Friday, November 01, 2013

Some Great Vintage Photos from Hunt Auctions - Including Jackie Robinson and the Negro Leagues

Earlier this week, I shared some great Dodgers' artwork and memorabilia available at Hunt's annual Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory auction.  Now, I share some vintage photographic negatives from the Dennis Brearley Collection that features Jackie Robinson and the Negro Leagues from the turn of the century.

Dennis Brearley was a Pulitzer Prize winning photo journalist once employed by a Boston area newspaper and as the team photographer for the Boston Red Sox.  So, he had access to many of the greats in Baseball.

Below are a couple of original vintage negatives of Jackie Robinson.
(auction link)

The next two items are also from the collection of Dennis Brearley and date to the 1900's to 1910's, but were not actually taken by him.  Nevertheless, they are rare turn of the century negatives of a team that were rarely photographed.  These photos are believed to be of the vaunted Cuban Giants.

The below 2 photos are thought to be of Hall of Famer Jose Mendez.
(auction link)

Here are a couple more action photos of the Cuban Giants.  The name of the players is not known.
(auction link)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 11/1/2013 - Dodgers Links - Podres, Capuano, Mark Ellis and Happy Birthday Fernando


Happy Birthday!  El Toro turns 53 today.  Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2012.
“When I was in Little League, Johnny came to our games and would watch me pitch,” said Salerno, of Port Henry, N.Y. “That was a great thrill. I started collecting because he was so nice to me. He helped me get a lot of stuff and then signed everything for me.”
  • Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers lead NL with 16 GIBBY nominations".
  • Ken also provides some news on Capuano and Mark Ellis, via twitter.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Ellis stay with the Dodgers in a back-up role.  Capuano, on the other hand, is likely to go elsewhere.
  • Nick Diunte at Examiner.com put together a great obituary on Bill Sharman; including nice details and quotes from former Baseball teammates.
  • FYI, here is the schedule for the announcements of the various BBWAA awards; such as MVP, Cy Youngs, etc.
(twitter link)
  • This is a clear sign of the lack of respect in our society today.  Via Bob Lemke, "Attempt made to steal (Lou) Gehrig's ashes".  Wha.....?
  • Howard Foxx at Gunaxin Sports has put together a collection of photographs of athletes in their Halloween costumes.


* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Thursday, October 31, 2013

2013 Topps Triple Threads Baseball - Dodgers Unity Relic Cards

I am finally getting around to putting up the Dodgers' insert cards that can be found in packs of 2013 Topps Triple Threads.  Check out the Dodgers' base cards to the set here.  Below are the Unity Relic inserts that are available.  There are also autographed relics cards of Clayton Kershaw (#UAJR-CK) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (#UAJR-HR1), but they are not in the actual packs.  Instead, a redemption card is provided.  BTW, you can see a complete checklist of the set here.

Unity Single Jumbo Relics

Adrian Gonzalez
#TTUJR-AGO1                                  #TTUJR-AGO2

#TTUJR-AGO3

 Chad Billingsley
#TTUJR-CBH1

Don Sutton
#TTUJR-DS1                                           #TTUJR-DS2

#TTUJR-DS3


Matt Kemp
#TTUJR-MK1                                     #TTUJR-MK2


#TTUJR-MK3 
 
Yasiel Puig
#TTUJR-YP3


* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Some Dodgers Memorabilia at Hunt Auctions

Following up on my post from yesterday featuring Dodgers' artwork at Hunt's 10th Anniversary Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Auction, I now bring to you some of my favorite Dodgers' memorabilia items. 

Below is a semi-hardened foam Baseball from a "Welcome Luncheon" held at L.A.'s Statler Hotel on 10/27/1957.  It has been signed by Casey Stengel and Walt Alston.  Over 1,100 new local fans attended this gala event.  This is the first time I've seen this particular Dodger memorabilia item.
(auction link)

Below is a 1954 Gil Hodges New York Press Photographers Sports Award.
(auction link)

Here is a circa 1960's LA Dodgers equipment bag that has been signed by Duke Snider, Clem Labine, Ralph Branca, and Carl Erskine.
(auction link)

This last item would look great in anyone's Dodger room.  Here are 3 vintage stadium seats from Ebbets Field. 
(auction link)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 10/31/2013 - Dodgers Links - DodgerTalk Podcast, Free Agency and Dee Gordon


Congrats, Red Sox!  Pic above via twitter @MLB.
When Boston and St. Louis first faced each other in the World Series, in 1946, there wasn’t a single African-American in either dugout. As the Red Sox and the Cardinals meet again 67 years later, there is one.
  • Via Matt Snyder at CBS, "Vegas odds: Dodgers are favorites to win 2014 World Series".  Wow, we are 5 to 1 favorites. 
  • BTW, the MLB FanCave is coming for the 2014 season.  You must apply by November 8th.  Go here!
  • This is your must read of the day.  Via Adrian Cardenas at The New Yorker, "Why I Quit Major League Baseball".
It was only after I quit that I wished I hadn’t always kept my head down, relentlessly climbing to reach the top of the game, to fulfill an American dream. I wish I had looked up more often, even at the cost some of my success. 

    * Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
    * Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

    Wednesday, October 30, 2013

    Weekend Autograph Opportunities: DodgerFest -- Jaime Jarrin, Don Newcombe, Reggie Smith and More!

    Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.


    ---------------------------
    This is a big autograph event.  Steve "Psycho" Lyons, Dennis Powell, Reggie Smith, Don Newcombe and Jaime Jarrin will be at Frank & Sons in the City of Industry.  Check out the flyers below.
    Frank & Son Collectible Show
    19649 East San Jose Avenue
    City of Industry, California 91748
    Parking and admission to the show is free!

    * Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
    * Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *