Blog Kiosk: 10/12/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The dreams of youth.

Above is a fantastic 1943 ACME press photo of several New York area youngsters at Ebbets Field on a midsummer day trying out for the club (ebay link). As many teams are wont to do, the Dodgers reached out to the community in hopes of finding a diamond in the rough. At left is Hall of Famer George Sisler showing the kids the ins-an-outs of fielding. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

"IMAGINE -- THEY WANT TO BE DODGERS.  New York City -- Kids who would rather be bums than scholars, are told how to stop a hot grounder by George Sisler, one-time famous first baseman.  Some of metropolitan aspirants for diamond fame are (left to right, next to Sisler): Alfred Phillips, Coney Island; Bert Oppenheim, Coney Island; Bob Geary, Flatbush; Ernest Dolphy, Astoria; and Paul Brenner, Manhattan.  They are trying out at Ebbets Field, and a careful check on their performances will be used at a later date when the farms call for possible big league timber."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1916 the Brooklyn Robins lost Game 5 against the Boston Red Sox to lose the World Series. As a side note, Boston played their games at the home of their NL rival, Boston Braves, since their stadium held more patrons than Fenway Park. In 1920 the Cleveland Indians defeated the Brooklyn Robins to win the World Series. In 1949 Vin Scully, after being recruited by Red Barber, worked his very first broadcast of his career when he does play-by-play for a college football game between Maryland and Boston University. He famously called the game from atop the roof during a very frigid day at Fenway Park. In 1988 Orel Hershiser threw a five-hit shutout victory, 6-0, against the NY Mets in Game 7 of the NLCS to advance to the World Series.
• Happy Birthday, Ed Householder, Steve Shirley, Sid Fernandez, Jose Valentin, Tanyon Sturtze & Nick Tepesch!

Blog Kiosk: 5/9/2016 - Dodgers Links - Baez, Puig and Urias

There was nothing but pink all day.  Featured above are Clayton Kershaw and Yasiel Puig in their Dodgers pink Mother's Day uniforms prior to the start of yesterdays game.  Pic above via Puig on twitter.  Unfortunately, one player didn't have his pink bat.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

Howie Kendrick had the go-ahead RBI with his usual bat, but he didn't mean to slight the Mother's Day theme.

"My pink bat got left behind, or I would have used it," he said. "It was in the rack back home, but it missed the plane."

BTW, the Dodgers won the game over the Blue Jays, 4-2.  They rallied, with the game tied at two, in the eight inning off an RBI single by Kendrick.  Then, Kenley Jansen shut the door with his eleventh save of the year.  So far, he is perfect is save opportunities this season.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"When you're really good, people can take you for granted," Kershaw said. "You expect him to go 1-2-3 and strike out the side. But he's not an unknown. It's just a matter of him being so good. What you want from a closer is someone who wants the ball, and Kenley embraces it. He wants to be out there, and that's huge."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947, the infamous photo of Jackie Robinson with Phillies manager Ben Chapman is taken prior to a game in Philadelphia.  As you know, Chapman lead an cavalcade of racial slurs against Jackie when they played in Brooklyn several days before, and the ensuing backlash against his actions caused him to seek amends by taking this photo.
• Happy Birthday, Aaron Harang!