Blog Kiosk: 1/2/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Kiké Hernandez spent his New Years Day in Pasadena -- joining his father and former Dodgers GM Fred Claire on the City of Hope float at the Rose Parade on Monday. Above is a pic of Hernandez with LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, via Garcetti on twitter. Pic on the right is of Fred Claire, via the City of Hope on twitter. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"For us, we get to see our patients participate in a big event, normal activities away from the hospital, and it gives us a sense of accomplishment," (Dr. Stephen J.) Forman said. "Having Kiké on the float is extra special because City of Hope is Dodgertown. There are a lot of fans among the patients and staff, and it gives us a lot of pride that he honored us by being on the float with his dad. To see father and son on the float together is what it's all about. We wanted them to have this special occasion."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1911 Dodgers president Charles Ebbets announces that he has completed the purchase of 4.5 acres of land in the Pigtown section of Brooklyn to build a new concrete and steel stadium. In 1935 the Dodgers selected Cubs catcher Babe Phelps off of waivers. He would go on to play seven seasons in Brooklyn -- slashing .315/.368/.477/.845 and attended three All-Star games. In 2004 the Dodgers signed free agent infielder and pinch-hit savant Olmedo Sáenz. All hail the "Killer Tomato".
• Happy Birthday, George Boehler, Bobby Reis, Cliff Dapper, Bill Madlock, Greg Heydeman, Mike Metcalfe & Scott Proctor!

Ross Porter Back to Calling Baseball - for CSU, Northridge

Ross Porter is a name many younger Dodgers fans do not know, but for those of us who still vividly remember the days before the McCourt era his name should still ring blissfully in your ear.  For 28 years, from 1977 to 2004, he was the Dodgers play-by-play announcer.  He sat alongside Vin Scully in the broadcast booth, and even hosted both pre- and post-game "Dodger Talk" broadcasts for fourteen years.  Then, unceremoniously, he was fired by the club, and to this day still doesn't know who or why he was fired.  Heck, no one in the organization (which was in the first year of the McCourt ownership) even contacted him directly about it.  Such was the McCourt ownership.

Now, some twelve years later, Ross Porter will be back on the airwaves to call some Baseball.  This time it will be for CSU, Northridge.  Per a press release:

“I am thrilled to be asked by CSUN to announce their home baseball games this year. It’s a great chance for me to do what I love,” said Porter. “I’m excited to do it for a wonderful university like CSUN and to be associated again with young men who are passionate about baseball. I have been able to spend time getting to know the team and find them to be outstanding young student-athletes.”

Porter is slated to call 18 of the 28 Northridge home Baseball games this coming season.  The remaining ten home games, along with all of the schools softball games, will be called by radio and play-by-play broadcaster Brandon Marcus.  You can listen to it all streaming at the CSUN Sports Network.

BTW, for those who recall, Ross Porter had a penchant for passing along statistical information during his Dodgers broadcasts, so I suspect he'll be do the same for Northridge.  No doubt the sabermetrically-inclined Matador fan will enjoy what he has to say. 

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Past and Present Dodgers' Respond on Twitter

Accolades are coming in from all around the Baseball world regarding the recent hiring of Dave Roberts as the new Dodger manager; including congratulations and encouragement from several former and current Dodgers'.  Check some of them out below: 

I'm thrilled that Dave Roberts is the new manager of the Dodgers. He is a classy gentleman widely respected. A fine choice.

— Ross Porter (@therossporter) November 23, 2015

The former Dodger broadcaster is obviously happy with the choice... And so is former teammate David Ross:

Congrats to Dave Roberts on being #Dodgers new Mng. He taught me to be a professional on & off the field! True leader and a great man!

— David Ross (@D_Ross3) November 23, 2015

Blog Kiosk: 10/27/2015 - Dodger Links - Mattingly, Grandal and Zack Greinke

Same as it ever was.

When the game gets out of hand the players can often get a bit short-tempered.  As evidenced by the Associated Press photo above, dated June 5, 1950, we are witness to a melee between the Dodgers and Cubs at Wrigley field.  The Dodgers were well on their way towards an embarrassing rout of the Cubbies when in the fourth inning outfielder Jim Russell took offense at an inside pitch from Chicago hurler Paul Minner.

So, Russell charged the mound.  A shove here... A punch there... Before you knew it a bunch of ballplayers were sprawled on the ground like some schoolkids playing tackle football.

No doubt, cooler heads eventually prevailed.  Russell was out of the game, and the Dodgers went on to score seven more runs to win 13 to 1.  I found the photo above on eBay.  Check that auction out here.

Below are more links to check out:

• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy has the details for an current auction being put together by former Dodger broadcaster Ross Porter for an intimate luncheon with Porter and Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully.  All funds to benefit Stillpoint Family Resources.  Check out Roberto's post for more information.
• This would make me very unhappy.  Via Evan Massey at Classicalite, "San Francisco Giants Expected to Strongly Pursue Zack Greinke in 2015 MLB Free Agency."
• To the surprise of no one, Don Mattingly has interviewed with the Marlins, via a tweet from Joe Fisaro.

Source: Don Mattingly is interviewing with #Marlins today

— Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) October 26, 2015

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "No labrum repair needed in Yasmani Grandal shoulder surgery."

"We knew there was a chance that we might had to do the labrum. But obviously I didn't want to take longer to come back," Grandal said on Monday. "So I was very happy to hear that the labrum wasn't touched once I woke up from the surgery."

• Joc Pederson came in fourth in the Sporting News National League Rookie of the Year polling of 167 current players (link here).  Andre Etheir came in fifth in the Sporting News National League Comeback Player of the Year polling of 198 current players (link here).
• Via Mike Rosenbaum at MLB.com, "Dodgers' Farmer continues hot hitting in AFL."

"I worked hard in the offseason lifting weights and getting my lower half in shape," he said. "I also made a slight adjustment to my swing, and things have just taken off from there."

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Blog Kiosk: 10/8/2015 - Dodger Links - Seager, Porter and Bill Dahlen

"Lookin' pretty chill."

Staff aces Clayton Kershaw and Zach Greinke take a moment to rest their weary legs during yesterday's workout at Dodger Stadium in the photo above tweeted by Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo.  Go here to see more pics from yesterday's workout from Jon.

Below are more links to check out:

• Via Steve Dilbeck at The LA Times, "Dodgers call a halt to their Jim Johnson experiment."  He will not be in the postseason.

“I feel, out of respect, we didn’t feel like Camelback Ranch was a place for him as a veteran,” Mattingly said. “He just had a baby. We didn’t see him as the next guy up if somebody was hurt. Didn’t feel like it was fair to ask him to go Camelback.”

• Three Dodgers make Baseball America's 2015 Texas League Top 20 Prospects, here.  They are Julio Urias, Jose De Leon and Jharel Cotton.  (Hat Tip: Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider)
• Former Brooklyn Superbas/Dodgers shortstop Bill Dahlen is being considered for induction into the Hall by the 2016 Pre-Integration Committee at the Hall of Fame.  Ten folks are on the ballot.  Check out the story here.  Dahlen is often considered one of the best 19th century ballplayers not already in the Hall of Fame.  In fact, SABR selected him as the Overlooked 19th Century Baseball Legend for 2012, here.
• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA take an early look: "Dodgers 2016 salary arbitration preview."
• Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, "Rob Manfred Q&A: topics range from Dodgers TV debacle to Pete Rose."

Q: At the root of the dispute – and the Dodgers are not the first team to have their games blacked out in this way – is that cable and satellite distributors are reluctant to raise rates for fear that subscribers will cancel their service entirely. You don’t need a cable or satellite subscription to watch TV any more. How worrisome is that for you, given the substantial percentage of revenue clubs get from the local cable television contracts?
A: I think the market in L.A. has been particularly difficult, with the fragmentation of the RSNs [regional sports networks]. I think the ability to pass on additional costs to consumers is a concern. But I think the RSN business is a fundamentally sound business. Occasionally, there are going to be blips in terms of getting distribution. This is not the first one, and it probably will not be the last one. But the fundamentals of the RSN business, the strength of live sports programming, remains solid.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Seager motors from NASCAR country to bigs."
  

  "I wore cleats until I went to kindergarten, and they wouldn't let me wear them anymore and apparently I bawled my eyes out for days just because they wouldn't let me wear cleats to school," Seager said. "I wore cleats everywhere, literally, but they wouldn't let me wear them. I don't even remember it, but I've seen pictures and they tell me. They said I bawled my eyes out."

• Via Paul Francis Sullivan at Sully Baseball, "VIC DAVALILLO – Sully Baseball Unsung Post Season Hero of October 7."  Vic is an often forgotten Dodger.
• I would just blame McCourt, and his penny pinching, lets fleece and squeeze the club for everything they're worth actions.  Via Houston Mitchell at The LA Times, "Former Dodgers announcer Ross Porter still doesn't know who fired him."

I was less than an hour away from guest-hosting a radio sports talk show. Asked if they planned to notify me before I went on the air, the Dodger executives not only said, "No," but reported they were releasing the story at the same time I was going on the air. My agent said, "So, Ross may learn about this from a caller to the show? This isn't right." He raced to his car and drove 30 minutes to reach me before airtime and give me the news.

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Dodgers' Celebrate on Social Media

You gotta love how the world today brings about an instant connection with your favorite team and players.  It's like we're enjoying the moment right with them.  So, take a second to check out some of my favorite tweets, instagrams and whatnot's from your Los Angeles Dodgers.

To start, check out the fantastic selfie above taken by Justin Turner and shared on instagram.  Clayton looks downright mortified.  It's like he can't believe what's going on.  AJ Ellis, on the other hand, does his best Miley Cyrus impression.

Blog Kiosk: 4/3/2014 - Dodgers Links - Dodgers Win Again, Ross Porter Back on Opening Day and Dodgers to be Broadcast in Korean

Dodgers won the rubber match against the Padres on the back of a stellar starting pitching performance by Dan Haren.  He pitched 6 innings, struck out 6, gave up 1 run and allowed only 4 hits.  (Pic above via @Dodgers on twitter) As Eric Stephen at True Blue LA noted,

"I definitely had nerves. On a new team you always want to make a good impression. I'm glad I did that," Haren said after the game. "I feel like part of the team now. I hadn't done anything up to now."

• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider took a look back at the funeral of Gil Hodges. It was 42 years ago, yesterday. 
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Your Opening Day public address announcer: Ross Porter."

“I was appreciative of the fact they asked me to do this this year,” Porter said. “It’s a special honor to do on Opening Day. That’s nice, and I’m looking forward to that. It’s gonna be exciting just to be with the fans, to be able to speak to the fans. I’m just happy to be there and be back.”

• Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA writes a great piece on "The Handshake – It’s All About Respect."

How is it then that baseball doesn’t have a handshake after a playoff series? I understand none after regular season games when teams play each other three or four days in a row, but why not after a post season series? I expect it is an unwritten rule. I also expect it was an unwritten agreement that kept black players from playing in the Major Leagues until Jackie Robinson crossed the line in 1947. Unwritten rules can be over turned.

You're right about a hockey fans respect for the handshake rule after a playoff series.  Win or lose, you always stay and clap for the victor during the handshake.

• Via Tom Hoffarth at Farther Off the Wall writes, "The news just keeps getting better for Korean-speaking Dodgers fans who have TWC."

The network announced today that it will launch Korean-language Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) for all live Dodger games on its air this season, a first for any Major League Baseball (MLB) team. 

• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Clayton Kershaw and Brian Wilson hurting, but don’t fret too much."  He provides some positive words for those who are worried about the Dodgers.
• Oh crap!  Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, "Could effects of Clayton Kershaw's injury linger after he returns?"  The answer is likely yes.
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Brian Wilson downplays elbow injury."

"It's just slight discomfort. I think everything will be fine once I get four, five, six innings under my belt, just to kind of finish spring training," Wilson said. "I only threw four times because I had to get shut down for the same thing."

• Awesome!  Via Sarah at We're Born Again, There's New Grass on the Field shares a great audio file of Vin Scully saying, "It's My Bad, Dude!"
• Rudd Cycleback at Sports Collectors Daily provides a helpful tip for vintage card collectors: "How to Use a Black Light to Identify Reprints and Fakes of Antique Paper Collectibles."  There are two things a vintage card collector should always have - a loop (magnifying glass) and a black light.
• A dream come true for a fan.  Via Chris Olds at Beckett, "Orioles collector from Maine is set to make his pro debut and become baseball player for a day."

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Blog Kiosk: 8/24/2013 - Dodgers Links - Vin Scully, Wilson and Ross Porter

"I've always felt that I'm an ordinary man that was given an extraordinary opportunity." -Vin Scull.  Pic from yesterday's press conference via @Dodgers on twitter.

• The Dodgers organization knows all about social media.  Yesterday, the reached out to the r/Dodgers Reddit community.  Check out their first post here.
• Via Jay Jaffe at Sports Illustrated, "Six memorable moments to celebrate Vin Scully’s return for a 65th season".
• CJ Wilson knows what's up!  Via his twitter:

I think you meant to send this to @ClaytonKersh22 RT @arielgersh: @str8edgeracer can i get a retweet from the best pitcher in the  @MLB
— C.J. Wilson (@str8edgeracer) August 23, 2013

• The AP has a complete report on the Vin Scully press conference yesterday.  Read all about it here.
• "Brian Wilson happy for another chance," via Arash Markazi at ESPN.
• "Dodgers Owner Interested In Extending Ramirez," via Jeff Todd MLB Trade Rumors.
• "Dodgers owner Mark Walter explores possible purchase of L.A. Times," via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times.
• "Ross Porter looks back on 22 innings of history," via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA.
• JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers confirms that former King's players Sean O’Donnell, Ian Turnbull and Rob Blake will be at Dodger Stadium for LA Kings Night on September 10th.
• Glen Tsurudome at The Baseball Diaspora shares his experience of watching Baseball in Japan with a review of Koshien.  There are plenty of great pics.
• Panini shares a bunch of preview pics of their upcoming 2013 Cooperstown Baseball card set; including the Zack Wheat and Jackie Robinson cards below.  This set comes out this coming Wednesday.

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Blog Kiosk: 5/31/2013 - Dodgers Links - AJ & Beckett are Down, Manny Celebrates his 41st

Here is Don Sutton with his Dodger bobblehead that will be given out this coming Thursday, June 6th at Dodger Stadium, pic via @Dodgers on twitter.

• "Does It Make Sense to Replace a Manager During the Season?"  By Jonah Keri at Grantland.
• It becomes more clear why Federowicz was called up.  Via Austin Laymance at ESPN, AJ Ellis has an issue with his left oblique.



(twitter link)

• Topps shares a preview pic of a Jackie Robinson 2013 Archives Gallery of Heroes insert card on twitter.  See it on the right.
• Via Tom Hoffarth at Farther Off the Wall, we find out that Ross Porter will be back in the broadcast booth at Dodger Stadium tonight as a part of the Fox Sports West crew covering the CIF Southern Section Division III title game.
• Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times tells us that Josh Beckett will be seeing a nerve specialist on Monday.

“The frustrating thing is that I don’t have pain,” Beckett said. “I’m dealing with ineffectiveness and numbness where I can’t actually feel the baseball.”

• The Sons of Steve Garvey puts together a nice article for Big League Stew.  It's a local's guide to enjoying Dodger Stadium.
• I missed this last week.  Topps was in Hollywood and shared a pic on twitter to prove it.  Check it out below.  They brought along some 2013 Big League Mini figurines.

(twitter link)

• This is the craziest trade proposal I have ever read.  Via Bob Verdi at the Daily Herald, we find out that former Kings and Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke once proposed trading Wilt Chamberlain to the Bulls in exchange for Bobby Hull of the Blackhawks.
• Sometimes I miss the infectious smile of Manny Ramirez.  Check out what his teammates in Taiwan did to celebrate his 41st birthday yesterday in the video below.

Video Link:

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 11/29/2012

Happy birthday to Ross Porter and Vin Scully.  Above is a pic from 1978 featuring (from left to right) Ross Porter, Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett.

• The Dodgers have up a gallery of photos featuring Vin Scully through the years.  Sports Illustrated has up their own gallery of photos.
• And this is probably the best news of the Day.  Check out below what the Dodgers tweeted.

(tweet link)

• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA goes through Bill James projections for the Dodgers in 2013.
• John Thorn, Baseball's official historian, shares a story as told by Cy Young about his greatest game.  I love this kind of stuff.
• ACTA Sports takes a look at the best and worst hitters ballparks.  Curiously, Dodgers Stadium does not show up as a top 5 pitchers park by any of the metrics discussed.
• Night Owl continues with #40-#31 of the best Dodgers cards ever made.

• Paul Lukas at Uni Watch put together his 2012 Uni Watch Gift Guide at ESPN and it includes artist Sean Kane's artwork as the #1 gift idea.  I posted up an interview with Sean yesterday.  See it here.
• You gotta check out a Star Trek card that has been signed by Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) that he has on auction on eBay for charity.  His description is a must read.  (Hat Tip: Susan Lulgjuraj at Beckett) 

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Sunday Dodger Videos: A Bob Hope Special with Drysdale, Davis and Koufax

Here is this weekends Sunday Dodger Videos.

Watch this vintage Vitalis commercial featuring Don Drysdale.

Video Link:

Here is a Bob Hope Special from 1978 "Salute to the 75th Anniversary of the World Series" that takes a look back at a 1963 clip featuring Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax and Tommy Davis. A couple of years ago I ran into a press photo that I thought was from a Las Vegas musical review show, but as you can see it's not. It is actually from a Bob Hope special from 1963. See that original post here.

Video Link:

Here is outfielder Mike Marshall with announcer Ross Parter in a commercial from 1984.

Video Link:

"Get Up and Go!"
Here is a 1987 MLB commercial featuring Dodger Baseball. Fernando Valenzuela makes a brief appearance and so does Nancy Bea.

Video Link:

Blog Kiosk: 11/7/2011

Matt Kemp at the benefit for the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Center this past Sunday is hanging with his new best friend @TeamAlyssa22. (Pic via Kemp's twitter)

• GCRL made a beautiful fantasy card featuring the old Dodgers broadcast team of Vin Scully, Ross Porter and Jerry Doggett.
  
• Steve Dilbeck looks at 'The Legend of Eugenio Velez.'
  
• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy has the patch the Dodgers will be wearing next season.
  
• New York billionaire, Tom Golisano, and former owner of the NHL Buffalo Sabres, is readying a bid to buy the Dodgers, via The Daily.
  
• Lawyers.com analyzes the McCourt divorce.
  
• Listen in on Ron Washington's pre-game speech to his players before Game 7 of the World Series, via Joe Sports Fan. It's a doozy.
  
• Check out the next Cuban sensation- Yoenis Cespedes. Via Bleacher Report. There's even a showcase video that is a little strange. Apparently, the Dodger are interested in him.
  

Cooperstown Voting

With the above title you probably thought I was going to add my two cents regarding the voting for the Hall of Fame. Well, that's not exactly what this post is about. After all, there are several candidates that I believe should get a good look, and a couple who have clearly been overlooked. But I digress.

This post is about the Ford C. Frick award and the current ability for fans to add 3 worthwhile broadcasters to the official ballot this year.

Fan voting started for the 2010 Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented annually for excellence in baseball broadcasting. The people are speaking and they are letting us know which broadcasters deserve to be honored with legends like Mel Allen, Red Barber, Vin Scully and Jack Buck...

From now through Dec. 31, 2009 at 5 p.m. EST, fans will choose three broadcasters to be placed on the final ballot. They and seven other finalists and will be voted on in January and the 2010 honoree will be announced in February.

Voting is only being done on Facebook. Go here.

If I may suggest some worthwhile names, please consider voting for Jerry Doggett, Don Drysdale, Al Downing and/or Ross Porter.

Happy Birthday Vin! Happy Birthday Ross!

A big thanks to Jon at Dodger Thoughts for reminding me of the birthdays of Vin Scully and Ross Porter.

Happy Birthday Guys!

Below is a collection of videos featuring Vin Scully.

Vin gives a graduation speech.

YouTube Link:

Vin Scully, the game show host. See part 2 here.

YouTube Link: