Blog Kiosk: 10/16/2017 - Dodgers Links - Walk Off!

Holy Moly!

And it happened 29 years to the day when Kirk Gibson hit his own walk-off during the 1988 World Series. Unbelievable! Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“I can’t even put it into words right now,” Turner said. “It’s incredible, and the most important thing was obviously helping us get another win. But, that’s something down the road, hopefully many, many years from now, I’ll get to tell stories about.”

...
“I hit a ball pretty good to center earlier in the game, and Almora’s an unbelievable center fielder,” Turner said. “He’s been taking hits away from us every time we play him. So, I was just watching him hoping he wasn’t going to catch it. When it did end up going over the fence … obviously, I was fairly excited.”

You can watch the Celine Dion version of Turner's massive homer here. BTW, Justin also got the game ball, as you can see in the photo on the right.

Photo above via @Dodgers/Jon SooHoo on twitter. Photo on right via @Dodgers/Jon SooHoo on twitter. Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1949 the Brooklyn Dodgers elect to not renew the contract of Dodger President Branch Rickey. He would soon join the Pirates the following season. In 1985 Jack Clark of the Cardinals created one of my worst memories as a Dodger fan. He belted a come-from-behind two-out, three-run home run in the ninth inning off of Dodger reliever Tom Niedenfuer to take the National League pennant. Watch it here if you must. 
• Happy Birthday, Nick Cullop & Boom-Boom Beck!

Blog Kiosk: 9/23/2016 - Dodgers Links - Utley, Vin Scully and Yasmani's Stellar Day

Guess who got to wear the Dodgers "Player of the Game" belt last night?

Yasmani Grandal was a beast.  No... He was a monster... A big Blue switch-hitting behemoth bent on carrying the club the best way he could.  Grandal took out his mighty bat and launched not one, but two home runs (from each side of the plate) to lead the surging and obviously confident Dodgers to a 7-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies.  Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“Now that we’re good and healthy and ready to go, we’ve got to turn it up,” Grandal said. “We have, what, nine games left? Let’s get this thing over. Let’s close this. Let’s win the division and keep on playing.”

In other news, comic book legend Stan Lee was at the game to throw out the first pitch.  The photo on the right, tweeted by the Dodgers, features Stan with Josh Reddick

Photo at the very top via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1901 the Brooklyn Superbas (Dodgers) set the franchise record for runs scored in a game at 25 against the Cincinnati Reds.  In 1947 the Dodgers held Jackie Robinson Day at Ebbets Field during his rookie season.  Jackie was noticeably moved when his teammates stood besides him at home plate.  In 1962 Maury Wills stole his 96th and 97th bases of the season to break Ty Cobb's Major League record for steals.  In 1978 Lee Lacy hit a pinch-hit home run on the first pitch of his at-bat in the seventh inning -- just moments before Dodgers thirdbase coach Preston Gomez came up to Lacy, shook his hand and whispered, "hit this one over the wall for Junior."  Dodgers coach Junior Gilliam was in the hospital fighting for his life from a brain hemorrhage.  He would pass away a couple of weeks later.
• Happy Birthday, Matt Kemp!

Jackie Robinson's First Professional Game was Today -- (... Er, Tomorrow)

Jackie Robinson is an important theme for the Dodgers this season; especially considering the upcoming unveiling of an Robinson statue at the stadium later this year.  Therefore, it is of note that today is the 70th anniversary of his first professional ballgame.

It occurred on March 16, 1946, and it was a exhibition game between the Brooklyn club and the Jackie led Montreal Royals (the Dodgers top farm team at the time) at the City Island Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Thankfully due to an series of tweets by Baseball fanatic Keith Olberman we get an up-close look at an official scorecard of the event.  Check out the front cover at the top.  Even more incredible, though, is a look at the scorecard itself.  You can see that below.

As you can see, Robinson batted sixth in the order and he played second base for the Royals.  Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a boxscore for the game (or a detailed description of it), so if you run across something please let me know.  The below scorecard does say that Jackie got up to the plate three times and scored a run.

Also of note, the original owner of this scorecard made an interesting notation by Jackie's name.  Written in pencil is the word "colored" -- a term commonly used at this time in reference to African-Americans.

BTW, as I did a bit of research on this event I came across a Wikipedia entry that said this game actually occurred on the 17th, not 16th -- with a footnote from a source I was not familiar with.  Of course, who are ya going to believe -- a Wikipedia entry or Olbermann? 

UPDATE:  I guess you should believe Wikipedia.  Via a tweet by the Jackie Robinson Foundation, this game actually occurred on March 17, 1946.  Check out the proof below:

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Blog Kiosk: 12/16/2014 - Dodger Links - McCarthy Can't Draw, Yasmani Grandal and a Brief Update on TV Situation

I just had to do it.  

If you've been hanging around twitter then you know that Brandon McCarthy has been making quite an impression on social media.  He's engaging, quirky and has a poor sense of aesthetics - that last part being the most important factor of all.

Although his signing with the Dodgers is not yet finalized, I think it's fair to say that he is hyped about coming to Los Angeles.  In fact, he's so excited he just couldn't allow his avatar photo on his twitter feed to remain as it was.  He had to erase Yankee pinstripe and move to Dodger Blue.  So, he found a photoshop-style program and did it the old fashion way.  Brandon McCarthy found his inner child and painted in Blue.  The results of which you can see in the fantasy card I made above.  You can also check out his twitter to see it in its original glory: @MCcCarthy32.  (UPDATE: I stand corrected, the photo was drawn by twitter user @a20261.)

Best yet, his wife had some choice words about his efforts.  Check that out below.

@Mrs_McCarthy32 philistine
— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) December 15, 2014

You should take note that Amanda McCarthy has her own glorious Blue painted avatar photo that she now uses.  That was created by Lasorda's Lair blogger Stacie Wheeler. 

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Kemp’s departure guarantees Eric Karros L.A. Dodgers immortality."
• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Yasmani Grandal could make trading Matt Kemp palatable."  I hope your right, Dustin.  Other than pitch framing, his skills behind the plate are lacking.  He is just not my ideal vision of a catcher; especially after learning about his injury history.  My fear is that his days as a catcher will be over sooner than later. 
• Via del4rel at Gaslamp Ball, "The Many Levels of the Matt Kemp Trade."  This one part about Yasmani Grandal is disconcerting:

A discussion of Grandal is incomplete without discussing his surgically repaired knee.  In the sports medicine world there are three kinds of lower body injuries: 1. Injuries.  2. Knee injuries.  3. ACL tears.  Even without a comprehensive survey, you can say with relative certainty that ACL tears have ended more football, baseball, and basketball careers than any other kind of trauma.  To put it in Padres terms - ACL tears are the lower body equivalent to Tommy John surgery.  Already an iffy defender, Grandal is now even less mobile behind the dish than he was pre-injury.  Catcher is easily the hardest position on a player's knees, and unless Grandal breaks into a much much better hitter, his value is tied to staying at catcher.  Couple this with a guy who isn't winning any popularity contests, you have to consider moving him before he has a chance to prove the hype wrong.

• Via AJ Cassavell at Sports on Earth, "MLB Divisions 'Fun' Rankings."  The NL West is ranked the most fun and should be the most entertaining next season.
• Via J.P. Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Dodgers CEO expects SportsNet LA situation to be resolved by April 1."

“I’m reasonably confident,” Kasten told Christopher Russo, “because of all the various business deals going on. We think when that gets settled we expect the full coverage to be a part of the overall solution.”

• Via Dodgers Low-Down on facebook, he lets us know that the Dodgers on Direct TV is a big NO.  It sounds like it ain't going to happen.  Boo!
• As I noted yesterday, Sy Berger died on Sunday morning at the age of 91.  He was a legend in the card and memorabilia hobby, and an important player within the business of Baseball.  All collectors and fans of the game owe him a bit of gratitude.  Fittingly, Keith Olbermann went on his show last night and honored him with a fantastic obituary.  Watch it below.

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Blog Kiosk: 7/23/2014 - Dodger Links - Dodger Loss Hurt Last Night and Dee Collecting Awards

The Dodgers lost a wild one last night against the Pirates, 12 to 7.  There were hit batters, a thrown out pitcher, wild arguments, a bunch of home runs, some timely errors and relievers imploded all around.  For awhile it looked like the Dodgers could pull out a victory, but that was not to be.  If you ask me, the number one thing the Dodgers should to do is improve their bullpen.  This was a winnable game, and they were just not good enough to get the job done.  I think it's about time to have some faith in the kids (i.e. Paco, Dominguez, Garcia, etc.).  Pic above is of Justin Turner getting nailed in the arm, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

BTW, Josh Beckett was hard on himself when discussing the Dodgers loss, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.

"This loss pretty much falls on me," Beckett said. "I put our guys in a bad situation, having to eat innings up that way. I feel I can do a better job making small adjustments and didn't do it today. That's not competing."

Also, Adrian Gonzalez's home run last night was the 250th of his career.  Congrats, Agon!  Now, below are your daily Dodger Links:

• Here is an early peak at the Zack Greinke bobblehead the Dodgers are giving away to fans on Wednesday, August 20th on the right.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Dee Gordon wins Heart and Hustle Award."

“Dee absolutely deserves this award,” said MLBPAA director of communications Nikki Warner. “He embodies all that the award represents, and his passion for the game is unmatched.”

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers sign 33 of 40 draft picks, plus thoughts from Logan White."

"It's really tough to take 40 rounds of players every year and put them in your system, because you don't have enough places for them to play," White said. "Then what happens is you start releasing players with only a year, a year and a half in the minor leagues, and that's not a good process either."

• I look at this as a good omen.  Via a Dodger press release, the Dodgers RBI Jr. Division team, boys ages 13-15, earned a spot in the RBI World Series this past weekend. The RBI World Series will take place on August 6-17 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.  

Winning pitcher Nolan Martinez threw a complete game four-hitter allowing just one earned run. Catcher Brendan Casillas went 3 for 3 with a single, double and triple. Shortstop John Jackson and center fielder Micah Wallette had two hits apiece for Dodgers RBI. Second baseman Jorge Corrales made momentum changing key defensive plays. Three players on the Dodgers RBI Jr. Division All Star Team are defending RBI World Series champs, CJ Fernandezees, Max Sterner and Micah Wallette along with manager Erikk Aldridge.

• Pedro Guerrero... yes, that guy... made an interesting trade proposal on twitter.  So, what do you think?

I would do Kemp for Colon and Zack Wheeler and lucas Duda and so would the mets I am thinking.  Need to bury the fucking giants. @dodgers
— PedroGuerrero (@PedroGuerreroLA) July 22, 2014

• Via Shawn Anderson at the Hall of Very Good, they are adding three new members: Luis Tiant, Tony Oliva and The San Diego Chicken. 
• In memorabilia auction news, Keith Olbermann tells all about the plea bargain Bill Mastro has accepted for mail fraud related to his Baseball auction business.  He's the guy who trimmed the T206 Honus Wagner card into a super-mint specimen.  I've purchased several items through Mastro/Legendary Auctions over the years, so I do have a special interest in this case.  Fortunately, I don't believe I've been harmed by shill bidding; although I'm certain I benefited from it (i.e. I had bid too much for an item and immediately had bidders remorse.  A subsequent shill bid, I think, the day of the auction closing saved me from that embarrassing mistake.). 

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Blog Kiosk: 3/27/2015 - Dodgers Links - A Puig Team Meeting, Losing Rosin and Tommy's Wall

Check out Tommy Lasorda and his daughter Laura in front of a wall of his photos; adjacent to a food stand named after him - "Tommy Lasorda's Trattoria".  Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Check more pics from yesterdays unveiling of the changes to Dodger Stadium and the Dodgers private workout for season ticket holders here.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Road-tested Steiner welcomes another Dodgers year".

"To have Dan Haren four and Beckett five, that's pretty impressive. And we haven't brought up [Clayton] Kershaw or [Zack] Greinke or [Hyun-Jin] Ryu. So the rotation is solid. And the bullpen, you've got four guys that have closed at one time or another. The pitching is probably the strength of this team, as of this day."

• This is the best story written so far about the whole Puig thing. Via Ramona Shelburne at ESPN.com, "Dodgers, Yasiel Puig clear air".  It's a great read and phenomenal reporting; unlike some of the other drivel that's appeared recently.

"I asked them to please keep helping me," Puig told ESPN. "Specifically with baserunning and hitting my cutoff man. I want them to help me with everything they can."

• The Dodgers lose Seth Rosin and Javy Guerra to the waiver wire, via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider.
• Jon also provides some photos and information on the newly created left field pavilion area, here.
• Mike Ozanian at Forbes just released their Baseball team value list, and the Dodgers are ranked 2nd.  Go here to check it out.
• Michelle Rubin at Dodger Insider, "Dodger Pride Rewards Program announced".  This is the new season ticket holder program.
• Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA has the background story on how AJ Ellis came to endorse 'Game On' beef jerky.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Ellis joins Cards' Motte in fundraising drive".

"It's to raise awareness and fuel cancer research," Ellis said. "He started it last year in St. Louis and decided, let's do every team. Now $5 for every shirt goes to Jason's charity and $5 to each of ours. I will have my charity chosen by Opening Day. It's a great idea to help fight the plague of cancer. I'm honored Jason reached out. When he was a catcher in the Florida State League, we bonded as two defensive catchers that couldn't hit. He transitioned into an All-Star closer."

• Daniel Brim at Dodgers Digest takes a look at the value of Yasiel Puig's baserunning.
• This is just great.  Keith Olbermann shares a newly found video of an historic moment in Baseball history.  Check it out below.  It's awesome!  (Hat Tip: Sports Collectors Daily)

Video Link:

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Sunday Dodger Videos: A Ryu Commercial, Steiner Speaks to Olbermann about Dodgers and Backstage: Dodgers Episode 2

Here are this Sunday's Dodger Videos.

Below is Hyun-Jin Ryu's latest Korean ramen TV commercial featuring former Korean national team manager Kim In-sik.  (Hat Tip: MyKBO)

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Charley Steiner joins Keith Olbermann to discuss the Dodgers' upcoming trip to Australia, Yasiel Puig's development heading into his second season, and why it will feel odd to see Derek Jeter walk away from the game after this season.

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For those who haven't seen it yet, here is SportsNet LA show "Backstage: Dodgers Episode 2".

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Some New 19th Century Old Judge Baseball Card Discoveries - Video from Olbermann

I just love hearing stories like this.

Keith Olbermann on ESPN shares a recent discovery found in the Bay Area, and it's a doozy.  He features a couple of once unknown late-19th Century Old Judge Base Ball cards that were found in a window seat of a family home.

They are of a couple of West Coast minor league ballplayers, and I would expect them to come up for auction soon.  There is no estimate given regarding their potential worth (probably since Olbermann is likely to be a suitor for the cards).

I think, though, you should expect them to sell close to, if not well over, $80,000 a piece.

I know... you're probably gasping for air.

You see, Old Judge cards are highly sought after, and cards of west coast minor league ballplayers are exceedingly rare.  So rare, that when an example comes up for auction (which rarely happens) they often sell for huge bucks.  I also know for a fact that Olbermann has one of the finest collections of Old Judge's in the world, and you can count on him being a bidder.

Regardless of your opinion of his politics, his reporting on the card hobby has always been great.  He is an avid collector and his passion for it is obvious.

Anyway, check out his report below.  I found it to be really fun.

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Hat Tip: Net54

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Sunday Dodger Videos: Charley Steiner, Vin Scully and Christian - the Dodger Kid

Here are this Sundays Dodger videos.

Keith Olbermann's former SportsCenter co-anchor Charley Steiner, joins Olbermann to discuss the Los Angeles Dodgers' run to the playoffs.

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Here is a new Dodgers commercial- just in time for the playoffs.  "A Whole New October"

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Vin Scully takes a moment to humorously recap a San Francisco run-in with a group of local ladies offering "Free Hugs" to strangers.

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Watch Christian, the Super Dodger Kid, in this fun little video.

We hope this video brings a smile to your face even if you're not a fan of baseball or the Dodgers. Nothing makes our son happier than playing baseball and this video filmed just before his 5th birthday shows the many ways he has found to play baseball inside of our house. His passion and great luck have led him to meet many of his heroes and the slideshow at the end shows his journey from being discovered by Adam Sandler on YouTube for a baseball playing cameo role in "That's My Boy" at the age of 2 to being the youngest person to throw a ceremonial first pitch at an MLB game at the age of 3. Nobody in our family ever watched or played baseball so his fascination with the sport came as quite a surprise to us! The AP photo of his first pitch now hangs on the walls at Dodger Stadium and in the home of legendary Dodger pitcher Sandy Koufax. He is one lucky kid!

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Blog Kiosk: 4/15/2013

Please keep AJ Ellis' words in mind at this evenings Jackie Robinson Game at Dodger Stadium.  Via AJ's twitter.   Now, to catch up on some news since I was out all weekend long.

• Greinke expected to be out for 8 weeks after surgery, via Ken Gurmick at MLB.com.
• Jerry Hairston gets a 1 game suspension, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.  8 Game suspension for Carlos Quentin, via Bill Baer at Hardball Talk.  Clayton Kershaw responds. via DJ Short at Hardball Talk.

“If he’s smart, he’ll take the suspension,” Kershaw said after Friday’s game vs. the D-backs. “Eight games is not nearly enough. For what he did, he should be OK with that.”

BTW, Quentin dropped his appeal, so he will not be playing against the Dodgers in the current homestand.

• "Norman Berman, ballboy for 1947 Dodgers, remembers Jackie Robinson," via Stephanie Apstein at Sports Illustrated.

Berman was a middle infielder, so although Robinson was playing first base that year, he was eager to soak up anything he could from the natural second baseman. Berman would warm up with anyone who would throw with him, and he would pepper the players with questions about how they had approached recent games. "I'd ask them, How come you did this instead of that, and they would explain it," he says. Robinson talked to him especially about how to make the pivot on the double play.

• Rob Neyer at Baseball Nation writes, "Jackie Robinson and Hollywood go back a long ways."
• Jon Weisman at Sports on Earth, "Revenge on Jackie Robinson Night?"

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will have only three days to cool off from their damaging Thursday night brawl before they meet again, Monday at Dodger Stadium. When they do reunite, it will be on a night that honors, among other things, a ballplayer who turned the other cheek when much more than an 89-mph fastball came flying at it.

• "Dodgers Fans At Chase Field Forced To Change Clothes Or Move Seats," via Timothy Burke at Deadspin.

Some Dodgers fans decided to splurge on seats at Chase Field's Batters Box Suite behind home plate last night, an investment of more than $3,000. That kind of money doesn't buy respect, though, as they learned when Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick demanded they change their clothes or seek seating elsewhere.

• Keith Olbermnann writes about the kid in that famous Jackie Robinson photo from his first game at Ebbets Field.
• At CBS New York, Ralph Branca reflects on Jackie Robinson.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 1/23/2013

Keith Olbermann recently shared a preview pic on moby of a Topps 2013 Heritage Maury Wills card, as seen above.

• Jon SooHoo shares some photos from Day 2 of the Dodgers Community caravan, and here's a video from the day.
• John Sickels at Minor League Ball takes a prospect retrospective look at Pedro Martinez.
• Via Bill Shaikin on twitter, the Dodgers deal with Time Warner expected to be from $7Billion to $8Billion.

(twitter link)

• Eric Stephens at True Blue LA writes a great little story focused on a Don Sutton game ejection in 1977.
• Jon Weisman at Variety analyzes the Dodgers/ Time Warner television deal. 
• Are you looking for a Hyun-Jin Ryu fix?  Well, via @MyKBO on twitter is an article from Korea Joongang Daily focused on his recent departure from Korea to America.

“When I went to the U.S. to sign the contract, it was to get results,” Ryu told a press conference yesterday at Incheon International Airport. Ryu reached the deal in Los Angeles on Dec. 9 after a month of negotiations.

“But now I am in a position to produce the result, so that makes me nervous,” he said. “What matters now is how quickly I can take the pressure off my chest. If I try to adjust, doing as I usually do in Korea, it will be fine, I guess.” 

• Dodgers Nation notes that Dee Gordon and Verizon have teamed up for a promotion on twitter.
• Sherman Oaks product Giancarlo Stanton appears to yearn for LA, via Lance Pugmire at Sun Sentinel.

How do you weigh what the Marlins are doing when you're so close to Southern California baseball, where the Dodgers and Angels are spending, spending, spending? Does it make you homesick?

"I don't get homesick or nothing, but you see that. You can't be hoping you're on other teams. You've got to worry about the now. I've said I was upset" about the Marlins.

• Are you interested in getting your own real Stanley Cup LA Kings Championship ring?  Well, they produced a handful (either 4 or 5) that have been donated to various charities so that they may be raffled off.  Here is the first ring available from Celebrities for Charities.  It's just $2.00 for each raffle ticket.
• Here's a report from All Tribe Baseball on the 2013 Indian Tribe Fest.
• I love this post from UniWatch.  For one game in 1977 the Kansas City Royals had to wear Milwaukee Brewers uniforms.  Go here to find out why.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 7/26/2012

Above is a pic of Hanley Ramirez arriving at the Dodgers clubroom in St. Louis.  Is that Manny Mota greeting him?  Pic via twitter @PONealFSWest.

• Jeremy Rosenberg at KCET put up his weekly "Arrival Story" column that features our very own Tommy Lasorda.  This feature asks various Angelinos, "How did you - or your family before you - end up living in Los Angeles."  You should check this out and pay close attention to the photos.  They are absolutely hilarious.  There is one of a rotund Lasorda attempting a slide and another of him Hula Hooping.  Awesome!

"I'd always felt, 'Out of sight, out of mind.' But if we moved out here at least they'll see what I can do and what my capabilities are. So we come out and never went back. Since 1963 we've been living here.

• Mark Langill at Dodgers History notes that Hanley Ramirez is the 14th former ROY to be a Dodger.
• Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA notes "A New Challenge for Matt Kemp."

There isn’t anyone on the Dodgers roster who will dispute that Matt Kemp is the team leader (or captain, if you will). Matt has inspired the team like no one else, even while on the DL for nearly two months. In addition to being the best player on the team (and perhaps in all of baseball), Kemp is also the team’s biggest motivator. The question is, will Kemp be able to motivate the ego-driven Hanley Ramirez?

• Don Mattingly speaks with Mason & Ireland about Hanley Ramirez.
• Greg at Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle traded for an awesome Matt Kemp relic card.  I am officially envious. 
• Bob Lemke creates a wonderful 1958 Roy Campanella card-that-never-was.
• I'm loving Hanley's attitude.  Jim Peltz at the LA Times reports on the Dodgers warm welcome.

Ramirez said "it's kind of hard" leaving Florida, where he played seven years, but that he viewed the Dodgers as "a new beginning. I'll do whatever for the ballclub to help them win."

• Topps already has a mock-up of Ichiro's new Baseball card in a Yankees uniform.  This is likely to be in their end-of-the-year Update set.  Pic via twitter @Topps.

• Sports Illustrated delves further into the recent Mastro Auctions indictments.  I didn't realize when I first read the reports yesterday that one of the allegations of fraud has to do with the well known hobby fact that the PSA 8 Gretzky T206 Honus Wagner card is trimmed.  It's not smaller than the normal card, but was trimmed from an uncut strip to make it appear as if it came out of an actual pack.  I actually find this charge of fraud to be a little dubious.  Certainly, the original buyers of the card where duped, but the card has reached such mythical status I don't think it will effect the value negatively.  Recent owners of the card must have known, by now, exactly what they were getting. (UPDATE: Keith Olbermann comments on the "trimmed" Wager with his recollection of seeing photos of it just before McNall/ Gretzky bought it.)
• The Stanley Cup made a special appearance in Redondo Beach on Wednesday.  check out a video of the event from the Daily Breeze below.  See some photos at the Redondo Beach patch.

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Blog Kiosk: 5/14/2012

Take a look at this years Dodgers souvenir cup.  There will be 4 different ones available throughout the season.  Pic via @Dodgers twitter.

• Sons of Steve Garvey tells us of the Mother's Day surprise at Dodger Stadium.  Dodger ballplayers surprised early attendants at the gate.

(Pic link: Twitter @Dodgers)

• Here is feature on Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter from Mike Hlas at Gazette.com.
• CJ Hoppin at the New York Times writes about "A Dodgers Fan in Yankees Pinstripes in Postwar Japan."

I had served happily as a bat boy for visiting college baseball teams from Ohio State and Southern California. Although I was born in the Bronx, my first Grant Heights Little League team had been the Dodgers, and I was a big Jackie Robinson fan. So I thought wearing the Yankees uniform was blasphemous.

• Panini provides a sneak peak of their upcoming 2012 Cooperstown Baseball card set.  Check out the Jackie Robinson card below. This set will be coming out in late July.

• Keith Olbermann informs us that Orel Hershiser is a huge card and memorabilia collector who has consigned several items from his collection to Grey Flannel Auctions (I'll be sure to post up these items shortly), but recently had some sellers remorse and took one item back.  He was going to sell his scoreless streak Baseball.  As someone who sells parts of my collection from time to time, I can certainly relate.

• Matt Kemp is to have an MRI done today, via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times.
• If you don't already know, the Kings took Game 1 in the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Coyotes.  Watch the game highlights below.

 
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Blog Kiosk: 5/2/2012

Meet one of the new owners of the Dodgers.  Magic posted this on his twitter.

• NOTICE!: There is a news conference this morning featuring the new ownership that will be carried live on PRIME TICKET, KCAL-9, MLB-TV, MLB.com and Dodgers.com at 10 a.m.  Be there of be square.
• The Sons of Steve Garvey blog has pics of the newspaper advertisement from this mornings paper.  The new Dodgers owners let us know what to expect.
• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy shares a pic of a bobblehead featuring Kobe Bryant in Lakers and Dodgers garb. 
• Steve Dilbeck has McCourt's final email to the Dodgers staff.
• Oil Can Boyd is not a stranger to controversy.  He recently commented, via Larry Brown Sports, that he is not thankful for Jackie.  "Wha.......?"  I can understand where he is coming from.  The unfortunate consequence of the integration of Baseball was the eventual demise of the Negro Leagues.

“Why’d you do this? I don’t really think that Negro League baseball shoulda been broken up. It was — it was individuality … I’m not real thankful to Jackie at all because I’m me – my style of baseball, the way I played it in the major league transpired from the Negro Leagues. So that’s why people found that I was a hot dog or I was flamboyant.”

• Lew Freedman at Call to the Pen wonders if "Yu Darvish is the Next Fernando Valenzuela."

The year was 1981, but in that more innocent time, Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Fernando Valenzuela set the nation on fire with his off-the-charts start to his career. Just like Darvish, he came from a foreign country. Just like Darvish, he was blowing hitters away with more than a fast fastball. Just like Darvish his first language was not English and he spoke to reporters through an interpreter.

• Night Owl Cards introduces us to a little known set called "Little Sun Writers" from 1990 that consist of 24 cards featuring professional Baseball writers.
• Keith Olbermann relays that Vin Scully has not only broadcasted the first Major League game of Bryce Harper, but also did the same for Mickey Mantle in his first game (an exhibition) in 1951.
• Dmitri Young is interviewed by CBS about his rookie card collection that is current available at auction through SCP.  He takes a little swipe at Barry Bonds.  

Q: Is there a favorite card?
A: It's the Hank Aaron. The Home Run King -- there's another guy that has the record, but the Home Run King is Hank Aaron. I was there for the game when 756 was hit, I was playing first. Deep down inside, when (Barry) Bonds hit it, I wanted to stick my foot out and trip him.

• Be sure to check out the vintage Babe Ruth pic at If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger... 
• I found this Deadspin article about a scam artist fascinating.  Heck, as a blog/website owner I get strange request all of the time, so this scenario is something I will keep at the back of my mind.  Apparently, this Sarah Phillips person leveraged her freelance writing gig with ESPN to scam some money and the control of a FB page for her personal benefit.

Blog Kiosk: 4/16/2012

Here is a preview pic of a Sandy Koufax 2012 Triple Threads autographed relic cards unveiled by Topps. Checkout this Beckett story for more information and preview photos.

• "Matt Kemp talks PlayStation, Dodgers"- Via Jon Robinson at ESPN.

  "They have my batting stance down perfect. They have my swing. It's me in that game," Kemp tells me with a laugh. "And he's a pretty good looking dude ... at least I would say so."

• The Root takes a look at other African-American ballplayers who were trailblazers in their own right.
  
• Evan at New Mexico fan shares his photos of Opening day in Albuquerque.
  
• Chris at Dodgerfan.net repost his excellent story about Nancy Bea Hefley.
  
• Sons of Steve Garvey brings us the words of Vin Scully from Jackie Robinson Day.
  
• The Risa and Fall of Jim Tracy, via Chris Jaffe at Hardball Times.

  With Tracy, what I find striking is not his personal proclivities and tactical decisions. Those are almost extraordinarily ordinary. There are certain things he does more or less than an average skipper, but nothing especially notable. The most interesting thing about Tracy is his career arc.

• Check out 42 great photos of Jackie Robinson at The Roosevelts. (Hat Tip: LFP)
  
• "Jackie Robinson: Nothing Inevitable About Him," via Kieth Olbermann of the Baseball Nerd. Olbermann couldn't be more right:
  

  One of the few infuriating aspects of Jackie Robinson Day is the blowback from the uninformed. I have read today of how integration in this country was inevitable, and Robinson’s success in 1947 was just a happy coincidence. I have read that the talent of the Negro Leagues was just too great and had Robinson failed, had he hit .197 instead of .297, it was still inevitable that those great athletes would have forced their way into the mainstream of American sports.

  Utter nonsense.

• My absence this past weekend from blogging is due solely to the recent playoff hopes of the LA Kings. I was at the game at Staples last night, and I have to note that I have never heard it so loud. When the Kings went up 1-0 in the third period the noise was deafening. If you don't already know, the Kings are 3-0 in the 7 game series against the Vancouver Canucks. For the first time in their history they lead a series by that margin. Hopefully, this coming Wednesday they can close it out with a series ending victory. Below are game highlights from last night

Video Link:

Blog Kiosk: 3/28/2012

I like the way this looks, pic via twitter @DesertDoyer.

• Now that we have a owner picked it's now time to consider who might be available as 2013 free agents, via JP Breen at Fangraphs. Peter Gammons suggest that there are five 2013 free agents who could benefit from this sale, via @pgammo on twitter.
• Jon Weisman's story about Magic's new cable channel is worth a second read.
  
• Big League Stew has 10 thoughts about Magic and the Dodgers.

  10. Finally, it sounds weird to say, but Magic's group has a ways to go before they even replicate the success that the McCourt era experienced. Though the franchise was steered into a financial tailspin, it also somehow won three NL West titles, a NL wild card and made back-to-back trips to the NLCS.

• This is just a wrinkle and is not expected to be a roadbloack, via @JonHeyman on twitter.
• Maury Brown at Baseball Prospectus throws in his 2 cents on the Dodgers sale to Magic's group. I've read some reports indicating it's a "All Cash" sale. I don't believe this at all. Maury appears to understand the same thing.
  

  However, there certainly will be debt. How could there not be? Steven Cohen, who was seen as a strong contender to win the right to close the sale, reportedly had the highest amount of cash equity in his offer at $900 million. If the Magic/Kasten group had had that same amount of cash in play, there would still have been $1.25 billion to fund.

  That’s where Guggenheim Partners comes in. They will be the major investment wing of the group, which explains why Walter will be the controlling owner.

• Bleacher Report takes a look at the 50 ugliest Baseball card photos ever.
  
• The Honus Wagner of golf collectibles is about to hit the market- it's a 1934 Masters Badge, via Tom Bartsch at Sports Collectors Daily.
  
• This is probably more interesting to the collector, but Keith Olbermann received the “Friend of the Card Stores” award last week at the Topps dealer seminar and had some encouraging words for what CBS recently said was a dying industry. Check it out below. Olbermann gets it right when he mentions the thrill a collector gets when they walk into a card shop or get a card package in the mail. It is that feeling that keeps the hobby alive. (Hat Tip: Beckett)

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Blog Kiosk: 2/2/2012

Above is the new Dodgers logo that celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Dodger Stadium. It also includes an utterly distracting corporate logo. I think it would look better like this:

• James Loney is free. He won't face charges in the Maserati crash. Via LA Times.
• Greg at the Infinite Baseball Card Set shares his "Tale of 4 Ruth's" that feature the Babe in a Dodgers uniform.
• Seedling to the Stars puts together their own Dodgers prospect list.
• Night Owl Cards just finished completing his 2009 OPC set and scanned all of them for everyone to enjoy. That's right. All 600 cards.
• Keith Olbermann writes about the 10th Annual Pack Opening Day at Topps and shows off his own T206 Honus Wagner card.
• The Cardinals just opened up their Hall of Fame Museum website.
• White Sox Cards provides a little history lesson about February 1st, and a little game in a foreign desert.
• Edgar at My Autograph Signings visited the LA Fit Expo and got a bunch of auto's. He shows off a Barry Bonds auto his friend received. Apparently, Bonds was in attendance.
• Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL running back John Cappelletti had his personal collection stolen out of his Orange County home, via SCD.
• February always tends to be a little slow in Baseball. We are just a few weeks away from the start of Spring Training, so I guess you could call this time period the calm before the storm. That being said, I thought the below video would be a nice respite until the hurricane comes rolling in. Check out Nyjer Morgan practicing with the San Jose Sharks hockey club.

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Blog Kiosk: 8/26/2011

Here is a photo from "Crazy Blue Day" in 1979, via Lockerz: LA Dodgers Twitter. BTW, there is still time to enter the Beatles contest drawing for a free CD. Go here for details, and check us out daily for the next few days as we give away another Beatles CD each morning.

• Guess who made the Worst Person in the World list on Olbermann's show? That's right, Frank "Who's Scully" McCourt.
  
• Per Vin Scully Is My Homeboy, Matt Kemp had some pizza delivered to his waiting fans this morning.
  
• Bob Lemke creates another alternate 1957 style Sandy Koufax card.
  
• Alright sports collectors. Are you ready for a reality show just for you? Sports Collectors Daily lets us know that History Channel producers

  are casting for a new series based in Baltimore that will be “100% dedicated to sports memorabilia and the people who collect it”.

  I don't know if this will be any good, but I eagerly await their first episode.
  
• Tony Gwynn Jr. loves the LA Kings, via Mayor's Manor.
  
• Check out the Jerry Sands feature in the Albuquerque Examiner. (Hat Tip: True Blue LA)
  
• Check out the Joe Morgan Show as he speaks with Sandy Koufax.
  

Olberman was Fired by Fox/ Murdoch for Breaking the News That They Would Sell the Dodgers

With the Murdoch mess happening across the Atlantic, I figured that, sooner or later, some strange dirt would pop up concerning his former ownership of the Dodgers. It was just bound to happen.

With that, we have a commentary made by uber-liberal Keith Olberman regarding his time as a Fox Sports broadcaster and the circumstances surrounding his ouster. Apparently, he had reported (w/o Murdock approval, but with approval from other corners) that News Corp./Fox was looking to sell the Dodgers. For that, Murdoch had Olberman personally fired. Anyway, I thought that was interesting and worthy enough to post here. Check out the video below.

Video Link:

Blog Kiosk: 1/17/2010

• Check our Chris's excellent story at Dodgerfan.net about the Winter Development Program at Dodger Stadium this past Sunday. He was the only blogger in attendance and he represented us well. The Winter Development Program features some of our best minor league prospects.
  
• GCRL creates some amazing fantasy cards. Here, he makes a Jim Bunning card that never was. As you may know he briefly played for the Dodgers during the tail end of the 1969 season. Below GCRL makes a Bunning in Blue card using the Topps 1970 design.
• Olbermann sets it straight. Koufax did not do steroids. He did, though, use corticosteroids (better known as cortisone shots today) which is commonly used throughout Baseball.
• 1207 Consecutive Games shares his 1971 Dodgers Dell Stamp Book. BTW, this is a great new Dodger collector blog that has a bit of a focus on Steve Garvey.
• Here is a great story of how Mike Pitt caught McGwire's homerun #57, gave it back to the slugger and parlayed it into a college scholarship to pay for med school. Another fascinating part of the story is that the scholarship came from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. Jack Kent Cooke, as you may know, was the former owner of the Lakers and LA Kings. He also built the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood. (Hat Tip:Sports Collectors Daily)
  
• Check the Biz of Baseball's MLB Salary Database that includes some player incomes from over 100 years ago, and has inflation adjusted values.
  
• Ken Burns will be updating the wonderfully made Baseball documentary.

  He’ll update the film with “The Tenth Inning,” focusing on the player strike in 1994, the New York Yankees dynasty; the role of the game following Sept. 11, 2001; the revival of the Boston Red Sox; and the emergency of Latin American and Asian players in the major leagues; and the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

  (Hat Tip: Heartbreaking Cards of Staggering Genius)
  
• American hockey player David Backes is on the war path. Since being named to the American Olympic team he has had fights with 3 different Team Canada players. He means business. Thanks to the Common Room for pointing this out. Go USA!
  
• The Wall Street Journal looks at sports cards as an investment and declares that it has done pretty well relative to other traditional investments.

  For 2005 through 2009, the 30 cards that make up the Sports Card Industrial Average, an index put together for The Wall Street Journal by sports-memorabilia company Beckett Media, had an average return on investment of 12.4%. Over that span, the return on the 30 companies that now make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average was an average 7.9%.

  (Hat Tip: Card Collectors Universe)
  
• Is this not the greatest quilt ever, from the Shorpy blog.

  August 17, 1937. "Joseph's coat of many colors had nothing on this unique quilt which is now being completed by Mrs. Ethel Sampson of Evanston, Ill., after six years of collecting. Parts of wearing apparel from President Roosevelt, Mrs. Roosevelt, members of the Cabinet, diplomats and notables from all over. From Hollywood, Bing Crosby sent a tie while Mae West and Shirley Temple contributed parts of dresses. Former Emperor Haile Selassie's neckties and a linen of Windsor are also included on the quilt. Diapers from the Dionne Quintuplets are also prominently displayed."

  
• Wow. Manabu Kurita catches a world record tying largemouth bass at 22 lbs 4 oz.