Blog Kiosk: 6/25/2011

The Dodgers ready the field for todays Dodger Photo Day. Pic via Joe Block on TwitPic.

• The Congressional Hispanic Caucus tells McCourt to pound sand, via Bill Shaikin.
• To little, too late? McCourt show a willingness to sell a portion of the team, MLB Trade Rumors.
• Edgar visited Jamey Carroll at a Hyundai dealership and got a couple of auto's, at My Autograph Signings.
• DodgerBobble introduces us to MLB Bobblehead Pros from 2K Sports. He's got a great video. And yes, it's a Baseball video game where the players are bobbleheads. Just brilliant!
• Panini shares some pics from the recently concluded NHL Draft in Minneapolis.
• LA Kings unveil their new road jersey for next season, via Inside the Kings, at the 2011 Draft in Minneapolis.
• Ted Sobel interviews LA Kings new Center Mike Richards.
• Check this out. It's a video from This Week in Sports where they feature their segment called, "When Athletes Act Like Kids."

Video Link:

Daily Conlon: 73 through 81

Here are the Daily Conlon cards numbered 73 through 81. They feature some great portraits of players long forgotten.

Comorosky looks like he knows his days in the Majors are numbered, while Oscar Ski Melillo couldn't be happier to just be at the game. And what's with that name, Ski? Did you have hippy parents? Actually, it's a grammar school nickname that stuck for his entire life. Fortunately, he didn't just have one moniker. To prove that Baseball has the greatest nicknames, Ski's other name was "Spinach." I'm sure you're wondering, why "Spinach?" Well, Melillo had Bright's Disease which is a fatal kidney ailment that can bring about back pain, vomiting and, get this, testicular pain. Ouch! To cure himself Ski only ate Spinach, every day, 3 times a day.

“They told me to eat nothing but spinach for the next few months if I wanted to live,” he said. “I tried to talk them into letting me have a steak, spaghetti, ravioli, or goulash once in a while, but they said nothing doing. When I told them I couldn’t stand the monotony of spinach three times a day, they told me I could have some variety by boiling it for breakfast, making a salad of it for lunch, and baking it for dinner.” The Sporting News, November 30, 1963

I guess you can say he was Popeye before Popeye was Popeye. To add to his misery, Ski Melillo was also zoophobic, which is a general fear of animals. That's right, he was afraid of all animals, particularly rabbits, birds and snakes.

Steve Soboroff Leaves the Ship

He leaves the Ship of Fools, that is. Steve Soboroff, the man who McCourt brought in to improve the fan experience and strengthen the Dodgers ties to the community has just jumped ship, so says Bill Shaikin.

(TwitPic Link)

Things just got more bleak for the embattled Dodger owner. Soboroff is a politician and he knows very well its best to leave early before everything come crashing down.

(Hat Tip: 6-4-2)

Daily Conlon: 64 through 72

Here are the Daily Conlon cards numbered 64 through 72.

Brooklyn born Joe Judge, located at the center, spent a majority of his career with the Washington Senators, save a short stint with Brooklyn and Boston at the end of his career. He is regarded as one of the games greatest defensive 1st basemen. At one time he held the American League record for putouts, total chances and double plays before they were broken by Lou Gehrig. Joe Judge played in only 42 games with his hometown team in 1933, batting a lowly .214 during his only stint in the National League. He quickly left for the Red Sox, and the American League, mid-season and started to hit again at a .296 clip for them. By the next season he was out of the league and began his career as a coach. From 1936 to 1958 he coached the Baseball team for Georgetown University.

As always, click any pic to embiggen.

Auto Collection: Andy LaRoche

Here is a 2006 Bowman Originals autographed card of Andy LaRoche. I really hoped Andy would work out as our 3rd baseman of the future. He had the right pedigree, having a brother already in the Majors, and exhibited the kind of power and defensive prowess that might make us forget Adrian Beltre. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

Lelands: The Sal LaRocca Collection, Part 2

Continuing on my post from yesterday, here is part 2 of Lelands auction featuring items from the Sal LaRocca Collection. This auction ends tonight.

I just love this jacket. It is from the 1950's and is from Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida. This jacket was designed for Dodgertown employees.

(Auction Link)

Here is a group of 1948 Montreal Royals pins. As you know, the Royals were a minor league affiliate for the Dodgers, and a final stop for players before heading to Brooklyn. These pins are very rarely seen. This lot includes Don Newcombe and former Rifleman actor Chuck Connors.

(Auction Link)

I never decline to have a chance to feature original drawings from Willard Mullin. Here are a couple of his drawings featuring the lovable Brooklyn Bum.

The first piece, featuring the Bum and Dodgers manager Walter Alston comes with the original page from the March 17, 1954 issue of The Sporting News in which it appeared. "Startin' ya own auter-biography, huh!" says the Bum. "O.K... Leave me read it ovah ya shouldah... But don't put in no big woids... and don't go writin' no LETTERS to nobody neither!"

The second piece shows the Brooklyn Bum with his arm around blanket-wrapped Indian captioned "Braves 0 and 11 with the Dodgers." The Bum is saying "Pals, huh, Patchy ol' buddy. I'd like t'take yez home an' keep yez all season... jus' f'r me-self!"

(Auction Link)