Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Kiké Hernandez, Howie Kendrick and Rob Segedin (UPDATE: and Andrew Toles)

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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Kiké will be greeting and signing autographs for fans at a local Vons this coming Friday afternoon from 11:00 AM to Noon.
Vons
4520 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90027

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Both Rob Segedin and Howie Kendrick will be at Ultimate Pastime Sports to sign autographs for fans.  Go here for more information.
Ultimate Pastime Sports
1614 South Carlos Avenue, Suite K
Ontario, CA 91761

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Andrew Toles will be signing at Bobblemania in Monterey Park on Saturday, September 3rd from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. (Hat Tip: Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy)
BobbleMania
2334 South Atlantic Boulevard, Suite A
Monterey Park, CA 91754

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* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 8/31/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Newcombe, Kershaw and Last Nights Rain Delay


After waiting over 2.5 hours they finally postponed last night game due to rain, so both teams will face off against each other in a doubleheader today.  The first game will be at 12:10 PT with Ross Stripling pitching for the Dodgers and Tyler Anderson pitching for the Rockies.  The second game is slated to begin at 5:10 PT with Rich Hill pitching for the Dodgers and Jeff Hoffman pitching for the Rockies.  This is the Dodgers first twin-bill of the season.

In commemoration of last nights rain out I made the above two fantasy Baseball cards using the 2007 Topps Baseball card design and photos shared by the @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodger History:  In 1950 Gil Hodges became the fourth Major Leaguer to hit four home runs in a single game.  He also tied a Major League record for total bases in a game with 17.  In 1959 Sandy Koufax struck out 18 Giants batters to establish a new MLB record for strike outs in a nine-inning game.  In 2010 the Dodgers traded for pitcher Jon Garland.
  • Happy Birthday, Hideo Nomo and Tom Candiotti!

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

2016 Bowman Platinum Baseball - The Dodgers Base Cards

Last week saw the release of a recently retired Topps brand as a Walmart exclusive set.  Available at Walmart stores only are boxes of Topps 2016 Bowman Platinum, and it includes everything you have come to expect from the set.  It is filled with a ton of prospects and puts them on an attractive looking card for the more discerning collector.  Go here for a complete checklist.

There are 100 cards in the base set, and five different Dodgers can be found within it.  See them below.  I hope to have pics of the various inserts in a few days.

#26 Julio Urias                                    #40 Corey Seager

Blog Kiosk: 8/30/2016 Dodgers Links - Puig, Bellinger and Adrian Gonzalez


Before the start of the misery that was yesterdays ballgame, Dodgers slugging first baseman Adrian Gonzalez spent the early afternoon enjoying the beauty and majesty of Denver's Downtown Aquarium, as evidenced by a pic he tweeted out.

As for the game, let's just forget all about it.  After all, we wasted a good start by Kenta Maeda.  He went five innings and gave up two earned runs on four hits - leaving the Dodgers still contention to take the game.  The Rockies scoring at that point was as an result of a two-run homer by Nick Hundley.  Per Ken Gurnick and Ben Weinrib at MLB.com:
"Overall I thought I pitched pretty well," said Maeda. "That one pitch, a slider, was definitely a mistake pitch. I always want to pitch longer, but that one pitch led to the team losing. It was very regrettable."
Frankly, it was a five run seventh inning by Colorado ruined it all.
"It got away from us," said Roberts. "I liked the matchup with Grant and we got a scoreless inning there. And this park, if you keep it close, you have a chance, but it just didn't go our way tonight."
Heck, when you only score a single run in Coors Field you are not likely to win. With the 8-1 loss the Dodgers now hold a precarious 1.5 game lead over the Giants.  Below are more links to check out:
  • Today in Dodger History:  In 1952 former Dodger infielder Arky Vaughn dies in a fishing accident.  He drowned in a lake near Eagleville, CA when his boat capsized.  In 1953 Roy Campanella tied a NL record for RBI's by a catcher at 122.  He would finish the year with a Major League best 142 RBI's for a catcher.

Monday, August 29, 2016

2016 Panini Immaculate Baseball - Dodgers Relic Cards, Part II

Here is a last look at the Dodgers cards found in packs of 2016 Panini Immaculate Baseball.  Featured below are numerous relic cards that are available.  Go here to check out all of my previous post on this set.

Immaculate Initiations Jumbo 

  • #18 Corey Seager
  • #20 Yasiel Puig  
  • #36 Joc Pederson
#18 Corey Seager                        #36 Joc Pederson

Blog Kiosk: 8/29/2016 - Dodgers Links - Vin Scully Team Photo Day


It was team photo day for the Dodgers Friday afternoon, and as you can see in the pic above (via @Dodgers on twitter) they had a lot of fun with Vin Scully.  Per Courtney Schellin at ESPN:
What you're looking at is 88 Vin Scully masks on the Los Angeles Dodgers and one smiling Vin Scully in the flesh.

In honor of the broadcasting great, the team wore photo masks of Scully, who will retire this year after having announced for the Dodgers since their days in Brooklyn. That's 67 years in the booth for the franchise.
Go here to check out a bunch of pics taken during team photo day by Jon SooHoo and Juan Ocampo.  BTW, Saturday was the Hollywood Stars game, and you can check out some photos from Jon SooHoo here.  Below are more links to check out.
  • This Day in Dodger History:  In 1948 Jackie Robinson hits for the backward cycle when he homers in the first inning, triples in the fourth, doubles in the sixth, and completes the rare event with a single in the eighth.