Blog Kiosk: 4/10/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

I think Pee Wee missed his calling. He should've hit the gridiron instead. Per the auction description at Love of the Game Auctions. (Auction Link)

Photo of Reese in the Dodger dugout, wearing a football helmet and posing to throw a football ostensibly owned by 1943 Heisman winner Angelo Bertelli.  Bertelli and Reese were stationed together in the Pacific Theater during World War II.  The photo, in FAIR condition due to several pronounced creases and some water staining, was likely taken in 1948, when news accounts indicate the Dodgers resurrected the white satin home uniforms worn by Reese in the photo.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 the Dodgers officially announced, during the sixth inning of an exhibition against the Royals, that they had purchased the contract of Montreal Royals infielder Jackie Robinson. He would be the first African-American to be on the roster of a modern Major League club. In 1962 the Dodgers played their very first home game at newly built Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine. There were 52,564 fans on-hand to watch Johnny Podres throw the first pitch to infielder Eddie Kasko -- who promptly doubled in the at-bat. Duke Snider would record the first Dodger hit with a single in the second inning.  Unfortunately, the Dodgers would lose the game to the Reds, 6-3. Reds outfielder Wally Post hit the first homer at the stadium during the seventh inning to lead Cincinnati.
• Happy Birthday, Bob McGraw, Chuck Connors, Lee Lacy, Mike Devereaux, Alberto Reyes, Andre Ethier & Charlie Culberson!

2017 Topps Heritage Baseball - Then and Now, New Age Performers, Poster and Game Inserts

After a look at the Dodger base cards, here are pics of some of the inserts that are available in packs of 2017 Topps Heritage.  Below are the Dodger cards found in the Then and Now, New Age Performers, 1968 Box Loader Posters and 1968 Topps Game insert sets.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

1968 Topps Game

#3 Clayton Kershaw

Blog Kiosk: 8/22/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This past Saturday Fernando Valenzuela joined the LA Dodgers Foundation in Inglewood as part of a RBI Dodger Day event.  Hundreds of kids came out to enjoy an afternoon of Baseball, a carnival and gifts.   Per a Dodgers press release:

"This is our first year participating in the Dodgers RBI Program," said City of Inglewood Director of Parks, Recreation and Library Services Sabrina Barnes. "I am looking forward to a long and lasting relationship as we work together to uplift our youth and revive baseball in inner cities. Go Dodgers!"

This event will serve as the culmination to the inaugural Dodgers RBI season in Inglewood launched this summer for more than 300 players. Darby Park will be the home to the 45th and 46th Dodger Dreamfields. LADF will break ground later this year.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1948 the Dodgers recorded a triple steal in the fifth inning of their game against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field.  Jackie Robinson stole home, Gene Hermanski took third and Pee Wee Reese swiped second base.  In 1965 was the infamous game between the Dodgers and Giants; where Juan Marichal attacks Johnny Roseboro with his bat.  In 2000 Eric Karros becomes the first Dodger in franchise history to hit two home runs in one inning.  It was against the Expos.
• Happy Birthday: Ned Hanlon, Randy Wolf and Jeff Weaver!

Blog Kiosk: 4/22/2015 - Dodger Links - Anderson, McCarthy and a Funny Date Video

A loss is a loss, no matter how it happens.

The Dodgers win streak was thwarted by the Giants, and the apparent message is that the Baseball gods were in San Francisco's corner last night.  Via Alex Espinoza at MLB.com, "Anderson vexed by Giants' well-placed hits."

"The only real legitimate run was the [Buster] Posey single," (Brett) Anderson said after the hard-luck loss. "I still feel confident in my abilities. The defense couldn't have done any more than they did today, it was just some well-placed hits that you have to deal with and go on to next one."

He continued on twitter:

Groundballs with eyes are stupid.
— Brett Anderson (@BrettAnderson35) April 22, 2015

Baseball is a funny game, ain't it?  No matter how hard you play, how well you do your business, or how confident you are in the statistics telling you the way it should be the game has a way of slapping you in the face.   

The photo above of Anderson is via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to see more pics from him from yesterday.  Below are some more links to check out:

• All of you must put everything down and check out Roberto's post at Vin Scully is My Homeboy.  He shares a group of three fantastic videos titled, "When Giants Fan Met Dodgers Fan."  They are all worth your time.
• David Davis at Deadspin recounts the fight between John Roseboro and Juan Marichal; "What Baseball's Most Famous Brawl Photo Didn't Show You."
• As you may have heard, Chris Heisey is currently in San Francisco, but has yet to be added to the Dodgers 25-man roster.  He is expected to be playing soon, but there is no word yet on who will be sent down in his place.  Speculation, as you can imagine, is high.  Eric Stephen at True Blue LA has a great rundown on the possibilities; "Chris Heisey highlights Dodgers roster flexibility." 
• Via Pedro Moura at the OC Register, "Dodgers pitcher Brandon McCarthy throwing harder with age."

“It’s kind of like he learned how to pitch backwards, almost,” said Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal. “When guys have velocity, they rely on the velocity early in their career. And then, once they lose it, they go back and start working on movement. It’s actually really good for a guy to not throw that hard when he comes up and then all of the sudden start pumping 95 and 96.

• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Update on Dodgers’ potentially big July 2 plans."  You should expect the Dodgers to do some big things when the international draft comes up.
• Awesome!  Corky at Pack War shares what appears to be a scarce Family Guy/Star Wars card set only found in Europe.
• Panini releases even more preview pics of their 2015 Diamond Kings Baseball card set; including the Clayton Kershaw and Yasiel Puig cards below.  Go here to check out more.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 8/17/2012

Take a look at a preview pic from Topps from their upcoming 2012 Topps Chrome Baseball set.  Above is a dual autographed insert card of Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp.  Pic via twitter @Topps.

• Baseball Prospectus Day at Dodger Stadium is happening on September 15th.  Go here for information.  There will be a pregame discussion with numerous guest appearances and food is included.
• Don Newcombe speaks a bit about the upcoming Civil Rights Game in Atlanta, via Spencer Fordin at MLB.com.

"Baseball started it, and it all started with Branch Rickey," said Newcombe. "He was the only one with the backbone to do it. A few years earlier, the Commissioner [Kenesaw Mountain Landis] was saying publicly that we couldn't play, but there were countless African-American citizens who fought in the war and then came back and couldn't find a job. What were we if we weren't full-blooded Americans? It had to change." 

• via redditor pitpanthersfan, earmuffs!

• Card Buzz was in Rancho Cucamonga and shares a Yasiel Puig auto.  Puig's autograph needs some work.
• Reddit user BradyIsAnElitePunter shares a photo he/she colorized, and it's a beaut! If you don't know, it's a pic of the infamous bat incident- when Marichal tried to get at the Dodgers catcher, Johnny Roseboro with his bat for attempting to him him on his throw back to Sandy Koufax.

• Topps just unveiled their Baseball card design for 2013.  So, what do you think?  Better yet, what do you think of the pink monstrosity on the right?  I guess the Jose Reyes is a pink bordered parallel card.

• Via Jeff Sullivan at SB Nation, Miguel Cabrera notices that the batters box is chalked wrong and gets the umpires to fix it during his at-bat.
• Jonah Keri at Grantland finds 27 Perfect Things about Felix's Perfect Game.

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More Photos From Leland's Auctions

Leland's just seems to have an incredible stockpile of press photos just waiting to be unearthed.

Below is an incredible photographic reenactment of the capture and shooting of John Dillinger.

"Superimposed on the photo image of the notorious Chicago street corner are the hand drawn images of the participants in this real-life crime drama."

Dillinger Wire Photo Link:

Of course, no auction is complete without a healthy dose of Dodger history. Emmett Kelly, hired by O'Malley to entertain the Brooklyn faithful, is shown below performing his "clean up man at bat" routine at Dodgertown in Vero Beach in 1957. Roy Campanella is behind the plate.
Dodger Clown Link:

Here is a great photo of one of the most famous brawls to ever explode on a Baseball field. Juan Marichal, taking exception to being buzzed by a throw from John Roseboro, let's his bat do the talking- and I don't mean he knocked a homer to show up the Dodgers. Instead, he takes his bat and proceeds to pummel Roseboro. Johnny is stunned and seen sprawled on the ground ready to tackle his assailant, Juan is being held back by the umpire with bat in hand and Sandy looks shocked as he heads towards home plate. What a game this must have been.
Marichal/ Roseboro Fight Link:

Since yesterday was Jackie's birthday it wouldn't be right to not highlight some great Jackie photos. Below is Jackie receiving his Silver Slugger award in 1949 from Ford Frick. My favorite part about this picture is the guy with the funny hat. Where'd he get that? And how about that bloke with the glasses and the giant grin. He thinks he's a star.
Jackie and his Silver Slugger Link:

Below is a 1947 photo during Spring Training in Cuba showing Jackie, wearing a Montreal Royals jersey, meeting his future manager Leo Durocher.
Durocher & Jackie Link:

A reflective and dejected Robinson sits in the clubhouse after a 4-2 loss to the Yankees in the 1952 World Series. This was the third time Jackie and the Dodgers failed to win the crown against the hated Yanks. All Jackie could say was, "they didn't miss Joe DiMaggio, it was that Mantle, that Mickey Mantle killed us."
Jackie Robinson having a Coke Link:

Leland's Auction House Link:

Summer Leland's Auction

At the recent National Convention several auction houses displayed items from their upcoming on-line auctions. Leland's was on hand to display some rare wire photos. Below are some great pics from their Summer Auction closing later this month.

Update: I wanted to add more notes about the provenance of the photos. The first 3 photos come directly from archives of the San Francisco Examiner. Lelands was able to pick out thousands of photos that included all sports, world events, politics and culture. There are some incredible photos in this collection. Check out Joe Jackson at the Black Sox trail, Babe Ruth as a Red Sox, Jackie Robinson and son, Jackie Robinson in a KC Monarchs uniform, The Mighty Fist of John L. Sullivan, Gordie Howe with stitches, Seabiscuit, Laurel & Hardy, John Coltrane, JoJo the Dog Face Boy, The Blonde Bombers and Lee Harvey Oswald Original Mug Shot. The remainder of the Examiners archives has been donated to UC Berkeley. The 4th photo comes from a private collection. * Auction #204: Above is a photo of Brooklyn's Big Guns. This was taken the day before the 1949 World Series
* Auction 211: Above is a 1957 photo of the despondent Dodger "Bum." The Dodgers are moving to California.
* Auction 207: Above is a portrait of former Dodger skipper Wilbert Robinson.

*Auction 1536: Below is one of the most unusual wire photos of one of the most significant events featuring the Dodgers and the Giants. It is the aftermath of Juan Marichal's bat swinging incident against John Roseboro in 1965. Check out the blood on Roseboro's catchers vest.