Blog Kiosk: 8/3/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

It was good to see Kershaw out there, and even better that he did well. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“I think there’s a lot of things involved,” Kershaw said. “First time pitching in eight, nine months of a game that actually mattered. There’s some relief, some thankfulness for sure. Just grateful to be back out there again.”

he went 5.2 scoreless innings, with six strikeouts and no walks to win in his first outing of the season. 

Photo above @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1959 a second All-Star Game of the year is played at the LA Coliseum. Don Drysdale gave up a third inning two-run homer to Yogi Berra to lose the game, 5-3. In 1980 Duke Snider, along with Al Kaline and Chuck Klein, are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1997 Tommy Lasorda, along with Phil Neikro, Nellie Fox and Willie Wells, are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2013 the Dodgers set a franchise record when they won their 13th consecutive game on the road by defeating the Cubs, 3-0. 
• Happy Birthday, Gus Getz, Jim Gott, Sid Bream & Kevin Elster!

Blog Kiosk: 4/20/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a fantastic AP press photo featuring Pistol Pete's follow-through at the plate -- dated 9/20/1941 (eBay auction link). Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Brooklyn, NY -- Pete Reiser, hard-hitting young center-fielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers, who will be in there swinging for his team during World Series play, if they win the National League flag. 

The Leo Durocher managed Dodgers did win the pennant (with a 100-54 record), but lost to the Bronx Bombers in October. Below are more links to checkout:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1995 Peter O'Malley donates the Brooklyn Dodgers' 1955 World Championship banner to the borough in which it was won, saying, "The flag belongs in Brooklyn." In 1999 the Dodgers surpass the 100 million mark in attendance at Dodger Stadium. In 2011 it is announced that MLB will be taking over the operations of the Dodgers due to concerns over the finances of team owner Frank McCourt. 
• Happy Birthday, Don Mattingly, Germany Smith, Pat Hannivan, Dave Bancroft, Hal Peck, Tom Hutton, Todd Hollandsworth & Ian Thomas! 

Blog Kiosk: 1/21/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

One of the unheralded heroes of any Baseball staff is the team doctor. For the Dodgers, during the Golden Years of the franchise, it was Harold W. Wendler, or Doc Wendler, who kept the players healthy and in tip top condition. Featured above is a 1956 Spring Training press photo taken by noted photographer Herb Scharfman featuring Doc tending to Sandy Amaros (eBay auction link). Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Looking For a Break -- Miami, FLA... Doc Wendler looks for a possible fracture on the left ankle of Dodger outfielder Sandy Amaros, who was hit by a pitched ball in the third inning od an exhibition game with the Boston Red Sox today. sandy was able to walk to the dugout unaided. The Red Sox walloped the World Champions, 17-5. 

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1969 Roy Campanella is elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame with 79.4% of the vote - his fifth year of eligibility. In 2009 the Dodgers signed free agent catcher Brad Ausmus to a $1 million contract. 
• Happy Birthday, Emil Batch, Benny Meyer, Glenn Chapman, Johnny Oates, Josh Wall, Josh Ravin & Joe Wieland!

Blog Kiosk: 12/16/2019 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Clayton Kershaw, Alex Verdugo and Matt Beaty visited Dodger Stadium on Friday to give some local kids the time of their lives -- as a part of their annual children’s holiday party. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“For these kids, their families, they’re from LA so their families are big Dodger fans, it’s like they grow into it,” Verdugo said. “The fact that they can come out here, have fun, be kids, be themselves and get to hang out with us, they get a little bit of that personal, ‘Oh man, I got to hang out with Alex, I got to hang out with Clayton — any little memory we can kind of put in their minds and have them cherish growing up, it’s special to me and I’m happy to be part of it all.”

Photo above via Dodger Insider on twitter (Josh Barber/Los Angeles Dodgers). Pic on the right via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2009 the Dodgers signed free agent infielder Jamey Carroll to a two-year contract. He would slash .290/.368/.344/.711 in 803 at-bats. In 2010 the Dodgers signed free agent right-handed reliever Matt Guerrier. In three seasons he would go 6-8 with an 4.24 ERA, in 120 games. In 2014 the Dodgers signed righty starter Brandon McCarthy to a four-year $48 million contract. He would unfortunately be hampered by injuries his whole time in Los Angeles. In 2015 the Dodgers were a part of a three-team trade with the Reds and White Sox. Dodgers got Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas and Trayce Thompson from the Chicago. The Reds received Brandon Dixon, Jose Peraza and Scott Schebler from the Dodgers. The White Sox received Todd Frazier from the Dodgers. In 2017 the Dodgers received Matt Kemp from the Braves for Adrian Gonzalez, Charlie Culberson, Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy. This move was clearly a salary dump for the Dodgers -- although Kemp ended up having a fantastic 2018 season in Los Angeles.
• Happy Birthday, Pete Hotaling & Sammy Strang!

Weekend Autograph Opportunity: Shawn Green at Walmart on Saturday

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any), as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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Dodger legend Shawn Green will be signing autographs on Saturday, March 30th from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the Walmart Supercenter in Burbank. This is all a part of a Baseball Days event at Walmart and in conjunction with MLB The Show 19. Go here or here for information.

Walmart Supercenter
1301 N Victory Place
Burbank, CA 91502

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Blog Kiosk: 3/29/2019 - Dodgers Links - Homer Happy

Do you remember all that talk this Spring about how the Dodgers would play more small-ball this season?

Yeah, about that...

Yesterday afternoon, on Opening Day, the Dodgers cranked out a Major League record eight home runs, including two by Joc Pederson, to defeat the DBacks, 12-5. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“We can enjoy that right now, but we’ve got to come back tomorrow and do it again,” said Pederson, who finished 3-for-5 with three extra-base hits. “Enjoy this moment. And move on.”

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Go here to check out more pics from Opening Day. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2004 the Dodgers purchased outfielder Jason Grabowski from the A's. They also traded reliever Jason Frasor to the Blue Jays for outfielder Jason Werth. In 2008 the Dodgers played a preseason exhibition game at the LA Coliseum against the Boston Red Sox in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the club's move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. A crowd of 115,300 attended -- the largest to ever see a Baseball game. Check out a boxscore here.
• Happy Birthday, Hank Gastright, Rube Dessau, Lee Meyer, Gibby Brack, Tommy Holmes, Mike Ramsey & Brian Jordan!

2019 Topps Series 1 Baseball - Inserts Galore, Part 2

Here is a final look at Dodger cards found in 2019 Topps Series 1. Featured below is a bevy of inserts found in packs. Go here to check out the Dodger base cards.

Legacy of Baseball Autographs

#LBA-MM Max Muncy              #LBA-RS Ross Stripling

UPDATED: NLCS Series Against Brewers Starts on Friday -- A Homestand Preview - Pregame Info and Other Stuff

The National League Championship Series match-up between the Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers begins on Friday. Below are some odds and ends for this series. Here are some important links:

• 2018 Broadcast Schedule
• Parking Information 
• Dodger Stadium Express / LA Metro  
• Dodgers Postseason Information
• Brewers Postseason Information 

I will update this post as more information becomes available for each game.

BTW, the umpires for this series (per Craig Calcaterra at NBC) is as follows (for Game 1). Obviously, assignments will change from game to game:

Home: Scott Barry
1B: Alan Porter
2B: Gerry Davis*
3B: Hunter Wendelstedt
LF: Jim Wolf
RF: Brian Gorman
Replay, Games 1-2: Greg Gibson
Replay, Games 3-7: Scott Barry

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Below are the rosters. Click on any pic to embiggen:

Dodgers                           Brewers

2017 Panini Flawless - All the Dodgers Cards

Panini's Flawless Baseball cards came out just before Christmas, but I am only know able to post up pics I've been able to find all over the 'net. As you know, Flawless is a super-premium card brand that will cost you about $1,400 for a single box of ten cards. In that pack you are guaranteed six autographs, two memorabilia cards and two gem cards (a real embedded precious jewel). Go here for a complete checklist. Please note that the numbering, as has been the case with Panini's publicized checklist, is inaccurate (with the base set as an exception).

