Collection: Fleer Greats Davey Lopes

Davey Lopes wasn't just a Dodgers Great, but was also a Fleer Great. To prove it, here is a 2004 Fleer Great card with his signature in my collection.

Lopes was part of a long line of speedy ballplayers to come out of the Dodgers farm system, but he could do a little bit more. Davey Lopes could hit home runs.

Over his Dodger career he had a total of 418 stolen bases and 99 round-trippers. The latter number might not sound that impressive, but keep in mind that 66 of those homers were hit over a four year period (1977 to 1980). I guess you can say he hit his stride those years.

In his best season, 1979, Lopes slugged 28 homers while swiping 44 bases. He would also be a gold glover and was 16th in MVP voting that year. Considering he did all that before the steroid era makes his accomplishments ever more remarkable.

Lopes was a driving force in the Dodgers National League pennants in 1974, 1977 and 1978, but it was in 1981 when he would finally get a World Championship ring. Unfortunately, it would prove to be his last year in Blue. Steve Sax had already taken much of his playing time as a new era of Dodger infielders was about to take hold. In the afterglow of the Dodgers 5th World Series title that season, Lopes would be traded to Oakland.

I Wish I Made That Bet

Take a look at this betting ticket. Featured on Reddit, some bloke made a $1,000.00 bet on the Giants scoring the first points of the game with a safety. For that he got 50/1 odds and a nice payday.

UPDATE: here's a story in Business Insider talking all about this ticket.

Buying Coffey with a Penny in Japan While Waiting for the Caravan

Considering how poorly the Dodgers relief staff did last season, it should not come as a surprise that they continue to add depth. On Friday it was announced that the team signed Todd Coffey. He was good out of the pen last year with Washington and figures on providing some quality innings of middle relief. From the Dodgers press release:

The 31-year-old went 5-1 with a 3.62 ERA and limited opposing hitters to a .244 batting average in 69 games last season with Washington. Against right-handed hitters, Coffey posted a .193 opponents’ batting average with just a .250 on-base percentage and a .290 slugging percentage. He also limited first batters faced to a .175 mark (11-for-63) with 17 strikeouts last season.

(Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images North America)

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In todays "whatever happened to that guy" report, we find out that former Dodger Brad Penny has just signed a 1 year contract to play for the Softbank Hawks of the Japanese Pacific League, via SI. Ken Rosenthal expands further and notes that it's a $4Mil deal plus $3.5Mil in performance bonuses. It is the largest largest contract given by a Japanese team to an American pitcher on their first contract with them.

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(Pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers)

The Dodgers 2012 Community Caravan will happen this coming week. They'll be visiting hospitals, schools, and various community non-profits on Tuesday and Wednesday. Unfortunately, nearly all of the events are not open to the public except for one. On Tuesday, February 7th, the team will dine at an unannounced location from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM. Via the Dodgers Press Release:

The Dodgers will lunch in South Los Angeles at a location that will be unveiled via the Dodgers’ Twitter @dodgers at 12:30 p.m.

So, if you are lucky enough to be nearby and can make it out to meet some Dodgers be sure to check out their twitter account. The following folks are expected to be on the bus:

Day one of the Dodgers’ Community Caravan will feature Dodgers Dee Gordon, Tony Gwynn, Kenley Jansen, Adam Kennedy, Josh Lindblom and Ramon Troncoso. Dodger Alumni Tommy Davis, Al Ferrara, Shawn Green and Dennis Powell and Dodger broadcaster Eric Collins.

Blog Kiosk: 2/3/2012- Preview Pics of Some Dodgers Giveaways

Here is a preview image of the Dodger Stadium Replica giveaway being given out in the game against the Padres on April 14th. Below is what the Kids Clayton Kershaw replica jerseys (April 29) will look like. See promotion schedule here.Oh... and here's another look at the Don Drysdale/ Maury Will bobblehead #1 for April 28.

• A group of elementary kids had a chance to question Dodgers pitcher Scott Elbert, via Carthage Press.com.
  

  Q:“What advice can you give a kid who wants to play professional sports?”

  Elbert: “That’s a good question. My most important advice that I like to give little kids is, no matter what the profession is or it doesn’t even have to be a sport, you can be a doctor, you can be a dentist, you can be a factory worker, because everybody has a profession out there and you have to perfect it to the full ability you have. The only advice I would give you is choose what you want to do and go as hard as you can because you never know what’s going to happen.

• Bloomberg puts together a long report on the Dodger bidders.
  
• Dustin at Feelin' Kinda Blue writes a great story about Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts.
  
• Take a look at Baseball's worst contracts, via CBS Sports Eye on Baseball.
  
• Read this excellent post by Tom at Baseball by the Letters in support of the autograph collector.
  
• Check out this great video from Halos Heaven writer Rev Halofan who sits with Cheech Marin to talk Baseball.
  
• In preparation for Super Bowl Sunday check out some pics of of some incredible Super Bowl Snack Stadiums at Busted Coverage.
  
• Here's a Dodgers video about pitching prospect Zach Lee.

Video Link:

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Mailbag: A Roy Gleason Auto Card

I can't believe how long this card has been sitting on my desk at home. For whatever reason I hadn't taken the time to scan and write about it, and believe me I really wanted to. I just had so many other things come up that caused me to hold off until now. I know, that's just an excuse, and obviously I'm a man who procrastinates much more than he's willing to admit to. Nevertheless, I figure it's better late than never, so here you go.

Several months back I won the above card on eBay. It is a 2011 TriStar Obak autograph card of former Dodger Roy Gleason. It is numbered 50 out of 50, and I consider it one of the highlights of my growing autograph collection.

I'm sure you're wondering who is Roy Gleason? Well... he's one of those unsung heroes of the game who had an opportunity to run the bases at Dodger Stadium and defend his country in a time of war- the Vietnam War. On top of that, he's one of the few players who can claim to have a lifetime batting average of 1.000. That's right. He was perfect at the plate.

Anyway, Gleason was the only former Major Leaguer to have served in the Vietnam war. He started out as a standout athlete out of Garden Grove High School. Upon graduating he immediately signed with the Dodgers, and rose up the ladder. Soon, Roy was given a cup of coffee during the Dodgers 1963 World Championship run where he showed off his amazing speed. Knowing that he still had some seasoning left to do in the minors he continued advancing until there was an opening on the Dodger roster. Then, the draft notice came.

Roy served in Vietnam for 21 months. Baseball Reference has more:

He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and led search-and-destroy missions. In one such mission, he was wounded in the left arm and both legs by a shrapnel explosion and was one of only two survivors of his 45-man platoon. He earned a Purple Heart as a result.

He came back from the war to resume his Baseball career, but was never the same. His injuries were too great to overcome.

For some extra reading about Roy Gleason, check out this great story from the North County Times. Also, Bill Plaschke has a excellent piece on him, as well.

Here is what it says on the reverse of the card.

Gleason, a minor league outfielder, played 8 games for Los Angeles in 1963, mainly as a pinch runner. Drafted by the military before the 1967 season, Roy served in the Army during the Vietnam War. Is the only US Combat Veteran and former Major Leaguer to receive "Special Congressional Recognition" for being awarded a "Purple Heart", a World Series Ring, and holding a "perfect lifetime" Major League Batting Average.

Below are his career starts.

Bobblehead Sneak Peek: Drysdale/Wills Combo

Very nice. The Dodgers unveiled a early photo of the Don Drysdale/ Maury Wills bobblehead that will be given away at the Saturday, April 28th game against the Nationals, via Twitter/yfrog.