Blog Kiosk: 7/8/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

I've been absolutely swamped lately, so I apologize for the lack of recent post.

Check out the always cheery Joc Pederson showing his love for the game, via a tweet from the Dodgers.

We're so close to watching Baseball -- I can almost taste it. In fact, the Dodgers are holding an intrasquad game this afternoon, at 6:40 PM, that will be streamed live on the Dodgers’ Twitter and Facebook with commentary from Alanna Rizzo and Nomar Garciaparra. It’s expected to last 3 innings.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1901 the Brooklyn Superbas defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-5, as a result of a questionable call by the umpire. This act infuriates Cardinals fans, to the point of rushing umpire Hank O'Day and giving him a split lip. He has to be rescued by the police. In 1907 Cubs manager Frank Chance, after being pelted with pop bottles, hurls a bottle back at the crowd that cut's a boy's leg. This resulted in a mob that forces Chance to leave the park in an armored car witha police escort after the Cubs defeat the Dodgers, 5-0 (boxscore). In 1949 Giants infielder Hank Thompson faced Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe at the plate -- marking the first time a black batter hit against a black pitcher in Major League history (boxscore). Thompson would hit a pop fly to third in his first at-bat, and go 0-for-2 with a walk overall In 1980 the All-Star Game is played at Dodger Stadium. The National League wins, 4-2 (boxscore), for the ninth consecutive time.
• Happy Birthday, George Hunter, Rowdy Elliott, Tex Wilson, George Fallon, Charlie Gilbert, George Culver, Lerrin LaGrow, Mike Ramsey, Danny Ardoin & Ferdinand Abell (one of the original founders of the Dodgers)!

Blog Kiosk: 2/27/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

And the crowd goes wild!

Featured above is a April 30, 1945 International News press photo of slugger Dixie Walker avoiding the rush of fans after a Dodger victory. It's from a game played at Ebbets Field on April 29th (boxscore link). Below is what's written on the reverse:

"Young Brooklyn Dodger fans are chasing Dixie Walker as the "Peepul's Cherce: legs it for the dugout after the end of yesterday's game against the Giants. Walker added to his popularity with the flatbushers by striking the blow that humbled the New Yorkers 4-3. He belted out a homer that netted three runs in the 8th inning."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1901 the NL Rules Committee declares that all foul balls would now count as strikes, except after two strikes. They do this in order to lower their cost of lost foul balls. In 1908 the sacrifice fly rule is adopted for the first time. In 2011 Dodger Hall of Fame outfielder Duke Snider dies of an undisclosed illness in Escondido. He was the last living Brooklyn Dodger who was on the field for the final out of the 1955 World Series.
• Happy Birthday, Roy Hutson, Rube Melton, Carl Warwick, Henry Cruz, Willie Banks & Carlos Triunfel!

Blog Kiosk: 1/8/22020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Check out this fantastic action photo of Jackie Robinson manning his position at second base (eBay link). Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Chicago Cubs Gene Hermanski lies flat for the slide on a second frame force as Dodgers second sacker Jackie Robinson fires to Gil Hodges at first for a double play, Aug. 25, at Ebbets Field. Bruce Edwards rolled to third sacker Billy Cox who flipped to Robinson for the play. 8/25/51.

Unfortunately, the Dodgers would not prevail in this game. They would lose, 5-1. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 Jackie Robinson is awarded the prestigious Spingarn Medal by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for his strong support of civil rights initiatives. Martin Luther King Jr. was given the honor the prior year. In 2011 tragedy struck. In Tucson, AZ US Rep. Gabby Giffords is shot and severely injured in an assassination attempt during a constituent meeting held in a supermarket parking lot. She would survive, but others did not. Christina-Taylor Green, 9-year old daughter of Dodgers scout John Green (also grand daughter of former ballplayer Dallas Green), is killed -- along with five other folks. Please check out this fantastic story from late-2018 by Katrina Bland at AZ Central -- "Christina-Taylor Green (who had mad baseball skills) is still surprising her parents." 
• Happy Birthday, Breyvic Valera, Chauncey Fisher, Brian Johnson & Derek Thompson!

Welcome to the Blue, Jimmy Nelson!

Right on the heels of new revelations that the Dodgers may have been cheated out of a consecutive World Series championships (link here, via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors) comes news that the Dodgers have added more depth to their 2020 roster. Per a tweet from Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times we find out that the Dodgers are signing 30-year old right-handed pitcher Jimmy Nelson.

The Dodgers and Jimmy Nelson have agreed to a deal. It’s for one year plus a vesting mutual option. He’s guaranteed to make a little over $1 million in 2020 but could make over $3 million if healthy.

— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) January 7, 2020

BTW, you can follow Jimmy on both twitter and instagram (here and here). He is also a gamer with a twitch channel, here. Apparently, he is a #PlayStationAmbassador who actively plays MLB THE SHOW 19.