Videos: Manny, Fireworks and the Italian Connection

Here are some interesting finds on YouTube; including Manny taking some batting practice swings at Dodger Stadium a couple of days ago.

YouTube Link: TitaniumMan00:

How about some fireworks at Dodger Stadium.

YouTube Link: xTakeex:

Part 2 of the fireworks.

YouTube Link: xTAKEEx:

The Dodger Italian connection. This is a fun watch; especially hearing Tommy talk about how he use to sneak out of the house to play ball all day and expecting the "strap" when he came home that evening.

YouTube Link:rpvchannel33:

Huggins & Scott Auctions

Here are some great vintage Dodger related items from Huggins & Scott Auctions.

This is a very rare 1899-1900 Supplement (M101-1) from The Sporting News. Made of glossy paper stock these 10" x 13" vignetted portraits where inserted in weekly issues or could be had in 50 lot portfolios with an annual subscription of $2.00 to the magazine. 62 different sheets complete a set. They were produced by National Copper Plate Co. who also made their own set a year earlier that was bound in a book. Below is Hall of Famer Wilbert Robinson during his playing days with the Baltimore Orioles. He was a catcher and a leader on the team. Robinson once played behind the plate during a triple header in 1896 and then played both ends of a doubleheader the next day.

We Dodger fans may know him as "Uncle Robbie." He was the skipper of the Brooklyn team from 1914 to 1931 and compiled a record of 1375-1341. He was so beloved in the borough they nicknamed the team the "Robins" in his honor. It sold for $1200.00.

Auction Link: Sporting News Wilbert Robinson:

Oftentimes, the best way get a nice group of vintage memorabilia is to chase after lots like the one below. Here is a grouping of 10 Brooklyn Dodger items that sold for $350.00. On the left is a 1963 Hall of Fame bust of Jackie Robinson. They were originally sold at Cooperstown. It is unusual to find it with an original box. The four round portraits on the right are pins produced by Topps in 1956. From left to right: Karl Spooner, Sandy Amoros, Pee Wee Reese and Duke Snider. Finally the colored disc directly below the pins are 1955 Armour coins of Gilliam, Reese (2-orange and yellow) and Snider (3-orange and yellow).

Auction Link: Brooklyn Dodger Lot:

I've never seen the movie, but this poster looks great.

What happens when a boy who loves baseball discovers that he has a strange bump on his arm? Simple! The lad takes the world by storm by becoming a "miracle kid with a super ZOOM ball". Such is the plot for the 1954 film Roogie's Bump, an inspirational tale that features cameo appearances from members of the Brooklyn Dodgers. This "Roogie's Bump" one-sheet movie poster is linen backed for easy display. The approximately 28x41 Republic poster features stars such as Campanella, Loes and Erskine.

It sold for $275.00.

Auction Link: Roogies Bump:

¡Viva Baseball!

I'm gonna have to think about heading back out to Cooperstown one of these days.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a permanent exhibit entitled ¡Viva Baseball! on Saturday, May 23 in Cooperstown , NY honoring Latin America ’s impact on baseball. The new permanent exhibit includes several Dodger artifacts while Hall of Fame Broadcaster Jaime Jarrín, now in his 51^st year with the Dodgers, narrates in both English and Spanish the Hall of Fame Museum’s state-of-the-art multimedia presentation “Passion, Joy and Flair” that reflects on nearly 150 years of Latin American baseball history.

¡Viva Baseball! features nearly 150 artifacts and the Jarrín-narrated multi-media presentation celebrates the passion of Latin American baseball. The exhibit focuses on the rich baseball traditions of the major baseball-playing Latin American countries: Cuba , the Dominican Republic , Mexico , Puerto Rico, and Venezuela . In video interviews located throughout the exhibit, Latin American Hall of Famers and Major League All-Stars provide first-hand accounts of playing in their homeland, their journey to the Major Leagues, and insight into what makes Caribbean baseball special.

The Dodgers have several historic artifacts showcased in ¡Viva Baseball!:

• Photo of Ralph Avila with radar gun (1970) - The Cuban-born Dodger Advisor of Latin American Scouting and Player Development is known as the leader in creating the modern academy system in the Dominican Republic
• Booklet about Campo Las Palmas (1988) donated by Milton Jamail - In 1987, the Los Angeles Dodgers opened Campo Las Palmas, the first Dominican baseball academy in MLB
• Photo of Avila knighted in the Dominican Republic – Today, 29 Major League teams have a presence in the Dominican, making baseball second only to tourism as the country’s biggest industry. The Dominican President knighted Avila for his role in advancing Dominican baseball
• Scouting report for Pedro Martínez donated by Avila – The scouting report is filled out by Avila , whose other Major League signees included Pedro’s brother Ramón Martínez, Raul Mondesi, and José Offerman
• Quote from Andrés Reiner – “The academy is where a player goes from zero to almost being a prospect. Most scouts only want to see what they can get today. I’m the opposite. I want to see today what I can get tomorrow”
• “Ole Fernando!” donated by Jeff Gersbacher – Record sold at Dodger Stadium in the 1980s, a musical tribute to Fernando Valenzuela
• Fernando Valenzuela bobblehead donated by Garner Simmons – Bobblehead giveaway from Dodger Stadium in 2001, where Valenzuela is still an icon and currently serves as a broadcaster on the team’s Spanish-language radio broadcasts on KHJ/La Ranchera 930

How cool is that. The famous Ralph Avila with radar gun in tow will forever be enshrined at the Hall. Not only that, did you know he was knighted? I guess we should be calling him Sir Ralph Avila.

Here is a link to a story about the Hall's new exhibit.

Happy Birthday Gibby

Thanks to 30 Year Old Cardboard I am reminded that today is Kirk Gibson's birthday. Gibby is 52 years old. He was the great champion and prime motivator in the Dodgers last World Series Championship. Who can ever forget his battle cry, "the fruits of victory" and "what a team."

Hat Tip: 30 Year Old Cardboard:

This Is More Like It

Check out the newly created Vote for Pierre blog.

Juan Pierre is one of the hardest working players in baseball. He kept his mouth shut when the Dodgers traded for Manny Roidmirez, and now that he got his starting job back, he has been lights out. Juan is deserving of being in the All-Star Game, not Manny.

This will not be easy. Juan isn't even listed on the ballot. You have to write his name in. But if Dodger fans can band together to put guys like Cesar Izturis in the All-Star Game, and rock the vote enough to give Joe Beimel a bobblehead, then anything is possible.

Vote Early, Vote Often

Hat Tip: Diamond Notes:

Good Golly

There is something so wrong about this. Nobody should be voting for Manny to be in the All-Star Game. Unfortunately, he is fourth in overall voting for outfielders. Now, there is a blog promoting his inclusion. Why-O-Why?

The purpose of this blog is to get Manny Ramirez elected as a STARTER to the 2009 All Star Game in St. Louis?

WHY?

To highlight the silliness that are the MLB rules towards PED users as well as their "head in the sand" approach to this situation. Rather than confront it head-on, MLB is choosing to do nothing and simply hope there are three higher vote getters in the NL OF....

...Not to mention all of the other stupid things that now surround the ASG, including the "winner gets HFA in the World Series" rule.

This is just silly. Please stop. Only folks deserving should be in the All-Star Game and, obviously, Manny does not deserve to go. In fact, it would be an embarrassment to the fans, to Baseball and the Dodgers.

Hat Tip: Babes Love Baseball: