Blog Kiosk: 6/19/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

I'm just as confused as Dodger coach Jake Pitler in the photo above, taken by Barney Stein (eBay auction link). It features skipper Walter Alston in the midst of digging a hole. Unfortunately, there isn't any background information describing the event.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1965 (OT) Union army general Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform everyone that all people held as slaves in Texas are free. This event is celebrated as Juneteenth -- a celebration of emancipation within the confederacy. In 1938, a day after signing a contract with the club, Babe Ruth puts on a Dodger uniform for the first time. In 1952 Carl Erskine threw a no-hitter against the Cubs in the Dodgers' 5-0 victory at Ebbets Field. This is the first of two no-no's he would throw in his career. The only Cub to get on base was the opposing pitcher, via a walk. In 1973 Dodger outfielder Willie Davis collected his 2,000th career hit at Dodger Stadium when he two-run home run. In 1990 Dodgers catcher Gary Carter broke a National League record for career games caught at 1‚862. He passes former Dodger Al Lopez who set the record in 1946.
• Happy Birthday, Bill Swift, Larry Miller, Bob Aspromonte, Jerry Reuss, Butch Davis, Doug Mientkiewicz & Claudio Vargas!

Blog Kiosk: 2/15/2017 - Dodger Links - Pitchers and Catchers Report Day!

With today being the official start of Dodger Spring Baseball I figured the above Associated Press photo, dated February 27, 1949, would be appropriate to share.  Featured are a group of Brooklyn Dodgers at Penn Station in New York as they head on their way towards Vero Beach, Florida.  (eBay Auction Link) Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Members of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Manager of the bluc's farm system, Branch Rickey, Jr. (at right, front row), leave Pennsylvania Station, New York, Deb. 27, enroute to Vero Beach, Fla., to open spring training on March 1.  From left (front) are: Coach Jake Pitler, Roy Campanella, Buddy Hicks, Rex Barney, and Rickey, Jr.  In back (left to right) are: Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges and Gene Hermanski.

Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Charlie Irwin, George Earnshaw, Joe Moeller, Ron Cey, Rick Auerbach, Russell Martin & Russ Mitchell!
  

Blog Kiosk: 1/5/2015 - Dodger Links - Trading Either, Mike Piazza and Babe Herman

The 1951 version of the Dodgers brain trust is all set up and ready to go for spring training, as evidenced in the vintage press photograph above.  Check out the eBay auction here.  Per the caption attached to the reverse:

Coaches and Dressen Confer at Dodger Camp; Vero Beach, Florida.... Charles "Chuck" Dressen, new manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers holds a conference with three of his coaching staff at the Brooks Spring Training Camp.  Left to right are: Dressen; Clyde Sukeforth; Jake Pitler and Cookie Lavagetto.

The photo was originally taken by Herb Scharfman for International News; dated 2/21/1951.  As you may know, Scharfman would join Sports Illustrated and is famous for a photo in which he appeared - he is the man seen in the background (between the legs of Muhammad Ali) as Ali stands over a knocked out Sonny Listen.

Below are some links to check out:

• Alex Markle at Chavez Ravining put together his list of, "Top 10 Matt Kemp Cards."
• ICYMI, there have been rumblings over the weekend that the Orioles, "have engaged in trade talks with the Dodgers regarding Andre Ethier," via Roch Kubatko at MASN Sports.   Baltimore appears to have many options, so I wouldn't expect anything to be imminent.  At this point, nothing would surprise me, though.  The Dodgers have not been shy about wanting to deal Ethier and they are probably willing to make a deal.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Acclaimed scout Brito not slowing down at 80."
• Via Lyle Spencer at MLB.com, "Wills' impact on game is Hall of Fame worthy."
• Via Anthony DiComo at MLB.com, "Proud of numbers, Piazza awaits Hall's call."

"I can only say that there's been a lot of great players throughout history that have had to wait their turn," Piazza said during a phone interview to promote a shaving system, for which he recently filmed a television commercial in upstate New York. "Joe DiMaggio had three ballots. Yogi Berra had three ballots. And that's part of the process. For me, it's not really my place, I feel, to start campaigning. I can only say that I'm proud of my work and I'm proud of my career. I'll put my numbers against a lot of players in history, and I feel that's all I can do."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers 2015 non-roster invitees to spring training."
• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Seasons: Babe Herman’s 1930 — the year of the hitter."

It was that year when a Dodger had arguably the greatest offensive season in franchise history. Floyd Herman, better known as “Babe” Herman, had a monumental campaign for the Brooklyn Robins, one that is statistically jaw dropping.


Herman ranked in the National League top five in 12 different offensive categories. His .393 batting average is 12 points better than any other in franchise history. (Herman hit .381 in 1929.) Herman finished second in the NL batting race to Bill Terry, who hit .401 that season.

• Via Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily, "Roadshow Segment on Rare Collection Airs Monday (today)."

The segment was taped on Roadshow’s first trip to New York City in 13 years.  It reveals the largest sports memorabilia find in the 19-year history of the series: an archive of rare Mort Rogers Scorecards with a handwritten letter from the 1871-1872 Boston Red Stockings.

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Blog Kiosk: 12/31/2014 - Dodger Links - Kuroda, Kershaw and Garvey

An obviously befuddled Jake Pitler, a Brooklyn Dodger coach, looks on as skipper Walter Alston takes a pick axe to a Dodgertown mound during Spring Training.  The photo was taken by legendary team photographer Barney Stein in 1955.  Check out the eBay auction where I found the photo here.

Below are some links to check out:

• RIP, Hank Presswood.  Via Nick Diunte at Examiner.com, "Hank Presswood, Negro League player with Cleveland and Kansas City, dies at 93."

“Willie Grace went to the Buckeyes and he was the one who told them about me,” Presswood said to me during a 2010 phone interview. “He was from Laurel, Mississippi. One day I was working and who was at my job, Grace and the foreman! He asked me about going, and I wanted to go you know. … I said, ‘What in the world are you doing here, I thought you were with the Buckeyes?’ He said, ‘I am with the Buckeyes, but I told them about you. I came after you.’ I was really surprised. I accepted and went on up there.”

• Wow!  The vintage Roy Campanella worn Brooklyn Dodgers jacket I featured in a post last month sold at Grey Flannel Auctions at $71,554.00.
• Via Barry M. Bloom at MLB.com, "Clutch Garvey merits a place among game's best."
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Hiroki Kuroda – Dodger Stadium’s other near perfect game."

Even though Kershaw’s no-no has been ranked as the most dominate no-hitter in modern baseball history by ‘Game Score‘ and was but a Hanley Ramirez throwing error away from becoming baseball’s 24th prefect game, it was not the only near perfect game to be tossed by a Dodger at The Ravine.

• Via Eno Sarris at FanGraphs, "The Best Pitches of 2014 (By Whiffs)."  Clayton Kershaw is mentioned as having the best slider of all starting pitchers... Of Course!
• If you don't already know, there will be a hockey game between the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks on News Years Day at Nationals Park in DC, and Mike Bertha at Cut4 has some video of them transforming the field into a hockey rink.  There's also a video of the NHL ice crew playing some ball on ice.  Go here to check that out.

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Blog Kiosk: 10/23/2014 - Dodger Links - Kershaw and Gordon Make Sporting News All-Star Team

Here is a fantastic 1947 AP photo featuring rising star outfielder Pete Reiser with three newly signed Dodger coaches.  Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Feb 3, 1947.  "REISER SHOWS COACHES.  Pete Reiser (right), star outfielder of the Brooklyn Dodgers, demonstrates batting grip to three newly signed Dodger coaches, left to right: Clyde Sukeforth, Aldoboro, Me., Ray Blades, McLeansboro, Ill.. and Jake Pitler of Binghamton. N.Y., In the Brooklyn, N.Y. office of the Dodgers, Feb. 3."

I ran into this photo on eBay.  Check it out here.

Here are some links to check out:

• Continuing a tradition that goes all the way back to the 1920's, The Sporting News announced their National League All-Star team yesterday, and it includes Clayton Kershaw and Dee Gordon.  Check out their story here.  They even made some fantasy Baseball cards for each player fashioned after the 1954 Topps Baseball card set that are worth a look.  Check out the Dee Gordon on the right.
• Via Mike Podhorzer at RotoGraphs, "Dee Gordon: The New Juan Pierre?"

Smartly, Gordon takes full advantage of his speed and complete lack of power by slapping the ball on the ground. But he had a pop-up problem in the past. He got that under control finally and actually posted a lower than average mark. His batted ball profile looks a lot closer to Juan Pierre‘s now, which is where it needs to be. He’ll need a high BABIP though because he strikes out far more than Pierre ever did.

• Via Spencer Fordin at MLB.com, "Dodgers' Sweeney just misses cycle in Fall League play."

"Everybody in the dugout was letting me know I was a triple away, so I was going for it," said Sweeney, who had five triples for Double-A Chattanooga last year. "Lance held up the runner because he probably would've gotten thrown out at home. That's just the way the game goes sometimes."

• Via the Korea Times, "Ryu Hyun-jin reflects on his second season, vows to take better care of his body."

“I don’t want to go through the same fate next season. I think I am going to have to take care of my body better in the winter. I will start my offseason training earlier than before and focus on preventing injuries.”

• Via Chris Erskine at the LA Times, "Where Giants are concerned, Dodgers fans have a spite to the finish."  This is a fun article about how much we Dodger fans hate the Giants.

I think it was God who summed it up best the other day, when he tweeted: "Go Giants! And take the 49ers with you!"

• Topps newest direct-sale poster print are called "Topps Historic World Series Winners" and below is a pic of the Dodger print.  They are limited to only 99 copies, are already framed and are priced at $74.99.  Go here to check it out. 

• So, one of my favorite LA Kings blogs, The Royal Half, recently asked me if they could use some of my photos from a 'Meet the Players' session a couple of years back, so I happily obliged.  I had no idea what they wanted it for, but figured it would be for some sort of collage with a bunch of other fan photos.  Instead, something more hilarious occurred and I can't stop laughing about it.  I got photoshopped out.  LOL!  Check it out here. The ghostly version of me looks like a deformed ET.  Am I right?

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Blog Kiosk: 10/15/2014 - Dodger Links - Phase II in Play - Change Comes to the Dodgers

Here is another vintage photo of the Brooklyn Dodgers, circa 1950's, that I found on eBay.  On the reverse it indicates that the photograph was taken by vaunted Dodger photographer Barney Stein with the notation, "For Jake Pitler."  He is seated second on the right with his arms crossed.  To his right is Dodger manager Walter Alston.  Jake Pitler was primarily a first base coach for the Dodgers from 1947 to 1957.  I'm not quite sure who the two fellows on the ends are.  If you happen to know please pass that along.

Here are some links to check out:

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Kasten continues Dodgers' evolution with Friedman."

"I expect us to become a home-grown organization," said Kasten. "We will get young and will wind up with a lower payroll. But it's never payroll just driving decisions. Phase 1 was to get the best team on the field. Phase 2 is to transition to home grown. With the kind of energy and success Andrew has had, he'll really do well here."

• Via Bill Shaikin of the LA Times on twitter, Mattingly is expected to stay as manager.

Source: Friedman's plan for now is to move forward with Mattingly as manager in 2015. #Dodgers
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) October 14, 2014

• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA writes, "Dodgers still need a GM; what about Bryan Minniti?"

Minniti left Washington in a bit of a surprise move on Friday night, explaining in an email, "After five productive years with the Washington Nationals, it’s time for a change, so I’m leaving the organization," per James Wagner of the Washington Post.

Minniti leaving his job so abruptly kinda makes you wonder if something is in the works.

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Hyun-Jin Ryu vows to increase innings in 2015."

“My goal next season is to pitch close to 200 innings.  I’ve done that consistently during my professional career, and this was the first time it was low due to injury. I will start working this offseason so I can get my inning count up for next season.”

• Jon also shares an amazing story regarding, "Ned Colletti, the Bubble Man and the bubble machine."  This is the kind of story I'd expect to read from a Roger Kahn book.  Thank you for sharing it, Jon.
• Ned Colletti is playing a role as the team player, via Alanna Rizzo on twitter:

Colletti on his new role, "Helping Stan and helping Andrew".  I refuse to let ego get in the way.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) October 14, 2014

• Ken Gurnick at MLB.com adds more to the story surrounding Alanna's tweet directly above.

"They believe I have a chance to make an impact in a positive way and that's good enough," said Colletti. "I want to work, be held accountable and be responsible. Nine years is a long time, especially these nine years. It hasn't been smooth as glass."

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