Clayton Kershaw named Dodgers nominee for the 2012 Roberto Clemente Award

Clayton Kershaw receives some well deserved recognition for his good works.  Today, the Dodgers named him the Dodgers nominee for the 2012 Roberto Clemente Award.  Per a press release:

Major League Baseball and Chevrolet, the official vehicle of Major League Baseball, today announced that Clayton Kershaw was named the Dodgers' 2012 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. Today marks the eleventh annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente's legacy and to officially recognize local Club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. Kershaw is one of the 30 Club finalists for the annual award, which recognizes a Major League Baseball player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.

The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet pays tribute to Clemente's achievements and character by recognizing current players who truly understand the value of helping others. The Award is named for the 15-time MLB All-Star and Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

Go here for a link to the awards website. 

As you know Clayton and his wife Ellen started Kershaw's Challenge- a foundation which believes in the transformation of at-risk children and communities through the benevolence and impact of others.  He has donated $100 for every strike out, co-wrote a book with Ellen called Arise: Live Out your Faith and Dreams on Whatever Field You Find Yourself, helped build an orphanage for children in Lusaka, Zambia, and hosted Clayton’s Texas BBQ and Hoedown.

I am sure the recognition of his efforts is appreciated, but probably unnecessary.  He and his wife strike me as the kind of couple who do this because they are driven to.  Nevertheless, good luck.  I can't think of a more worthy candidate.

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Vinny is Taken

I just received an email from a friend of mine.  Something unthinkable has happened.  Someone has TAKEN his Vinny bobblehead.  Check out what the culprits put up in his office.

In a fit of rage he responded.  Check it out below.

I know it's tough to read, so below are the words he had for the kidnappers.

I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let Vinny go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.

Just another awesome day in the office, eh?

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 9/18/2012

Damn you, NHL!

• Sam Miller at Baseball Prospectus unearthed some of the writings of Vin Scully from the LA Times in 1958.

Her name was Sister Virginia Maria and she sat behind a large, scuffed desk in an eighth-grade classroom that smelled of ink and chalk dust. She carried a tiny tin pail of water and a little sponge for cleaning the blackboard and it was badge of her profession as much as her long black habit and string of beads.

She was a member of that wonderful group of women known as the Sisters of Charity. She smiled with blue eyes behind a pair of thick spectacles and she frowned with a yardstick across the back of your knuckles. She was a teacher, mother, nurse and confidante to a group of 50 children in a small parish in New York and, above all, she was my friend. She helped me become a sports announcer.

Be sure to check out BP story.  They share a bunch of different things to check out.

• Both the Sons of Steve Garvey and Vin Scully is My Homeboy review the new Cool-A-Coo Ice Cream sandwiches at Dodger Stadium.  nom, nom, nom!!
• Nomo's Sushi Platter get some former Dodgers to sign through the mail.
• I'm happy to hear that Don Mattingly will be returned next season, via Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.
• Manny Ramirez finds God at a MegaChurch, via Busted Coverage.
• How about Luis Cruz, eh?  Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times writes about him being this seasons feel-good story.
• The Sons of Steve Garvey puts up some Dodgers rookie hazing pics.

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2012 Topps Heritage Minor Leagues Set Just Released- Check Out the Dodgers Cards

Even with the season coming to a close more Baseball card sets get released.  This past Wednesday, Topps officially unveiled their 2012 Topps Heritage Minor League set to the masses.  As you can guess, this set is geared to the prospect collector and includes several top ranked Dodger youngsters.  Check out the base cards below.  Also, several of the autographed insert cards of Dodgers prospects are featured below.

113 Logan Bawcom

Check out Logan on twitter at @LoganBawcom. 

165 Joc Pederson

This guy has been hitting the heck out of the ball in Rancho Cucamonga.   

167 Pratt Maynard

193 Allen Webster 

As you know, Allen Webster is no longer a Dodger farmhand.  He was traded to Boston as a part of the deal that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford to the Dodgers.

205 Zach Lee  

Here is Mr. Untouchable.  This is the prospect everyone wanted, but no one could have.  Even with all of the activity on the trade front the Dodgers were still able to keep their No. 1 pitching prospect.  BTW, this card is a "short printed" base card, so he is wanted in more ways than one.

Below are the "Real One Autographed" insert cards of Dodgers prospects that can be found in this set.

ROA-JP Joc Pederson 

ROA-PM Pratt Maynard 

This is a "Real One Dual" autographed card that features Zach Lee and Joc Pederson.

ROD-LP Zach Lee - Joc Pederson

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 9/13/2012

Man-Alive! Luis Cruz is becoming a bit of a legend.  Check out the 11th edition of the Dodgers Playbill that has Cruz on the cover.

• Did someone say Cool-A-Coo?  Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, they are back at Dodgers Stadium.
• Tonight is Fleece Blanket Night at Dodger Stadium.  Take a look at what it looks like below.

• Mark Langill writes about former Dodgers, Dazzy Vance.
• I know I'm late on this, but Dee Gordon is back with the Dodgers.  WooHoo!  Via Tyler Emerick at MLB.com.
• The Dodgers schedule for 2013 is now available.  See it here.
• Topps recently unveiled a preview pic for the 2013 Topps Heritage set which uses the vintage 1964 design, via Beckett.

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eBay: Some Willard Mullin Trays- The Brooklyn Bum Turns into the Tennis Bum

I love the artwork of Willard Mullin.  I especially love his depiction of the Brooklyn Dodgers mascot- the "Bum".  As you may already know, I take every opportunity to highlight and feature his works on this blog when I run into them.  To see those other post go here.

Shown here is are 3 different ceramic (I think) commemorative trays produced in 1974 depicting the Brooklyn "Bum" playing tennis.  The "Tennis Bum", as he is known.  They were made by Delano Studios.  I do not know how many different trays exist in the series, and I think it's likely more exist.

(eBay Auction Link)

On the reverse is an inscription noting that Mullin was honored (in 1971) by the National Cartoonist Society as the Sports Cartoonist of the Century.  That's a well deserved distinction.

Here are the other 2 trays; Service and Out!.

(eBay Auction Link)

(eBay Auction Link)

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