Holland and Otterstad

The other day I posted about the currently running ThinkCure! auction and highlighted a couple of great paintings available. In the comments section of that post, Danny Stern provided some additional background on the two paintings by Stephen Holland and Opie Otterstad that I thought would be worth passing along in a new post.

Below is Stephen Holland's painting of Jackie Robinson's Slide. Read more about the artist here, and then go here for more about this specific painting.

Then, check out this great video featuring the above painting.

YouTube Link: limelightage:

Below is Opie Otterstad's painting of the '55 Brooklyn Dodgers as they celebrate their first World Championship. Read more about the artwork here.
Then, check out the outline below and see if you can name all of the players. The answers are available in the above link.

Dodger Correspondence: Packy Rogers

Packy Rogers is a man of little words. He played Major League ball for only one season for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938. He got into only 23 games and had 37 at-bats. Below is a note from Packy where he shares his most exciting moment.

My most exciting moment, I would have to say, was when I tripled my first official time at bat in the National League.

Like I said he get's right to the point.

eBay Auction Link: Packy Rogers Letter:

Welcome to the Blue Vicente

Vicente Padilla has signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers.

LA Times story here.

Dodgers Move Westward Created a Music Legend

(pic link: undergroundshirts.com)

Of all the things to come out of the Dodger move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles this was the last thing I expected to read.

That hurt may still resonate, something any Dodgers fan of the '50s can relate to and empathize with, but it turns out if wasn't for the sting of that move Neil Diamond, music superstar may not exist.

Boston should be thanking us. After all, where would they be without their "Sweet Caroline".

Read the whole article at Spinner for more.

Hat Tip: BlueCrewNews:Twitter:

Dodger Correspondence: Steve Rachunok

Here is a great letter written to a Roy Pitts from an old-time Brooklyn Dodger Steve Rachunok. I am sure this is a name you don't recognize- especially since he only appeared in 2 Major League games in his career. Nevertheless, it is correspondence from players like this that prove to me why these letter are so great. He shows a real love for the game and an appreciation true fans would love.

Now Roy, You asked me about some of my thrills in Baseball- I cannot forget the day we played an exhibition game with (the) New York Giants in Havana, Cuba. When I was pitching for (the) Brooklyn Dodgers- I went in to relief pitch- I had 3 men on- 2 out and Mel Ott at bat. I finally got down to the count of three and two. On the next pitch, I believe I threw the Best Pitch in my life, a fastball for a strike on the inside corner, leaving Mel Ott standing at the plate.

Another time I got a real kick out of pitching a no hitter against Palestine in the East Texas League when I was with the Henderson Oilers. Struck out 15- really a thrill- And then another time back in 1940 when I was pitching for Montreal, then a Brooklyn farm club, I hit a couple of home runs in the playoffs against Newark in the ol' International League to knock them out of the pennant race and finally go on and win the pennant for Montreal- Sorry to say, we got beat by Columbus in the Little World Series- I could go on with a few more, but it may sound like I'm bragging, so I'll knock it off.

Mr. Rachunok, brag all you want.

(click pic to enlarge)
eBay Auction Link: Rachunok Letter:

Dodgers ThinkCure! Auction

The 2nd annual ThinkCure! Auction is currently online. Please go here to check it out. ThinkCure! funds collaborative research to cure cancer. Last year they raised over $165,000.00. You have until August 24th to bid, so get going.

There are all kinds of different things to bid on; including an opportunity to visit Vin Scully in the broadcasting booth, a team signed Fender guitar, a Spring Training vacation package, a bunch of signed jerseys and a chance to co-host DodgerTalk. You can even sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" or have Ken Levine critique your script. Below are some of those great items.

This would look great on the wall or plugged into an amp ready to make some noise.

Auction Link: Signed Fender Guitar:

Stephen Holland is the official artist of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Below is his painting of the great Jackie Robinson.

Auction Link: Robinson Painting:

Below is a wonderful painting of the 1955 Dodgers done by Opie Otterstad. From the auction description:

There may be no rivalry in sports history more noted than the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers. And for over a decade the nation watched these two teams battle to the bitter end year after year as they faced each other in the World Series 5 times between 1941 and 1953. Each year the Yankees defeated the Dodgers. Leaving the Brooklyn fans saying "wait 'til next year."

This was more then a friendly rivalry between two teams. This defined a generation of New Yorker's and baseball fans. it was blue collar vs. white collar, neighborhood vs. neighborhood, neighbor vs. neighbor, and it was a feud that took a game otherwise measured one season at a time, to an epic of baseball history.

Auction Link: 1955 Dodgers Painting: