eBay: A World Series Trophy

Someone is choking out that ballplayer. He's green from the lack of oxygen. Someone please save him and give him a proper home. This vintage statue can only take so much punishment. It's been hogtied, given a green glow (it looks painted on to me with a spray can), and left for dead. I'm surprised he has a head still.

This is a 1956 World Series trophy that was sold by concessionaires during the series. They are about 6" tall and made of plastic. They are not green, like the example below, but are bronze/copper. You can almost see its natural color at the left foot of the batter. I've seen these sell for a couple of hundred in good shape. This particular model went for $36.00.

(Auction Link)

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Dee Gordon and a Couple of Kings

Another weekend, another chance to get some auto's. For a comprehensive calendar of autograph opportunities go here. Sometimes auto's are free and other times a fee is charged, so be sure to check with the promoter/establishment for details.

Friday
A couple of Kings players, Jonathan Bernier and Dustin Penner, will be signing free autographs at Staples in Hawthorne from 2:00 PM to 3:00PM. Information is here.

STAPLES
14401 Hindry Avenue
Hawthorne, CA 90250
(310) 297-0815

Saturday

Frank & Sons is hosting another Dodger this coming Saturday in the City of Industry. Dee Gordon will be signing from 11:00Am to 1:00PM. Link.

Then, across town Clippers forward Ryan Gomes is signing free autographs at the Staples store in Venice from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. The Spirit Dance Team will be there too. WooHoo! Here is info. (Hat Tip: LA Inspiration)

STAPLES

2570 Lincoln Blvd Ste 103
Venice, CA 90291
310-306-2720

Sunday

Killarney Pub & Grill in Huntington Beach will have former Raider Jim Otto on hand for some football at noon. John Vella was scheduled but cancelled. I do not know if this is a free event, so please check with the establishment. More information is here.

Killarney Pub & Grill
209 Main St, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 536-7887

Blog Kiosk: 1/19/2012

Jon SooHoo has just started posting pics again and they are glorious. If you haven't checked out Dodgers photographer his website recently then you are really missing out. Of late, he has been posting 'Something Historical' for fans to enjoy. Above is a LA Dodgers team photo from Monterey, Mexico, March, 1981.

• Greg was at the Kershaw book signing and received some great inscriptions, via Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle.
  
• Edgar at My Autograph Signings was at the Costco in Azusa to meet the Kershaw's. He has a complete report with pics and video.
  
• Cards That Never Were makes an awfully nice Don Drysdale card using Fleer's 1962 Football design.
• A double dose of news. Disney and O'Malley may be joining teams, and there has been a significant arrest related to insider trading at Steven Cohen's, company. via Steve Dilbeck La Times.
• The parking lot man might be here to stay, via Bill Shaikin LA Times.
  

  The agreement stipulates that prospective buyers "may submit bids that include the purchase of the parking lots."

  If the lots are not sold with the team, the new owner would lease them from McCourt for $14 million a year. The annual lease payment would rise in 2015, and every five years thereafter.

• New Dodgers Owners Needs to Rebuild the Farm, via LA Observed.
• LA Times: Mike DiGiovanna:

  The Dodgers had been scouting Darvish since he was 15.

• Halos Heaven has a funny story worth reading: A Cautionary Tale: Protecting Your Angels Gear.
  
• David Beckham is staying in LA. Galaxy resign him. (Hat Tip: LA Inspiration)
• Pack War has a bunch of pics from Upper Deck's Parkhurst Champions Fossils and Artifacts Set. These limited redemption cards are awesome.
• Are you ready for some Lingerie Bowl Football? Well, get excited. Check out their commercial, right here. (Hat Tip: TerezOwens.com)
  

2012 Lingerie Bowl Commercial (Extended Directors Cut) from LFL Films on Vimeo.

• If scantily clad ladies tackling each other doesn't strike your fancy, then how about checking out Puppy Bowl VIII.

OT: Shuttering in Support of the SOPA/PIPA Strike

As you have probably heard by now, various websites and blogs have gone on a virtual strike on Wednesday. This site will do the same.

For more information go here:

• SOPA Strike.com
• American Censorship.com
  

For background on what this legislation is all about please checkout what these folks write:

• Gizmodo
• Wikipedia. Here is there official statement.
  
• CNN Money
• My Gaming
• PSFK
• Politico
• Sociable
• Reddit
• SB Nation
  
• Here is the actual bill: SOPA. PIPA.

UPDATE: Mother Jones has some great background on how this all started.

UPDATE II: The Day LOLCats Died

Video Link:

UPDATE III:

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Baseball Excitement is Escalating

We are two weeks away from the official launch date of this coming seasons flagship Baseball card set. Topps 2012 cards will go on sale on February 1st, and fans and collectors alike are counting down the days. Heck, even if you could care less you gotta look at this date as the ushering in of the new Baseball season. After all, Baseball isn't the same without Baseball cards.

With that in mind, it's not surprising that collectors slightly gasped in delight at the mention that some eBay sellers have 2012 Topps 'Gold Rush' cards for sale. See an auction, here. Photo of the cards are above.

Are these fakes? Did somebody get a little too eager and open up some boxes 2 weeks too early? These look nothing like the mock-ups for the 'Gold Rush' cards. Maybe they are redemptions? No, that doesn't make sense.

Well, a facebook page devoted to Topps cards has the story.

We now know what the Gold Rush cards are that have a gold foil in the upper lefthand corner are. These cards which seem to parallel the base set, were mailed to dealers to help promote 2012 Topps. One dealer said he received 30 cards from Topps. Not sure if all 330 cards are paralleled or if Topps sent out the same 30 cards to all dealers at this time.

Now we know, and collectors the nation over will have to just be patient.

And Then There Was One

The Dodgers have had a very busy Tuesday. With arbitration meetings around the corner, the Dodger decide to lesson their load by negotiating a one year contract with Andre Ethier. News of a deal was release this morning on CAA (Ethier's agents) on twitter.

(Twitter Link)

That's not a bad signing; especially considering Jon's thoughs at Dodger Thoughts.

Based on the history of raises for arbitration-eligible players of his caliber, I had projected in September that Ethier (who made $9.25 million last year) could pull $13 million in salary for 2012. On this, I wasn't alone: Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. reached the same conclusion, while Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness was close behind at $12 million. By my estimation, $10.95 million (plus $25,000 for reaching 600 plate appearances and again for 625 plate appearances, according to ESPNLosAngeles.com's Tony Jackson) is roughly the minimum Ethier would have gotten in salary arbitration – the figure he would have ended up with had he lost.

I could speculate all day why Andre gave the Dodgers a hometown discount. Though, it's probably best not dwell on it. I'm just thankful that this is a drama I will not have to read about.

Then, just a moment ago, CAA announces another Dodger signing. James Loney and the Dodgers have agreed on a new contract for 2012.

(Twitter Link)

With both Ethier and Loney now signed up for the season that leaves only one more player left in arbitration. Clayton Kershaw is the last player left and I suspect he'll be getting a big raise.