Blog Kiosk: 9/1/2015 - Dodger Links - A Couple of Trades and Kiké Hernandez 's Magic Banana Suit

The magic of the banana knows no bounds.

With the game tied in extra innings, Kiké Hernandez came out of the clubhouse to provide some good luck.  Via Matthew Moreno on twitter:

Kiké put on the banana suit/jacket around the 12th, Friedman told him to go back to the dugout and that he would pay his fine.

— Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015) September 1, 2015

It obviously worked.  The Dodgers beat the Giants on a walkoff single by Adrian Gonzalez in the 14th inning, 5-4.

Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more photos taken by Jon from yesterday's game.  Below are more links to check out:

• Ah, crap!  Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Enrique Hernandez could be out for weeks with hamstring strain." In Hernandez's place is catcher Austin Barnes.  BTW, with it being roster expansion time the Dodgers have also called up Joe Jackson, Joel Peralta and Mike Bolsinger from the minor leagues.
• Check out the cover of the September issue of Dodger Insider magazine, via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider.  A pic of it is on the right.  Clayton Kershaw is on the cover.
• Via David Schoenfield at ESPN, "How bad baserunning has hurt the Dodgers."  This story makes me wonder if this is the Dee Gordon effect. That's not to say we never should have traded Gordon.  After all, we've benefited greatly from the players we got, but it's clear that his prowess on the basepaths have been sorely missed.
• Sometimes they come full circle.  Per Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors, "Dodgers To Acquire Justin Ruggiano."  As you may know, Ruggiano was originally drafted by the Dodgers before being traded to Tampa Bay a couple of years later.  Here's the gist of why this trade is likely being done:

Most importantly, even during his MLB time this year, Ruggiano continued to hit lefties hard, as he has throughout his career. He’ll presumably be looked upon as an option against southpaws in Los Angeles. The Dodgers were in need of another right-handed-hitting outfield bat down the stretch after seeing both Yasiel Puig and Kike Hernandez go down to injuries in recent days.

• Jeff Todd also adds that the Dodgers have reacquired Chris Heisey from Toronto.  Wha...?
• It is welcome news that he is being reconsidered, but as stated in the following article it's likely to come to pass.  After all, Joe did take the money.  Via Chris Cwik at Big League Stew, "Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum says MLB has come to a decision on reinstatement." UPDATE: Via Shawn Anderson at the Hall of Vary Good, "Shoeless Joe to Remain Banned from Baseball."

“I have reviewed our records concerning the responses of both Commissioner (Bart) Giamatti and Commissioner (Fay) Vincent, who declined to reconsider Mr. Jackson’s case,” Manfred stated in a letter to Marcley. “I agree with that determination and conclude that it would not be appropriate for me to re-open the matter.”

I think this should settle things.  If they won't consider Joe Jackson for reinstatement then they sure as hell won't consider Pete Rose.

• This is super ridiculous, and hilarious.  Via Tyler Durden at Zero Hedge, "The "Chicago Cubs No Hitter" Indicator Spells Doom For The Market."

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Blog Kiosk: 8/13/2013 - Dodgers Links - Greinke Would Trade Ellis, Puig and His Adjusments, and Unsung Heroes

Both Clayton Kershaw and Jerry Hairston visited the set of the TV show Modern Family, yesterday.  Pic via twitter @Dodgers.

• So, if Zack Greinke were GM he'd trade AJ Ellis.  Check this story out written by Ken Rosethal at FoxSports.

“The first thing I’m doing is trading you and signing Brian McCann,” Greinke said, referring to the Atlanta Braves’ catcher, who is a free agent at the end of the season.

• "Overthinking It: Yasiel Puig Adjusts to the Adjustments," via Ben Lindbergh at Baseball Prospectus.  This is a very detailed and statistical look at the ever-evolving Puig at the plate.

Suddenly the Francoeur comp seems more silly than scary. Francoeur has never walked 11 times in a 10-game stretch, as Puig now has, and he didn’t come close to doing so in his rookie season. What’s really scary, and also exciting, is how quickly Puig altered his approach to correct a pattern that wasn’t working. Your move, major leagues.

• "Why Don Mattingly Gets Credit for the Dodgers' Success," via Howard Cole at LA Weekly.
• "MLB Notebook: LA's story becoming historic: Led by Kershaw, Dodgers' turnaround paralleling that of 1914 Braves, " via Roger Schlueter at MLB.com.
• "The Unsung Heroes of the Dodgers Crazy Run," via Dave Cameron at FanGraphs.  He has special praise for Mark Ellis and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
• Did you know that the Dodgers recently changed their logo?  Really... they did!  I'll let LA Taco tell you all about it.
• "Shut the Door, Have a Seat: Kenley Jansen Is Simply Awesome," via Michael Baumann at Grantland.
• Andrew Kallick at Kings.NHL.com shares an interview done with Dodgers catcher Tim Federowicz at the end of the hockey season.  Tim had just watched his first Kings hockey game.

LAKings.com: Have you noticed any similarities between being a catcher and a goaltender?

A: I was kind of watching their technique in between periods. It’s kind of funny. We do some of the same stuff, same type of stretches. A lot of the same techniques, it’s pretty cool. They drop down to their knees a lot to try to block the puck from going in the goal. We do the same when pitchers throw balls in the dirt. I’m sure they do a lot of drill work with it. It’s kind of cool to see the other end of it.

• John Thorn at Our Game (a noted Baseball historian) shares an old article that names Joe Jackson as, "The Man Who Might Have Been the Greatest Player in the Game". 
• Cuba's best hitter has reportedly just defected, via Matthew Pouliot at Hard Ball Talk.  He's a 1st Baseman, so I would be surprised if the Dodgers make a play for him.

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MHCC Auctions: Jackie and Joe

I don't often feature items from Mile High Card Company Auctions, but this time around I couldn't help myself.  There are a couple of items that really stuck out to me, and I felt I would be remiss if I didn't point them out.

If you haven't seen "The Jackie Robinson Movie" than I gotta ask, "what's stopping ya?"  Heck, you could watch it online for free, so you really have no excuse.  Go to this link to watch it on youtube.  Anyway, following up on that check out the below vintage movie poster for the film.  It is from 1950 and is one of the more sought after sports related movie posters in the hobby.

 (Auction Link)

When I saw this I knew I had to put it up.  Here is a vintage press photo of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson (on the right) and Illinois Assistant State Attorney Hartley Reblogle during the "Black Sox" trail in 1921.  It was taken on July 21st- which happens to be my birthday.  What I love about the photograph is that little stare Joe gives.  I'm sure he's wondering what the heck is going on.  This guy to his right is trying to prosecute him, but wants a personalized photo with him?  What's up with that?  It's almost depressing because deep down you know that Joe Jackson was like a poor deer staring straight at a cars headlights. 

 (Auction Link)

Since we are on the topic of Joe Jackson, check out the below press photo taken by legendary Baseball photographer Louis Van Oeyen.  He captures Joe perfectly as he ponders his upcoming at-bat.  This pic is brilliant for its clarity and subject matter.

(Auction Link)

Blog Kiosk: 1/29/2011

• Shorpy does it again. Check out their great glass negative photo of old League Park in Cleveland from 1910- home of the Cleveland Naps. Check it out here. It's a view of the front of the stadium with fans decked out in suits waiting to get inside. This Cleveland team was filled with stars. You could watch soon-to-be Hall of Famers Nap Lajoie, Elmer Flick, Addie Joss and Cy Young there. More importantly, a young Shoeless Joe Jackson first came to the club in 1910.
• Both DC and Archie Comics have recently stopped following the Comics Code. This is a long time coming.
• If you are a Kings fan then you know what the Burger King Jersey is. Check out this great story from The Royal Half about its origins. If you don't know anything about it or don't care then just take a gander at it below and laugh with us all.
• GCRL explores the Dodger career of Rafael Landestoy.
  

Legendary Auctions: Vintage Pics

Here are some notable vintage photos Legendary Auctions is currently auctioning off. Click any of the photos to enlarge.

Wow. That is one very large and quickly aging Babe Ruth taking a mighty swing during batting practice while in a Dodger uniform in 1938. He was paid an annual sum of $15,000 to be a coach and hit before games during batting practice to excite the crowd.

Auction Link:

Before there was Tommy Lasorda, there was Wilbert Robinson. He was the round and well-loved former manager of the Brooklyn National Baseball Club. Back then (circa 1916) ball teams did not have club names like the Dodgers or Yankees. They were formerly known as the Brooklyn Nationals or New York Americans, but teams were given nicknames- often by the press. When Wilbert Robinson managed the Brooklyn club he was so loved and respected they nicknamed the team the Robins. Thus, for most of his tenure with the club the ball team was known as the Brooklyn Robins. Below is a great photo of this Dodger legend. Heck, in some ways he resembles our own well-loved coach, Tommy Lasorda. Slim Fast probably wouldn't have worked for him either.

Auction Link:

He is a great pic, circa 1936 of a young Satchel Paige when he pitched for the Pittsburgh Crawfords of the Negro Leagues. I suspect this will be one of the more highly sought after items in this auction.

Auction Link:

Ty Cobb is shown below sliding under the tag of Johnny Kling during the 1907 World Series. Nothing really extraordinary about the pic except for the fact that Cobb's slide look especially painful.

Auction Link:

This is a very early pic of Shoeless Joe Jackson. Below he is warming up while playing in the minors in Savannah. I love this pic more because of the background than the primary subject matter. Check out the ad signs on the wall and the slipshod nature of the field. Probably a pre-1910 photo, it really shows how rugged the game was in its infancy. This minor league lot looks like it is just a couple of steps above a sandlot.

Auction Link:

Lelands: Drawings and Paintings

The Lelands Auction recently closed so I though I would highlight some additional items that I found really exceptional. In this post I show various paintings and drawing worth a good long look.

Below is a painting by Arthur K. Miller of Jackie Robinson.

Auction Link: Jackie Robinson Painting:

Here a painting of a reflective Hank Greenberg by Arthur K. Miller.

Auction Link: Greenberg Painting:

Arthur K. Miller captures Willie Mays swinging.

Auction Link: Willie Mays:

A mysterious Joe Jackson done by Arthur K. Miller. It is titled "Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy."

Auction Link: Joe Jackson Painting:

Yogi Berra reaching for the tag at home was wonderfully done in a giclee on canvas print by Steve Holland.

Auction Link: Yaogi Berra Painting:

This Gauche on board painting done by Mike Schacht.

Auction Link: Ted Williams Painting:

Here a couple of original Virgil Ross drawings done in the 1990's of Bugs Bunny.

Auction Link: Virgil Ross Painting:

Auction Link: Bugs Virgil Ross Drawing:

MHCC: March Auction

Mile High Card Company auction recently concluded a great auction that included some very rare cards and memorabilia.

First, I'll start off with a Dodger related card of one of the scarcest 1950's issued region sets made. Below is a 1954 Wilson Franks card of Carl Erskine. These cards are very difficult to find, especially in this condition. The card sold at a healthy price of $775.00.

Auction Link: 1954 Wilson Franks Erskine:

Now, on to something that truly boggles the mind. Mile High had the honor of auctioning off one of the rarest Topps test issues ever produced. Below is possibly the only complete master set of 1968 Topps All Star Player Plaks. Last year a huge lot of these rare plastic bust were found hidden in a small bucket inside the garage of a former Topps employee. They were discarded and forgotten about.

Acting on a phone call from a couple outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Brian Drent, founder and President of Mile High Card Company, recently traveled to The Topps Company's former hometown to examine what he'd been told was a pile of plastic baseball parts produced sometime in the late '60s. The owner's mother had worked at the Topps factory for a number of years and would occasionally treat the neighborhood kids to free candy and miscut cards. She also had permission to take home any of the failed test issues, as she did with an armful of Topps Plaks wax packs.

She quickly learned, however, what Topps management had already concluded, that what kids wanted most was cards and candy, that you couldn't really flip a plastic bust, and that they had no negotiable street value. So she put them in a bucket on a shelf in her garage where they sat for the next forty years.

As proof of it's scarcity it sold for an amazing $55,612.00.

Auction Link: 1968 Topps Plaks Set:

Here is a Type 1 vintage photograph of a very young Jim Thorpe.

One of the single greatest athletes of all time, Thorpe won Olympic gold medals in both the pentathlon and decathlon, excelled in football (his favorite sport) at both the collegiate and professional levels, played professional baseball and basketball, collegiate lacrosse, and even ballroom dancing, winning the 1912 intercollegiate ballroom championship. On the gridiron, he excelled in almost every position, routinely scoring all of his team's points as running back, defensive back, placekicker, and punter. His athletic career, according to legend, began in 1907 when he walked past Pop Warner's track practice and beat the team's best high jumper with a spontaneous 5'9" leap while still in his street clothes. Pop Warner immediately took his new track star under his wing, discouraging Jim from playing the comparatively violent game of football. Thorpe, however, eventually convinced Warner to let him run some plays against the team's defense, and the rest, as they say, is history.

It sold for $1,433.00.

Auction Link: Jim Thorpe 1910 Photo:

Mastro: More Vintage Treasures

Mastro just completed another great auction last week. Even in a slowing economy vintage material continues to garner big prices.

Below is a group of 1885-1886 Brooklyn Grays scorecards with player portraits. They feature 4 different players of one of the Dodgers earliest teams. Incredibly, they are all scored.

May 2nd 1885 - vs. New York Metropolitans (VG/EX; Brooklyn lost, 2-8; Valentine is penciled in as the Umpire; catcher Will F. Krieg is pictured on the cover; blank backed), September 9th 1885 - vs. Louisville Colonels (VG; lost 3-7; Eddie West is penciled in as the Umpire; third baseman W. H. McClellan is pictured on the cover; ad back), September 25th 1885 - vs. St. Louis Browns (EX; lost 3-6; Kelly is penciled in as the umpire; pitcher Jno. J. Harkins is pictured on the cover; ad back), and June 5th 1886 - at Philadelphia Athletics (VG/EX; Brooklyn won, 14-10; Kelly is again penciled in as the Umpire; left fielder G. E. Swartwood is pictured on the cover; blank backed).

They sold for an healthy $4,500.00.

Auction Link: Brooklyn Scorecards:

Another 1981 Dodgers World Series trophy sold for $2,300.00. It's a salesman sample.

Auction Link: 1981 WS Trophy:

Below is another salesman sample. This time its Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series ring and it sold for $2,000.00.

Auction Link: WS Ring:

Here is a great vintage game-used Dodger uniform of Fred Singleton from the year of the Baseball Centennial in 1939. It comes with the commemorative patch on its left sleeve and is in incredible condition.

In 6 Major League seasons Fred Singleton played sparingly, but he isn't known for his Baseball prowess. He was a great college football player. In 1955 he was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame as an All-American tackle for the University of Alabama. This uniform sold for $3,250.00.

Auction Link: 1939 Brooklyn Uniform:

Below is a very large grouping of some of the rarest Baseball pins in existence. They are from 1898 and were produced for Cameo Pepsin Gum. The two below are of Hall of Famers Kid Nichols and Buck Ewing. This collection of 64 pins sold for an astounding $72,500.00.

The Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, NJ produced these early 1-1/4" celluloid baseball pins as premiums for their neighboring firm, the American Pepsin Co. These pins were distributed with that latter firm's Cameo Pepsin Gum product and carried back paper advertisements for the confection...This impressive grouping of 64 different pins displays a total of 45 Pepsin back papers and 11 others that have 11 Whitehead & Hoag inserts in their stead. The remaining eight have no paper at all. This is an unusually high percentage of surviving coverings for any cello pin collection of any vintage, and remarkable for a 19th century set.

Actually there are a number of amazing characteristics about this collection, beyond its high percentage of surviving back papers. There are visible cracks on only one example (Hutchinson), and that is a single crack that blends in with the image! Most of the pins grade EX or better, with many Near Mint or better examples in their midst. These pins are seldom found with such a uniform high grade appearance, where all of the images are clearly visible with highly legible captions. Only a few of these demonstrate any stains, and on those few examples the staining is unobtrusive, providing no distraction from the pin's attractively preserved subject. This is easily one of the finest holdings in our hobby, containing many examples that were once part of the fabled Copeland collection.

Auction Link: 1898 cameo Pepsin Pins:

The most sought after Shoeless Joe Jackson Baseball card also sold. It is his 1910 T210 Old Mill Cigarettes card. Even is just "Authentic" condition it sold for $85,000.00. Only about 10 cards are known to exist as it features him with the New Orleans Pelicans of the Southern League.

Auction Link: 1910 T210 Old Mill:

Mastro May Auction

Mastro recently concluded their most recent major auction. They sold nearly $8.5Mil in memorabilia. There was plenty to see from rare cards to historical memorabilia.

Below is one of my favorite prewar Baseball cards. Babe Ruth who is the "Sultan of Swat" is also the "prince of peace" as he holds a dove in front of the Yankee Stadium crowd. The unusual pose and that guy to Ruth's right make me crack up. What the heck is going on here? This card sold for $3,500.00.

Auction Link: 1922 E121 American Caramel Babe Ruth:

Here is a 1953 press photo of the Dodgers most feared hitters. It includes Carl Furillo, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella. $400.00 was the final bid.

Auction Link: 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers Fearsome Foursome Photo:

This is a 1939 Press photo of an aging Joe Jackson as a liquor store proprietor on the 20th anniversary of the Black Sox scandal. As noted on the back by a reporter,

"Shoeless Joe Jackson ... 20 Years After"... whose legacy became "... one of the blackest blots on baseball history," and that "Jackson, with others, was convicted of accepting the bribes of gamblers to throw the game."

This pic sold for $600.00.

Auction Link: Joe Jackson 1939 Press Photo:

What an important piece of American history. Below is a American Continental Congress lottery ticket sold in 1776 to help finance the revolution.

The lottery was calculated to yield substantial prizes for winners, and to provide a profit for the young nation's Treasury. Regrettably, the government actually wound up losing money on the proposition... The lottery was a well-intentioned building block conceived by the Continental Congress, but it unfortunately did not produce the reservoir of cash the body had hoped to generate.

It sold for $325.00.

Auction Link: 1776 US Congress Lottery Ticket:

Auction Roundup: Mastro, CSA, MHCC,

Mastro auctions a timely lithograph from sports artist Bill Dawson. Produced in 1958, this drawing features the Brooklyn Dodgers "Bum" hitchhiking his way to the Dodgers new home at the Coliseum. Do you have your tickets for the upcoming March 29th game? I just got mine and I can't wait. This item sold for $150.00 and included another lithograph about the 1959 World Series.
Auction Link: Mastro:

Below is one of the rarest of all Jackie Robinson vintage collectibles, especially in this condition. This doll was created in 1950 and was sold only within the African-American community. It includes the very rare original tag and is in incredible condition. It rivals the doll I saw for sale in the famous Barry Halper collection about a decade ago. The only thing missing here is the original box. This doll sold for $890.00 earlier last month.
Auction Link: CSA:

Below is one of the rarest of all Baseball promotional items. I'll let Mile High Card Company describe it.

Presented is without question one of the rarest baseball collectibles ever issued as well as being one of the most visually appealing items to commemorate the immortal Joe Jackson. The offered collectible was issued by the George Frost Company of Boston, Massachusetts in what is widely considered to be their second offering of window store advertisements. Each of the 12 subjects from within the issue measures 4”x 8-1/4” and is printed on a thin cardboard stock displaying period lithography of the featured player... In our research we have found that there most likely is around a half dozen copies of this card known to exist.

It sold for an incredible $86,975.85.

Auction Link: MHCC:

Can you ever get enough of Babe Ruth in a Dodger uniform? Below is an original 1938 press photo from World Wide Photos that sold for $626.28.
Auction Link: MHCC:

Lelands Auction: November 2007

Lelands, once again, has a great collection of Baseball photos on auction. I thought I would take the space to share some of my favorites.

Below is a photo of the infamous, yet spectacular White Sox outfielder, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. It was taken after the 1919 World Series and shows a man who doesn't seem able to smile. "Say it ain't so Joe."

Auction Link: Joe Jackson by Keystone View (1920):

Eddie Gaedel will forever live as Bill Veeck's greatest stunt. The 3'8" man, shown below, is the shortest person to every play in the majors.

Auction Link: Eddie Gadel Bats Vintage Photograph (1951):

In the 50's the Dodgers went on many world tours in hopes of spreading the glory of Baseball. Below is a 1956 photo during the teams Tour of Japan series. Jim Gilliam is the only recognizable face. Photo comes from the archives of Roger Craig.

Auction Link: 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers Tour of Japan Photo from Roger Craig Collection:

We've all seen photos of the great Sandy Koufax throwing a Baseball, but have you ever seen him playing football. Below he cradles a ball like it's a newborn baby.

Auction Link: Sandy Koufax Plays Football (1966):

Lelands Auction Link:

eBay Find: 1909 Sally League Photos: Joe Jackson?

Once again, eBay proves to be a historical treasure chest. A couple of days ago a vintage photo album came up for sale that included some very significant photos of a 1909 Baseball game between the Savannah Cardinals and the Jacksonville Jays of the old Sally League. What makes this fascinating is that "Shoeless" Joe Jackson played for Savannah in 1909 and could very well be in the photos. Check out centerfield. Could that be Joe? eBay Auction Link. It sold for $887.77.




eBay Link: Photo Album:
Hat Tip: Net 54:

Baseball Owns the Collectible World

(This is the bat Ruth used to hit the first home run at Yankee Stadium. Rank #4.)

Today, many would agree that Baseball has lost its luster these past several decades. Football has outpaced Baseball as America's number one sport.

The television rights to broadcast NFL games are the most lucrative and expensive rights of any sport.

Nevertheless, Baseball still packs the stadiums. Attendance is at record highs. It has enjoyed the longest tenure of rabid fans and, as a result, its' collectibles overshadow anything the other sports have to offer in the market. (Above is the first home run ball ever hit in an All-Star Game. Of course, Ruth was the man who did it. Rank #6)

Forbes.com has put together a story highlighting the 10 most expensive sports collectibles, and all 10 items are Baseball related.

What I find surprising about the list is that Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball claims the number one spot. At an auction price of $3,005,000.00 it ranks as the most expensive collectible every purchased. Unfortunately, as most would agree, the owner overpaid. It's probably worth 1/3 of that price.

Something that does not surprise me is that Babe Ruth related items stake claim to 5 of the top 10 most expensive collectibles.

(Above is "Black Betsy." Shoeless Joe Jackson's famous bat. Ranked #10.)

Hat Tip: SCD:
Story and Photo Link: Forbes.com: