A Couple Interesting Vintage Dodger Press Photos at RMY Auctions

Check out a couple of great vintage Dodgers-related press photos currently available at RMY Auctions.

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Hey, Blue Eye's!

Below is a fun 1966 NEA/UPI press photo featuring the dashing Sandy Koufax with the equally beautiful Nancy Sinatra locked in an embrace.  Below is what's written on the caption attached to the reverse:

Making a Point - Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers points out something to Nancy Sinatra before the Hollywood All Stars-Sports Writers game July 22.  Wearing a Dodger uniform, the daughter of singer Frank Sinatra did not seem to help the team in their cause as they lost the subsequent official game to the visiting New York Mets, 3-0.

I want so badly to know what the heck they are pointing at.  Has a fan interrupted the exhibition by running onto the field, or did some reporter make a fantastic play?  We shall never know.  I would like to believe, though, that an alien spaceship is hovering over the stadium. 

(auction link)

Here is a photo that is sure to elicit a strong emotional response.  After all, the idea having a couple of young African-American kids as team mascots and giving them obvious racial nicknames would bring about screams from all corners of the country today - and rightly so.  Nevertheless, from an historical perspective I felt it was important enough to share here.

It is dated to March 2, 1929 and was release by ACME News Pictures. It states the following on the caption attached to the reverse:

Luck On The End of the Bat - Rookie Ralston, one of the youngsters trying to break into the line-up of the Brooklyn Dodgers, gets his bat from "Snowball" and "Blackball," the two mascots, at the Dodgers' spring training camp at Clearwater, FL.

Thankfully, a lot has changed in the world and in the game. And although the children appear to be enjoying themselves (who wouldn't want to be as close to game as they were at their age), this photo clearly exhibits a different era that we should never pretend never existed.

(auction link)

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Rockies Series Starts Today - Scheduled Autograph Sessions, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts this evening against the Colorado Rockies, and several former Dodgers are scheduled for an autograph session with fans.  Below are the scheduled autograph opportunities and other odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

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Thursday, May 14th at 7:10 PM
RHP Chad Bettis vs. LHP Brett Anderson
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Thursday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:10 PM.  The third of eight Cy Young Collectors' Pin Series giveaways is this night.  The first 40,000 fans will receive an Sandy Koufax pin.  See it on the left.

The Mirman School Concert Singers will perform the national anthem. Under the direction of Paul Kay, the Mirman School of Concert Singers is an award-winning middle school choir from Los Angeles that has performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall and across the country and abroad.

Dodger alumnus Mickey Hatcher will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Luis Martinez of Salinas. Martinez enlisted in 2006 and in 2009 was assigned to Marine Expeditionary Force Group MHG where he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He then transferred to 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines in Hawaii where he completed one Unit Deployment Program to Okinawa Japan for six months.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring more than 25 signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions will take place behind the Vin Scully press box on the club level. The items up for auction on Friday include an Andre Ethier autographed photo, Howie Kendrick autographed baseball and an Adrian Gonzalez autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 8:45 PM.

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Friday, May 15th at 7:10 PM
RHP Eddie Butler vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Friday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:10 PM.  It is Friday Night Fireworks, so fans will be able to go down onto the field after the game to watch the spectacle. The theme for the evening is songs from 1965 as they salute the 1965 World Champions.  Go here for information about future firework themes.

It is also Girl Scout Night at Dodger Stadium.  Folks who ordered a special ticket package in the All You Can Eat Right Field Pavilion or Infield Reserve will get an exclusive Girl Scout patch with your ticket.  See that on the left.  If not already sold out go here for information.

Mike Kiley, Chief Executive Officer of Security Benefit Corporation, a company that has been helping Americans to and through retirement for more than 120 years and a Dodger partner, will throw the ceremonial first pitch.

Pregame entertainment will also include a stilt walker in the left-field plaza and a DJ ADM in the right-field plaza from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Dodger alumnus Dennis Powell will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Cynthia Velasco of Los Angeles. Velasco served in the 2004 RIMPAC deployment, several West Pacific deployments and in the Operation Tomodachi humanitarian relief in 2001. She is the recipient of three Navy and Marine Corps achievement medals.

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Saturday, May 16th at 6:10 PM
LHP Jorge De La Rosa vs. RHP Zack Greinke
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.) 

Saturday's game starts at 6:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 3:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 3:30 PM.  It is Old-Timers Night!  The first 40,000 fans will receive an 1965 World Series Replica Ring.  See it on the left.

The Old-Timers game will start with introductions at 4:00 PM. Admission to the Old-Timers Game is free with a purchase of a ticket to the game.  Go here for a list of former players who will be in the ballpark.Fernando Valenzuela, Orel Hershiser, Ron Cey, Bill Russell, Davey Lopes, Rick Monday, Reggie Smith, Eric Karros and Nomar Garciaparra will lead a host of Dodgers.  BTW,  nans can tune into the Old-Timers’ game which will air live on SportsNet LA. 

Former Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Ralph Mauriello will perform the national anthem. Members of the 1965 World Series team - Koufax, Davis, Wills, Moon, Perranoski, Parker, Torborg, Fairly, Ferrara and Johnson – will participate in the ceremonial first pitch.

Pregame entertainment will also include a balloon artist in the left-field plaza, DJ Adam in the right-field plaza, Angela Mukul in the left-field reserve plaza and The Smokin’ Cobras in the right-field reserve plaza from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Adrian Camacho of Los Angeles. Camacho has been stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Bahrain, Hawaii and throughout California. Camacho is currently stationed at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego.

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Sunday, May 17rd at 1:10 PM
RHP Kyle Kendrick vs. RHP Mike Bolsinger
SNLA/AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Sunday's game starts at 1:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 10:40 AM, and stadium gates open at 11:10 AM. 

It is also Yoga Day at Dodger Stadium.  Folks who ordered a special ticket package in the All You Can Eat Right Field Pavilion or Infield Reserve will get an exclusive yoga mat and post-game yoga session with your ticket.  See the mat on the left.  If not already sold out go here for information.

Viva Los Dodgers at the historic 76 station begins at 11:00 AM. Dodger alumnus and broadcaster Manny Mota will sign autographs from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Musical entertainment will be provided by Louie Cruz Beltran and La Sirena y Orquesta Mar de Ashé. Beltran will also perform the national anthem. 

Dodger alumnus Matt Luke will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Marine Corps Private First Class Joseph Godges of Rozlopy, Poland. Godges enlisted during World War II. On July 29, 1944, after eight days of fighting on Guam, he witnessed the official raising of the U.S. flag over the ruins of the former U.S. Marine barracks on Guam, an unforgettable moment for Godges.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring more than 25 signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions will take place behind the Vin Scully press box on the club level. The items up for auction on Sunday include an Alex Guererro autographed photo, a Jimmy Rollins autographed baseball and a Yasiel Puig autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 2:45 PM.

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Blog Kiosk: 5/14/2015 - Dodger Links - Mattingly Thrown Out, Replay Issues and a Tat on the Scalp

Don Mattingly made quite a stink with the umpires last night, and got thrown out for his troubles.  It all began when Giancarlo Stanton made a sliding catch that appeared to hit the grass first before being caught.  Predictably, the play was reviewed, but the outcome was not what Mattingly expected.  Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com:

"I saw the ball bounce off the grass and bounce up into his glove," Mattingly said. "When they showed it on the big screen, we saw it bounce and you just know it's going to get overturned and when it doesn't, it's just frustrating."

I see his point, but I also see the point laid out by the officials.  Speaking as a fan that has been disappointed more than once while watching an NHL game, it is impossible to get absolute perfection.  Furthermore, there is logic to the idea that an overturned call should be based on irrefutable evidence that the play on the field should be overturned.  In other words, sometimes a situation is so close and the data/video available so indeterminable that it's only reasonable to say that whatever call was made on the field should stand.

Mattingly's idea of having a so called "blind" jury looking at replays is an interesting one, but I think it's likely unreasonable.  In order to speed up the entire process I suspect that there is someone (or more) watching every game in real time.  This would allow them to quickly transition from observer to replay official in a moments notice.  Not having this in place could mean extending the amount of time it takes to make a decision, and we all know how much everyone hates long wait times.  Also, as I said above sometimes video replay just doesn't provide enough information.

Overall, I understand why the play was deemed an out.  Clearly the ball bounced, but did it bounce on the grass or bounce on the leather brim of the glove?  That is something none of the videos provided could show. 

The photo above of Don Mattingly was taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from last night's game.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs, "There’s Nothing At All Like the Dodgers’ Offense."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Mattingly: Yasiel Puig out at least two weeks."

“He’s going to be a little bit, at least a couple weeks,” Mattingly said. “So, we’ll kind of let it rest for a couple days until he gets it going.”

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Jansen still LA closer, will be eased back in."

"He's going to be the closer -- no question about that," Mattingly said. "We just want to get him comfortable first."

• Via Ben Reiter at Sports Illustrated, "For ex-Dodgers star Matt Kemp, Padres offer chance at fresh start."

After he finally rebounded during the waning months of last season, Kemp knew that his Dodgers future might be brief. “In previous years before that, there had been talk that I might be traded, but it was pretty hard to trade me because I was coming off surgery and all that. But I had a really, really good second half, and this past off-season, I didn’t know what was going to happen. I kept hearing my name. When I used to hear my name in previous years, I’d get phone calls telling me, that’s not going to happen. But not the last two years. So I knew something might happen.”

• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA shares the latest Hyun-Jin Ryu noodle commercial, here.
• Two Dodger farmhands make Carson Cistulli of FanGraphs, "The Fringe Five: Baseball’s Most Compelling Fringe Prospects."  They are Jose DeLeon and Yadir Drake.
• As you know, Pedro Baez was removed from the game due to an injury.  Ken Gurnick on twitter provides some information:

Baez felt something in pectoral area. MRI tomorrow.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) May 14, 2015

• You got a Dodger tattoo?  Is it on your head?  Watch this video of a Dodger fan who had a Dodger themed tattoo put on his scalp.  Wow!  (Hat Tip: u/auth0r_unkn0wn on Reddit)

Video Link:

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Out of this World - Actually, Out of Dodger Stadium (videos)

As I'm sure you know by now, Gaincarlo Stanton accomplished something last night that only a handful of others had done.  In his first at-bat of the evening he belted a waist-high fastball that went up and over the outfield bleachers at Dodger Stadium.  This feat had only happened four times in the past by three different players since the stadium's opening, and I thought it would be fun to seek out videos of each one to share here.

First, below is a listing of the "out of the park" homers (including Stanton's drive from last night) at Dodger Stadium, via Dodgers.com:

• Giancarlo Stanton / Miami / 475 feet / Against Mike Bolsinger to Left field / May 12, 2015
• Mark McGwire / St. Louis / 483 feet / Against Jamie Arnold to Left-center / May 22, 1999
• Mike Piazza / Dodgers / 478 feet / Against Frank Castillo (Col) to Left field / Sept. 21, 1997
• Willie Stargell / Pittsburgh  / 470 feet / Against Andy Messersmith to Right field / May 8, 1973
• Willie Stargell / Pittsburgh / 506 ft., 6 in. / Agsinst Alan Foster to Right field / Aug. 5, 1969

As you can see, Pittsburgh great Willie Stargell did it twice during his career.  Below are the videos I was able to track down.  Unfortunately, I just could not find Mark McGwire's home run from 1999. (Strange, eh?)  If you know where it is please pass that along.  Also, there doesn't appear to be footage of Stargell's two home runs, but there is a video the Dodgers put together celebrating the feat.

Stanton' home run from last night:

Video Link:

Mike Piazza home run from 1997:

Video Link:

A tribute video to Willie Stargell's round-trippers:

Video Link:

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Juan Uribe and Yimi Garcia

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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Juan Uribe!  He'll be signing autographs at a public event for the first time this coming Saturday at Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe in the City of Industry  The signing will be from 10AM to 12PM.  Go here for more information.

• $60 for small items: balls,8x10-11x17 and mini helmets
• $80 for large items: bats, bases, f/s helmets,jerseys and game used
• $10 inscriptions
• $20 Giants/Whitesox WS inscriptions

Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe
13131 Crossroads Parkway South
City of Industry, CA 91746

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Dodger reliever Yimi Garcia will also be signing autographs on Saturday.  He will be at Valley Sports Cards in Tarzana.  Go here for more information.

Valley Sports Cards
19640 Ventura Blvd
Tarzana, CA 91356

UPDATE!!!: There is an important change to this signing.  They have moved the time to 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM Noon.   Go here for more info.

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Blog Kiosk: 5/13/2015 - Dodger Links - Justin Turner, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Yasiel Puig

Goodness gracious!  There are so many story lines from last night's game.  I could rattle off about the fantastic start by Mike Bolsinger; who went 5.2 innings, gave up five hits, a lone home run and struck out three.  Via an AP story at ESPN:

"I just tried to put myself in a good position to stay up here," Bolsinger said. "I didn't have my fastball command that I wanted so I just threw a lot of curveballs and sliders and was able to get some groundouts."

Or, how about that home run Bolsinger gave up to Mike Stanton that cleared Dodger Stadium - only the fifth time that's ever been done.  Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com:

"That's the hardest ball I've ever seen hit against me … well, I take that back. His last ball he hit against me was probably the hardest ball," Bolsinger said. "You've got to just look back and go, ‘That's awesome,' and just go on with the game."

Then there's the offensive explosion that saw the team record 21 hits to earn the Dodgers 22nd win of the season.  Via Joe Frisaro and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"We did a good job forcing [Haren] to throw the ball in the strike zone and kept the pressure on him," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We did a good job of passing the baton."

But I am really enjoying the recent resurgence of the once-maligned outfielder Andre Either.  He is proving his naysayers wrong by showing that he still has something left in the tank.  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

Ethier pushed his 2015 OPS to 1.021 and has six consecutive hits dating back to Monday. Ethier holds the Los Angeles Dodger record (and is tied for the all-time franchise mark) with 10 consecutive hits in August 2012.

“It’s a good feeling,” Ethier said. “You’re doing what you want to do — every at-bat, you want to get a hit. But more importantly, it’s just keeping this thing going and building off that momentum from last night.”

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more photos of yesterday's game from Jon.  Below are some links to check out:

• What's better than a Dodger story told by Vin Scully?  How about a story told by Vin about the great Satchel Paige.  Watch it here via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider.
• Via Eno Sarris at FanGraphs, "Justin Turner, Marlon Byrd, and an Education in Hitting." 

After years of hearing about letting the ball travel deep in the zone, and giving the ball time, and staying back, Turner didn’t quite take to the advice right away. He challenged Byrd, but Byrd got him right back. “Pull up your film from all the balls that you’ve driven, and look where your contact point was,” the outfielder told the infielder. “Even though I thought I was backing the ball up, when I looked at the balls I was driving, they were out in front of the plate,” Turner admitted. “It really started making sense.”

• Yeoman's work.  Redditor r/siber222000 translated a recent Korean article that includes an interview with Hyun-Jin Ryu regarding his recent shutdown.  Check it out here.

Q. Was it because of the pain? or was it because of the decline in fastball speed?

-It was more of an extended stiffness that lasted couple of days rather than pain which caused a bit of decline in my fastball. The second bullpen session was more uncomfortable than the first bullpen session (which he threw 25 fastballs).

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Puig's rehab stopped after setback."  Oy Vey!

"I don't know about it starting all the way over," Mattingly said. "It wasn't necessarily good news, but I don't feel we're starting all the way over. The MRI shows a strain and we know there is one."

• Wow!  This is fantastic.  John Thorn, MLB's official historian, is sharing photos from an 1880 book about the Worcester Base Ball Club's season that includes cartoon-like engravings.  It is from the only copy known to exist, and has never been reproduced or shared with the public before.  Check it out here.  Below is my favorite.

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