We Want the Cup! Go Kings Go! We Want the Cup!

Tonight could be the night.

Starting at 5:00 PM will be the start of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.  The Kings have a chance of closing the series out, and I can't wait to see if they can do it.  A part of me wants them to lose so that they can win it at home on Friday, but I know that would be foolish.  If they can finish it now, then do it now.

BTW, today's date happens to be the anniversary of the Kings Stanley Cup clinching victory over the New Jersey Devils two years ago.  So, the Kings have a chance of making this date a team official holiday for years to come.

Go Kings Go!

Here's a video to get you pumped up for the game.

Video Link:

I thought I would share a video I saw yesterday that pokes a little fun at the Kings head coach Darryl Sutter.  That man has become an integral part of the team, and his way of doing things has remarkably endeared him to Kings fans.  We love him for his quirkiness, his direct honesty and his rather dismissive attitude towards the press.  Why can't Mattingly be more like him.

Video Link:

Pic at the very top featured Kings announced Bob Miller, via SiriusXM @wilshire1259.

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2014 Topps Tier One Baseball - The Dodger Autographed Cards

Following up on yesterday's post featuring Dodger relic cards that can be found in Topps 2014 Tier One Baseball card set, I now share the Dodger autographed cards that are available.  Check them out below.  Go here to check out my past post on this set.


Of special note, Juan Uribe has an autographed card!  Yeah!

Acclaimed Autographs Set Checklist

#AA-AG Adrian Gonzalez

#AA-CKE Clayton Kershaw

#AA-DBA Dusty Baker

#AA-JUI Juan Uribe

#AA-JUR Juan Uribe

There are four different former Dodgers available in Tier One's Cut Signature Set - Don Drysdale, Johnny Podres, Leo Durocher and Pee Wee Reese.  These cards are all "1 of 1" cards, and are very rare.  Below is a complete checklist of Dodger Cut Signature cards that are available. 

Cut Signatures Set Checklist (All 1 of 1's)

#CS-DD Don Drysdale
#CS-JP Johnny Podres
#CS-LD Leo Durocher
#CS-PR Pee Wee Reese

Unfortunately, the Autographed Prodigious Patches card of Adrian Gonzalez is only available through a redemption card.  The card is limited to just 10 total copies.

Autographed Prodigious Patches Set Checklist (/10)

#PPAR-AG Adrian Gonzalez

Sandy Koufax is the lone Dodger in the 2014 Tier One Autographed set, and it's only available through a redemption card.

Autographs Set Checklist

#TOA-SK Sandy Koufax

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Turner, Butera and a Double Dose of Reuss

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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Justin Turner will be at the new Sports Authority store on Pico in Los Angeles from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturday, June 14th.  Be sure to contact the store for more info.  Hat Tip: True to the Blue.

Sports Authority

4550 W. Pico Blvd.

Los Angeles CA 90019

(323) 634-0438

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Jerry Reuss will be at a couple of places this weekend signing autographs for fans.

On Friday, June 13 starting at 7 PM he will be at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena for a talk and book signing.

Vroman’s Bookstore
695 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-449-5320

On Saturday, June 14 he'll be at World Class Motoring from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

World Class Motoring
28714 Canwood St #120
Agoura Hills, CA 91301

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Dodger catcher Drew Butera will be signing autographs in Riverside at Enzo's Pizza & Pasta on Sunday, June 15th.  Check out the flyer below.

Enzo's Pizza & Pasta
10170 Indiana Ave.
Riverside, Ca 92503
(909) 510-4925

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Clipper Reggie Bullock will be signing autographs at Dr. Alex Corbin Liu optometry practice in Rowland Heights on Saturday, June 14th from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM.  Go here for information.

Dr. Alex Corbin Liu
19735 Colima Road
Rowland Heights, CA

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Blog Kiosk: 6/11/2014 - Dodger Links - Remembering Welch, Kershaw and the Shift

Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo posted up some great photos of Bob Welch on his blog.  Check them out here.  My favorite is above, and features Welch and Pedro Guerrero on a big slide during Christmas at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida in March 1986.

• Via Manny Randhawa at MLB.com, "Lasorda, others fondly remember Welch."

"I just got over [Don] Zimmer's death and now we got another one real quick," said former manager Tommy Lasorda. "Bobby Welch was just one of my all-time favorite pitchers. He had a lot of heart … He had tremendous ability, he was a great guy and everybody loved him."

• Check out this great auction that benefits the LA Dodgers Foundation:  "Josh Beckett Autographed 'No-Hitter' Game-Used Baseball and Dodger Stadium Experience"  It's for a great cause and it includes an unique experience.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Clayton Kershaw: 'If you don’t like Taylor Swift, you’re just lying to yourself'"
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Gonzalez one of many 'victims' of the shift."

“The shift comes from you hitting the ball to one part of the field and they’re just playing percentages, so I think the more you use the whole field, the less they’re going to shift you and I always feel like the ball tells you where to hit it,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “When a left-hander hits a ground ball to the right side, it just tells you he’s a little bit out front. Hanley (Ramirez) does the same thing when he’s struggling, just hits too many ground balls to short and third. 

• How great is this?  Topps has just produced a 60th Anniversary 5-card 5" x 7" Dodger set using the vintage 1955 Topps Baseball design, and it's only available direct from Topps.  Go here to check it out.  It's limited to only 99 copies and it's suppose to be just as thick as a vintage Baseball card.  It even comes in a old-style wax pack.  Wow!  I just had to order it.

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The Dodgers are Getting Stanley Cup Fever

There's a mantra that has been floating around the hockey world lately that rings so true.

"Because It's The Cup"

When you catch a glimpse of that shiny cylindrical silver trophy you can't help be in awe of it.  It evokes such great emotion it's almost too hard to explain except by saying, "Because It's The Cup."

I swear, I've seen women swoon and men cry over it.  Fans and players alike can wax poetic about its grandeur.  There is nothing like it in the world, and it's legacy as an one-of-a-kind trophy embossed with the names of every past winner is known by all.

So, it shouldn't be a surprise when hometown athletes from other sports come out in support of their city's battle to take home Lord Stanley's Cup.  After all, "It's the Cup" and it always somehow transcends all.

To prove the point check out both Clayton Kershaw and Yasiel Puig cheering on our boys!  Go Kings Go!

Yasiel Puig, who I am sure has no idea what the Dodgers PR folks are asking him to do, joins in on the "Go Kings Go" chant.  I found it quite hilarious.

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RIP, Bob Welch

I am both shocked and saddened to find out this morning that former Dodger hurler Bob Welch has died.  He was 57 years old.

He may have had his best season on the mound as an Athletic, but I will always remember him as a Dodger.  Bob Welch was the Dodgers 1st Round Draft Pick (20th overall) in 1977 out of Eastern Michigan University.  The Chicago Cubs had originally drafted him in the 14th Round in 1974, but he chose the collegiate route. 

Welch didn't pitch in the minors for long.  A year after being drafted by the Dodgers he found himself in Dodger Blue, and eventually started his first game against the Reds in late June.  He pitched 6 shut out innings in his first start for a win, and soon worked his way towards being an everyday starter.

In 1978, Welch pitched out of the bullpen in the World Series; having recorded a save in Game 2 and a loss in Game 4.  In 1980, he became an All-Star for the first time.  In 1987, Bob Welch was traded to the A's as a key part of a multiple player deal that would prove in providing key ingredients for both teams eventual World Series Championships.  As a Dodger he won 115 games, lost 86, had a ERA of 3.14, recorded 23 shut outs and completed 47 games. 

Overall, he won the Cy Young Award in 1990 and was a member of two World Series Championship teams - the Dodgers in 1981 and Oakland A's in 1989.  Welch was also the pitching coach for the Champion Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. 

Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider shares a great fan memory of welch that is worth your time to check out, here.  Below are his career stats, via Baseball Reference.

(pic above via @Dodgers on twitter)

Update:  Per a Dodger press release:

Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland A's pitching great Bob Welch died of a heart attack Monday night at his home. He was 57.

Welch, who pitched 17 years in the Major Leagues, is survived by three children-Dylan, Riley and Kelly.

"The Los Angeles Dodgers are saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Welch," said Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten. "He was one of the greatest competitors to wear the Dodger uniform. Dodger fans will always remember his confrontation with Yankee great Reggie Jackson in Game 2 of the 1978 World Series, when the 21-year-old rookie struck out Jackson to end the game. "

Welch was a first-round draft choice of the Dodgers in 1977 from Eastern Michigan University and was promoted to the big league team in 1978, spending 10 seasons in Los Angeles. In 1988, he joined the Oakland A's with whom he spent his last seven years in the Majors. Overall, Welch compiled a 211-146 record with 1,969 strikeouts and a 3.47 ERA in 3,092 innings.

The right-hander was a part of three World Series champions (1981 Dodgers and 1989 A's as a player, and 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks as their pitching coach). In addition to the '81 Dodgers championship, he was a key contributor to four division-winning (1978, 1981, 1983 and 1985) and two pennant-winning Dodger teams. He was named to the All-Star team twice (1980 and 1990) and earned the American League Cy Young Award in 1990.

Welch was the last pitcher to win at least 25 games in a single season, winning a career-high 27 in 1990 for the A's.

Following his retirement in 1994, Welch turned his attention to coaching and community work. He most recently served as a spring training instructor with Oakland this season.

Funeral services are pending.

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