Blog Kiosk: 10/18/2009

I choose to ignore the divorce talk. After all, they are but temporary holders of the "Boys in Blue."

• Will Ohman has bee released. His option with the Dodgers for 2010 has been declined and his contract was bought out.
  
• Great pic of a Dodger fan from twitter: @DodgerLadies.
• I'm hoping for a quick recovery for rising soccer star Charlie Davies after a deadly car crash this past week.
  
• Zack Hample visited the MLB Network and has pictures to prove it.
• Here's a nice story about Josh Gibson in the NY Times. (Hat Tip: Vin Scully is My Homeboy) Below is his one and only known vintage Baseball card, a 1950-1951 Toleteros from Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, it came out several years after his death. There is no known card produced during his playing days. Vintage collectors still hope one will show up from his playing days in the Mexican Leagues, Puerto Rico, Cuba or the Dominican Leagues.
• The Topps Archives introduces us to the 1956 Topps Western Round-Up non-sport set.
• Giving credit when credit is due. T.S. O'Connell writes a great commentary about the disappointment of not getting the Olympics in Chicago.
  
• Check out these never before seen photos of the 1969 Miracle Mets.
  
• College phenom, Stephen Strasburg, pitches 3.1 innings in his professional debut in the Arizona Fall League.
  
• A Brazilian paint fight.

YouTube Link: SocialChallenge:

Yhea, I'm a geek. Stormtroopers reminisce about the Death Star.

YouTube Link: zyonasan2002:

Watch Party and a Landreaux Autograph

I'm still reeling from this afternoons come from behind victory over the Phillies when I get an email letting me know about a watch party being set-up at the ESPN Zone at LA Live for this coming Sundays game. It will be from 5 pm to 9 pm and former Dodger Kenny Landreaux will be on hand to sign autographs.

What a Game

Who would have thought that the ailing statesman, Pedro Martinez, and castoff, Vicente Padilla, would equally throw gems this afternoon. This game two, of a best of seven series, was a duel reminiscent of games experienced at Dodger Stadium in the 60's. We saw two pitchers duking it out with outstanding location and sharp pitches that staggered the batters and wowed the crowd.

It's only appropriate that both starters have true blue credentials. Pedro was born with a blue bonnet on and Vicente comes to town hoping to revive his career with the team known for cultivating great pitchers. It seemed that both were channeling the ghost of Dodger pitchers past in the home that Koufax and Drysdale built.

The only mistake was a curveball left high in the strike zone to Ryan Howard that he belted into the outfield stands. As is the case with these type of games it was decided by the bullpen and the late inning heroics that have been commonplace to us fans.

If you make a mistake the Dodgers will capitalize. They did it against the Cardinals when Holliday dropped that last out in game two of the NLDS, and they did it today when Utley couldn't complete a double play.

What a game!

Are You Ready!

Gates open in one hour and the game starts in under four. My palms are sweating in anticipation. After a couple of days under dark clouds and precipitation we are welcomed with bright blue skies and a expected cool comfortable evening. DodgerTownUSA gives us a early peek of a beautiful day.

(pic link: DodgertownUSA)

Oh, by the way, the Rally Towels are back!

(pic link: Dodgertown USA)

eBay: Dodger Rarities

Here are some interesting Dodger related collectibles from eBay.

Although this is the first time I've heard of the Sandy Koufax Fan Club I'm not surprised by its existence. Here is a vintage patch that probably comes form the 1960's.

eBay Auction Link: Koufax Fan Club:

This is one of the more unusual Dodger schedules I've ever seen. It comes from a local dry cleaner and features the Dodger schedule from 1967. It is designed to go into the shirt pocket and stick up like a handkerchief.

eBay Auction Link: Handkerchief Schedule:

Check out these great vintage beer coasters featuring the Brooklyn Dodger broadcaster Red Barber on WOR sports talk radio.

eBay Auction Link: Red Barber Beer Coaster:

I get a great kick from this photo of Milton Berle and Leo Durocher.

eBay Auction Link: Durocher & Berle:

Forget tickets, how about a season pass to the Brooklyn Dodgers for the 1956 season.

eBay Auction Link: 1956 Ebbets Season Pass:

Dodger Correspondence: Gordon "Babe" Phelps

After a short hiatus I'm back with another Dodger Correspondence letter from Gordon "Babe Phelps. Below he writes back to fan naming his Baseball idol.

"I guess my idol would have to be Lou Gehrig. What a small guy he was. When he passed away, I though I had lost a great friend, although he was in the American League.

We use to have a lot of talks? together while we were in Spring Training and I sure did appreciate it."

Babe Phelps was one of the more colorful Dodgers to ever play the game. Read all about him here in his SABR biography.

eBay Auction Link: Babe Phelps Letter: