2009 Sweet Spot Dodgers

Upper Deck's Baseball Sweet Spot was recently released. Below are some of the Dodgers in the set found on eBay.

This set is very popular because of their randomly inserted autographed sweet spot baseballs. Below is Billingsley and Manny Ramirez.

Here is an even cooler Chad Billingsley leather autographed card.
Vintage Dodger Dolph Camilli signs this sweet spot baseball.Below are some of the base cards from the set.

Clayton Kershaw
Russell Martin

Matt Kemp

Manny Ramirez

Chad Billingsley

The Dodger autographed card of James McDonald.

Madec Auctions: Dodgers Innaugual Game

Here are a couple of great photos that recently sold at Madec's auction recently; including the below pic from the Dodgers inaugural game in Los Angeles on 4/18/1958. Willie Mays is sliding back to first as Gil Hodges covers the base. It sold for $616.88.

Auction Link: Mays Sliding into Hodges:

I'm sure that if you've ever golfed then you have either done this or thought about doing it. Babe Ruth tries to hit the ball in the corner pocket.

Auction Link: Ruth Photo:

Card of the Week: Vintage Straw

This card is just awesome.

Blog Kiosk: 11/29/2009

There is not much to really report- at least nothing too important. All is quiet on the Dodger front.

• It's a small world. I have season tickets to the Kings up in the rafters at Staples and found out on Saturday that my seat neighbor has his own blog dedicated to the Kings. Go and check it out at LAKingsNews.com.
  
• Jose Contreras in Blue?
  
• Dodgerfan.net is following Matt Kemps Thanksgiving on twitter. Below is Matt's Thanksgiving plate.
• True Blue LA Remembers Pedro Guerrero.
  
• Ken Levine shares a Levine Family Thanksgiving tradition. Check it out and watch the video.
  
• GCRL Maury Wills TTM autograph success. Check his post here for more autos.
• Night Owl cards recently received a bunch of great Dodger cards. Check them out here.
  
• Check out some of the entries in the 2009 National Geographic International Photography Contest. Below is my favorite one.

  "Kids take advantage of a rare concrete canyon in the densely packed city of Hong Kong. Making paper airplanes out of an IKEA catalog, then watching them spiral down the deep void."

  
• Custom Card Blog makes a 1987 Bo Jackson fantasy card.
• Dude!!! The Muppets are on YouTube! Check out their Bohemian Rhapsody below.

YouTube Link:

• A big thanks to Diamond for finding this great Holliday video.

YouTube Link:

Happy Birthday Vin! Happy Birthday Ross!

A big thanks to Jon at Dodger Thoughts for reminding me of the birthdays of Vin Scully and Ross Porter.

Happy Birthday Guys!

Below is a collection of videos featuring Vin Scully.

Vin gives a graduation speech.

YouTube Link:

Vin Scully, the game show host. See part 2 here.

YouTube Link:

The Winter Is For Awards

Already, the 2009 post-season has been very fruitful one for the Blue Crew. So far, we've taken down a couple of Silver Sluggers, Gold Gloves and Minor League Player of the Years. On top of that, two of our outfielders finished in the top 10 in the recently announced NL MVP race. All of this adds credence to how great last season was.

Now, we are given the opportunity to add more trophies to the mantle. The 2009 "This Year In Baseball" Awards are up for voting by the fans and the Dodgers have 3 capable winners in their corner. Apparently, this is the 8th year of these awards. Frankly, I don't remember the past 7. Nevertheless, any time you can celebrate a great year with accolades and gifts during a cold winter the warmer we become.

So, here are your contestants.

• For Closer of the Year, vote for Jonathon Broxton. Go here to vote. We have some strong competition to deal with in this category. Mariano Rivera, Joe Nathan and Jonathon Papelbon may block the big mans path.

• Executive of the Year, vote for Ned Colletti. Go here to vote. I don't really want to tell how to vote on this one. After all, everyone seems to have their own opinion on the work of our GM. Nevertheless, he's gotten us to the playoffs several times and has, seemingly, put together a good team of veterans while maintaining the youth parade. In other words, he has built a competitive team without mortgaging our future. For that, I give a big thumbs up. Of course, if Carlos Santana ends up being a superstar I may not be so kind.

• Manager of the Year, vote for Joe Torre. Go vote here.
  

I do have one other request. Check out the candidates for the "Oddity of the Year" awards and vote for Mr. T. "Don't be a fool!"