Former Dodger Coach Elected to Polish Hall of Fame

Danny Ozark, a former coach under Walter Alston, just this past month was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, he had passed away a year before at the age of 85, but that didn't stop folks from celebrating his life and accomplishments.

Tom Paciorek, a former Dodger player, was on hand. I'll let the press release I received tell the story.

"Paciorek, kept the audience lively with stories of hasty dugout snacks, some prudent and mostly clandestine. He recalled what a tremendous influence Ozark had in his career and life. “I learned how to play first base from Danny Ozark when I just came up to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1973,” Paciorek added.

Paciorek told of the Chicago Connie’s Pizza chronicles. He needed no further prompting as he enthusiastically said, “We used to hide Connie’s Pizza’s in the umpires’ room at old Comiskey Park. There would be five or six of the big pies, thick and very Chicago style. As long as we left one, (emphasizing one), for the umpires post game snack, the custom was accepted and continued. If you weren’t playing, you could pop in and out and get some pie. It was the third inning and the batboy poked his head in and whispered, Wimpy they want you to pinch hit for Kittle (Ron Kittle), he’s got a migraine. Man, I had a Connie’s in my hand, (gesturing with his index finger and thumb, spread to the maximum). This is not convenient. I go out, look at Kittle, and he just puts his head down. I am snarling. I get my bat and helmet. Again, I look at Kittle, he looks down……I walk up to the plate, and just like that, WHOOSH, ….strike one. Before you can blink….WOOSH again and WOOSH a third time. STRIKE THREE. I walk back to the dugout throwing my helmet and bat. I go right up to Kittle….and I say…..Kittle, you could have done that.”

...

The baseball conversation always got back to Ozark memories. The informal dais became brighter as Greg Luzinski reveled in the humanistic coaching techniques that Ozark employed in the big leagues. “The Phillies would not have had the great 70s teams if it wasn’t for Danny Ozark,” said Luzinski. “We had some great horsepower but it was Skip (Ozark), who kept the personalities together.”

The Sym-Phony Band

Here is a great color drawing of the old Brooklyn Dodger fan conceived Sym-Phony Band, via eBay. I don't know if this is rare or who the artist is, S. Rini, but it is sure is nice.

Back in Brooklyn, Dodger fandom was more fanatic and ridiculous than you can imagine. They had the infamous superfan Hilda Chester at the ready with her cowbell in hand and her mouth ready to scream out orders. Then, in the mid-30's a group of fans brought in their instruments and played them to their hearts content during games. They were named the Sym-Phony Band by announcer Red Barber in 1939. As the story goes, a group of patrons arrived at a game one afternoon with their instruments after a planned picnic had gone bust. Initially they were refused entry so they ditched their instruments in a hiding spot. Then, once they got in they went to the rear of the stadium and hauled them up to themselves with a rope. It didn't take long for Branch Rickey to recognize their popularity with the fans. So, he gave them their own row of seats in the aptly named Section 8.

(eBay Auction link)

Welcome to the Blue, Scott and Lisa!

The Dodgers made a trade this afternoon. They sent minor leaguers Lucas May and Elisaul Pimental to the Kansas City Royals for left fielder Scott Podsednik. He is currently having a strong season as the Royals leadoff hitter. Scott is batting .309, with 44 RBI's, 30 stolen bases and 46 runs. On top of that, he is hitting .330 with runners in scoring position. Overall, I like the pick up, but it remains to be seen if we gave too high a return for him. May and Pimental are pretty good prospects. Nevertheless, this really helps with Manny out of commission, and strengthens the bench when he returns.

The best news, though, is that along with Scott we can welcome former July 1998 playmate and wife, Lisa Dergan Podsednik, into Dodger Nation. Check out her SI's WAG (Wives and Girlfriends) feature here.

(pic link: Sports Illustrated)

RIP: Billy Loes

Former Dodger hurler Billy Loes passed away yesterday, via the NY Times. He pitched 6 years for Brooklyn while recording 50 wins and 26 losses. His Dodger ERA was 3.86. Billy was instrumental to the teams 3 pennant wins and the only Brooklyn World Series in 1955.

Billy Loes was known as a bit eccentric and has some choice quotes to prove it:

• On why he didn't want to be a 20 game winner, "because then I'd be expected to do it every year.
• "The Mets are a very good thing. They give everybody a job. Just like the W.P.A. (Works Project Association)." Loes was sold to the Mets, but he chose to retire instead.
  
• On losing a ground ball during the 1952 World Series he said, "I lost it in the sun."
• "Go ahead, write what you want about me and say I said it. You’ve been doing it right along anyway."

Hat Tip: Dodger Thoughts:

2010 Topps Tribute: Dodger Inserts

Here are pics of some of the Dodger insert cards in the newly released 2010 Topps Tribute set.

• Single Relic Game-Used Cards

Don Sutton #TR-DS

Jackie Robinson #TR-JR

Roy Campanella #TR-RCA

Relic Manny Ramirez #TR-MRA

• Franchise Feats Relic Book Card. This is one complete card that folds together like a book.

Jackie Robinson & Pee Wee Reese #FF-BD47

• Autographed Single Relic Cards. There is supposedly a Johnny Podres card, but I have yet to see one.

Duke Snider #TAR-DS

Clayton Kershaw #TAR-CS

• Autographed Triple Relic Cards

Duke Snider #TATR-DS

Manny Ramirez #TATR-MR

Legendary Auction: Jackie's Bag

I'm sure you've seen the photo, now you can bid on the bag. Legendary Auctions has Jackie Robinson's equipment bag that was once used by him during his playing days. It has also been purported to be the bag he held in the below famous photo of him as he leaves the Dodger clubhouse for good.
I know it's hard to tell, but this looks like the same bag. Look at the blow-up below. You can faintly see the marking of Jackie's #42 and the Dodger script below it.
Anyway, this is a great vintage item that belongs in some museum somewhere. Maybe some benefactor will take it home and put it in a Dodger exhibit so that we can all enjoy it.

(Goodwin Auction Link)