Blog Kiosk: 2/6/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Whoa! Check out that catch!

With the opening of spring training around the corner, I find myself searching for vintage spring training press photos like the one above. It is a 1954 United Press pic of a player on the bubble -- trying to make the team. Per the descriptor on the reverse (eBay auction link):

Bobbin' Bobby... Vero Beach, FLA: From the expression on Bobby Morgan's face, perhaps the ball landed just a bit too hard in the pocket of his mitt. The Brooklyn Dodgers chief utility man is training at the camp in Vero Beach, Florida, with the prospect of landing the regular third baseman's job. 2/27/54.

Bobby would not get that job. Instead, he would be traded to the Phillies a month later to become Philadelphia's starting shortstop. The Dodgers decided to go with veteran Billy Cox -- with 26-year old youngster Don Hoak as backup.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley, in a last ditch effort to save baseball in Brooklyn, lends his public support for a Wagner-Cashmore plan to build a $30-million Brooklyn sports center -- promising to purchase $4 million worth of the bonds. Unfortunately of them, lack of funding from the city's Board of Estimates killed the plan. In 2014 the Dodgers officially signed a free agent minor league contract with third baseman Justin Turner. He had just been released by the Mets, and was only given an invitation to spring training by the Dodgers. To the surprise of many, Turner would have a breakout season and become an important leader in the clubhouse.
• Happy Birthday, Babe Ruth, Andy Sommerville, Rube Ward, Red Downey & Glenn Wright!

MLB Goes Hypebeast -- A Mitchell & Ness / BAPE Collab Includes Dodger Goodies

A Bathing Ape, otherwise known as BAPE, has just joined forces with Mitchell & Ness for a MLB inspired collaboration that features logo-heavy varsity jackets, baseball jerseys and a T-shirts. Four teams have been chosen -- Yankees, Mets, Angels and the Dodgers (locations where BAPE has their only US stores) --  and they are now available. Per Sophia Caraan at Hypebeast:

The BAPE x Mitchell & Ness MLB collection will be pre-released at BAPE STORE NEW YORK and BAPE STORE LOS ANGELES on September 28, and will be available globally at A BATHING APE locations, US.BAPE.COM, BAPE.COM WEB STORE and ZOZOTOWN on October 5.

I guess the kids would say that this stuff is fire.

Blog Kiosk: 8/26/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

There's obviously room for improvement as the Dodgers lose the Yankees series. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

“They definitely mirror our club,” said manager Dave Roberts. “It’s a fun team to compete against and they got the best of us this series. I think we match up well.”
...
“I don’t think this series changed my thought that these are two very good ballclubs,” said Roberts, "but we both have a lot of work to do if there is a potential [World Series] matchup.”

This was a great match-up, and I wouldn't be surprised if we face each other again.

Photo above via Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers 2019 at Dodger Insider. Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers Baseball: In 1939 a Major League game is broadcast for the first time on television, and it features a game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds at Ebbets Field. It is telecast on W2XBS and it includes a doubleheader -- which the teams split (Game 1 - Lost 5-2; Game 2 - Won 6-1). Additionally, a special ceremony is held between games to honor Alexander Cartwright with a Hawaiian-themed celebration to mark the centennial anniversary of baseball. In 1947 righty Dan Bankhead became the first African-American to pitch in Major League Baseball, and it did not go well (boxscore). He pitched 3.1 innings in relief -- yielding ten hits and eight runs. On the flip side, Dan did hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat. Notably, Bankhead also threw an inside fastball that hit Pirate outfielder Wally Westlake that some in the stadium feared would lead to a riot -- it didn't. Westlake said the following about that (per Baseball Happenings):

“It was like the fans held their breath waiting for the reaction,” the now 94-year-old Westlake wrote in a 2008 letter. “He was just another dude trying to get me out and I was trying to whack his butt.” 

...
“I think I disappointed the rednecks,” he said. 

• Happy Birthday, Frank Allen, Jesse Barnes, Elmer Klumpp, Gene Moore, Alex Trevino, Chad Kreuter & Daniel Corcino!

Yankees Series Starts Friday - Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Friday against the New York Yankees -- returning to Chavez Ravine for the first time since 2013. Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand. I will update this should new and updated information become available. Here are some important links:

• 2019 Broadcast Schedule
• Parking Information 
• Special Events Schedule
• Promotions & Giveaways Schedule
• Silent Auction Schedule 
• Friday Night Fireworks Schedule 
• Viva Los Dodgers Schedule
• Dodger Stadium Parking / Transportation 
• Dodger Stadium Express / LA Metro  

Please note that the Dodgers are embarking on a new culinary experience at the stadium. Fans can find the LA Feeds Blue Chef Series located in the right field plaza that will feature a special Chef Series pop-up concession stand. This homestand will feature foods from Border Grill + Socalo. More information is available at the bottom of this post.

It is Major League Baseball’s Players Weekend, and as a part of the festivities the Dodgers and Yankees will be wearing special monochromatic all-black or all-white uniforms -- with the Dodgers wearing home whites. Check out what the Dodger uniforms will look on the right. Also, go here for more info about this event; including nicknames many of the players will be using.

------------------

Friday, August 23rd at 7:10 PM
TV: FB-WATCH (out-of-market only), SportsNet LA, SNLA Spanish
Radio: AM 570 LA Sports, KTNQ 1020

Blog Kiosk: 9/4/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Sometimes, you can't win them all.

Last night the Dodgers fell short against the Mets, 4-2, but they sure did come close to coming-from-behind to win again. With a man on and two runs behind in the ninth inning, weekend hero Matt Kemp came up to bat as a pinch hitter representing the tying run. Unfortunately, magic didn't strike thrice. He would ground into a double play. Per Ken Gunick at MLB.com:

"I thought Kemp was going to do it again," Bellinger said.

Photo above of Cody Bellinger via Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1924 the Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers won both ends of a doubleheader against the Boston Braves -- sweeping their fourth doubleheader in four consecutive days. From September 1st to 4th they beat the Phillies twice and the Braves six times. In 1966 the Dodgers become the first team to draw two million fans at home and on the road when they defeated the Reds at Crosley Fields in front of 18,670 patrons, 8-6. In 1969 Willis Davis' Dodger hitting streak comes to an end at 31 consecutive games -- setting a franchise record. It came at the hands of the Padres in San Diego. 
• Happy Birthday, Elmer Horton, George Pfister, Doyle Alexander, Mike Piazza& Brian Myrow!

Blog Kiosk: 8/22/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Stop dawdling! We are running out of time.

The Dodgers lost again last night, 5-2, and the culprit was the lack of timely hitting. They went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Per Ken Gunick at MLB.com:

"It's more than just putting really good players together and now you're going to score seven or eight runs a night," said manager Dave Roberts. "The players we've acquired have done a great job, it's getting everybody else synched up. We get guys on base, now it's moving the line, and we're having a hard time doing that, let alone the two-out hit."
...
"As you're mired in this, it doesn't feel good," Roberts said. "It's a little contagious. You look around the room, these guys have a track record and that's something we expect them to come out of it. We have very good players. They're going to hit. They understand what's at stake."

I still have faith, but there's also a growing sense of fear. BTW, I mean to distract with the pic of Hello Kitty above, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1948 the Dodgers recorded a triple steal in the fifth inning of their game against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field. Jackie Robinson stole home, Gene Hermanski took third and Pee Wee Reese swiped second base. In 1965 Giants hurler Juan Marichal attacked Johnny Roseboro with his bat while at the plate. He had been buzzing Dodger batters all day, so Roseboro - with Marichal at the plate - decided to throw the baseball back to his pitcher while at the same time making sure it barely missed Marichal's face. Quickly, benches cleared and a brawl commenced. See the pic on the right to see what I mean. In 2000 Eric Karros becomes the first Dodger in franchise history to hit two home runs in one inning. It was against the Expos.
• Happy Birthday, Ned Hanlon, Al Bashang, Jeff Weaver, Randy Wolf & David Huff!

Blog Kiosk: 9/13/2016 - Dodgers Links - Potential Puig Trade Revealed and Dodger Fans Rule Yankee Stadium

What the...?

Never in my life could I ever have expected a crowd of Dodger fans to out-root, out-cheer and simply overcome the hometown crowd at Yankee Stadium.  As you may have heard, a group of over 1,300 loud Dodger fans, a contingent that came along with Dodgers fan group Pantone 294, overwhelmed Yamkee fans in their own home.  Heck, they even performed their own "roll call" of Dodger players on the field (watch the NY commentators discuss it here).  Billy Witz at the NY Times has a good rundown on the spectacle:

The longest-tenured Yankee, left fielder Brett Gardner, who was well within earshot of the Dodgers fans, said in reference to the crowd: “Even the Red Sox, they don’t have maybe as big a following or aren’t as rowdy. It’s a little bit different, but I thought it was a good atmosphere. If we’re going to play well down the stretch and get back into the postseason like we aspire to do, we’re going to have to play well in that atmosphere, whether it’s at the Stadium or on the road.”

Best yet, the folks at Pantone 294 brought some luck to the Blue Crew.  The Dodgers hammered out an impressive 8-2 victory behind an fantastic second career start by Jose De Leon.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN:

“It was electric and everything I expected,” De Leon said of his Yankee Stadium debut. “I was a little more nervous than I was in L.A. Since I grew up a Red Sox fan, I really wanted to beat the Yankees, so it was a good one."

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

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1925 Dodger starter Dazzy Vance ho-hit the Phillies at Ebbets Field, 10-1. Check out the boxscore here.  In 1977 Dodger outfielder Dusty Baker set a franchise record by driving in five runs in one inning.  It was against the Padres at Dodger Stadium. 
• Happy Birthday, Dutch Ruether and Rick Dempsey!

Something New for the Collection - 1949 NY Journal American Team Photos

This is something I've wanted for quite some time.

It's been on my list of "must-buys" and I'm happy to be able to finally add to my hoard of oddball Dodgers collectibles.  Best yet, it was a good deal.

Featured above is a 1949 Brooklyn Dodgers team photograph that was a premium giveaway by a local newspaper called NY Journal American.  They are oversized photographs that measure 11 3/4" x 17", and it features many of the great stars that would man the Brooklyn field for the next decade.

Inept is what Billy Martin Called the Dodgers

These were fighting words.  No doubt! 

Featured above is an October 27, 1953 letter written by Dodgers President Walter O'Malley to Collinsville Herald columnist Elmer Hazzard that is currently available at Hunt Auctions (auction link here).  The Illinois reporter had sent along a story he had written focusing on Yankees infielder Billy Martin.  Below is what O'Malley wrote:

Thank you for sending along a copy of your column on Billy Martin.  We here in Brooklyn do not think that the Dodgers are as inept as Martin claims.

Ouch!  Billy was slinging some mud.

Dodgers Vintage Jersey's and Editorial Cartoon Artwork at Grey Flannel

Grey Flannel has their summer auction up and I couldn't help but notice a few items.  In fact, one is quite a gem.  Featured above is an original sports editorial cartoon drawn by Amadee Wohlschlaeger, and he does his best to skewer the Yankees and their owner George Steinbrenner for their play in 1981 (Auction Link Here).  As you surely know, the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the World Series that season in six games.  This drawing originally appeared in an issue of The Sporting News, and as you can see it shows a muscular Dodgers arm knocking out the bewildered Yankees owner.

Welcome to the Blue, Rob Segedin!

Regarded as a minor transaction, the Dodgers traded a couple of players they recently DFA'd.  So, they at least got something for some players who were going to get picked up by somebody.  Via a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired minor league infielder/outfielder Rob Segedin and a player to be named or cash considerations from the Yankees in exchange for infielder Ronald Torreyes and left-handed pitcher Tyler Olson.

Segedin, 27, combined to hit .287 with seven home runs and 34 RBI in 71 games last year with the Yankees’ Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Trenton and has a .272 career batting average in 458 games in six minor league seasons in the New York organization. The New Jersey native has primarily appeared at third base (265 games), but has also seen action in right field (66 games), first base (48 games) and left field (44 games). He was originally selected by the Yankees in the third round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Tulane.

Los Angeles had previously designated Olson (Jan. 6) and Torreyes (Jan. 7) for assignment.

Not thought of as a top prospect today, he does bring some organization depth to the hot corner.  He has yet to get a cup of coffee, so hopefully he'll find his way to LA.  ON a side note, I just love seeing guys like this (players who've fought through the trenches) get their opportunity to show what they've got.  BTW, a couple of years ago he had hip surgery - FAI (Femoral Acetabular Impingement) - and appears to be doing fine.  Also, he had graduated from Tulane University before going pro with a double major in finance and management in 3 1/2 years.  Per an interview by Steve Popper at North Jersey.com in May 2015:

"Yeah, you’ve got to keep playing," Segedin said. "You can’t be looking forward to anything. You just have got to control what you can control here — put good at-bats together, play well in the field and, hopefully, if the big club needs you, that they’re looking for you and you put a good performance down here so you can get that call."

In celebration of Segedin's arrival to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph grabbed from Pinstripe Pundits and the 1971 Topps Baseball card design.  Check out his career stats via Baseball-Reference below:

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Blog Kiosk: 10/1/2015 - Dodger Links - Greinke, the Subway War and Kershaw as Manager?

Last night's game was a little "ho-hum."  You know what I mean?  Yeah... Don Mattingly knows what I mean, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I think it's human nature. It's hard to get going the next day," said manager Don Mattingly. "The day after is kind of flat. Today's a tough day. You go through a lot the day after last night, a lot of emotion is built up winning and you spend a lot of energy there. I don't know if you all feel it, but it's one of those days and you try to fight it the best you can."

They were cruising for a losing.  All the Dodgers could muster was a couple of hits and three double plays; including the try shown in the above photo of Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins hovering around the bag.  I wouldn't take last night's poor effort as a sign of anything.  Instead, think of it as a hangover... A hangover that shouldn't become a slapstick comedy filled with lost opportunities and plenty of regret.

The photo above via Jon SooHoo on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• Kershaw may be promoted to manager, via Mark Saxon at ESPN: "Clayton Kershaw's final start will be shortened; Zack Greinke's won't."

Now that the Dodgers have clinched the NL West, Mattingly said he will let a player manage Game 162 of this season as well, presuming the Dodgers aren’t still in the running for home-field advantage in their playoff series with the New York Mets. Mattingly said he is considering letting Clayton Kershaw manage that game, but that could set up a strange dynamic. Kershaw will be pitching in that game.

“He may have to argue with himself,” Mattingly said.

• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider shares his thoughts on who should be on the Dodgers' NLDS roster.  Eric Stephen at True Blue LA shares his roster card here. 
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Greinke named Campanella Award winner."
  

  Cy Young candidate Zack Greinke was named winner of the 10th annual Roy Campanella Award, given to the Dodger who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the late Hall of Fame Brooklyn catcher.

  The award, voted upon by Dodgers uniform personnel, will be presented to Greinke by Campanella's daughter, Joni Campanella Roan, during pregame ceremonies on Sunday.

  Considering it's voted on by his teammates, I wonder if last years not-so-little incident with Puig played a part in him being chosen.  If you don't recall what I mean, check out this article from Jeff Passan at Yahoo Sports.
  
• Via Bill Plunkett at the OC Register, Dodger GM Farhan Zaidi tells us he's happy with how the season has gone:

“You can never take it for granted,” Dodgers first-year GM Farhan Zaidi said. “A lot of things can go wrong – best-laid plans and all of that. But whatever the payroll is, whatever the guys on the field are making, they have to get it done on the field and they did a tremendous job.”

• Ted Berg at For the Win writes, "15 awesome things about the Los Angeles Dodgers."
• Check out this great graphic created by Ben Matsuya of Yasiel Puig as a pug, here. 

Aggressive base running, a flamboyant bone flip, or a big game hit, few can domesticate number 66, the PUG!

• Night Owl Cards concludes his ranking of the All-Time Topps sets, with #1 to #4, and does a fantastic job explaining his choices.
• Check out the Yankees Feud at the Hall of Very Good.
• I just love this.  The LA Metro throws down the gauntlet on twitter after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York declares that the Mets will sweep us.

A friendly wager, @MTA? Perhaps your famous New York pizza. #Dodgers #LolMets pic.twitter.com/5g1vpMBuZF

— Metro (@metrolosangeles) September 30, 2015

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Blog Kiosk: 12/30/2014 - Dodger Links - Time Warner, Kuroda and Sergio Santos

Missing Baseball in the dead of winter is the worst thing in the world.  I'm left to daydream of batted balls, snagging fly's and tagged out runners while the sky darkens with the treat of a cold rain.  Heck, sometimes I find myself window shopping online in hopes of finding a unique photo to remind why Spring is so eternal.  It's like their a symbol that the new year will truly be reborn once again, and that Baseball will begin anew.

Featured above is a vintage press photo I scoped out on eBay of Brooklyn second baseman Andy High tagging out infield prospect Fred Johnston down low.  It was taken during a Spring training workout in Clearwater, Florida on 3/9/1924 by Underwood & Underwood.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers 2015 projections & fun with The Bill James Handbook."
• Via Ben Bergman at 89.3 KPCC, "Time Warner Cable adds 'sports programming fee' to the bill. Thank you, Dodgers?"  (Hat Tip: Dodgers Chatter)

Starting Jan. 1, your Time Warner Cable bill is going to get a little more expensive, with the addition of a “sports programming fee” of $2.75 a month. The charge is modest, but remember a lot of your cable bill goes to sports already, to pay hefty carriage fees to ESPN and an increasing number of regional sports networks (RSN's).

• Alex Markle at Chavez Ravining shares his own fantasy Baseball cards of the Dodgers.  Check them out here.  The Bubble machine .gif fantasy card is awesome.
• Via August Fagerstrom at FanGraphs, "Appreciating Hiroki Kuroda."  

Kuroda was never the best pitcher in the league; he was never the best pitcher on his team. But he wasn’t supposed to be. What he was, was consistent. In an era where pitchers are more volatile than ever, Kuroda was anything but.

• Here are even more preview pics from Panini America's National Treasures Baseball card set, via Chris Olds at Beckett.  Check out the Kershaw and Puig cards below.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers, Sergio Santos reportedly nearing minor league deal."  This is likely a depth move for the Dodger bullpen.
• Via Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs, "The Team Projections and You (National League)."  His comments about the Dodgers recent makeover keep me optimistic.
• A fun read.  Via William Ryczek at The National Pastime Museum, "Phil Linz and His Harmonica Win the 1964 American League Pennant for the Yankees."

But Linz left his mark on the 1964 pennant race as, of all things, a harmonica player—and not a very good one. 

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Blog Kiosk: 10/21/2014 - Dodger Links - Kershaw Named Player of the Year by Baseball America

Andrew McCutchen, Joey Porter and Matt Kemp were at Heinz Field last night to enojoy some pregame banter at last night's Monday Night Football game in Pittsburgh, pic above via @steelers on twitter.  The Steelers defeated the Texans, 30 - 23, largely due to a huge offensive explosion in the second quarter of the game; they scored 24 of their 30 points then.

Below are some links to check out:

• Continuity, baby!  Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Source: Scouts returning for 2015."
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Davises, Strawberry to enter L.A. City Section Hall of Fame."
• Via TMZ, "Dodgers Star Hanley Ramirez My Lambo Spits FIRE!"  Check out the TMZ article to see it breath fire.

(pic via Hanley in instagram)

TMZ Sports has learned ... Hanley dropped around $550k for a white 2014 Lamborghini Aventador -- but wanted to make it stand out ... so he went to The Auto Firm in Miami and upgraded the exhaust to one that spits flames. 

• Dodger collector Night Owl Cards writes a wonderful piece entitled, "That Year Was Next Year."  

My attachment to the Kansas City Royals doesn't come from living in the Midwest or because their colors are similar to the Dodgers or because I want the Giants to lose when the World Series starts. It's not even because I remember the Royals' victory in the '85 Series. No, my attachment began in 1976 when the Royals took on the Yankees and were demoralized by Chris Chambliss' home run off of Mark Littell.

• Via Scott Andes at Lasorda Lair, "Schebler, Sweeney Heating Up, Seager Off to Slow Start in Arizona Fall League."
• The Awards for Clayton Kershaw are only beginning to start.  Via Bill Shaikin at Baseball America he was named the PLayer of the Year: "Major League Player Of The Year: Baseball’s Best Pitcher Keeps Looking Ahead."

(cover via @BenBadler on twitter)

• BTW, for the fourth season in a row Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel and newcomer Yankees reliever Dellin Betances were named the 2014 Goose Gosage Award winners yesterday by the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.  The Goose Gosage Award recognizes the best reliever in each league. I had picked Kimbrel on my National League ballot.  Furthermore, late last week, White Sox Jose Abreau and NY Met Jacob deGrom were named the Willie Mays Award winners for their respective league.  This award recognizes this past season rookie of the year.  Go here to see who were my picks for the BBA (Baseball Bloggers Alliance) Post Season Awards.

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Sunday Dodger Videos: Katz Speaks about his Puig Story on CBS

Here are this Sunday's Dodger videos.

Contributing writer Jesse Katz wrote "Escape from Cuba: Yasiel Puig's Untold Journey to the Dodgers" in LA Magazine  (read it here).  CBS News' Ben Tracy sat down with Katz to discuss how the Los Angeles Dodgers player got from his native Cuba to the U.S. through Mexico with the help of smugglers and cartel members.

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ICYMI: Last Week, Yasiel Puig and Hyun-Jin Ryu had some fun fooling around in the dugout before their game against the Giants.

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Here's a vintage recap video featuring the 1963 World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees.  I love the old footage of Dodger Stadium.

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Ryu has some power.  Watch him hit 2 home runs in batting practice on Saturday.

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 3/12/2014 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

What a great photo of a broken bat in the hands of Juan Uribe.  Pic taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

• I'd like to extend my condolences to Don Mattingly and his family.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, he will be absent the next couple of days to attend a family funeral.
• Mark Langill at Dodger Insider shares a great story about the day Dodger manager Wilbert Robinson tried to catch a Baseball dropped from a plane.  It's tales like this that make Baseball so great.
• FYI, the Dodgers reassigned relief pitcher Red Patterson to the minor leagues yesterday. 
• Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com writes, "Exploring the Australia Effect on 2014".

On the 2004 games the Yankees played in Japan: “We came back with four spring training games and that was miserable and we started bad,” Mattingly said. “Those are the things I worry about. The bell rings, those two games count, then you come back and say, ‘Don’t matter.’ I worry about bad habits.” 

• Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest writes, "What it would take for Joc Pederson to make the Dodgers".
• Chris St. John at Beyond the Boxscore takes a look at the, "2014 Los Angeles Dodgers Consensus Top 65 Prospects".
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dan Haren 'tired,' not going to Australia a possibility".

"They would like to try to help me stay back, because it's a lot of travel to go over there just to be insurance," Haren said. "If I have to do it, I would do it. I told them I would have no problem doing it. But if I'm not going to throw there and I could stay back, that's better for everybody."

• Check out some preview picks from 2014 Allen & Ginter, via Larry Pauley at Sports Collectors Daily.  Check out the Puig and Ebbets Field cards below.

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Some Vintage Baseball Photographs at RMY Auctions - Including Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson at UCLA and Hands of the '37 Yankees

It's amazing the level of quality vintage press photographs that have been hitting the hobby lately.  Yesterday, I shared some Jackie Robinson photographs from the collection of famed sports broadcaster George Michael.  Today, I show some vintage photographs that are available through RMY Auctions.

BTW,  this auction closes on Saturday (tomorrow), so get crackin' if you're interested.  I apologize for putting this up so late.  I just found out about it (via Sports Collectors Daily).

Below is a photograph of a teenage Babe Ruth as a member of St. Marys Industrial School.  It was originally taken in 1913, but this print is a second-generation print, circa 1920's.

(Auction Link)

Now that you've seen Babe Ruth as a teen at the start of his Baseball life, check out Ruth at the very end of his Baseball career below.  Here is a 1938 photo of some Brooklyn boys singing a tune.  From left to right: Tuck Stainbuck, Buddy Nassett, KiKi Cuyler and Babe Ruth.

(Auction Link)

Below is an ACME press photo featuring the 1940 UCLA "first string".  As you can see, fullback and future Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson is on the right side.  This photo is from the first day of practice.

(Auction Link)

I love seeing photos of the Brooklyn faithful cheering on their Dodgers.  The below photo is from 1942, and was taken in Shibe Park.  Over 400 Dodger fans drove all the way to Philadelphia to see them play. 

(Auction Link)

This is one of the more unique press photos you'll ever see.  Below are the hands of the starting lineup of the 1937 Yankees.  From left to right: Frank Crosetti, Red Rolfe, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Bill Dickey, George Selkirk, Myril Hoag, Tony Lazzeri, and Lefty Gomez.

(Auction Link)

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Sunday Dodgers Videos: Some Full Game Playoff Games with the Dodgers

Here are this Sundays Dodgers videos.

So, when was the last time you saw Game 1 of the 1988 World Series?  Well, here's your chance to witness history, once again.

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Here is Game 4 of the 1988 NLCS game against the NY Mets.  This game features Mike Scioscia's game tying 9th inning home run.

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I love that there are full game vintage videos of World Series games featuring the Dodgers on youtube.  Here is Game 7 from the 1952 World Series.  You can watch Game 6 here.

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An Infographic to Tell You What You Didn't know about Some Baseball Fans

I found this infographic to be both hilarious and disturbing at the same time.  See it below.  For a more detailed view, go here.

A personalization firm called Gravity created an infographic that compares the interest graphs (an online representation of the specific things in which an individual is interested) of Dodgers, Giants, Red Sox and Yankees fans. It provides some interesting results.  See their write up here, as well as, a much more legible pic.

Some of the things I learned is:

• We apparently love Kate Upton, and NASCAR.  
• Dodger fans love the movie Twilight.  I know that sounds bad, but check this out.  Giants fans love Justin Bieber.  Ha!!  And get this, Red Sox fans are absolutely obsessed with My Little Pony.  
• Here is something else that cracks me up, Giants fans love illegal drugs and thievery, but abhor adult entertainment; such as exotic dancers. 

Below is the Infographic.

(see larger view here)

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Sunday Dodgers Videos: Star Wars, the Sandlot and Uribe Dancing

Here are this Sunday's Dodger videos.

If you missed Star Wars Night at Dodger Stadium then check out this video.

Video Link:

Here are some Instagram videos of the Dodgers; including Juan Uribe dancing.

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ICYMI, cast members of the legendary baseball film 'The Sandlot' are interviewed prior to a screening of the film last week.

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Here's a vintage Baseball game.  Watch Game 2 of the 1978 World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees.

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