Blog Kiosk: 10/21/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Featured above is a 1941 press photo showing Dodgers skipper Leo Durocher and first baseman Dolph Camilli arguing with the home plate umpire. To the far left is a dejected Pee wee Reese. Apparently, Pee Wee was called out on a third strike, that nobody in the Dodgers dugout liked. Unfortunately, we don't know the exact date of this photo or even who the opponent is, but we do know this is Ebbets Field (eBay auction link).

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1968 the Dodgers sold infielder Bob Bailey to the newest expansion ballclub Montreal Expos. Bailey was attained via a trade with the Pirates for speedster Maury Wills in 1966, and proceeded to stink it up in LA for two season. He slashed .227/.309/.325/.633. Nevertheless, he recorded the Expos very first hit in its franchise's history -- also driving in the clubs first two runs. Bailey also became a mainstay in Montreal, playing seven season in Canada and slashing an impressive .264/.368/.437/.805.
• Happy Birthday, Bill Russell, Franklin Stubbs, Bryan Corey, Toby Hall, Casey Fein & Zach Greinke!

Blog Kiosk: 2/2/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a look at Dodger veteran Pee Wee Reese on Camera Day at the LA Coliseum in April 1959 that is currently available at RMY Auction (auction link).

As nice as the above press photo is I think the photos being taken by those fans would be even cooler to see.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1964 a Hall of Fame Special Veterans Committee elected three former Dodgers' into the Hall of Fame: Burleigh Grimes, Heinie Manush and John Montgomery Ward. Also joining them in the Hall are Red Faber, Tim Keefe and Miller Huggins.
• Happy Birthday, Wes Ferrell, John Tudor, Scott Erickson & Chin-lung Hu!

Blog Kiosk: 12/13/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Few photos tell a story like the one seen above.  Featured is Jackie Robinson with David Campanella, son of Roy, and a young lad named Larry Solomon (possibly the photographers son) at the "Seated Lincoln" memorial statue at the Essex County Courthouse in Newark, NJ. (eBay Auction Link) This photo provides a poignant look at the the man who broke the color barrier in Baseball paying homage at a statue that celebrates the man who helped free the country.  Per the description on the reverse:

Making the eighth annual pilgrimage to the statue of Abraham Lincoln, 9-year-old Larry Solomon places a wreath of flowers in the arms of the Great Emancipator.  Looking on are Brooklyn Dodger star Jackie Robinson and David Campanella, son of Dodger catcher, Roy Campanella.  Thousands of persons were flocking to the cemetery in Springfield, IL, and other Lincoln shrines to pay tribute to him on the 142nd anniversary of his birth, Feb. 12, 1951.

BTW, the pic was taken by Harlem based photographer Chick Solomon for ACME.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1956 the Dodgers tried to do the unthinkable.  They announced the trade that would send legendary second baseman Jackie Robinson to the hated NY Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $35,000. It would be voided the next day.  Jackie would then announce his retirement from the game a few weeks later.  In 2001 the Dodgers received Cesar Izturis and Paul Quantril in a trade with Toronto for Chad Ricketts and Luke Prokopec.  In 2003 the Dodgers traded Kevin Brown to the Yankees for pitchers Yhency Brazoban and Jeff Weaver.  In 2005 the Dodgers signed free agent veteran catcher Sandy Alomar.  Also, they traded troubled outfielder Milton Bradley and Antonio Perez to the A's for Andre Ethier on the same day.
• Happy Birthday, Nate Oliver, Ricky Nolasco, George Shuba, Carl Erskine & Billy Loes!

Blog Kiosk: 4/10/2015 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

Check out this fantastic Wide World press photo, dated June 22, 1956, that I ran into on eBay.  It features Roy Campanella and Don Zimmer posing for the camera after both had a big day at the plate.  The caption attached to the reverse is below:

"REDBIRDS WERE THEIR TARGET.  Slump-ridden Roy Campanella, left, and shortstop Don Zimmer whoop it up in the dressing room June 21 after their work at bat brought a 9-8 win to the Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals in night game at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, N.Y., Campy drove in six runs with a pair of homers, the second one with two aboard in ninth to tie up the game.  Zimmer's third hit of the night after he replaced injured Pee Wee Reese drove in the winning run."

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Fifth-starter candidates Baker, Huff work in Minors."  With Ryu on the DL the Dodgers will need a spot starter next week.
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "De Leon near perfect as Quakes take season opener."
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "With Adrian on HR tear, Green reflects on day he hit four."

"That day, and that week, I had a very calm sense of being in the zone," Green said. "As opposed to other times, when you're in the zone and you almost start pressing because you don't want to waste that great feeling you have. When that happens, in some ways you feel more pressure when you're in that zone. But for that week, I was just very relaxed. Everything slowed down. All the clichés."

• Jim Callis at MLB.com, "Where the Dodgers' top 30 prospects are starting the season."
• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Dodgers’ prospect Jharel Cotton out 2-3 months with broken wrist."
• Just for posterity, here's a look at the Opening Series Playbill given to fans attending the recent Padres series, via @DodgerInsider on twitter.  Check it out on the right.
• Via Michael McKnight and L. Jon Wertheim at Sports Illustrated, "The tragic extent of Monique and Milton Bradley's violent relationship."  This is both harrowing and disturbing.
• Here is a large GIF collection of Babe Ruth playing Baseball. 
• Fascinating stuff.  Via Peter Morris and Stefan Fatsis at Slate.com, "Baseball’s Secret Pioneer."  They tell us all about a ballplayer from the late 19th century who appears to be the first black player in major league history.

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Rudely Inviting Myself to the Blogger Bracket Challenge

I am bored... Like, really bored.

The Dodger season is over, and I deeply despise both clubs in the Fall Classic.  I've got no horse in that race.

Worse yet, Dodger drama is starting to hit its stride, and I can't stand it. We've got the idiots on the left who make up rumor after rumor, and the fools on the right pushing a high school musical drama on us like we should give a crap.

The season's over folks!  And the Dodgers will undoubtedly make some changes, but please don't tell me that we'll trade the farm for David Price or that Don Mattingly's feelings are hurt.  It just reads as mindless babble filled with a load of BS. 

So instead, I'm gonna play a game.  A game I wasn't even invited to, but I'm gonna play nonetheless.  Because, that's how I roll.

-----------------------

Thanks to Stealing Home at All Trade Bait, All the Time, I came across Nachos Grande's Blogger Bracket Challenge and feel compelled to throw my 2 cents in.  Go here for his rules.  Since I'm not actually in the game, I will play along as I wish.  The topic for the evening is the card below.

And what is this card?

Beats the living heck out of me.

It looks like one of those 'Magic the Gathering' kind of cards.  Ya know, the game geeks play (I should talk!)  Thankfully, Nachos Grande informs us that it's from the 2011 Topps Attax set - a card set that doubles as a card game.  (I had previously previewed the Dodger cards from this set, here)

As for the makeup of the card, there's a bunch of numbers on the face that screams sabermetrics, and I'm sure it confuses just the same. Someone, please find me Nate Silver to explain how this all works.

The featured player is no hit/ good glove outfielder Franklin Gutierrez; who was once a top flight Dodger prospect before he was sent packing for a bag of balls and a lunatic named Milton "board game" Bradley.

That reminds me, what ever happened to Mr. Crazy?

Oh, yeah!  He was recently convicted of physically attacking his wife, but due to appeals has yet to serve any time.  Strangely, his wife died a month ago, and I have to wonder if I might be next if he reads this post.

The card hilariously points out the obvious about Gutierrez.

Easy Out: A batter who hits a single is out

Wow!  Such harsh criticism from a piece of cardboard.  Remind me to never look for a Baseball blogger themed card set.  No doubt it would say something like "fat and failed wannabe sports writer:  Hurts back on any pitch leading to long stint on DL" on my card.

Joking aside, Franklin Gutierrez has stayed in the Majors since he left the Dodger nest.  That's a total of 9 years longer than I'll ever get to experience, and 3 years short of Milton "please don't kill me" Bradley's career.  He doesn't hit much; which limits his playing time to being a spot starter or reserve defensive outfielder.  Gutierrez's value as a ballplayer is in his work on the field.  He is truly a great defender, and if you need a guy off the bench to shore up your outfield during the late innings, then I can't think of anyone better.  After all, you don't get nicknamed "death to flying things" for being a duck hunter.

Franklin Gutierrez is likely to be a free agent this Winter (Seattle holds a $7.5Mil option/$500k buyout for 2014), so if your team is shopping I'd suggest looking Franklin's way.  His glove will probably be a difference maker in tight-hard-fought games.

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Blog Kiosk: 7/3/2013 - Dodgers Links -

Topps is releasing a new set called WBC Tribute today.  Check out the preview pic of a Adrian Gonzalez WBC patch card above, via twitter.

• The Kershaw's are good folk.  Check out Ellen Kershaw's great essay at Kershaw's Challenge about a girl name Hope entitled, "To our Dearest Hope".  

I built relationships with the same sweet group of girls for 4 years at camp. So when they climbed off the bus, each of them came sprinting across campgrounds and leapt into my arms. They weren’t afraid of me. They knew I was on their side, and that I fiercely loved each of them. I later found out that you had been sitting on the side of the road when the bus that was hauling kids to camp pulled over to pick you up. Never have I believed that was a coincidence. It was divine intervention, and the Lord’s will at work that would forever change my life.

• Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA writes, "Dodger legend Don Newcombe puts Yasiel Puig in great company".  He gets a great interview with Newcombe.
• The 9th annual Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Bowling Extravaganza will be hosted by A.J. Ellis and Josh Beckett this year.  It will take place on Monday, July 29th at Lucky Strike Lanes LA LIVE.  Get more information here.  Don Mattingly, Steve Yeager, Chris Capuano, Mark Ellis, Tim Federowicz, Stephen Fife, Adrian Gonzalez, J.P. Howell, Nick Punto, Paco Rodriguez and Scott Van Slyke will also be attending.

• I absolutely love the LA Kings mascot "Bailey" twitter account.  It's oftentimes hilarious, as Larry Brown Sports points out in "LA Kings mascot cautions Dodgers against Carlos Marmol trade".  Check it out here.
• For the upcoming National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago Leaf Trading Cards will be giving out a 7-card VIP set that includes Yasiel Puig.  See at at right.  Via Sports Cards Info.
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Joc Pederson, Zach Lee lead Chattanooga contingent on Southern League All-Star team".
• Good luck Cochito.  Eric at True Blue LA also tells us that Luis Cruz has refused the assignment to AAA and is now a free agent.
• Via ABC News, former Dodger Milton Bradley has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years for domestic abuse, and is currently out on appeal.  
• This is for the Jackie Robinson collector.  Baseball Pinback Button blog does a full post on every Jackie pin in the hobby. It includes many pins I was not aware of, as well as dates of issue.  awesome!
• Dodger Films shares the aftermath of the Ryu bat that flew into the crowd during the last homestand.  The kid is fine and they got some great gifts from the team.  Check out the video below.

Video Link:

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 1/14/2013

Jaime Jarrin and Harrison Ford take a photo together at the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation's dinner on Saturday Night, pic via twitter @JorgeJarrin1.

• Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, Vin Scully stole the show at the aforementioned Scout's dinner on Saturday.
• Also, Dodgers photographer Jon SooHoo was at the Scout's dinner and shared a bunch of pics from the event here.
• Bill Dwyre at the LA Times writes about Tommy Lasorda still being an active ambassador of the game.
• David's Autographs Signings shares some pics from the Trinity Bat Company Home Run challenge on Saturday.
• OMG!  Milton Bradley faces 13 years in prison on alleged domestic abuse charges, via AP on Yahoo.  I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I can't help it.  I always wished he would find the help he needed.
• The SABR Analytics Conference will be held in Phoenix from March 7 to 9.  Go here for more information and to register.
• Via Amy Nelson at ESPN, check out the story of former 1st round draft pick Matt Harrington.  He didn't sign a Major League contract and saw his chances at professional Baseball disappear.  He now works at Costco.
• Sports Collectors Daily notes the top antique/collectible stories of 2012.
• I found this video to be both funny and timely.  Watch Clark, the Canadian hockey goalie, playing baseball.

Video Link:

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A Collection of Milton Bradley Autographed Cards

Following up on yesterdays post featuring a group of Paul LoDuca autographed cards, I bring to you a 4-card lot of autographed Milton Bradley Baseball cards.

I remember being excited that the Dodgers received him in a trade with Cleveland in 2004.  I saw his potential as a on-base guy with statistics that could make this trade a big win for the Dodgers.  He was coming off a phenomenal season with the Indians where he batted .321 and had a OPS of .923.  Sure, I had read of the problems he was having, but figured that coming home would do him wonders.  Of course, things didn't work out as planned.

Featured above and directly below is a 2005 Topps autographed card.

2005 Topps Finest Autographed Card

2005 Leaf

2004 Topps Traded & Rookies Signature Moves Card

UPDATE

As I searched around a bit I ran into another Milton Bradley autographed card that I had yet to post up.  So, here it is.  It is a 2005 Topps Pristine Personal Endorsement card.

 

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Collection: Milton Bradley 2005 Leaf Autograph

Here is another 2005 Leaf Autographed Baseball card from my collection.  This time it features the enigmatic Milton Bradley.

When the Dodger attained Bradley, via a trade with Cleveland, I wanted to believe he could make a home in LA.  After all, he was born and raised in the south bay, and there was hope that all he needed was some hometown love.  Heck, in his last year with the tribe, Milton had transformed into a excellent sabermatric style batter.  He could get on base, and hit for moderate power.  So, he looked to be a possible steal.

Unfortunately, Milton Bradley had a lot of baggage that distracted him from the game.  I don't think I need to rehash all of the events that eventually lead to him being traded to Oakland.  I'm sure we all remember what a mess he had become.

At the end of the day, he was traded up north in what turned out to be one of the franchises best trades ever.  For Milton Bradley we received Andre Ethier.  I guess everything does turn out rosey in the end.

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Auto Collection: Milton Bradley Diamond King

Milton Bradley was quite an anomaly. When his head is on right he is possibly one of the most dangerous hitters in the game. Unfortunately, "peace of mind" is not his forte. I can hope he can find a way to turn his troubles around.

Here is a 2005 Diamond King autographed card, numbered to 100.

MIlton Bradley Tours the Negro League Museum

As soon as I find my self in Kansas City I plan on making this museum the first thing I do.

"It's about education and inspiration," said Bob Kendrick, the museum's director of marketing who gave Bradley his walk-through. "The story is what they did to overcome the adversity, not necessarily the game itself. It's America at its worst, but it's also America at its triumphant best."

Read the rest of story here. There are a handful of stories including a mention of a game in 1925 between a black Baseball team, the Monrovians, and a Klu Klux Klan Baseball team. Who would have thunk it.

Story Link: Sac Bee: (reg. required)
Hat Tip: Net54 VBCF:

BP's Year in Quotes

Baseball Prospectus has just released their 2006 "The Year in Quotes." As you can imagine, Grady Little (and his wife) are well represented. Check out their story here.

"Those stats show you a whole lot. But it's like that woman on the beach in a bikini. It shows you a lot, but it doesn't show you everything. I'll never be accused of taking the human element out of it."

Even our old crazy friend Milton Bradley comes up with a good one.

"They swore they wanted character guys, but then they signed a DUI guy and a guy sleeping with a reporter and that's fine, but I got character issues?"