A Peek at AGon's 2015 Dodger Bobblehead

With Spring Training and the 2015 Baseball season just weeks before getting underway, the Dodgers are deliberately releasing preview pics of their upcoming bobbleheads for the masses to digest.  This year the Dodgers will once again hand out ten different Dodger bobbleheads, and Adrian Gonzalez will be the second one out of the gate.  As you'll recall, the Dodgers released an early photo of the first Dodger bobblehead of Clayton Kershaw several weeks ago (check that out here).

The Adrian Gonzalez bobble will be handed out to fans on Saturday, May 23rd against the Padres.  As you can see in the photograph above, Adrian is shown playing his position at first base in anticipation of making a stretch for the ball.  This is appropriate considering his Gold Glove won last season.  Both pics (above and below) are via @Dodgers on twitter.  BTW, this is Adrian's second Dodger bobble.  He was previously honored with a bobblehead during the 2013 season.

The bobblehead schedule for the 2015 season are as follows:

• #1: Tue, May 12 - Clayton Kershaw
• #2: Sat, May 23 - Adrian Gonzalez
• #3: Thu, Jun 4 - Kenley Jansen
• #4: Mon, Jul 6 - Maury Wills
• #5: Sat, Jul 11 - Juan Uribe
• #6: Wed, Jul 29 - Yasiel Puig
• #7: Thu, Aug 13 - ?(Unknown)
• #8: Tue, Sep 1 - ?(Unknown)
• #9: Wed, Sep 16 - ?(Unknown)
• #10: Wed, Sep 23 - ?(Unknown)

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When You Want to Wear Your Pride on Your Tie - at Huggins & Scott

Nothing says you're a fan better than wearing a jersey and cap, but what if you're at work?  Not many folks can get away with that get-up while employed, so what is a fan to do?

If you don't mind something vintage (and likely out of style) then this item available at Huggins & Scott Auctions is right down your alley.

Featured below is a 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers National League Championship tie featuring various pennants and facsimile autographs of 26 players; including Rookie of the Year Jackie Robinson.  Other players include Pee Wee Reese, Gil Hodges, Carl Furillo and Ralph Branca.

As you know, this was the year Jackie broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball and was the teams first appearance in a World Series in six years.  Unfortunately, they would lose to the Yankees in 7 games, but I think it's fair to say that this season marked a new era for Dodger Baseball.  Over the next decade the Dodgers would win six pennants and a World Series crown in 1955.

I wonder how this would look on me with a jacket and slacks.

(Auction Link)

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Blog Kiosk: 2/3/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Greinke and the Kings in DC

My beloved Kings made their second visit to the White House in as many years yesterday afternoon.  Congrats, boys!  Now, win another!  Pic above via @LAKings on twitter.  Via a story by Dan Rosen at NHL.com:

"As a Chicago fan I'm a little resentful, you guys have an embarrassment of riches," President Obama said during his seven-minute speech. "Today feels like Groundhog Day. If you're feeling a little déjà vu you're not alone. Two years ago we had the Galaxy and the Kings here together. So if you see Bill Murray playing the piano in the foyer you know something weird is going on, and we're probably going to do this again."

Hopefully we'll see a triumvirate of the Dodgers, Kings and Galaxy in Washington DC for this ceremony.

Below are some more links to check out:

• Via Alden Gonzalez at MLB.com, "Puig looking for redemption vs. rival Cardinals."  This is a fun story about a family friend who happens to be a Cardinal's fan and constantly taunts Puig about our playoff losses to them.

"He's driving me crazy," Puig said in Spanish. "I have to kick him out of that family. He has four blue things of mine in his room, and he tells me it's because he feels sorry for me, sorry for the Dodgers. He has everything else red -- the comforter, the sheets, the ceiling, everything. His room is red. And he says the best city in the United States is St. Louis."

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "There’s more to Chris Hatcher than just being a baseball player – A lot more."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Zack Greinke offers less-than-glowing review of Dodgers' moves."

“Well, I guess the best way I can answer that question is that, in the playoffs last year, I thought our team was the best team in baseball,” Greinke said. “To say we’re better than that, I don’t know if you could say that, especially without seeing us play.” 

• Via John Hogan at Cards That Never Were, "1977 Topps Don Sutton All Star MVP: Going Horizontal."  Here's a fantastic Sutton fantasy Baseball card.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Daniel Coulombe learns from September stint."

“It gives me a lot of confidence,” said Coulombe, who turned 25 in October, one week after getting married. “I proved to myself I have the ability to get big-league hitters out … now it’s a matter of executing.”

• Via Bob Lemke, ""War Bond Game" was $800MM extravaganza."

When the event was initially proposed it was expected that sales of $100 million worth of war bonds would be realized. When the dust had settled from the last out of the all-star game, it was reported that $800 million in bond sales and pledges had been made. (In today's dollars, that's about $11 billion!)

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A 2015 Dodger FanFest Roundup - Links and Photos

What a magnificent day for a Dodger FanFest.  The sun was out with hardly a cloud in the sky.  A sea of Blue had quickly enveloped Chavez Ravine like a fog during an early morn.  Everywhere you looked there were happy faces.  Children were dancing, fans were cheering and some fathers even had a catch with their kids on the outfield grass before the crowd overtook the field by early afternoon.  This Saturday's FanFest was a pilgrimage and it certainly provided a renewed sense of hope that this could be the year. 

Before I show you all of my pics from FanFest, I thought I would provide links to some other sites that include some great photos and recaps.  Check them out below:

• Part 1: Photos of Fanfest from Jon SooHoo, here
• Part 2: Even more photos of FanFest from Jon SooHoo, here
• Video -- Think Blue Review:  Caravan and FanFest Edition
• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Yasiel Puig steals the show at FanFest."

“You guys better support me more this year than last year after that display,” Puig said. “We better surpass 3 million here at home.”

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers faithful get up-close experience at FanFest."
• Blue Skinny Fan's Recap of FanFest, "2015 Dodgers Fan Fest Recap - More Autographs, Less Waiting (Sort Of)."
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Record crowd attends Dodgers FanFest 2015."
• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy autograph recap from FanFest, "Autographs: Joc Pederson."
• Via Dodger Penguin, "2015 Dodgers Fan Fest Recap."
• David's Autograph Signings provides a full recap of his day at the Dodgers FanFest, here.
• Video: The always great Bobby Crosby of Dodger Films shares his video recap of FanFest, here.
• Video: Dodgers-LowDown Presents FanFest 2015, here.

For a look back at my past post of this event check out the links below.  There are plenty of photos to look through.

• 2014 Fan Fest
• 2013 Fan Fest

I got to the Stadium before the scheduled opening of the gates, and found that they had already let the early risers into the lot.  Quickly, I parked and headed to the stadium gates.  I was greeted with a long line, but realized that it was hardly a wait.  (Click on any pic to embiggen)

Blog Kiosk: 2/2/2015 - Dodger Links - Rocky Bridges, Joe Wieland and Yasmani Grandal

To conclude the Dodgers Community Caravan last week the Dodgers visited City Hall on Friday and met with a group of combat-injured service members and the Wounded Warriors Project for lunch.  Photo above via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more photos from the event.

Below are some more links to check out:

• RIP, Rocky Bridges.  Mark Langill at Dodger Insider passes along the sad news that former Brooklyn Dodger Rocky Bridges has died.  Check out his story about him here.
• ICYMI: The two assailants who attacked Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium in 2011 have just plead guilty to additional federal gun possession charges, via an AP report at ESPN.  They were already in state prison for attacking Stow and now face time in federal prison.  In other words, they are doing everything possible to make sure they never get released.
• Via Miles Wray at FanGraphs, "Which MLB Teams are Blazing New Trails in Scouting?"  As you would expect, the Dodgers are at the top of the list.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "A healthy Joe Wieland is eager to move forward with the Dodgers."

“I’m gonna go into camp and just show ‘em what I have, and I’ll let them make the decision,” he said. “I’m 100 percent ready to go, and I’m gonna do all I can to make it a hard decision on them.”

• BTW, the Dodgers new marketing slogan for the 2015 season is "We Love LA."

“Since 1958, the fans of Southern California have had a love affair with the Dodgers, our broadcasters and Dodger Stadium, and the feeling has been mutual,” said Dodgers’ Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Lon Rosen.  “What better way to express our admiration to our fans for their overwhelming support than with this year’s slogan, `We Love LA’” 

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Gabe Kapler's favorite player: A.J. Ellis."

"That's why he stands out to me. He does a great job providing a platform for his teammates to be heard and appreciated. A.J. checks all of those boxes, and that's why he's my favorite player."

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Yasmani Grandal ready to make his mark with Dodgers."

“No pressure at all,” Grandal said. “I want to keep doing the same thing I was doing in San Diego and try to help this team win. They say they needed a catcher. Hopefully, me and A.J. [Ellis] can take this team to a World Series. I think both teams got what they wanted.” 

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Blog Kiosk: 1/30/2015 - Dodger Links - Kershaw Blanket, MLB 15 and Bye Bye Billingsley

Dodger alumni (Kenny Landreaux, Tim Leary, Dennis Powell and Derrel Thomas) visited the LAPD's Harbor Division Station in San Pedro.  The photo above is via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more photos from him of this event.

Below are some more links to check out:

• With the Super Bowl this weekend David Davis at the Classical shares a fantastic interview with legendary sports photographer Neil Leifer, here.
• Here's an early peek at the Dodgers fleece blanket being given away on April 29th, via @Dodgers on twitter, on the right.  It's a Clayton Kershaw themed blanket.
• Here's more news on signing Cuban players Via Neil at Chicago Cubs Online, "Yoan Moncada Update: MLB Sent Memo to Teams Outlining New Regulations."
• Are you a gamer?  Planning on getting MLB15 when it comes out?  Well, Steve Noah at Operation Sports provides the, "MLB15 The Show Fact Sheet."  In case you forgot, Yasiel Puig is this seasons cover boy.  Below are a couple of gameplay pics of Puig.  Click on any pic to embiggen.  BTW, the PlayStation.Blog also mentions a gameplay reveal is scheduled for February 5th, at 2:00 PST, on Twitch.

• Boo!  I really like Billingsley.  At the same time I realize that there just wasn't any room for him in LA.  Via Mark Polishuk at MLB Trade Rumors, "Phillies Sign Chad Billingsley."

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