Blog Kiosk: 1/16/2012

Matt Kemp presenting an award to Frank Robinson over the weekend at the Professional Scouts Dinner. (Pic via Jon SooHoo LA Dodgers)

• On this MLK Day go ahead and listen to Don Newcombe read a letter sent to him by Dr. King, via SiriusXM Sports.
  
• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy was in Porter Ranch to catch Clayton and Ellen Kershaw signing their book. LEAVes of Dodger Blue went to see the Kershaw's at the Calvary Chapel South Bay in Gardena, here. Pasadena Star News was in Azusa today with a report and video from Costco.
  
• CrzBlue has a complete list of surviving Brooklyn Dodger players, here.
  
• I had the pleasure of answering some questions for Dustin's Feelin' Kinda Blue Blogger Profile feature. Check it out here.
  
• 1983 Fleer Project shows us his signed Vicente Romo card. How's that for a Dodger name from the past? Did you know that when Romo pitched for the Dodgers in 1982 it was 8 years after the last time he was on a Major League mound for the Padres?
  
• Big League Stew asked if Matt Kemp can really reach 50/50.

  No one has ever had at least 50 home runs and at least 50 stolen bases in the same season, and only two hitters have both a 50-homer season and a 50-stolen base season in their resume.

• Olbermann introduces us to 19th Century ballplayer Herman Long, and wonders if he is a Hall of Famer.
  
• Panini shares a pic of Clipper Blake Griffin signing some cards that will be in an upcoming basketball set.
  
• David Schoenfield at ESPN puts together player position ranking for the NL West Division.
  
• Remember Vicente Padilla? He had become a faint Dodger memory. Steve Dilbeck with the LA Times tells us that he just signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox.
  
• Check this older Sully post detailing his All-Negro League team.
• Watch the Kershaw's speak about their book called Arise. They are currently on a short book signing tour in LA County that ends tomorrow. Go to my autograph/events calendar for details.
  

Video Link:

Collection: Fans of the Game- Sean Astin

In a world driven by popular culture it is no surprise that this little subset was such a hit. After all, what better way to affirm your fandom than to know your favorite star would be there to back you up.

For instance, it's comforting to know that the man who played the faithful friend Sam in the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy and determined Goonie Mikey roots for the Dodgers. He'd be there to defend your honor while keeping an eye on the prize.

Here is a 2005 Leaf 'Fans of the Game' autographed card of actor Sean Astin in my collection. Donruss Leaf really hit a nerve when they asked various famous people who they rooted for. Cards still sell for a fair amount on the secondary market. Heck, I'm still looking for a Jennie Finch card at an affordable price.

eBay: Vintage Dodgers Lamp

I'm sitting at my desk staring at the end table thinking how great this lamp would look there. It would bring some light to a space that is drab. I could look over a bunch of papers knowing that the Dodger light would illuminate my work.

How sad would you be if you placed a bid only to not follow it up in time. I'm not quite sure I would have gone above the $28 it closed at, but I would have liked to have considered it. Oh well! This is just something else to add to my want list.

Here is a vintage Dodger lamp. I figure it's from the 60's since it resembles some collectible drinking glasses I've seen from that period.

(Auction Link)

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.