Blog Kiosk: 6/7/2009

Dodger magic is in the air.

• Are you watching the NBA Finals? Do you have the bankroll to afford Kobe's game-worn jersey from Game 1 of this years finals? Go here to make a bid. It's already over $10,000.00.(Hat Tip: SCD)
  
• Night Owl Cards retells the magic of Friday nights game in cards, then he does the same as he reminds us of a game, 32 years ago, where the Dodger beat the Phillies in a similar fashion during a National League Championship game.
• Dodgers get their own zip code. Dodger Stadium is now at Dodgertown, CA 90090.

  "The magic of a Major League Baseball team for the first time in history having its own ZIP code and becoming a worldwide destination."- Jamie McCourt
  

  "This new ZIP code goes far beyond the volumes of mail. There's such civic pride for the Dodgers and for the incredible community efforts that they have undertaken." -Los Angeles council member Ed Reyes

  Not every town in America has its own ZIP code and we're proud today to be able to announce that Dodgertown, a destination of such a great organization of such a great team, has its own ZIP code."-Gregory G. Graves, Postal Service's district manager of Los Angeles

  Go here for more information and a video of the ceremony.
  
• Giants outfielder Fred Lewis wipes his face with the Presidential dog towel.

  “[A]s the group walked from the South Lawn to a receiving room, [outfielder Fred] Lewis grabbed a towel and wiped the perspiration from his forehead.

  “Oh, no, no,” the tour guide exclaimed with Lewis in mid-dab. “Those are for the dog.”

  The team burst out laughing, and the tour guide apologized for embarrassing Lewis.

  “Naw, that’s the best part,” right-hander Matt Cain said. “Trust me, he does it all the time.”

  Hat Tip: Diamond Notes:
  
• Upper Deck recently treated 18 lucky folks to an hour with Tiger Woods. Go here to find out more.
• Sully is sure that Lidge's troubles have something to do with a pact with the Devil.
  
• Why hadn't anyone thought of doing this sooner. Check out the hat "Hat Trick" display case.
• 7 helpful "don'ts" of card collecting.
  
• 7 Helpful "do's" of card collecting.
  
• Bill Cosby as the keynote speaker at Carnegie Mellon's 2007 graduation ceremony.
  

YouTube Link: carnegiemellonu:

Ladies Go GaGa Over Ethier

Kershaw And Ethier were signing at Macy's yesterday. Here is a video of their introduction as you can hear the cheers from the fans. Especially obvious is the "rock star" status Ethier is gaining.

Flickr Video: DaBruins07:

Upper Deck May Have Hit It Big

Upper Deck recently released pics of cards from their upcoming new set called 2009 Goodwin Champions Baseball. So far, I like what I see.

The design is borrowed from a late 19th century vintage set put out in 1888 called Goodwin Champions. They originally measured 1 1/2" X 2 5/8" and were inserted in 10-count slide & shell boxes of Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes.

(Pic Link: Baseball & Tobacco)

This set consisted of 50 cards and featured only 8 Baseball players. Below is a Brooklyn Bridegrooms Bob Caruthers card from this set.

(Pic Link: Old Cardboard)

The other ballplayers include Cap Anson, Ed Andrews, Dan Brouthers, Fred Dunlap, Jack Glasscock, Tim Keefe and King Kelly. Non-Baseball subjects include marksman, boxers and bicyclist. Notable figures like Jack Dempsey, John L.Sullivan and Buffalo Bill Cody are included in the set. In fact, Upper Deck is making a new version of Cody's card as you can see below.
The Manny card is the set is just gorgeous. The stormy skies in the background give this card a ominous look. He looks zeroed in and ready to hit the next pitch.
Below are other pics they released that really caught my eye. Here is Bo Jackson and Ichiro.
Non-sport subjects will also be a part of the 2009 Upper Deck set. Along with the Buffalo Bill Cody card above Abraham Lincoln and other famous folks will be featured.
The strangest card in the set is this limited insert Thoroughbred Hair Cut of Smarty Jones.
See the rest of the photos at Upper Deck's Facebook page.

Congrats Big Guy on #300

(pic link: InGameNow)

Who said pitchers can't reach this milestone anymore?

If you don't know already, Randy Johnson just got his 300th win today in Washington. He went 6 innings and allowed only 2 hits and 0 runs. He had a no-hitter going into the 5th inning. Giants win 5 to 1.

Box Score:

Jackie's Football Card

I do not collect football cards, but for this beauty I will have to make an exception. Topps is producing a Jackie Robinson card for its upcoming 2009 Topps Magic Football set. He is in a classic football pose wearing UCLA's blue and gold.

Robinson entered UCLA in 1939 where he would become the first athlete in school history to letter in four sports, football baseball, basketball and track. Before breaking baseball’s color barrier, Robinson played semi-professional football for both the Honolulu Bears and the Los Angeles Bulldogs.

The card design is from Topps first sports card series called "Topps Magic" from 1951.

Post Game Wrap-Up

Unbelievable! Stupendous! Remarkable!

That was all my mind could grasp as I sat in the blog section in the Vin Scully Press Box.

The Dodgers were down 5 runs to 2 in the bottom of the 8th inning. So far, Dan Haren had been in full control of the game. He had allowed 2 hits over 7 innings to the Dodgers. Ethier was the only player to figure him out as he accounted for the 2 Dodger hits against the ace starter. Haren just made the Dodger hitters look silly. Heck, he made Dodger pitchers look worse as he went 3 for 3 at the plate.

The bases were occupied by 3 speedsters- Pierre on third, Furcal on 2nd and O-Dog on 1st. James Loney was up to bat with two outs and would face a new reliever on the mound, Daniel Schlereth. This rookie had yet to allow a run in his short stint in the Majors. In 2 appearances he had given up one hit. Hardly enough experience to provide any insight into what could soon take place. Knowledgeable gamblers would refrain from placing a bet.

I sat on the edge of my seat with my hands clinched against my chin. My laptop screen had gotten in the way of my view so I pulled it down for a full panoramic effect.

Next thing I know Loney whacks a deep drive to the right centerfield gap. My eyes followed the trajectory of the ball. It sailed higher and deeper. Chris Young ran to his left and gave chase. I was sure, at the time, that Loney had hit a gaper to clear the bases, but it seemed to just hang in the air. Young was going to catch up. He leaped in the air as the ball headed towards the wall. Then, in a fortuitous act of fate the ball found its way out of his glove. It rested on the warning track dirt awaiting for its return home.

One run scored... then the second run crossed the plate... Orlando was close behind as he came home to tie the game. The stadium was a mass of cheering Blue heads. Folks were jumping up and down. Hugs were free for all who would accept them. All I could do was watch and smile.

While others clapped I clinched my hands tighter. When everyone cheered I bit my tongue. No fist pump. No standing with my hands outstretched above my head. No dancing to the impromptu song that was playing in my mind. I was trying to be as professional as all of the other folks in the media room. So, I stayed quiet, but, I'll tell ya what, I had the biggest smile on my face you could ever imagine.

By the time Casey Blake came up, before he followed up with a game winning single to drive in Loney, I was already resting comfortably in my seat. By this time I knew the game was ours. My smile had gone into full bloom. The Dodger are gonna win.