Collection: 2005 Edwin Jackson Leaf Certified

I recall seeing this kid pitch on the mound at the tender age of 20 in 2003. In fact, his very first Major League game was on his 20th birthday. Anyway, the kid was raw, but filled with tons of promise. He was regarded, at the time, to be a potential future ace and a can't miss prospect, and for one day, at least, he proved many of those scouts right.

Edwin Jackson was a September call-up during a season that can be best described as forgettable. The Dodgers were 10.5 games out of first place, and had nothing to lose by testing out a young arm in a season already considered lost.

So, they threw the kid out to the wolves, and witnessed a pitching duel they did not expect (but hoped for). Edwin Jackson allowed just one run in six innings while out-dueling future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson of the Diamondbacks. He was as good as advertised, and much of Dodger Nation rejoiced at the thought of having a future ace on our hands.

Unfortunately, that feeling would not last long. The next season he looked overwhelmed and unsure of himself. His strike out rate plummeted as his ERA climbed. Edwin Jackson was looking like a flash in the pan. Soon, he was traded away to Tampa Bay for a couple of relievers not worth mentioning. He has since bounced around the league, and recently signed on with his 7th different club for this season.

Featured in this post is my 2005 Leaf Certified Materials Red Mirror Parallel autographed card of Edwin Jackson numbered out of 250.

Kings Hockey: Stanley Cup Playoffs

This truly is the best time of year.

Not only has a new Baseball season started, but hockey is about to begin its second season. That's right, it's the Stanley Cup Playoffs!

This year the Kings got in by the hair of their chinny-chin-chin. They took the the 8th and final spot in the Western Conference, and hope to move on past the 1st round of the playoffs for the first time in ages.

This time they face off against their 2010 playoff foes, the Vancouver Canucks. The first game is tonight at 7:30 and can be seen on Channel 13.


To get you in the mood check out this great video.

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Here is another video to get you excited. (Hat Tip: Surly & Scribe)

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If you are looking for some positive prognostication then go no further than the always reliable Kings cheerleader Barry Melrose while on ESPN. I realize the Kings are far from being a favorite this year, but ya know... who cares? The Stanley Cup Playoffs are about upsets, and the Kings certainly have the pieces to make Vancouverites riot once more.

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Blog Kiosk: 4/11/2012

Be sure to check out Jon SooHoo's pics from Opening Day. Above, members of the Los Angeles Dodgers 1962 roster meet for photograph Tuesday, April 10, 2012 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles,California. © Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers 2012.

• From Deadspin: "Guys Who Spent $2Billion on Dodgers Do Not Have $2Billion." Worrisome, but I am not surprised. I never believed it was a true "All Cash" offer. The offer was based on their high level of confidence that they can achieve the desirable financing; therefore, there was little need for a financing contingency. Unfortunately, this report seems to throw some cold water on that plan.
  
• Security at Dodger Stadium is a no. 1 concern, via AP at ESPN.

  "At every game this season, we're going to have undercover officers in the opposing team jerseys," Sgt. Mitzi Fierro said. "If somebody is going to harass a fan from an opposing team, it increases the possibility of them coming in contact with a police officer. It kind of requires people to be on their best behavior."

• Joe Torre on Matt Kemp, via Tony Jackson at ESPN.

  "I think he was embarrassed by what happened a couple of years ago," Torre said. "He grew up. I think (it's a matter of) maturity, and the start he has gotten off to this year to obviously build on what he did last year."

• Sons of Steve Garvey has a nice recap of their day at Dodger Stadium yesterday.
  
• LA Brew Crew also has some nice pics from Opening Day.
  
• I found this utterly fascinating. Via Grantland, "The Lost Founder of Baseball Video Games." (Hat Tip: The Trolley Dodger)

  In January 2009, just shy of his 80th birthday, John Burgeson logged on to Wikipedia and edited the entry for fantasy baseball to include this: "An early form of fantasy baseball was coded for an IBM 1620 computer in 1960 by John Burgeson, IBM Akron."

• Filed under "just take my money," here is a coffee table any gamer would drool over, via Etsy.com. It is an actual fully functioning game controller!
• Are you fearful of a Zombie Apocalypse? Then you need to check out the Zombie Survival Map. It points out danger zones throughout the country, as well as, the locations of various resources humans on the run will have to look out for in order to survive.
  

Collection: Johnny Podres Fleer Greats

With today being the 50th Anniversary of Dodger Stadium and the team commemorating the first Dodgers club to play there, I though it would only be appropriate to highlight a card from my collection that features a starter from that team. Here is a 2004 Fleer Greats card of former 1955 World Series hero and 1962 starting pitcher Johnny Podres.

By this time, Podres had already solidified his place in Dodgers history. He was instrumental in the Dodgers first and only title in Brooklyn and in Los Angeles' first championship in 1959. In 1962 he recorded a career high 178 strike outs over 255 innings with a 3.81 ERA, but couldn't get that last win for the pennant- although that wasn't his fault.

The Giants and Dodgers had tied for 1st place at the end of the 162 game season, so a 3 game playoff was put together. The Giants took the first game at home, then the Dodgers tied it up the next day in Los Angeles. In the final and deciding game (game 165 of the season) Podres started on the mound and pitched a good 5 innings. He held the Giants off and kept the Dodgers close. Ed Roebuck came in to relieve and pitched 3 strong innings while the Dodger took the lead, 4 to 2, going into the 9th inning. From there the wheels fell off. Roebuck and the rest of the Dodgers relief staff couldn't throw a strike and the rest is history. The Giants won the pennant by winning in dramatic fashion, 6 to 4.

Opening Day Blog Kiosk: 4/10/2012

It is now Opening Day. Rejoice!!

Unfortunately, Vin Scully will not be broadcasting todays game. He is staying home sick with a bad cold. Be Well, Vin! Take care of yourself and we'll see you when you are better.

For this afternoons game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, here is the Dodger lineup:

Dee Gordon SS,
Mark Ellis 2B,
Matt Kemp CF,
Andre Ethier RF,
Juan Rivera LF,
James Loney 1B,
Juan Uribe 3B,
AJ Ellis C,
Clayton Kershaw P.

The Pirates Lineup:

Jose Tabata 9,
Alex Presley 7,
Andrew McCutchen 8,
Casey McGehee 5,
Matt Hague 3,
Neil Walker 4,
Rod Barajas 2,
Clint Barmes 6,
Kevin Correia 1.

Below are todays links:

• As you may have noticed, I recently joined Pinterest. See my page here. You can also click on the big red "P" on the right sidebar, at top. The best way to describe it is that it's a library of photos, video and ideas presented in a easy to use format. They tell me it's one of the fastest growing social media sites today, so I felt inclined to join, and I am glad I did. BTW, the Dodger have their own Pinterest account- see it here.

• Left Field Pavilion has an excellent graphic up that celebrates the 1962 Dodgers. See it here.
  
• Chris Jaffe at Hardball Times writes about todays 50th Anniversary ballgame at Dodger Stadium.

  Dodger Stadium was hailed as a step forward, and often considered a model for how to build a stadium. It remained that until Camden Yards came around 30 years later to invent a new model.

• Did you miss Matt Kemp on Conan last night? Well, if you did then check out the videos below with highlights.

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(Pic above, via twitter @Enrique_Rojas1)

Opening Day Festivities: Commemorating the 1962 Dodgers

Opening Day at Dodger Stadium couldn't come any sooner. This years 50th anniversary of Dodger Stadium is marked by the commemoration of the first Dodger team to play there. The 1962 Dodgers won 101 games that year, but lost a three game playoff against the Giants whom they tied at the end of the season. Maury Will was voted the league MVP and Tommy Davis was the batting champion. Below are some of the highlights for later today. Festivities begin at 12:15 PM.

• Larry Burright, Tommy Davis, Tim Harkness, Ken McMullen, Wally Moon, Ron Perranoski, Pete Richert, Ed Roebuck, Norm Sherry, Daryl Spencer, Stan Williams and Maury Wills of the team will be on hand for pre-game festivities.
  
• Vin Scully, Jaime Jarrin and Nancy Bea Hefley will be honored.
• Opening Day’s veteran of the game is Marine Sergeant Eric Rodriguez of Los Angeles, who has been deployed overseas eight times and was severely injured while in Afghanistan last year.
• The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Terry Seidler, whose mother Kay O’Malley threw out the first-ever pitch at Dodger Stadium in 1962.
• F-18's from Naval Air Station Lemoore flown by WARHAWK pilots of VA-97 will do a fly over, and be introduced on the field during the seventh inning stretch.
  
• The Beach Boys will play some songs and sing the National Anthem.
• Drew Drysdale, Don Drysdale’s daughter, will perform “God Bless America” during the seventh inning stretch.
  

All fans in attendance will receive Opening Day Magnet Schedules when entering the game. The Dodgers Playbill this homestand features the 1962 Dodgers on the cover and includes a look back at Opening Day 1962. Fans receive the playbill upon entering the Dodger Stadium parking lots.

The parking lot and stadium gates open at 10:00 AM. Stadium Express bus service from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to Dodger Stadium starts at 9:45 AM. Tailgating will be allowed, but LAPD will be on hand to enforce public intoxication and drinking policies. Did you read that... TAILGATING WILL BE ALLOWED! It said so on the @Dodgers twitter.

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Four new hot dogs will be available at the Extreme Loaded Dog Stand that is on the Loge Level, Sec. 135. In order to access this area you need to have LOGE LEVEL tickets or bring your MVP card (a Season Ticket holder special pass). From left to right: Big Kid Dog (Mac 'n cheese with Fritos); Doyer Dog (Nacho cheese, jalapenos, chopped tomatoes and onions); Frito Pie, The Heater (Buffalo wing sauce and blue cheese cole slaw); and Tailgate Dog (not sure what that is).

The Big Kid Dog looks especially delicious. My arteries are clogging up by just staring at it. My mind is screaming, "get in my belly!"

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Available in the stands will be the:

• 2012 Edition of the Los Angeles Dodgers Yearbook.

  

• Dodgers Playbill this homestand features the 1962 Dodgers on the cover and includes a look back at Opening Day 1962. Fans receive the playbill upon entering the Dodger Stadium parking lots.

  

• Dodgers Magazine featuring a special gatefold cover with a photo from Opening Day at Dodger Stadium in 1962. The April magazine features NL Cy Young Award winner and Opening Day starter Clayton Kershaw on the cover. Inside the April magazine are a story about Kershaw and his trip to Zambia this offseason, features on Dodger players and a look at Maury Wills’ and Don Drysdale’s award-winning 1962 seasons. Fans can purchase Dodgers Magazine at merchandise stands throughout the stadium.