Check out all of the Dodgers cards below. BTW, all base cards have an embedded gem in the card.

Base 

#9 Jackie Robinson              #20 Clayton Kershaw

#25 Corey Seager             #39 Mike Piazza

Blog Kiosk: 6/1/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Ryu was excellent. He went six strong innings, striking out four, walking just one and allowing only one earned run. Per Joe Harris at MLB.com:

"During the warmup, when I was doing long tosses in the bullpen, I found out that all my four pitches were working to a pretty good level, so I knew I was going to have a pretty good outing," Ryu said through an interpreter. "I just wanted to make sure that I mixed them up."

Unfortunately, the Dodgers offense took the day off. They could only muster a single run in the 2-1 loss.

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1955 the Brooklyn Dodgers set a franchise record for hitting six home runs in a game during their victory over the Milwaukee Braves at Ebbets Field. Duke Snider hit three homers in the contest (becoming the first Dodger to do it twice), to go along with home runs by Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and Roy Campanella. In 1962 Don Drysdale defeated the Philadelphia Phillies for the 13th consecutive time - a streak that began in 1958. I remember this next incident so well. In 1997 Wilton Guerrero shattered hit bat during an at-bat and immediately scrambled to pick up the bat pieces instead of running to first base. Obviously, home plate umpire Steve Ripley got suspicious and subsequently searched the bat remains. He found cork and ejected Guerrero from the game. He would be suspended for eight games.
• Happy Birthday, Otto Miller, Ty Tyson, Ray Moore, Chuck Templeton, Ken McMullen & Derek Lowe!
  

Blog Kiosk: 3/8/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Spring Odds and Ends

Clayton Kershaw is so good he even dominates during spring training.  So far he has thrown in three games, pitched a total of six innings and has allowed no hits.  Sure, I get that these games don't really count, but you gotta love the results.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"To see him work both sides of the plate with his fastball, that was good to see," said manager Dave Roberts, who noticed that Kershaw pitched out of the stretch to the final batter he faced with nobody on base, just for practice. "Even when he's not right from pitch to pitch, he expects perfection. That's the competitor that is Clayton. We all have expectations, but none higher than himself."

Kershaw adds:

"I feel good physically and feel like the ball is coming out OK, so I think I'm where I need to be," said Kershaw, who walked the first batter he faced on a 3-2 pitch. "Results really don't matter, but I guess it's good to see how hitters react to certain pitches, and if you're not giving up hits, that's a good thing."

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

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1966 former Dodger player and manager Casey Stengel is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Happy Birthday, Ollie O'Mara, Carl Furillo, Al Gionfriddo, Dick Teed, Marv Breeding, Willard Hunter,  Dick Allen & Juan Encarnacion!
  

Blog Kiosk: 11/14/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This past Friday on Veterans Day the Dodgers hosted a 300+ contingent of American military personnel and veterans for an afternoon of batting practice, food and tours at Dodger Stadium.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"The Dodgers want to honor the men and women that serve our country, and not just the service people, but their family and loved ones," said Naomi Rodriguez, Dodgers vice president of external affairs.
"We want them to come here and have a great time, have a Dodger Dog. I mean, it's everyone's fantasy to hit a ball at Dodger Stadium. So we give them that opportunity to walk to home plate and take batting practice and have a great time."

Photos above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Jim Brewer!

Blog Kiosk: 11/10/2016 - Dodgers Links - Verdugo, DeJong, Seager, Zaidi and the 2017 Spring Schedule

The 2017 Dodgers Spring Training schedule has officially been set.  The graphic above of the schedule is via Camelback Ranch on twitter.  Go here or here for more information.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1988 Orel Hershiser was named the winner of the NL Cy Young Award.  He was the unanimous choice.
• Happy Birthday, Rob Segedin and Shawn Green!

2016 Topps Gold Label - All the Dodgers Cards

Last week Topps released an old Baseball card brand that existed in the hobby in the late-90's and early naughts.  It is called 2016 Topps Gold Label, and it features an 100-card base set that includes three different versions of each base card.  Go here to check out a complete checklist.

The Dodgers have seven players in the base set and eight different on-card autographed cards.  Unfortunately, four of the autograph subjects are only available through a redemption card.

BTW, this set was last produced in 2002 -- a time period when I was still out of the hobby but on the verge of returning with gusto.  So this is a brand that I have very little knowledge of.

#18 Kenta Maeda

Class 1                                   Class 2                               Class 3

2016 Topps Archives Signature - All the Dodgers Cards

If you love to chase after buy-back autographed cards and have an affinity towards the players of yesteryear then this product is for you.  Last week Topps released, for the second year in a row, their 2016 Topps Archives Signatures brand.  As you may know, it solely focuses on older Topps cards that have been signed by the respective player.  In other words, there is no base set.  Instead, each pack/box includes a single encased certified autographed Baseball card.

There are over a 100 different players available and several of them have Dodger ties.  They include Andy Pafko, Don Drysdale, Don Zimmer, Duke Snider, Eric Davis, Frank Robinson, Gary Carter, Greg Maddux, Hoyt Wilhelm, Leo Durocher, Mike Piazza, Nomar Garciaparra, Sandy Koufax, Shawn Green and Steve Garvey.  Go here for a listing of players that can be found. There is no guarantee, of course, that the players above have a signed Dodger card in the product.  After all, both Hoyt Wilhelm and Frank Robinson were short-term Dodger players, and there are really only a handful of Topps cards of them as a Dodger available.  Nevertheless, I've done my best to catalogue what is available.  If you run across something I don't list here please let me know.

Below is a listing of known (so far to me) Dodger cards.  Of note, if your a fan of Steve Garvey or Shawn Green then chances are high you'll find one in a box.  There are a ton of them available.  Furthermore, the list below is not likely to be complete.  There are no doubt numerous "1 of 1" cards and other scarcities still lurking in unopened boxes or in private collections.

UPDATE:  You can check out a listing of the 2015 Archives Signature Dodgers cards here.

Eric Davis

• 1992 Bowman (#/30) 
• 1992 Topps Stadium Club (#/5)
• 1993 Bowman (#/39)
• 1993 Topps (#/35)
• 1993 Topps Stadium Club (#/10)

 1993 Bowman (#/39)                1993 Topps (#/35)

Diamondbacks Series Starts on Monday - Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.   Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The eleventh 2016 issue of the new Dodger Insider magazine, spotlighting the Dodgers’ push toward a title despite the injury to Clayton Kershaw, will be available at Dodger Stadium.  (see it on the left).  On the cover are Kenley Jansen, Adrian Gonzalez, Kenta Maeda, Justin Turner, Corey Seager and Dave Roberts.  The Dodgers merged their previously separate Playbill and Dodger Insider magazines into one publication (at least 80 pages per issue) with a new edition available each homestand.  They are distributed at auto gates (one per vehicle) and via Fan Services for those who use alternate transportation.

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Monday, September 5at 5:10 PM
RHP Zack Greinke vs. RHP Kenta Maeda
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Blog Kiosk: 5/25/2016 - Dodgers Links - That Strange Game

Last nights game was a mixed bag.

It started out with a fantastic ceremony in honor of the men and women in the armed forces, and included an enlistment ceremony for all four branches.  The photo above, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016, features the ceremony.

Then Mike Bolsinger came in to start his second game of the year and was fantastic.  He went 5.2 innings and gave up three hits, two earned runs and recorded six strike outs to win his first game of the season.  During the game, though, a bunch of weird things happened.  In the sixth inning Yasiel Puig came up to bat with two men on and rocketed a deep fly to right field.  In fact, it was so deep he thought he hit a homer, so instead of running hard out of the box he stood and admired it.  When the ball fell short of the wall he traipsed onto first base instead of the base he should have ended up at.    For his transgression he was benched for the rest of the game. Via Chad Thornburg at MLB.com:

"In my opinion, he should have been on second base," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "When we talk about playing the game the right way, we've got to be accountable. So that was the decision that I made."

BTW, that was a great call by Dave Roberts.  Listen to him talk about it briefly towards the end of this video (video link).  Via Dan Arritt at ESPN:

"I thought it was a home run, and then I didn't run out the ball, obviously," Puig said through an interpreter. "It was [Roberts'] decision to take me out of the game. It was a decision well made, because all my teammates are out on the field working hard, and I should have run out that ball."

(pic via Cespedes BBQ on twitter)

Then in the seventh inning something funny and strange happened.  A paper airplane landed on the infield with the Dodgers at bat, so the resident "no-fun" ballplayer Joey Votto let everyone know what he thought of that.  He stomped on it like an insolent child.  You can watch a gif of it here.  Obviously, Dodger fans booed him.  Then something incredible happened.  They started chanting "airplane stomper."  I kid you not!

I hope quirky chants like this become a tradition at games.  Heck, maybe decades from now fans will still chant this at the Reds... Just for fun.  It'll be like NY Rangers fans who still chant "Potvin Sucks" nearly 30 years after his terrible check against an Islanders player.

Oh... The Dodgers offense came alive and scored eight runs to win their third straight game.  Go here to check out a bunch of great photos from Jon SooHoo from the game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 2002 Diamondbacks starter Randy Johnson struck out Shawn Green to record his 3,509th career strike out to surpass Hall of Famer Walter Johnson on the all time list.  BTW, Green also hit two homers in the game to become the first Major Leaguer to hit seven round-trippers in three consecutive games.  In 2014 Josh Beckett threw his only career no-hitter against the Phillies.  Watch highlights from the game here.
  

Blog Kiosk: 5/23/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

In honor of his 128th birthday, check out the above vintage image of Brooklyn Hall of Famer Zach Wheat in a spiffy 1916 home white "checkerboard-style" Dodgers uniform.  He was born on this day in 1888.  Photo above via the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ggbain-22484.

Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1895 the Louisville Colonels forfeited a game against the Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Dodgers due to not having enough Baseballs on hand for the game.   In 1981 Ron Cey hit his 200th career home run against the Reds.  In 2002 Shawn Green becomes the 14th player in history to hit four home runs in one game.  It would happen against the Brewers in Milwaukee, and he would record 19 total bases (a new record at the time).  Watch every at-bat here.
• Happy Birthday, Zach Wheat and Augie Galan!

Blog Kiosk: 5/21/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Scully and Frankie Montas

Although the Dodgers got beat in the late innings last night it was nice to see a couple Dodgers briefly break out of their hitting slumps.  Justin Turner and Yasiel Puig, both of whom who've struggled at the plate, slugged two-run homers at separate times to give the team a lead.  Via AJ Cassavell and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"You saw the results from all the work I've been doing," said Puig. "There is a difference in my at-bats. I'm hitting strikes and not swinging at bad pitches. Today I was swinging at pitches in the zone and that's why I was able to hit a home run."

You can watch Puig's homer here, and Turner's homer here.  Unfortunately, their good fortune at the plate was all for naught.  The typically reliable Kenley Jansen gave up his first walk-off home run of his career and his first blown save of the season.  He was working on a 25-game consecutive save streak.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"Tonight was one of those for sure head-scratchers," said Roberts. "Kenley has been lights out. You can't expect him to be perfect. I expect to have a lead tomorrow and use him again and I expect him to rebound. It's not an easy game. Got to be a man about it and turn the page."

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1952 the Dodgers would score 15 runs in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Ebbets Field.  Pee Wee Reese would get on base three times in that inning alone.  In 2000 Adrian Beltre and Shawn Green of the Dodgers would hit grand slams to join a cavalcade of grannies hit this day throughout the league.  For the first time in history there are six grand slams hit throughout the league.

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Ceballos, Forsch, Garvey and Shawn Green

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

This is a very busy Thursday for autograph collectors.

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