Blog Kiosk: 1/18/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

With Spring around the corner I can't help but be excited when I see a vintage spring training photograph like the one above.  (eBay Auction Link) Featured are five Dodger pitchers showing off for the camera while training at Dodgertown, dated February 25, 1953.  It was taken by noted International News and soon-to-be Sports Illustrated photographer Herb Scharfman.  Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Posing prettily here at the Brooklyn Dodgers Vero Beach camp are the five top flingers of the Dodgers/  In Front: Russ Meyer, latest acquisition; and Carl Erskine (right).  Rear: (from left) Joe Black, Billy Loes and Preacher Roe.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 2011 the Dodgers signed veteran free agent outfielder Gabe Kapler as a non-roster invitee.  Unfortunately, he didn't make the team and would subsequently be released at the end of March.  As you know, he would soon retire and make his mark in the Baseball front office.
• Happy Birthday, Eddie Moore, Len Koenecke, Billy Grabarkewitz, Brian Falkenborg & Mike Lieberthal!
  

My 1951 Topps Red Back Set

Since we are in the midst of a holiday weekend, I though I would delve deep within my collector cabinet to share a vintage complete set.  Featured here is my 1951 Topps Red Back set.  As you may know, this is considered Topps very first Baseball card set. 

Since this is a Dodger blog I thought I'd start by sharing pics of the four Dodger players that are available.  Above are Gil Hodges and Duke Snider.  Below is Preacher Roe and Gene Hermanski.  Notably absent are fan favorites Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson.

I won't hold that against Topps, though.  The set only consist of 52 cards, so they couldn't include them all.  Still, you would think kids would want all the big name stars.

I'm sure you noticed the gameplay notations on the corners.  This set was an very early attempt at a sports themed gaming card set.  I'm not exactly sure how it's played, but I imagine you would shuffle the cards to find pitch outcome.  Unfortunately for Topps the concept did not catch on with kids.  Children didn't care for the game, but they apparently loved the player cards.  So much so, they finally decided to make a large scale Baseball card set to compete with Bowman the following year.

As you can see, they are smaller than your typical Baseball card; measuring 2" x 2 5/8".  Cards have rounded corners, the exact same design on the reverse of every card, and were distributed in both packs of two perforated cards and as a complete set.  Unopened complete sets are extremely rare and can sell for a large premium.  In 2011 REA sold one of these unopened sets for $7,638.  Red Back sets in NrMint to Mint condition typically sell for $700 or more.  A frugal collector not concerned with condition can put together a set for just a few hundred dollars.

I also have an unopened Red Back pack to go with my set.  You can see it that on the right. 

There appears to be two different backs to the set, but I doubt one version is rarer than another.  As you can see in the pics above, one uses a more white cardboard stock while the other uses a brown cardboard stock.

As for the complete set you can see a scan of all the cards below the fold.  BTW, although there are 52 cards in the set it is considered complete at 54.  There are two variations that make note of the player changing teams:  #36 Gus Zernial and #52 Tommy Holmes.

Today's Anniversary: An MLB Record Likely to Stand the Test of Time is Held by a Brooklyn Dodger

Today is a very unique anniversary.  In fact, it marks a record held by a former Brooklyn Dodger ballplayer that has stood for 70 years, and it probably will never be broken.

So, what feat was accomplished on this day?

On August 20, 1945 a fresh faced 17-year-old shortstop, who had already debuted in Dodger Blue the season prior at the age of 16-years and seven months, became the youngest MLB ballplayer to hit a home run in a game.  His name is Tommy Brown and he was 17-years and 257 days old when he did it.  BTW, he is also the second youngest when he hit home run #2 five days later.

I know you're wondering, how is it that someone so young made it up to the show?  After all, Tommy was not a top-flight prospect.  Instead, he played ball as a teen during WWII - a period when many MLB'ers were doing their duty for God and country.

In Tommy's case, Pee Wee Reese was still overseas, and he was remembered by Branch Rickey as being a mobile fielder during spring training (although he wasn't exactly sure-handed).  So need overcame experience.  The youngster got the call from the Class B Piedmont League, and played both ends of a doubleheader on August 3, 1944 for his very first experience on a Major League field.  He went on to be the regular shortstop for the Dodgers, playing in 46 games, that season.  BTW, he is only the second youngest person to ever play Major League ball.  Joe Nuxhall had pitched a game earlier that season at the ripe age of 15.

The following season he again started in the minors but came up to Brooklyn during the tail end of the 1945 season during the pennant chase.  Just over two weeks later he hit his record setting home run against Preacher Roe of the Pirates.  It was the Dodgers lone score that day.

For a fantastic biography on Tommy Brown check out C. Paul Rogers III biography at SABR, here.  Below is a short excerpt about how he came to be signed by Brooklyn:

Tommy Brown was a local kid; he was born December 6, 1927, in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. He never knew his father and was raised primarily by an aunt and uncle. He quit school at a young age to work with his uncle unloading barges on the docks of New York. Brown spent his free time playing baseball on the pavement and cobblestone streets and in the famous Brooklyn Parade Grounds. The Dodgers held open tryouts there in 1943 and a friend who played first base on Tommy’s team talked Brown into going with him. They joined about 2,500 other kids and Brown arrived without a glove or spikes, items he did not own. After three days the Dodgers told him and a handful of others that they would hear from the team. Brown was only fifteen years old. Over the winter, the club offered him a chance to attend spring training in Bear Mountain, New York. His “bonus” was the 25-cent fee for the ferry.

Below are his career statistics, via Baseball Reference:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Take a Look at some Vintage Dodger Photos from Hyee Auctions - Campy, Sandy and the Duke

Some of my favorite sport memorabilia items to check out on eBay are vintage press photos, and one of the top sellers of them currently has some great Dodger pics to peruse through.  Check out some of my favorites from hyee_auctions below. 

Below is Roy Campanella chatting with Yogi Berra during a pre-1953 World Series workout.  According to the caption glued to the reverse, they are wondering out-loud why they both stick a finger out of their glove when catching.  Notice how Campy has a grip of Yogi's index finger.  It was taken by Herb Scharfman of International News. 

(Auction Link)

As a collector I found this below photograph totally fascinating.  Here is a July 30, 1958 photograph of a concession stand for a Dodger game at the Coliseum.  You can see a Dodgers yearbook, some Jay's photo packs, postcards and scorecards.

(auction link)

Below is a 1965 St. Paul Pioneer Press Photo of Sandy Koufax on the mound during Game 2 of the 1965 World Series after giving up a few runs.

(Auction Link)

Here is a 1954 AP photograph of an 18-year old hurler straight out of the University of Cincinnati - Sandy Koufax.

(Auction Link)

Below is a great photo of Babe Herman with his young son Bobby, dated 8/18/1930.  It was by Herman Adnson of Wide World Photos.

(auction link)

Here is a 1949 ACME News photo of Campy, Preacher Roe and the Duke in those shiny satin Dodger uniforms.

(auction link)

I thought I would finish this post up with a fantastic photo of Duke Snider doing celebrating after the Dodgers 1955 World Series victory.

(auction link)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 12/14/2013 - Dodgers Links - Michael Young, Preacher Roe and Kemp's New Flame

Vin Scully will be the Grand Marshall of the 125th Tournament of Roses Parade, pic via Dodgers on tumblr.

• Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, "Dodgers aim to improve, but not at the cost of losing prospects".

Kasten said the Dodgers fully expect to open spring training with all four outfielders — Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford and Yasiel Puig.

"I've always thought that was the most likely outcome," Kasten said. "We don't feel the need to move one like the people who write about us apparently feel we do."

• Dammit, Matt!  Stay away from those high-profile ladies; especially this one.  Via Chloe Melas at Holywood Life, "Khloe Kardashian Dating Rihanna’s Ex-Boyfriend Matt Kemp?"  Hat Tip: Lasorda's Lair.
• Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA writes about "The Preacher".

Having mastered the spitball while with the Pirates, “Preach” (as his teammates called him) had tremendous success with the Dodgers, including winning records in his first six seasons with the team. Roe finished the 1948 season with a record of 12-8 and an excellent ERA of 2.63. “I try to keep the hitters off balance, never giving them a decent pitch,” Roe once said. “I’m always aiming for the corners, never throwing the same pitch twice or what the hitter is expecting.”

• Via Buster Olney on twitter, Dodgers expect Uribe to go elsewhere.  Is Michael Young our target for 3rd base.

 

Attached to the Michael Young interest for the Dodgers: They believe increasingly that Juan Uribe is going to sign elsewhere.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 14, 2013

• Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors has more details on the possibility of Young re-signing with the Dodgers.
• Congrats Loney!  He signs a new deal with Rays, via a tweet from Ken Rosenthal.

Source: Loney to #Rays, three years, $21M, pending physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 13, 2013

• Via Dan Wohl at Cut4, "The U.S. Mint will produce a curved(!) baseball-themed coin in 2014".

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Mailbag: A Podres Autograph and Some Bonus Dodger Cards

I recently picked up some Dodger Baseball cards off of eBay, and thought I would share my bounty here.  As a part of a multiple card lot, I received the above 2013 Topps Series 1 Chasing History autographed card of 1955 World Series hero Johnny Podres.  I've got multiple different Podres autographed cards in my collection, but I just can't help but add more to my collection.  Below is the reverse of the card.

Included with the Podres was a whole bunch of other Dodgers, most of which I didn't already have.  Check out some of the more modern issues below.  All of these cards came home with me for about $6 bucks, delivered.

The best of the bunch are the below 1978-1979 TCMA Baseball History Series cards featuring some old-timers.  I've seen these cards a number of times throughout my hobby life, but have never actually added a card to my collection.  So, I was ecstatic that they were included.

Can you name them all?

Here is a key to help you with identifying who they are:

Top Photo (from top row, left to right):

Carmen Mauro, Jim Gilliam, Johnny Roseboro, Rube Walker, Bob Wilson, Don Hoak, Chico Fernandez, George Shuba, and Chuck Templeton.

Bottom Photo:

Preacher Roe, Carl Erskine, Don Newcombe, Karl Spooner, Preacher Roe and Johnny Podres, Gil Hodges, and Wayne Belardi.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Collection: Preacher Roe Archives Autographed Baseball Card

 

Preacher Roe was a great pitcher for the Dodgers in the late 40's to 50's.  He won 93 games while only losing 37, and is noted for his superb control.  Preacher was also famous for throwing a spit-ball, calling it his "money pitch."  BTW, he was branded with the nickname at the age of 3 when his uncle asked him his name.  The young Roe responded with "Preacher" because of a strong impression a local minister had on him.  The minister would take the happy child on horse-and-buggy rides.

Although Preacher was a master on the mound, he was horrible with the bat.  He had a career .110 batting average.  In 1953 he hit his only home run against the Pirates, and Dodger announced Red Barber had this to say:

"Well, old Number 28 has hit a home run, and we'll never hear the end of it, folks!"

Featured here is a 2001 Topps Archives reprint card of Preacher Roe's 1952 Topps card in my collection.  It has been signed by him.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Collection: Preacher Roe Fleer Greats

Following up on my post from earlier this week featuring a 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game autographed card, I come back today with another Preacher Roe card.  This time it's a 2004 Fleer Greats autographed card. 

Did you know that there is a Preacher Roe website?  See it here. I found that out last night as I did just a little bit of research for this post.  I figured I would see if I could find some choice quotes for a man not considered to be at a loss for words.  Fortunately, his website did not disappoint.  Check out what I found below:

This is probably his most famous of quotes-

"I've got three pitches, my change, my change off my change, and my change off my change off my change."

This one just made me laugh-

"One day in a tough game I was passing Lonnie Warneke and he said, 'Preach, I may have my superiors on the bases, but when it comes to balls and strikes, I'm second to no man.' And I commenced thinking careful and when I was done I told him, 'Horse@#, Lon.'" 

Collection: Preacher Roe GOTG

Here is my 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game autographed card of Preacher Roe.  I remember getting this really cheap primarily because some doofus thought this card would be worth more if they wrote in a bogus number.  This card is not limited to 52 copies.  

eBay: 1953 Dixie Lids Preacher Roe

Here is an oddball 8x10 memorabilia photo premium called Dixie Lids. It is from 1953 and features Dodgers hurler Preacher Roe. You would receive one with the submission of 12 ice cream lids. They are scarce as the asking price suggest, but it's a little rich for my blood.

(Auction Link)

Auto Collection: Preacher Roe Showcase

Preacher Roe was one of the spitball kings of the 40's and 50's. He was crafty, deceptive and an unquestionable winner when he wore Dodger Blue.

Here is my 2005 Fleer Showcase "Autographed Legacy" card of Roe.

Auto Collection: Preacher Roe Fall Classic

Here is another autographed card from my collection. It is a 2003 Fleer Fall Classic "All American Collection" card of Dodger hurler Preacher Roe. It is numbered 287 out of 450.

Roe was a great pitcher for the Dodgers in Brooklyn. In 7 seasons with the team he went 97-37 with a ERA of 3.26. In 1951 he won an incredible 22 games with only 3 losses. 19 of those games were complete games. The pitch that helped him to such a lofty record was the banned spitball. From an old Sports Illustraded article:

"Lot of people have asked me what I used to throw," Roe said, his eyes still on the Dodgers, who were taking batting practice. He turned with a self-conscious movement, as though he were taking off his shirt in public. "I like to tell 'em it was my sinker. Well, you know, the ball did drop real pretty, but it was more than a little ol' sinker. I guess it won't hurt anybody to tell the truth now. I threw spitballs the whole time I was with the Dodgers. Seven years in all."

Read more here: "The Outlawed Spitball Was My Money Pitch"

Card of the Week: Tools of the Trade

What can you say about Roger McDowell? He liked to joke around.

Above is his 1992 Donruss Triple Play card that features him exchanging lineup cards wearing a tool belt Preacher Roe and Gaylord Perry would be proud of. Unfortunately, the umpires don't look amused. On the other hand, maybe they don't notice the sandpaper in his back pocket.

eBay: Dodger Stuff

Here are some great Dodger items I found on eBay recently. Below is a UPI Press Photo of Preacher Roe being congratulated by his Dodger teammates after winning the 2nd game of the 1949 World Series against the Yankees.

eBay Auction: Roe Photo:

In my opinion, the best vintage photos you can get come directly from the fans. Below is a fan created photo of Brooklyn Dodger first base coach Jake Pitler. With the palm trees in the background I would be willing to bet that this is a Spring Training photo. He was a coach for the Brooklyn team from 1947 to 1957 (their last year in the borough). Later on he continued his employment with the Dodgers as a scout.

eBay Auction Link: Pitler Photo:

I have never played or even heard of this vintage Baseball card game. It is called Big League Manager and below is the team set for the 1957 Brooklyn Dodgers. I love the cartoon drawing of the old Brooklyn "Bum."

eBay Auction Link: 1957 Brooklyn Big League Manager Game:

Has anyone ever heard of the Pepsi Dodger Fan Club? Below is a patch celebrating this group in 1972.

eBay Auction Link: Patch:

RIP Preacher Roe

Via Dodger Thoughts, we find out that Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Elwin Charles "Preacher" Roe has passed away. The 5 time All-Star pitched for the Dodgers for 7 years. In 1951 he had his best season as he compiled a record of 22 wins and only 3 losses while winning Pitcher of the Year honors.

He pitched in three World Series before retiring in 1954, when he moved to West Plains and bought a grocery store. Roe later became involved with numerous community associations including the West Plains Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club.

His legacy includes being elected to the Missouri, Arkansas and Dodger Halls of Fame.