean to distract with a pic featuring Chase Utley and his three kids (that happens to also include Kike Hernandez), via Juan Ocampo/2018 Dodgers at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1958 Gil Hodges hit his 14th career grand slam. It set a new National League record for grand slams in a career. BTW, Don Drysdale also walloped two solo homers during this game. In 1989 Tommy Lasorda had Expos mascot Youppi! ejected from a game in Montreal during the 11th inning. The mascot was causing too much noise by jumping on top of the Dodger dugout roof during the 22-inning game. You can watch Youppi! get tossed here. BTW, the Dodgers defeated the Expose, 1-0, on an home run by Rick Dempsey in the 22nd inning.
• Happy Birthday, Red Downs, Phil Page, Lonny Frey, Dale Mitchell & Casey Blake!

Blog Kiosk: 5/14/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

(Lasorda & Gibson, via Jon SooHoo)

At the least the Dodgers couldn't lose the Alumni/Old-Timers Game this weekend. Featured above is the 1988 World Champion Dodgers in attendance at this past Saturdays game. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“It’s been a rush for me, because I think back so fondly about 1988,” (Ricky) Horton said. “It was such a special thing. You realize and remember it’s not about what you did, but about the people you did it with. This kind of deal reminds you, and you just jump right back into the relationships with Jay Howell and Orel Hershiser and John Tutor and guys I spent … every day with, doing something that was pretty darn cool. I’m very thankful the Dodgers included me in this. The Dodgers are such a classy organization and they’re doing it right.”

Photo above and on the right via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1968 Don Drysdale shutout the Cubs at Dodgers Stadium, 1-0. This victory was the first of six straight shutouts thrown by Drysdale that would eventually lead to him setting a consecutive scoreless streak at 58 2/3 innings. On a side note, on this day Walter Johnson sees his consecutive scoreless streak come to an end at 55 2/3 innings in 1913. This was the record Drysdale broke 55 years later. In 2011 hard-luck pitcher Chad Billingsley and the Dodgers lose a tough one to the Diamondbacks when they give up just one run on one hit to lose, 1-0. This is the first time the club has lost when giving up only one hit since 1914.
• Happy Birthday, Tony Smith, Johnny Babich & Chink Zachary!

Blog Kiosk: 9/25/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Weekend Odds and Ends

Yesterday's 99th win of the season was punctuated by another great performance by staff ace Clayton Kershaw. He went eight scoreless innings, struck out six and walked no one as he recorded his 18th victory. Best yet, his sixth 'K' of the afternoon was his 200th of the year -- marking the seventh time he has recorded that many strike outs over his entire career. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“You take pride in your consistency,” Kershaw said. “That’s something that I think is really important as a starter is to be out there for every fifth day for the whole season. I’ve missed time the last two years, which is something I don’t really like to do.”

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1941 the Dodgers won their first NL pennant in 21 years when they defeated the Braves in Boston, 6-0. In 1956 Dodgers hurler Sal Maglie no-hit the Phillies at Ebbets Field, 5-0. At 39 years old he became the oldest pitcher to throw one. You can listen to the last inning of Maglie's no-no (as called by Jerry Doggett with Vin Scully wrapping it up) here. In 1974 Dr. Frank Jobe does the first ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery on Dodgers pitcher Tommy John left elbow. The revolutionary procedure would soon be known as Tommy John Surgery.
• Happy Birthday, Dave Walsh!