Please Help Me Identify These Players

I recently won an auction of a small collection of 1940-1950's Baseball Player Pendants at Hunt Auctions. There were 11 different pendants in the lot. I also got an extra Jackie Robinson pendant. I'll post the Dodger pendants I received at a later point. Right now, my focus is to determine who the other players are. Please help out if you can.

1: I think the above pic is Whitey Ford, but I'm not sure.

2: I think this is Whitey Lockman. Anyone know for sure?

3: I'm almost sure this is Phil Rizzuto.

4: I have no clue who this is!

5: Is this Richie Ashburn?

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Update: Well, I posed the same question over at the Vintage Baseball Card Forum and received some good feedback. #5 is Ralph Kiner, #4 is Andy Pafko, #3 is Phil Rizzuto. #1 & #2 are still up in the air.

Who Do You Think is Going to Win?: Win Tickets from Inside the Dodgers Blog

One of the greatest new developments this year was the unveiling of the official Dodgers Blog: Inside the Dodgers. I can't tell you how informative their site is. The line-ups before the game and the clubhouse stories behind the scenes have been a joy to read. Thank you for your hard work.

Also, thank you for running this contest. You can now win 4 baseline seats to a Dodger game next season. All you have to do is pick the winners in the League Championship and World Series. You also have to determine how many games it will take.

So here's another chance to earn some more of those prime seats. Pick the winner of both League Championship Series and the World Series, as well as how many games it'll take each team to win. You've got until the end of the day on Thursday for your guesses, which gives people a little time to see how it starts, but the bold ones will put their predictions before they can see how it starts.

Check out the post here and enter in your picks. You have until the end of the day today.

This is my prediction:

League Championship Series:
Detroit in 4
Cardinals in 6

World Series:
Detroit in 5

Let's Go Tigers! Here We Go!

eBay Pick-Up: 1962 Topps Venezuelan Babe Ruth Coaching the Dodgers

Did you know that the "Sultan of Swat" once coached for the Dodgers? This past weekend I picked up a recent eBay win. It's a 1962 Topps Venezuelan card of "The Babe" coaching for the Dodgers during the 1938 Baseball season. These particular cards are very rare. Venezuelan issues are very difficult to come by in any condition, let alone a condition that does not include glue residue on the back. Venezuelan card collectors almost exclusively glued all of their cards into scrapbooks.

Wikipedia provides a brief synopsis of Ruth's Dodger career:

Retirement was often unsettling for Ruth. He had more than enough money, but he missed the game. He spent much time on the golf course, dabbled in a few other things, but his heart was set on managing a big league club. He would never be given the chance. The closest Ruth ever came to managing was when Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Larry MacPhail offered him a first base coaching job in June 1938. The Dodgers attendance was lagging, and MacPhail hired Ruth for the sole purpose of getting people to the ballpark. Ruth took the job, perhaps thinking he would have a chance to manage the Dodgers in the future, but MacPhail had clearly stated to Ruth that Leo Durocher was being groomed to take over the managerial reigns of the Dodgers for next season. Ruth never got along with Durocher, and he quit at the end of the season. The coaching position was the last time Ruth would have a job in major league baseball.

Cory Lidle: RIP

March 22, 1972 - October 11, 2006

Cory started his career in 1997 and eventually played for 7 different teams. For his career he was 82-72 with 11 career complete games and 5 shutouts. He has a career ERA of 4.57 with 838 strike outs. He is survived by his wife Melanie Varela and son, Christopher.

Career Links: Wikipedia:
Fox Sports:

Plaschke: I Can't Believe I Agree With You Again

So once again I wake up this morning unsure what the day would bring. The LA Kings won last night, but looked unconvincing. They were lucky to walk away with a 4-2 win. The Detroit Tigers, my anointed choice for World Series winner, won game 1 of the ALCS against the A's. I wouldn't be surprised if the Tigers sweeped the A's.

I walk out the front gate and pick up the morning paper. I stare at the sports page as I see, front and center, an article by my favorite... ahem... LA Times columnist- Bill Plaschke. "Bring Back Nomar? No Way."

First of all, without commenting on the specifics of the piece I would only say that it may be too early to start roughing up Nomar. It has been less than a week since the weekend loss to the Mets. The season is still fresh in our minds and the glory that Nomar brought back to the team deserves our continued honor and respect. He is, no doubt, the current most favorite Dodger in the eyes of the fans. Nomar was born and bred Dodger Blue. Even if this is his only season with us I will always consider him a Dodger.

Nevertheless, since good ol' Bill brought it up, I have to say I agree with him. I know... I know... I can't stand agreeing with Plaschke, but I do.

We always knew going into the season that Nomar would be a temporary bridge to the farm system. His presence allowed the fruit in Vero Beach, Jacksonville and Las Vegas to grow ripe at their own pace. No need to rush them.

Now, after having an opportunity see some of our best prospects bloom before our eyes we have to start picking that fruit. It's time to give James Loney the chance he deserves. He deserves a shot at 1st base. He needs to be given the opportunity to succeed or fail. Loney is our future, and I'm convinced that we won't regret saying goodbye to Nomar.

So wipe those tears from your eyes and look to the future. We have much to look forward to. They are named Loney, Martin, Kuo, Broxton, Betemit, Ethier and Kemp. Not to mentioned Young, Miller, Hanrahan, LaRoche, DeWitt, Orenduff, Muegge, Elbert, Abreu, Hu and Megrew.

Go Tigers Go!

Now that the sun has set, at least for the Dodgers, this year, who should I be rooting for?

Can I cheer for the Cardinals? I still hurt from Jack Clark's homerun in game 6 of the 1985 National League Championship Season. So that's a no.

How about the Mets? Maybe, but ... it's probably way to soon for me considering how they walloped the Dodgers last week. Call me bitter. I don't care.

Is Oakland worthy of my devotion? I was a big apologist for Milton Bradley when he was with the Dodgers, but today, no more. Besides, Oakland is far to close to San Francisco. Thumbs down for Oakland.

Lastly, comes the Tigers. Can you believe the Tigers? The team that brought us Kirk Gibson is about ready to give us another miracle. They go from one of the worst teams in Baseball last season to one of the best teams in Baseball this season. Jim Leyland taught them to be winners and solidifies his grasp as the greatest coach this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Then they knock out the Yankees in the ALDS. That's all I need to hear. They have my vote.

Tigers it is!

Go Tigers Go!

Photo Link: Walk K: Flickr: