Blog Kiosk: 4/16/2015 - Dodger Links - Rachel Robinson, Jimmie Rollins and other News

Last night was, indeed, a special evening at Dodger Stadium.  All of the pomp and circumstance you'd expect from the host of the Civil Rights Game on Jackie Robinson Day was there, but amplified.  After all, it was like a homecoming, of sorts.

Rachel Robinson was there and she was glowing like a beacon of light sprung from the Blue heavens above.  She brought with her a legacy that was born out of an desire to break down the walls that separated us all, and in the process helped change the country in ways unimaginable at the time.

This evening was an sforzando to a coda that is far from ending.  She came to Los Angeles with the reverence of all who attended, and we watched to remember the sacrifices that were made.

The best and possibly most surprising news of the evening was the announcement that a Jackie Robinson statue will soon be erected at Dodger Stadium.  Via Barry Bloom at MLB.com, Rachel said this:

"How do I feel? I've been waiting, waiting for years and years."

It's about time, eh?

The photo above is of Rachel Robinson with Dodger shortstop Jimmie Rollins, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out even more pics from him from last night.  They are fantastic.  Below are some more links to check out:

• Jimmie Rollins wrote a special piece for Sports Illustrated fror Jackie Robinson Day.  Check it out here.  It's titled, "A special day to be a Dodger: What Jackie Robinson Day means to me."

I always thought it was special to be a black player on the Dodgers. I was even a little envious of those guys, especially on Jackie Robinson Day. I used to think how awesome it was not only to wear his number 42 on your back but also his team’s name across your chest, and how that was something I would love to do one day. Being in Philadelphia for so long—14 full seasons—I didn’t think it would ever happen, but it will on April 15. Putting on Jackie’s uniform, in my first season with Los Angeles, will be a powerful moment for me.

He also expressed his excitement at meeting Rachel Robinson, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"The real cool thing for me was that I got to meet Rachel Robinson," Rollins said of Robinson's widow, an active participant in the pregame ceremonies at age 92. "I talked to her and thanked her for everything. It was a real honor."

• Via Chris Lamb at ESPN, "Two who tried out before Jackie Robinson."
• Night Owl Cards proves once again why he is one of the best sportscard... No, strike that... One of the best bloggers in the business.  Check out his fantastic post titled, "'A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives'" here.
• Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew, "Jackie Robinson remembered in outer space by astronaut Terry Virts."
• Awesome!  In the Belly of the Beast profiles a stereotypical Giants fan known as "The Hipster."
• Via Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports, "Diamondbacks had nothing to do with fan covering up Dodgers blue."  

• Panini released preview pics of the 2015 Elite Baseball set; including the Joc Pederson card on the right.  Go here to check out the other preview photos.
• The Dodgers made a move yesterday to bolster their relief depth, via a recent press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today claimed left-handed pitcher Ryan Dennick from the Reds and designated left-handed pitcher David Huff for assignment. Dennick, who is on the 40-man roster, has been optioned to Double-A Tulsa.

Dennick, 28, has gone 27-31 with 18 saves and a 3.88 ERA in 210 career minor league games (26 starts) in seven seasons and saw his first big league action last season with Cincinnati, appearing in eight games. Dennick has made two relief appearances for Triple-A Louisville this year, allowing three runs (two earned) in 2.2 innings, and was selected by Kansas City in the 22nd round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Tennessee Technological University. 

 BTW, reliever Carlos Frias was recalled to join the Dodgers on the 25-man roster.

Frias, 25, last pitched on Friday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, picking up the win and allowing three runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings against Round Rock. The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder made four Cactus League appearances (one start) for the Dodgers this spring, allowing six runs in 8.0 innings, and appeared in 15 games (two starts) for the club last year in his first big league action.

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2015 Topps Museum Baseball - Dodger Canvas Collection and Momentous Material Cards

Take a look at the Dodger Canvas Collection and Momentous Material cards found in 2015 Topps Museum below.  Go here to check out all of my past post on this set. 

Canvas Collection Reprints

#CCR-10 Duke Snider                    #CCR-39 Clayton Kershaw

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Kendrick, Grandal, Van Slyke, Turner and Monday

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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A whole bunch of Dodger players will be at Frank & Sons to sign autographs for fans.  Go here or here for information.  Check out the flyers below.

Frank & Son Collectible Show
19649 San Jose Avenue
City of Industry, CA 91748

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Former LA Ram quarterback Vince Ferragamo will be signing autographs at the optometry offices of Dr. Alex Corbin Liu in Rowland Heights.  Go here for more information.

Dr. Alex Corbin Liu
E. Colima Rd. Suite #4
Rowland Heights, CA

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Scans of the 1950 Jackie Robinson Comic #2 - In Full

I hope you've been enjoying a look back at these vintage Jackie Robinson comics.  I had recently scanned all of the pages from the Comic #1 (first half here, second half here).  Now, you can enjoy Comic #2 in full below.  I figured why cut it up into halves when you surely want to read the whole thing now. 

As you'll notice these next pages focus on specific highlights from his career, and even includes a side story about former manager Wilbert Robinson - who lead the team from 1914 to 1931.

UPDATE:  Directly below are links to the other Jackie Robinson vintage comics I've scanned and shared:

• 1950 JR Comic #1 (the first half) - Link
• 1950 JR Comic #1 (the second half) - Link
• 1950 JR Comic #2 (complete scans) - Link
• 1950 JR Comic #3 (complete scans) - Link 
• 1950 JR Comic #4 (complete scans) -Link
• 1951 JR Comic #5 (complete scans) - Link 
• 1951 JR Comic #6 (complete scans) - Link

Click on any pic to embiggen.

Free the Bat Flip

Folks sure do want to take the fun and joy out of Baseball.

I get it, though.  The game is steeped with tradition and honor, so god forbid someone comes out of the woodwork to disrespect the game and it's multitudes of players by throwing the bat in a wantonly direction.  It's as if Puig is personally throwing an proverbial sword towards the hearts of those who hold Baseball so dear.

Hearing those cries, Yasiel Puig recently promised to tone it down (as if he hadn't said this numerous times in the past), via a story by Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:

Though acknowledging that some fans are entertained by his theatrics, Puig said in Spanish, “I want to show American baseball that I’m not disrespecting the game.”

Puig maintained that his bat flips aren’t intended to disrespect the game or his opponents.

“I don’t do that because I lack respect,” he said. “I do that because of the emotions that I have.”

Meanwhile, folks across the Pacific get to enjoy the emotion and wonder of the exclamation point that is the "bat flip," as evidenced by a video shared by Mike Oz at Big League Stew.  You can watch the tweet below.

Doosan hit 5 home runs tonight in their win against KT...including this one pic.twitter.com/23j1tFUh3M All 5 at https://t.co/doJxYzBHHQ
— Dan (@MyKBO) April 14, 2015

Seeing the unfairness of the criticism directed at our star Cuban outfielder, blogger and twitter savant Sarah Wexler decided to take some action.

Alright who's gonna sign my petition (that I haven't actually made) to demand Puig ignore the haters and batflip his heart out
— Sarah Wexler (@SarahWexler32) April 14, 2015

She actually did make a change.org petition, and I think any good natured Dodger fan should consider signing it. Check it out here. 

It begins with the headline, "ignore the haters and batflip your heart out."  She also adds:

You know who disrespects the game? People who feel that "respect" for the game means players should all be stiff, emotionless and, well, entirely uninteresting. People who insist that there's one right way to do things and, in effect, erase the many different baseball cultures throughout the world. How anyone can believe that a rigid, soulless game of baseball is one that is viable in the 21st century is beyond me.

After all, as Stacie Wheeler at Lasorda's Lair recently wrote:

The batflip: a symbol of freedom.

Emphasis mine.  BTW, I firmly believe that "batflip" is two words; "bat flip." 

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Blog Kiosk: 4/15/2015 - Dodger Links - Fighting for Wins and Bat Flips

The Dodgers sure do have a flare for the dramatics.  

For the second night in a row they eked out a victory on a walk-off hit that had the entire stadium dancing in the stands.  Facing Mariners closer Fernando Rodney with the bases loaded and one run down, Howie Kendrick came in to whack the first pitch he saw for a broken-bat line-drive single to right field to drive in two runs.  The photo above captured the moment, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more pics from Jon from yesterday.  Via Eric Stephen story at True Blue LA:

"You're going to have a lot of chances with runners in scoring position, especially in that 3-4-5-6 range. You're not going to get it done every time. But the times you do get it done, you try to make it count," Kendrick said. "All we can do is put together good at-bats, and hopefully the results are there."

Of note, Andre Ethier hit a one-run home run and Alex Guerrero continued his hot ways by hitting a two-run pinch hit home run -- a first for him in his short MLB career.

Below are some more links to check out:

• Check out this new Dodger blog from a fan based in the Bay Area called "In the Belly of the Beast."  Welcome to the often frustrating world of Dodger blogging.
• A lot is being made of the Kimbrel relief appearance last week and the way the Dodger batters handled getting mowed down.  Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Quality at-bats + good relief = comeback potential for Dodgers."

"That showed me a lot. It's kind of what we talked about wanting," Mattingly said. "Just make the guy fight for his outs. Just keep putting quality at-bats out and good things can happen for us."

• Via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times, "Dodgers' Yasiel Puig wants to cut down on bat flips."

Though acknowledging that some fans are entertained by his theatrics, Puig said in Spanish, “I want to show American baseball that I’m not disrespecting the game.”

• Via Lyle Spencer at MLB.com, "Jackie inspired Abdul-Jabbar, generations at UCLA."

"My first personal contact with Jackie was when I was in high school trying to decide which college to attend," Abdul-Jabbar wrote. "He sent me a letter encouraging me to consider his alma mater, UCLA. I already was aware of his remarkable achievements while at UCLA. He was the first athlete of any color to win varsity letters in baseball, basketball, football and track.

• Panini provides a sneak peek preview of some of the autographed cards that will be be found in packs of 2015 Prizm.  Check out the Corey Seager card on the right.  Go here to check out more photos from them.
• Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew, "Meanwhile in Korea, bat flips are getting even crazier."  We Americans are so uptight!
• As a child of the 80's I distinctly remember the Cabbage Patch Kids crazy.  The folks at Vice just released a video about "The Secret History of Cabbage Patch Kids," and I found it fascinating.  Apparently, that Xavier Roberts guy didn't create the doll.  Instead, he stole the idea.  Watch it below.

Video Link:

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