Jerry Hairston to Stay Blue After Hangin' it Up

This is really no surprise.  It is now being reported that Jerry Hairston Jr. will retire from the game after 16 Big League seasons and 1 World Championship with the 2009 Yankees.  In his career he was known for his versatility on the field and his clubhouse personality.  In fact, it is those latter skills, his "gift of gab", that will propel him towards a new future.

Reporter Bruce Levine out of Chicago tweeted this morning that Hairston will join the Dodgers in a new capacity.

Congrats to Jerry Hairston on new deal as pre and post game analyst on the Dodgers TV games. 14 years and a ring is a pretty good career.
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) December 11, 2013

Anyone who has watched Hairston perform on video knows this is a perfect role for him.  No one in the Dodger clubhouse was more comfortable with a mic, and no one relished the opportunity to be in front of the camera more then him.  I wouldn't be surprised if he excelled in his new profession, and I suspect we'll be seeing a new Dodger-centric show hosted by him in the near future.

Congrats, Jerry!

In celebration, I made the above fantasy Baseball card of him using the 1987 Topps card design and a photo taken by Jill Weisleder/LA Dodgers 2013.

This new hire helps solidify an already vastly improved Dodgers broadcast crew.  Hairston will join new hires Orel Hershiser and Nomar Garciaparra in the booth.

I also decided to track down a couple of his more notable videos to give you a glimpse of what he will bring to Dodger TV.  First, Hairston tell us everything we need to know about him in this MLB Minute.

Video Link:

Jerry interviews Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes before their game at Dodger Stadium.

Video Link:

This one cracks me up.  Magician Jason Latimer shows Jerry Hairston Jr. and Juan Uribe a new hidden-ball trick.

Video Link:

Also, below are his career stats, via Baseball Reference:


UPDATE:  Here's an official message from Hairston on twitter:

After 16 seasons decided retiring is my best opportunity. Game will not miss me but I will miss it and teammates immensely! #NextChapter
— Jerry Hairston, Jr.  (@Therealjhair) December 11, 2013

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Dodger Mall Tour with Lasorda and Yeager

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.

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The Dodgers 2013 Holiday Mall Tour continues this weekend with Tommy Lasorda and Steve Yeager in Century City on Saturday, December 14th.  Go here for more information, or go here for my most recent updates on this mall tour.  BTW, these are free autograph appearances.

Century City - Center Court in front of Zara
10250 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90067
11am-6pm
Players:     Tommy Lasorda 1:00pm-3:00pm; Steve Yeager 3:00pm-5:00pm

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Honabach & Sons is holding a Open House Dodger signing event at their store in Ontario.  See the flyer below, or go here for more information.  Al Ferrera, Tommy Davis and Steve Yeager will be signing.

1614 South Carlos Avenue, Suite K
Ontario, CA 91761

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Blog Kiosk: 12/11/2013 - Dodgers Links - Puig in the Community, Another Kershaw Award and RIP Don Lund

Yasiel Puig made a visit to Childrens Hospital LA yesterday.  Pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.  See more photos here.  BTW, Adrian Gonzalez will visit CHLA later this afternoon.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Puig hosts more Little Leaguers at Dodger Stadium".  And check out some pics from the event from Jon SooHoo, here.

"I am so happy with this city and I don't know how I can thank our fans for making me feel happy but I can try by doing nice things," said Puig. "I don't like to be proud of myself for what I've done because it's only a little and I just want to keep doing more. I want to thank the Dodgers for helping me in making my ideas come true."

• Via Matt Snyder at CBS Sports, "Best Winter Meetings exchange: Kirk Gibson vs. LA media person (Dylan Hernandez)".  Just awesome.
• Another award for Clayton.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Kershaw wins Starting Pitcher of the Year GIBBY".
• RIP, Don Lund.  Former Brooklyn Dodger Don Lund died yesterday.  He was 90 years old.  Dave Brandon at the UofM website writes all about him.  Don had was a coach for the Wolverines Baseball team and the Detroit Tigers after retiring from the game.
• Mark Mulder is trying to get back to the big leagues.  He credits Dodgers reliever Paco Rodriguez for his potential return.  Via  Jerry Crasnick at ESPN.com, "Mark Mulder attempting comeback".

But things changed in October when Mulder watched Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Paco Rodriguez on TV and found something in Rodriguez's delivery that he could emulate.

• Chad Moriyama has a rundown of the days rumors from Day 2 of the Baseball Winter Meetings.
• So, what is Steve Sax doing?  Via a tweet from Ken Gurnick:

Former Dodger Steve Sax, no longer 1B coach with Arizona, is at the Winter Meetings interviewing for broadcasting roles.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) December 10, 2013

• Via Chris Olds at Beckett, he introduces us to an Asian-market Baseball card set created by Topps called 2013 Topps Supreme.  Check out a couple of preview images of the Hyun-Jin Ryu cards, below.  BTW, there are also Asian-exclusive cards for Bowman Sterling and Museum Collection. 

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2013 Topps Five Star Baseball - The Dodgers Base Cards

Last week, Topps released their newest Baseball card set.  It is called 2013 Topps Five Star, and it is pricey.  Unopened boxes cost from $350.00 to $400.00 a piece, and you get only 6 cards in the box. On the other hand, you are guaranteed 4 autographed cards and a premium relic per box.  So, you often get your money's worth.   

There are 5 Dodgers within the 100 card base set.  Check them all out below.  I'll put up pics of the Dodgers' autographed and relic cards in the next few days.

Base Set

#41 Clayton Kershaw                                #60 Yasiel Puig

#80 Adrian Gonzalez                             #90 Sandy Koufax

#98 Matt Kemp

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Meeting Fernando and Maury on Saturday - Fan Photos from the Mall Tour

A great tradition continued this winter as the Dodgers hosted their 2013 Holiday Mall Tour throughout Southern California.  Fans came out in droves to celebrate Dodger fandom, and to greet their favorite Dodger legends.

This past weekend the Dodger tour went to Arcadia, and Blue Heaven reader David was kind enough to share some photos from the event.  Thank you, David!  BTW, Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo was also there.  Check out his pics at this link.

As you know, the weather was less than wonderful on Saturday, so Dodger fans had to brave the cold and rain.  As David notes, that did not deter fans.

It was my first ever Dodger mall tour event. I didn't know what to expect so we got to the mall around 8am. There was probably 75 people in line already. It rained off and on the whole time we were there. Time didn't drag on because when your with Baseball fans there's a lot to talk about. The signing started around 11 and it took us 50 minutes to get to the front of the line. We got our autographs and and had some fun in the Dodger photo booth 

That's what I call devotion.  For an 11:00 AM signing fans started getting in line before 8:00 AM.  Wow!

Below are some pics.  As you can see, there was a ton of Blue.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

Here's Fernando signing at the booth.

And here is what David and his son got signed.

BTW, David's day was not done. 

Our next stop we went to Frank and Sons to get Maury Wills. That was great too. Wills was awesome and he spent about 10 minutes talking to my son JT.

Class act, Wills is.  Below is a pic with Maury Wills and David's son, JT.  Thanks again, David!

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Blog Kiosk: 12/10/2013 - Dodgers Links - Joe Torre Going to the Hall, Kasten on the Dodgers and Moving On from Uribe?

Check out this spectaular photo found on Reddit.  It is from a April 25, 1965 ballgame between the Dodgers and Phillies.  Willie Davis is captured by a well hidden camera sliding into 2nd base.  Photo by Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images. 

• Tony Jackson at Dodger Scribe is shutting down his blog. 
• The Hall of Fame Expansion Era Committee decide its time to honor the managers.  Via Barry M. Bloom at MLB.com, "La Russa, Torre, Cox going into Hall of Fame".
• In honor of Joe Torre's selection into the Hall of Fame, Dodgers photographer Jon SooHoo shares a whole bunch of pics featuring Torre.  Check them out here.
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Stan Kasten on Bobby Cox and rebuilding the farm".

“This year, I think we’re more into fine tuning,” Kasten said. “That doesn’t mean we won’t be opportunistic if some opportunity presents itself, but it also wouldn’t surprise me if we went through the whole winter without doing a big deal.” 

• Mark Saxon also writes, "Dodgers prepared to move on from Juan Uribe".  Uribe is apparently testing the Dodger patience when it comes to their negotiations.

“Everybody can go do what they want to go do,” Colletti said. “Hopefully, this week we’ll have more conversations with them and at least get an update on their position. I’m in need of an update on their position.” 

• Via Roger Schlueter at MLB.com, "Kershaw's greatness reaching historic levels".
• Ken Gurnick at MLB.com writes, "D-backs' Gibson explains Ellis comment".
• Teenage hurler Takumi Numata of Japan visited Dodger Stadium yesterday.  Apparently, he took a tour of the facilities and had a physical.  It's possible that he'll soon sign with the Dodgers.  He shared a pic of himself at Dodger Stadium that you can see here.  In case you forgot, he agreed to sign with the Dodgers earlier in the year, circumventing Japanese Amateur Baseball Association rules, which earned him a lifetime suspension from that league.  
• Luke Adams at MLB Trade Rumors has a rundown of all the various rumors and gossip stories surrounding the Dodgers.  I have little patience for this kind of stuff, but if you're interested in the hot stove you should go there.

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