Blog Kiosk: 12/3/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

You know, a photo of Babe Ruth in a Dodgers uniform must always be shared. Featured above is a 1938 vintage photograph of Dodgers first base coach Babe Ruth that is currently available through Hunt Auctions (link here).

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2007 Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley is elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the veterans committee. In 1991 the Dodgers signed free agent knuckleball pitcher Tom Candiotti to a four-year $15,500,000 contract. He would eventually spend six years in Dodger Blue, recording a 52-64 record with an 3.57 ERA, 3.84 FIP and a 14.6 WAR. 
• Happy Birthday, Cozy Dolan, Bill Harris, José Peña, Mark Bradley, Eric Hull & JT Chargois!

Blog Kiosk: 11/3/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

"Baseball is something like a war."

No truer words have ever been said about the game, and few photos exist that best exemplifies it. So, it's with great delight that I share the above vintage 1948 Associated Press photo that does just that.  (RMY Auction link)

As you can see, both infielder Benny Zientara and Jackie Robinson are sprawled  along the first base line. Per the description attached to the reverse:

Benny Zientara  (left), Cincinnati Reds second baseman, and Jackie Robinson (right), Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman, are prone on the ground and out back of first base in Cincinnati, May 13, after collision. Robinson plowed head-on into Zientara at first while trying to beat out a bunt. Zientara was unconscious for about five minutes and had to leave the game. The Brooklyn player continued in the game. Dodgers won, 9-3.

Players gave life and limb to win the game. This photo recently sold for $484. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1965 Sandy Koufax is named the Cy Young Award winner by unanimous vote.  It is his second Cy Young in his career. Overall, he went 26-8 with an 1.73 ERA, a major league record 382 strikeouts, 27 complete games, 8 shut outs in 335 total innings pitched.
• Happy Birthday, Ed Lennox, Bob Fisher, Spider Jorgensen, Earl Robinson, Bob Welch, Mike Christopher & Paul Quantrill!

Dodger Hero, Roz Wyman, to Throw Out First Pitch Tonight

Recent 2013 Rose Award winner and former LA City Councilwoman Roz Wyman will throw out the first pitch at tonight's game.  For those who don't already know, we have her to thank for bringing the Dodgers to Los Angeles.  Without her persistence the Dodgers would not be here.  And to think, she was just 22 years old when she did it.  Amazing!

Thank you, Roz Wyman!

If you are interested in a great write up on her role in bringing the Dodgers out west check out Walter O'Malley.com.  It's long, but well worth the read if you are interested in LA Dodger history.  Below is a sample:

“Right now, I’m deep in plans to bring major league baseball to Los Angeles. Everybody wants it and we should have it. Baseball is a big business. We have the climate and Los Angeles is a great sports town. We need big league baseball. It would be great for the kids, too. They are great worshippers of top sports figures and sports-minded kids are never delinquent.”

This quote was delivered in April of 1957, not by the Mayor of Los Angeles, but by a woman.

That’s right, the youngest City Councilperson in the history of Los Angeles, Rosalind Wyman, made that statement, filled with hope that she and a cadre of local officials could woo Walter O’Malley and the Dodgers westward, providing he paid to build the stadium. It was one of the biggest gambles in the City’s history, but one, once achieved, that proved to be the mother lode of risk-taking success.

The pics included in this post is from the 2013 Rose Award banquet that included Vin Scully as presenter.   Pic Credit: Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2013

UPDATE:
Below is a video tribute put together by the Dodgers honoring her.

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 5/3/2013

Vin Scully was the presenter for the 2013 Rose Award yesterday afternoon, and Roz Wyman was the recipient.  She was the youngest woman on the LA City Council, has spent 60 years in service to the city, and is famous for bringing the Dodgers to Los Angeles.  Pic via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2013.

• Check out Bennett Liles of SVC podcast (Sound & Video Contractor Magazine) featuring Chris Mascatello of ANC Sports as he talks about the renovations done at Dodger Stadium; complete with new outfield LED screens, videowalls, and LED ribbon displays.
• Joseph Dynlacht at Sports Collectors Digest shares his recent interview with Carl Erskine.

SCD: How did you get started playing the National Anthem on a harmonica in the first place?

CE: I did 46 baseball fantasy camps (until 2008) where the staff played against the campers, and they staged it just like a major league game (with campers playing against the big leaguers). They announced each player, and he came out on the foul line, and then everyone was asked to stand and I’d play the National Anthem. One time we had two or three guys from Canada, and they said, “Hey, what about us?” I said, “Gee, I’d heard the Canadian National Anthem when I spent a couple of months playing in Montreal when I rehabbed my shoulder . . .,” and one of the guys ended up sending me a tape of someone singing “O, Canada.” So the next time we had a fantasy camp, I could play “O, Canada” as well.

• Via Allen Barra at The Atlantic, "Actually, Jason Collins Isn't the First Openly Gay Man in a Major Pro Sport: Major-league baseball player Glenn Burke was comfortably out to his teammates and friends in 1976—but back then, it was the press that wasn't ready for a gay male athlete."
• Via Webe at All K Pop, "Why was Psy worried about being seen with Ryu Hyun Jin?"

Psy brought laughter when he shared his concern, saying, “Ryu Hyun Jin is famous and I’m famous, so I worried that people would wonder if all Koreans have the same body as us.”

He went on to say, “I think we have a unique body type for Koreans. But to be honest, I like my body.”

• Jon Heyman at CBS Sports writes, "Book report: Piazza's engrossing tome a hit, but why is he so upset?"
• Why am I only finding out now that there is a Cooperstown Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum?

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