Collection: Joe Black GOTG

Vin Scully said that "his legacy is the thought that unheralded players can rise to the heights, that someone who at the time was considered an ordinary athlete could wind up pitching Game 1 of the World Series."

Joe Black wasn't a superstar. He had experienced some success with the Negro League Baltimore Elite Giants, but was far from their top player. Black still had the stuff to make people notice, though. With a monster fastball, a deceptive slider, and pinpoint control the Dodgers decided to take a flyer out on him, so they signed him up for the 1952 season.

His career started out with a bang. Black didn't allow an earned run out of the bullpen in his first 9 appearance. He finishing the year with a 15-4 record (14 wins as a reliever), 2.12 ERA, and 15 saves. Winning Rookie of the Year honors he also placed third in voting for the MVP. Heck, Joe Black was so good out of the pen, Dodger manager Chuck Dressen decided to have him start his last 2 games of the 1952 season in preparation for a World Series start.

In game 1 against the Yankees he stepped out onto the mound and shut them down in a 4-2 complete game win. Black then pitched game 3, but allowed one run too many as the Dodgers couldn't muster a run against Allie Reynolds. Then, in deciding game 7, he couldn't hold back the inevitable as the Yankees walked away with the title on homers by Woodling and Mantle.

We didn't win the championship, but thought we gained a new star. Unfortunately, the future would not be so great. Over the next spring, with Dressen's urging, Joe would try to learn some some new pitches, but found that the effort messed with his control. Soon, he lost his touch and would never be as good as that first season in Brooklyn.

At the end, Joe Black was an ordinary pitcher with one extraordinary season, and it's a season still spoken about today. Featured here is another card from my autograph collection. It is Joe Black's 2001 Fleer 'Greats of the Game' auto'd insert card.

Kuroda Joins Pinstripes

Man-O-Live! Yankees sign Kuroda for $10Mil. Why isn't he wearing Blue next season? Via MLB Trade Rumors:

The Yankees have agreed to a one-year contract with Hiroki Kuroda, pending a physical, tweets Jack Curry of the YES Network (Twitter link). The deal will pay Kuroda $10MM, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney. Kuroda is represented by the Octagon agency.

Kuroda was originally looking for a one-year deal worth $13-$14MM for next season, but recently dropped his asking price and was sending feelers out to the Yankees and Red Sox. Olney reports that Kuroda's salary was an "extra expenditure" approved by ownership, so the club will not have to move a similar salary in order to fit the team's payroll.

This was on the heels of a trade for top prospects between the Yankees and Mariners.

So, Should we be Calling it Orel-ing?

I had thought that when I first saw Tim Tebow get on one knee that I had seen this before. Now, MLB The Wall has the story on a earlier incarnation. Heck, they even have a video of it.As you can see, Orel Hershiser was the first to "Tebow" after a big win in 1988. This leads me to wonder... should we be calling it "Orel-ing."

Just saying.

Blog Kiosk: 1/13/2011

All this mindless speculation is driving me numb. Let's pick a Buyer and start the season already!

• Do not want Alan Casden to buy the Dodgers! Via LA Times.

  In 2003, Casden proposed buying the Dodgers, moving them to a new downtown ballpark and tearing down Dodger Stadium to build housing on the site.
  
  "They knock down stadiums all the time," Casden told The Times then. "Dodger Stadium is not an antique. It's not Frank Lloyd Wright. It's a nice place to play baseball, but there are far better."

  F7U13!
  
• Via Baseball Prospectus, I'm imagining Ted Williams as a Dodger. Click pic to embiggen.
• Meet wedding crasher Wade Boggs, via Yardbarker.
  
• Oh Yhea! Time for me to swoop in. Olivia Munn is now available, via Canoe.ca.
  
• Opinion of Kingman's Performance explores why we are so hated.
  
• The "no way MLB will take you seriously candidate, " Josh Macciello, will be attending Dodger Blogger Softball Tournament. Details here.
  
• Congratulations to Jonathan Quick for being selected as a goalie on the All-Star team, via LA Kings Insider.
  
• SCD tells us that another reality show centered around the card hobby is about to hit ABC. It's called "Ball Boys."
• Here is a nice video of Matt Kemp cheering up some folks at the City of Hope.

Video Link:

MHCC: Dodgers Snapshots

Do you know what's better than a fan taken photo of a legendary Dodger? How about having that star sign your photograph.

As I promised yesterday, here are a couple of great Dodgers related memorabilia items that really stuck out to me in MHCC's current auction. These are vintage photos taken by an Aunt during Spring Training jaunts to Florida in the late 40's. She would go with camera in tow, get up-close and personal pics, have them developed, then have her favorite stars sign them. That's the kind of hobby I can get behind. Below is a Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella.

(Auction Link)

(Auction Link)

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Raiders and an Overload of Kershaw

The 2012 season for autograph hunting has just begun, and there are plenty of opportunities on this second weekend of the year. As always, check out the Blue Heaven Calendar for listings of autograph opportunities throughout Southern California.

It starts off with a bang as Frank & Son brings you Raiderfest on Saturday. Go here for more details.Check out this lineup of players:

• Marcus Allen, 12:00 PM - 1:30PM
  
• Tim Brown,11:00AM - 12:30PM
• Ben Davidson, 11:30AM - 1:00PM
• Jeff Jaeger, 11:30AM - 1:00PM
• Napoleon McCallum, 12:00PM - 1:30PM
• Otis Sistrunk, 10:00 MA - 3:00PM
• Dokie Williams, 10:00AM - 3:00PM

Prices vary, so go here for more details.

If the Raiders aren't your poison how about Steve Yeager in Long Beach on Saturday. Details available here and here.

Sunday kicks off the Clayton Kershaw frenzy. Back from his recent trip to Africa, Kershaw heads to the Southland to promote Arise. It is a book written by Clayton and his wife, Ellen, to share what they have learned about making a difference in the world while living out your God-given dreams. They will be spending Sunday, Monday and Tuesday throughout LA County, so you have no excuse. Go and say hi. Please note: they will only be signing the book. Please do not bring memorabilia.
Schedule:

• Sunday- Ralphs at 19781 Rinaldi Street in Porter Ranch; 1:00PM - 3:00PM. Please contact store to confirm. (818) 832-5955
• Sunday- Calvary Chapel South Bay in Gardena; starting at 6:30PM. Link. Link.
• Monday- Costco in Azusa; 1:00PM - 3:00PM. Link.
• Monday- Barnes & Noble at The Grove at Farmers Market; starting at 7:00PM. Link.
• Tuesday- Costco on Los Feliz; 12:00PM - 2:00PM. Link.