Blog Kiosk: 9/13/2016 - Dodgers Links - Potential Puig Trade Revealed and Dodger Fans Rule Yankee Stadium

What the...?

Never in my life could I ever have expected a crowd of Dodger fans to out-root, out-cheer and simply overcome the hometown crowd at Yankee Stadium.  As you may have heard, a group of over 1,300 loud Dodger fans, a contingent that came along with Dodgers fan group Pantone 294, overwhelmed Yamkee fans in their own home.  Heck, they even performed their own "roll call" of Dodger players on the field (watch the NY commentators discuss it here).  Billy Witz at the NY Times has a good rundown on the spectacle:

The longest-tenured Yankee, left fielder Brett Gardner, who was well within earshot of the Dodgers fans, said in reference to the crowd: “Even the Red Sox, they don’t have maybe as big a following or aren’t as rowdy. It’s a little bit different, but I thought it was a good atmosphere. If we’re going to play well down the stretch and get back into the postseason like we aspire to do, we’re going to have to play well in that atmosphere, whether it’s at the Stadium or on the road.”

Best yet, the folks at Pantone 294 brought some luck to the Blue Crew.  The Dodgers hammered out an impressive 8-2 victory behind an fantastic second career start by Jose De Leon.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN:

“It was electric and everything I expected,” De Leon said of his Yankee Stadium debut. “I was a little more nervous than I was in L.A. Since I grew up a Red Sox fan, I really wanted to beat the Yankees, so it was a good one."

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

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1925 Dodger starter Dazzy Vance ho-hit the Phillies at Ebbets Field, 10-1. Check out the boxscore here.  In 1977 Dodger outfielder Dusty Baker set a franchise record by driving in five runs in one inning.  It was against the Padres at Dodger Stadium. 
• Happy Birthday, Dutch Ruether and Rick Dempsey!

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Rick Dempsey, Frank Robinson and Gary Grant

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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Former Dodgers catcher Rick Dempsey will be signing autographs at Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe this coming Saturday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.  Go here for information.

Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe
13131 Crossroads Parkway South
City of Industry, CA

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Hall of Famer and one-time Dodger Frank Robinson will be at Frank & Sons to sign autographs on Saturday; from Noon to 1:00 PM.  Go here for information.

special trading card price:  $49.
balls, flats and figurines:  $79.
equipment (caps, helmets, bases, etc):  $99.
bats & jerseys:  $159.
inscriptions:  $25.
JSA Authentication:  $10.

Frank & Son Collectible Show
19649 San Jose Ave
City of Industry, CA 91748

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Former Clippers Guard Gary Grant will be signing free autographs in Chino Hills.  Go here for information.  Check out the flyer below.

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Blog Kiosk: 3/25/2015 - Dodger Links - Ryu OK (for now), Olivera Arm Issues and Preventing Future Injuries

Check out who visited Dodger Stadium yesterday.  That's 1988 Dodger World Series champion Rick Dempsey.  Photo above was tweeted by the @Dodgers.

Funny story:  About a decade ago I visited Dodgertown in Vero Beach for Spring Training and spent a good amount of time gathering signatures like everyone else.  So, imagine my delight when Dempsey, a member of the '88 team, was on the field.  Strangely, he was largely ignored since he was no longer a player and was working as a coach for the opposing team instead - which made getting his signature easy.  Anyway, after fielding a question from some young lad about who he was Dempsey remarked (to paraphrase), "ya know, I was on the '88 Dodger team."  I got a good laugh out of that one.

Below are some more links to check out:

• Although not out of the woods yet, the Hyun-Jin Ryu news provides a sigh of relief.  Via a series of tweets by the Dodgers yesterday morning.

The plan is for Ryu to rest and rehab for 2 weeks before being re-evaluated at that time to determine his throwing progression. (2/2)
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 24, 2015

• Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tells us that the Dodgers were able to get something unique out of Hector Oliver should he require Tommy John Surgery.  This has also been confirmed by JP Hoornstra, and Jesse Sanchez on twitter confirms Passan's previous scoop that Olivera does have a slight tear in his UCL.  Obviously, there were some concerns by the Dodgers about his arm, but with this now hovering over him I can't help but think that this deal is an overpay.

Sources: Hector Olivera's contract includes clause that gives the Dodgers a seventh season at $1M if he needs Tommy John surgery.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 24, 2015

• The man who doesn't want to talk about Los Angeles, talks about Los Angeles. Via Pedro Moura at the OC Register, "Kemp convinced he's found a healthier situation with Padres."

“I’ll talk about the Dodgers just a little bit,” Kemp volunteers. “We had a lot of talented outfielders over there that are used to playing every day. It wasn’t good for any of us to wonder if we were gonna play. It’s not a healthy situation.”

“I thought they would figure it out, but they just kept all of us. Honestly, right now, I feel like they might be in the same situation.”

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Kikè Hernandez has one goal in mind – and don’t try to convince him otherwise."

“I always like to think big, I always like planning things out,” Hernandez said, “I worked the whole entire off-season working towards being the everyday second baseman in Miami and when I got traded, I got all these people telling me ‘Oh you got traded, you got screwed by that trade, there’s no room for you there,’ and I told myself ‘Hey, I don’t care, they traded for me for a reason, it means they like me.’ I’m just going to keep working hard.”

• Considering past history, the Dodgers sorely need this.  Via Stephania Bell at ESPN.com, "Dodgers, Kitman partner on program."  

Kitman Labs, a sports technology company with a history of providing European teams with data regarding athlete management and injury prevention, has worked with the Dodgers for a year to develop a comprehensive program specifically tailored to baseball players. 

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SCP Auctions: More Dodger Goodies

Along with the Bill Russell Collection I featured a couple of days ago, SCP Auctions has available for sale more Dodgers memorabilia items worth taking note of; including collectibles from Steve Garvey and items from former Dodger catcher Rick Dempsey.  Check my favorites below.  Be sure to click any pick to embiggen.

This is the first time I've seen this kind of commemorative Dodger Baseball, so I'm unsure of its origins.  This was within Garvey's personal collection and has been signed by him.

(Auction Link)

(Auction Link)

Here is another Stave Garvey item.  Below is his game-used 3rd baseman glove.

(Auction Link)

It's easy to forget that Rick Dempsey was a part of the 1988 World Series Champion Dodgers.  He joined the club as a free agent to be their backup catcher.  Better regarded as a defensive specialist he went on to have one of his finest offensive season of his career that year.  Per Phil Gurnee at True Blue LA:

Splitting time with Mike Scoscia, Dempsey tore up left handed pitching, posting a career best 129 OPS+. Rick only had 198 plate appearances but he made the most of them, hitting 13 doubles, and seven home runs.

Below is his 1988 World Series Championship ring.

(Auction Link)

(Auction Link)

The Jackie Robinson bust below is just plain cool looking.  From the auction description:

From Bret Saberhagen's personal collection comes this 18-inch high near-lifesize bronze bust of Jackie Robinson by acclaimed artist and sculptor Palmer Murphy. Murphy's work is well known within the sports memorabilia hobby, including producing a number of different busts and even some of the "modern" Hartland statues, but these spectacular bronze pieces issued by the Hall of Fame remain among his most notable entries in the sports field.

(Auction Link)

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Dempsey the Dodger

Here is a 1988 press photo showing Rick Dempsey in a catchers crouch. I remember several years ago at Vero Beach during Spring Training waiting diligently for him to sign a ball for me just before a game. He made a comment to someone that he too was on the 1988 Championship club, and I thought well I know that. Then, it occurred to me that he was probably one of the least recognizable players on the team. After all, Scioscia was the main man then. So, as a reminder here he is- one of the stuntmen of the 1988 team.

(eBay Auction Link)

Autographed Balls

I recently made a new Blue Heaven Facebook page and discovered the wonders of its photo albums. I can put up as many pics as I want and anybody can view them without having to be a facebook member. Considering their recent privacy issues they have been having lately- real or imagined- I figured this would probably be the best venue to post some items from my collection.

Last night I had a chance to scan some of the autograph Baseballs I've collected over the years. A vast majority of them were gathered during my visits to Spring Training in Florida a few years back while others came from my days as a Baseball card seller in the late 80's to early 90's. See all of the balls I've scanned so far here.

This Duke Snider is an old one. Not only is the ball oxidizing into a ugly brown, but it is the very first autographed Dodger I've ever gotten. It was early on in my teenage career as a Baseball card entrepreneur and Duke Snider was to be a special guest at one of my earliest shows. As a child we never had the means to go to a lot of games and the thought of getting a players autograph was never planted in my mind. It was just something I never did as a youngster.

When I got older and became a hardcore Baseball hobbyist the means and ability to pursue autos became more of a reality. So, when Snider came into town to sign for fans I made sure to pay for a ticket and stand in line. To this day it reminds me of that afternoon as a 15 year old kid.
I got this Shawn Green in Florida one Spring afternoon at Dodgertown.
How many folks remember that Rick Dempsey was a Dodger on the 1988 World Series team? When I got his signature at Dodgertown he was a coach for Baltimore (I think that's right) and made a off-handed comment to some fans there reminding them that he too was a Dodger. I, of course, remembered since the memories of that season still resonate in my mind.

Blog Kiosk 12/20/2009

• Albuquerque Isotopes owner, Ken Young, is named the Minor League Executive of the Year, from I Love This Game.

• Bye Bye Mitch Jones. He signs with the Braves.
  
• The Dodgers take care of their season ticket holders with something unique for the Holidays. Via It's Time for Dodger Baseblog and Vin Scully is My Homeboy here, here and here. Apparently there are numerous different version based on where you sit in the stadium. On eBay is this white seat version.
• The 50 best catch phrases of the decade.
  
• A great Christmas gift idea- Rick Dempsey's Home Run Holiday. (Hat Tip: Big League Stew)

• “I never imagined I’d be standing out here no, never. This is kind of surreal. You look around and you’re in a baseball park, Fenway Park! Then you look down and you’re on ice. Really unique, that’s for sure.”

  -Bobby Orr after skating on the ice at Fenway Park today. (From KuklasKorner) Watch a live webcam overlooking Fenway Park with a hockey rink on it below.
  

• The year in photos from Boston.com. Chicago White Sox pitcher Scott Linebrink delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game in Las Vegas, in this March 5, 2009 photo. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)