Indians Series Starts Tonight - Scheduled Autograph Signings, Game Give Aways and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts this evening against the Colorado Rockies, and several old-time Dodgers will be in the house to sign free autographs for fans.  Below are the scheduled autograph opportunities and other odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The July issue of Dodger Insider is now available.  See the cover on the right.  It features stories on Beckett's comback season, follow-up on the no-hitters by Beckett and Kershaw, an inside look at the 2014 draft, the return of Dee Gordon and Brandon League from difficult 2013 seasons and a piece on Brooklyn Dodger Dixie Walker.

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Monday June 30th at 7:10 PM
RHP Corey Kluber vs. RHP Dan Haren

Tonight's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:00 PM. Dodger fan and “Project Runway” winning model Kalyn Hemphill will perform the national anthem.

Former Dodgers Dennis Powell (in right-field pavilion plaza) and Kenny Landreaux (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. 

• The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is U.S. Army Major General Paul E. Funk II. Watching his father return home from serving in Vietnam, Funk decided to follow in the same footsteps as his father, joined the Army and was commissioned in 1984. Funk is the Commanding General for the 1st Infantry Division known as “the Big Red One” at Fort Riley, Kansas. He has been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. His accolades include the Legion of Merit with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, The Combat Action Badge and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Bank of America will be presenting an authenticated flag and display case to Funk. He will be honored with a piece of Dodger history, a flag that has flown over Dodger Stadium. Gregg Hall an Army veteran and now Bank of America Regional Director of Global Corporate Security will present the flag on behalf of Bank of America.

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Tuesday, July 1st at 7:10 PM
RHP Justin Masterson vs. RHP Josh Beckett

Tonight's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:00 PM.  The first 40,000 fans will receive a Don Newcombe adult sized replica Brooklyn Dodger jersey.  See it on the right.

Don Newcombe will throw the ceremonial first pitch Tuesday and closer Kenley Jansen will catch his first pitch.  Chris Mann, classically trained singer-songwriter who finished 4th on “The Voice” season 2 on Team Christina Aguilera will perform the national anthem.

Former Dodgers Tim Leary (in right-field pavilion plaza) and “Sweet” Lou Johnson (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. 

• The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is U.S. Air Force Colonel John Tree, who is currently serving with the Air Force Reserve as a Key Senior Leader to the Director of Resource Integration at the Pentagon. Following in his father’s footsteps, Tree joined the Air Force following his graduation from the Air Force Academy and served in active duty for seven years. Throughout his career he has been deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, twice to Haiti and Germany and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Tree’s accolades include the Humanitarian Service Medal with one Device, NATO Medal and the Air Force Expeditionary Service Medal.  

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Wednesday, July 2nd at 12:10 PM
RHP Trevor Bauer vs. LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu

This afternoon's game starts at 12:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 9:30 AM, and stadium gates open at 10:00 AM.

American Bladerunner, Blake Leeper, a Silver and Bronze medalist in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London will throw the ceremonial first pitch.

Former Dodgers Matt Luke (in right-field pavilion plaza) and Derrel Thomas (in left-field pavilion plaza) will be signing autographs for fans from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

• The Veteran of the Game presented by Bank of America is U.S. Army Sergeant Alvin Blinder, a longtime Dodger fan. Blinder was drafted in 1943 to lend support to World War II efforts and served with the 16th infantry division for General Patton’s 3rd Army, serving as communication between platoons, Company Headquarters and the First Battalion Headquarters. Sergeant Blinder fought in Metz Chateau Salins, Vic-sur-Seille France defeating part of the German First Army. Blinder’s accolades include the Combat Infantry Badge and the Purple Heart.

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Check Out Some Dodgers Memorabilia at Hunt's All-Star Game FanFest Auction

As has been tradition for several years, Hunt Auctions is running their annual All-Star Game Live Auction at the MLB FanFest in Minneapolis.  There are over 400 lots to look through and collectors have an opportunity to see them personally at the FanFest in a couple of weeks. 

Of note, former Dodger catcher and White Sox manager Jeff Torborg has over 80 items available for auction; including several Dodger related goodies.  I will feature those items in a post tomorrow.  For now, take a look at some other notable Dodgers related memorabilia items that struck my fancy below.

How often do you see something like this?  Here is a circa 1950's Brookyn Dodger ushers shirt.  It is long sleeved, in Dodger blue and has the Dodgers name embroidered on the back.

(Auction Link)

The cap below is purported to have once belonged to Jackie Robinson.  It comes from a former Dodger farmhand named Fred Woelfle who joined the organization in 1951.  Per the auction description:

In 1951 he assisted the team in batting practice acting primarily as a catcher. For these efforts, naturally, he required a uniform which was furnished by the team. One day while dressing he realized he had not been given a hat and asked for one from the trainer who "went to a basket full of dirty uniforms and, after asking me my size, threw me a hat and said here use this one, Robinson won't mind."

Wow!  That's a great story.

(Auction Link)

This last item originally came from the family of Roy Campanella.  Below is Campy's Hall of Fame Induction ring from 1969. 

(Auction Link)

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Blog Kiosk: 6/30/2014 - Dodger Links - Elbert on the Mend, Draft Pick Updates and Goofing on Ryu

Kershaw pitched another gem yesterday, and now the Dodgers find themselves tied to first palce WooHoo!  Pic above features Clayton and Chris Perez celebrating the victory, via @MLB on twitter.

• ICYMI:  Justin Turner has been placed on the 15-day DL, and Carlos Triunfel has been called back from the minors.  Turner strained his left hamstringin saturday's game.
• Via Ken Gurnick and Michael Lananna at MLB.com, "Elbert enters final phase of rehab."

"I'm happy with Scotty's progress," Mattingly said. "We've talked about it a number of times -- it's been awhile now where everything's been pretty much positive. There hasn't been any negatives. He hasn't skipped a 'pen. He's been moving along."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, the Dodger signed 8th round pick Hunter Redman.  He also reports that the Dodgers 12th round pick, Kam Uter, has also signed.  The Dodgers have until July 18 to sign their remaining 9 draft picks.  
• BTW, a couple of our newest draft picks recently made their professional debuts.  Via Brandon Lennox at True Blue LA, "Dodgers minor league report June 29: John Richy, A.J. Vanegas make professional debuts."
• Via Mike Bauman at MLB.com, "Dodgers firing on all cylinders."

"We've got the kind of pitching that keeps you in the game every day." Mattingly said. "If we can be solid on defense and take advantage of whatever we get offensively, we can be in pretty good shape.

"We've been solid [defensively]. Being in the right place, making the plays you're supposed to make, not hurting your team … getting the outs you're supposed to get.

"I'm happy with the energy the club is playing with. We're playing with a sense of urgency."

• Hanley did some celebrating on twitter after yesterday's game:

First place baby! Keep pressing on. I'll be ready soon to try and help my boys in blue #DodgerBlue #iSeeYou AttitudeisEverything
— Hanley Ramirez (@HanleyRamirez) June 29, 2014

• This Vine video made me laugh for hours... That scream!  BTW, they put ice down Ryu's back.

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Dodgers Tied For 1st - Prove Sports Writers are Often Wrong

The Dodgers accomplished something today that much of the chattering class had once said impossible.  They crawled back from being 9 1/2 games back to tie the Giants.  And, they did it in a span of 21 days... 21 Days! 

Check out what Bob Knightengale wrote earlier this month:

But win the National League West?
No chance.
It's over.
The San Francisco Giants don't have the talent the Dodgers have, but they have the kind of team the Dodgers crave.
The Giants are the definition of a true team.

How's that true team up north doing now?

Or, how about Dan Szymborski?

With a payroll of $235 million on Opening Day, the Los Angeles Dodgers weren't a team put together for the purpose of finishing second in their division. But that's just where they stand in the National League West on Friday, with the San Francisco Giants having opened up a 8 1/2-game lead. While that might not sound like an insurmountable gap to make up, history suggests the 2014 NL West is almost certainly going to be taken by the men in orange and black, not Dodger blue.

He actually reasoned that there was no way the Giants would ever relinquish their lead.  That history was on the Giants side.  That their lead was historically insurmountable.

And what strikes me as idiotic about both of these commentaries is that they were written in early June - less than 2 1/2 months into 6+ month long season.  Talk about premature, eh?

Still, with all of my desire to ridicule these professional progosticators, I can't help but take a heaping spoon of moderation.  After all, there are still 78 games left on the schedule (a little more than half way through the season), so there remains plenty of Baseball left to play.

Let's just hope that the Dodgers do not let up now. 

With that all being said, it's never bad to celebrate some milestones that were reached today.  For instance, Dodger starters are on fire.  Via tweet from the @Dodgers:

Today marked the 33rd consecutive game where a Dodger starter walked two or fewer batters, the longest streak in the NL since at least 1914.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 29, 2014

And, our ace is in the midst of an historic scoreless innings streak.

28 straight scoreless innings. 13 strikeouts. Clayton Kershaw is that dude. #Dodgers
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 29, 2014

Clayton Kershaw is still light years away from Hershiser's 59 scoreless innings.  Still, I find what he's done so far this season to be nothing short of miraculous.  Check out Jon Weisman's piece at Dodger Insider that recounts his season so far.  It amazes me that he began the season on DL, and was an early question mark after signing his huge contract.  Now, he has to be considered a favorite to win the Cy Young once again.

BTW, if you want to see a running list of the top scoreless innings leaders check out Baseball-Almanac, here.  He's got a long way to go.

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Sunday Dodger Videos: Kemp, Kershaw, Dee and Puppies!

Here are this Sunday's Dodger videos.

The hijinks never stops.  Per Stadium Bound on YouTube:

The Dodgers celebrate the win after the last out tonight, and just like a couple nights ago, Clayton Kershaw makes a half-windup on the mound, and then gets nailed with the rosin bag, this time by Josh Beckett - one no-hit pitcher nails another.

Video Link:

Listen to Matt Kemp in the clubhouse after Thursday night's victory over the Cardinals; courtesy of Gary George on YouTube.

Video Link:

Earlier this week, Dee Gordon was on Intentional Talk with Chris Rose and Kevin Millar to discuss the no-hitters tossed by Clayton Kershaw and Josh Beckett, dugout bubbles and more.

Video Link:

Puppies!  Who doesn't love puppies? 

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 6/28/2014 - Dodger Links - Puig Signs Deal with Topps, Targeting Relievers and Photos from the Veteran of the Game

Get down and give me 20!"  Adrian Gonzalez and Yasiel Puig show off perfect form for doing push-ups.  Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

• Friday's Veteran of the Game Angel Peraza shared a bunch of his photos from the game on Reddit, via Imgur.  Go here to check them out.  He wrote the following on Reddit:

Today was super cool. I was really honored to be chosen by the Dodgers to their veteran of the Game. There was some coordination that had to happen before the game, it's cool to get a phone call from "The Dodger Organization". They gave me tickets for me, my wife and two sons. It was really amazing to be able to be on the field with the players during the National Anthem. They walked me through the clubhouse to get to the field and gave me a tour as we walked through. On the way down we walked past Don Newcomb. It was mind blowing to have a quick conversion with a living legend. He told me some cool stories from his Army days. During the 3rd inning, they again brought me on to the field for a short presentation. Basically, They emailed a questionnaire a couple of weeks ago and had me send in some photos to display on by the jumbotron. I didn't get to get many photos of my time on the field, since I had to put my phone away. But, on the field I got a quick hand shake from Kemp and Puig. I got a challenge coin, too, it looks awesome .

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Billingsley faced surgery the only way he knows."

“You can’t dwell on what happened in the past,” he said. “You’ve got to keep fighting and keep going and stay positive.”

• On the heels of Kershaw's deal with Topps earlier this year, now Puig signs with them.  Via a tweet from Cardboard Connections on twitter:

Yasiel Puig has signed a 1-year deal with @toppscards. Makes him a Topps-exclusive for autographed cards #collect
— Cardboard Connection (@sportscards) June 27, 2014

• Via Chris Olds at Beckett, Puig had this to say about the deal with Topps.

“Joining the Topps family is yet another dream come true for me,” Puig said in a prepared statement. “It’s exciting to be pictured on a baseball card and to be part of such a long-standing American tradition.”

• So, what does Colletti have in mind for trade deadline acquisitions?  Mark Saxon on twitter provides some insight.

 

Ned Colletti on early trade deadline thoughts: "I'd like to get our bullpen squared away, whether it's internally or externally."
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) June 28, 2014

This should come as no surprise.  Pitching wins championships, and right now our starters are rolling just fine, but our bullpen could use some polishing.

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