Blog Kiosk: 11/21/2014 - Dodger Links - Vin Scully and Yasiel Puig

Dee Gordon and Cincinnati Reds speedster Billy Hamilton got together for a photoshoot yesterday for Under Armour.  Photo above via @BillyHamilton on twitter.

BTW, last night the Dodgers executed their first real trade of the winter.  I'll have more on that soon.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Kevin Roderick at LA Observed, "Vin Scully offers career advice to Zev Yaroslavsky (video)."  The Scully video is a classic and a much see.  (Hat Tip: Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider)

Yaroslavsky had made it known often that he craved Scully's job. Scully responds in an amusing video I'm told was recorded in one take with no script and no Teleprompter.

• Via Yvonne Carrasco at Dodger Insider, "Kershaw, Ellis enjoying visit to Dominican Republic."
• Via Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs, "The Weakness That Yasiel Puig Conquered."

Which is not to say that Puig simply eliminated a hole. In working to get better against inside fastballs, Puig subsequently opened himself up a little more against fastballs away. It’s hard to protect against all pitch types in all pitch locations, and adjustments tend to have consequences. So now Puig has just changed the distribution of his weaker areas. But between years, he set his mind to getting better against something, and it appears he mostly pulled it off. That’s not something we often observe, which is what makes this so interesting. 

• The Dodgers have lost reliever Onelki Garcia to the White Sox, via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors.
• Sign-ups for the 2014 LA Dodgers Foundation Youth Camp for the weekend of December 20th are current ongoing.  Go here for information.  Steve Yeager and Mickey Hatcher are just a couple of former Dodgers who will be there to teach the kids.  Also, a current Dodger player will also make an appearance.  It is for boys and girls ages 7 to 12.
• GCRL shares more Steve Garvey oddball cards; including a bunch of postcards.
• Via Jerry Crasnick at ESPN.com, "MLB addresses pace of play in AFL."

"I tell people, 'It's more complex than just having the clock,'" Haines said. "All these variables come in, and baseball plays happen. I don't want to speculate for MLB, but I think it's hard to make it that black-and-white. I want the umpire's discretion involved. You don't want a game decided on a technicality."

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Some Singing Dodgers and Jackie Robinson Rarities at SCP Auctions

Following up on my post from Monday featuring a unique personal note from Jackie Robinson to a fan, I though I'd share more Dodger goodies available on auction at SCP.

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Check out this signed and personalized laminated photo of six members of the 1963 World Championship Dodgers signing a tune.  From left to right: Frank Howard, Tommy Davis, Ron Perranoski, Willie Davis, Don Drysdale and Moose Skowron.  I am unsure what event this photograph was taken at, but don't they all look rather dashing?  I wonder what they are singing.  Maybe a showtune; which were popular in those days.  Do you think they took their act to Broadway, or Las Vegas?

This photo originates from the family of Moose Skowron.  BTW, this identical group got together on national television to sing a song.  A video of that appearance is below.

(Auction Link)

As I promised above, here is a video of the troupe singing together during an 1963 taping of the Joey Bishop Show.

Video Link:

Here is something you do not see everyday.  Below is a game-used bat that was once held by Jackie Robinson.  It has been documented as being from the 1949 season, an MVP year for him, and is thought to be one of only two known bats from this season to still exist.  I suspect this will sell for a bunch.

(Auction Link)

I know this last item will sell for a whole truckload of greenbacks.  Featured below is Jackie Robinson's personal presentation Hall of Fame plaque given to him during his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1962.  This item originates from the Jackie Robinson estate.

Unfortunately, the Hall didn't give inductees bronze-like plaques to keep in their homes.  Instead, this presentation plaque is an illustration (photograph) that was been mated and placed within a brown leather frame.  From the auction description:

It should be noted that the original (1962) plaque made no mention of the fact that Robinson broke baseball’s color-barrier and differs from that which resides in Cooperstown today. The current plaque was re-cast in 2008 with text added in the final line that reads: “Displayed tremendous courage and poise in 1947 when he integrated the modern major leagues in the face of intense adversity”.

(Auction Link)

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Blog Kiosk: 11/20/2014 - Dodger Links - Seager, Haren and Puig

Clayton Kershaw and AJ Ellis visited the Toros del Este of the Dominican Winter Leagues yesterday.  In the photo above they are standing with Luis Dorante and Amaury Telemaco.  Kershaw threw out the first pitch.  Photo above via @DodgersPR on twitter.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Doubles king Corey Seager completes tremendous season."

During the minor league regular season, Seager led all players with 50 doubles. It was the first time a minor leaguer reached the 50-double mark since 2011 (Toronto farmhand David Cooper had 51 for Triple-A Las Vegas). There have only been four occurrences where a minor leaguer has had 50 doubles in a season since the turn of the century.

• Via David Hood at True Blue LA, "2015 top Dodgers prospects overview."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Other than LA, retirement for Haren?"  I absolutely respect his viewpoint.

"My signing with the Dodgers last year and my decision to exercise my player option were based on my desire to play in Southern California near my family," Haren told ESPN in an email. "I had other opportunities but at this point in my career I have no interest in playing in a city away from my family."

• Via David Venn at MLB.com, "Puig reflects on first Japan Series experience."

"All of the discipline they have," he said. "Everything is about respect, almost as if [the players] are apologizing. And the fans are great. They support their team from the first inning to the ninth. That's a nice thing."

• Via Jamal Collier at MLB.com, "Wills hopeful for induction into Hall of Fame."
• Check out some unique player themed apparel from Topps, here.  Below is a Jackie Robinson shirt that they call a 3-button henley.  There are other t-shirts featuring vintage Baseball cards of stars like Nolan Ryan, Ryne Sandberg, Ozzie Smith, etc.

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Kings Hosted Dodger Pride Night - Those 'Dodger' Kings Jersey's Sold for a Bundle

Last Night the LA Kings hosted their annual 'Dodger Pride Night' at the Staples Center, and like always I was there to take in the festivities.  And by the looks of it, there were plenty of other Dodger fans there too.

(pic via @LAKingsIceCrew on twitter)

Dodger Blue was everywhere.  I saw Dodger jersey's, Dodger caps and even Dodger themed winter beanies - or touk's, as Canadians call them.  Better yet, the Kings Ice Crew donned their best scantily clad Dodger uni's.  Also, Dodger infielder Justin Turner was on hand to drop the opening puck to start the game.  You can watch the puck drop here.  As you can see in the photo below, the Kings gave Turner a jersey of his own.  The Kings player on the left (#23) is Kings captain Dustin Brown and on the right is former King and current Florida Panthers captain Willie Mitchell (#33).  BTW, Mitchell was part of the two recent Kings Stanley Cup Championship teams, so he was given his championship ring from last season last night and received an rousing applause from the fans during the game.  He was a fan favorite.

(pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

What has also become tradition on 'Dodger Pride Night' are Dodger themed warm-up jerseys worn by the Kings.  As you can see in the numerous photos below, the Kings came out for their pregame skate wearing Dodger Blue and I think it's fair to say that Dodger fans in attendance swooned.

Those jersey are magnificent, glorious and beautiful.  And short of committing felonious acts, I would do almost anything to own one.  Unfortunately, as you will soon surely understand, my pocketbook did not agree with that sentiment.

As a part of the evenings events the Kings auctioned off those wonderful jerseys in support of their charity, the Kings Care Foundation, and it garnered values that were out of this world.  Like, record breaking!  Firstly, take a look at my photos from the Kings pregame skate below.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

As I mentioned above, the above jerseys were auctioned off for charity.  Below are a few pics of them neatly stacked in the concourse. 

Like in past years, I decided to make an attempt at purchasing a jersey.  Unfortunately, I was blown out of the water before I could even place a bid.

I was feeling confident as I strolled down to the area where the jersey's would be displayed during the first intermission.  I had figured I would chase a jersey from one of the lesser known players since they would surely be more affordable.  So, I placed my sights on recently signed defenseman Jamie McBain.  I came up to the counter and realized that bidding would be conducted solely online, so I asked one of the Kings employees about that process.

It was then that I was told that the McBain jersey was already up to $875.  Wha....?  The cheapest jersey at that time was for Andy Andreoff - $825.  Oy Vie!

Surely, this couldn't be true, but it was.

Before the second period of that evenings game got underway, most of the jersey's up for auction had already eclipsed last years prices.  So with that, I was priced out and forced to go home without one of these beauts. 

Just to provide context, Jarrett Stoll's jersey (#28) sold for a bit under $700 last season.  During this auction if sold for $1,650.  Heck, the cheapest jersey sold last night was for $1,024, and it was for Brayden McNabb.  Below is a screen grab of the final prices for last nights auction.  Click on the pic to embiggen. 

No doubt, the Kings Care Foundation took in a bunch of needed funds.  Good for them, but not good for me.

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Football Spectacular at Frank & Sons

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 Football Spectacular signing event is happening this coming Saturday at Frank & Sons in the City of Industry.  Go here for information, or here (at Hall of Fame Sports.com).  Emmitt Smith, Howie Long, LaDainian Tomlinson, Marcus Allen, Greg Townsend, Odis McKinney and Charles White are scheduled to make an appearance. 

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Blog Kiosk: 11/19/2014 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

Last night was Dodger Pride Night at the Staples Center for the LA Kings game against the Florida Panthers.  Dodger standout utility infielder Justin Turner was at the game to drop the opening puck and the Kings wore those fantastic 'Dodger themed' jersey's last night that were auctions off for charity.  As you can see above, the Kings gave Turner his own jersey, pic via @Dodgers on twitter.  Go here to check out more photos of the evening from the Dodgers.  Later this afternoon I'll put up my own report from the game; including some photos I took and a peek at the jersey auction that garnered huge dollars.  BTW, I was once again shut out and didn't win a jersey.  Boo! 

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Where Dodgers pick in 2015 MLB Draft first round."
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Yasiel Puig ends Japan series on high note."
• The Dodgers added more folks to their front office.  Via a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the front office additions of David Finley as Vice President, Amateur & International Scouting, Galen Carr as Director of Player Personnel, Jeff Pickler as Special Assistant, Pro Scouting & Player Development and Jack Cressend as Pitching Crosschecker.

The press release provides more detailed background information about each person.  Go here to check that out.

• Via Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA, "Dodgers likely to protect three from 2014 Rule 5 Draft."
• Via David Cycleback at Sports Collectors Daily, "Looking at the Photos of George Grantham Bain."  He is a noted Baseball photographer during the early 20th century.
• Night Owl Cards does yeoman's work.  He shares photos of every Dodger card that can be found in Kellogg's 3-D Baseball card sets from 1970 to 1983.  Awesome!
• Panini's 2014 Classics Baseball is officially released today.  Go here to check out some recently opened packs at Panini's blog.  Below is a sample pack that includes a Yasiel Puig insert card.

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