A Dodgers "Happy People Doll"

Check out this little Dodger troll I ran into on eBay (auction link).  It stands a sizable 4.5" and wears a Dodger jersey that looks more like a poncho than a uniform.  It definitely has a haphazard slipshod appearance.  I bet this trinket could have been found in some horrible little shop in the bad part of town.

Still, I needed to find out more about it.  When was it made, and who made it?  Is it some slapped about concoction created by a bored mother hoping to make a child smile?  Maybe it was an attempt to capitalize on the teams popularity, so they churned these out for pennies and sold them to kids with a less than discerning eye.  Or, was this actually sold by the team?

Where the heck does this come from?

After a little bit of research the answer has been revealed.  This plastic troll-like figurine is an actual Dodgers product that was once sold out of their mail-order catalog in the 60's.  As proof check out the pic below. 

Here is a copy of a 1966 Dodgers mail order catalog.  If you look closely you'll see the exact same doll at the middle of the page.  For the price of $1.50 you can get a Dodger "Happy People Doll." Wow.  All I can say is that's a terrible name for the product.

More searching discovered another "Happy People Doll" on eBay, and as you can see this one has been out in the sun way too long (auction link). 

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Blog Kiosk: 9/15/2015 - Dodger Links - Seager, Schebler and Adrian Gonzalez

How 'bout those kids!

Sure, we can talk about how we got another fantastic start from Clayton Kershaw, but that's getting boring.  The guy's a beast out there - we all know that -  and we all have come to expect near-perfection from him.  Instead, lets focus some attention on a couple of rookies who are taking the opportunities given to them to make their mark on the club.

There is no doubt in mind that Corey Seager is the future.  He continues to impress with his bat and his glove.  Last night he recorded a couple more hits to raise his season slash to 432/.543/.676.  Best yet, he's scoring runs and driving them home.  By season's end he may very well become our playoff starting shortstop.

Scott Schebler, although not as polished and flashy as Seager, has held his own with the Dodgers.  Last night he hit an important two-run jack in the eighth inning to give the club a couple of important insurance runs.  Given how wobbly Hatcher looked in the ninth we really needed those.  Overall, Schebler has shown that he can still hit for power in the big leagues.  So far he's slashing .261/.320/.652 - not too shabby.

The photo above of Scott Schebler high-fiving Corey Seager in the eighth inning via @Dodgers on twitter.  BTW, the Dodgers "Magic Number" is now at 12.  Below are more links to check out:

• What a deal!  Via Chris Cwik at Big League Stew, "Corey Seager's first home run ball was traded for a David Peralta autograph."

So, when Seager hit his first career home run Saturday, we expected the ransom to be pretty substantial. The hit came on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and provided an excellent chance for an opposing fan to leverage the ball for a ton of swag. That's not what happened.

In return for Seager's first home run ball, the fan wanted an autograph ... from D-Backs outfielder David Peralta.

• Frick'n Red Sox Fans!  Via a tweet by CJ Fogler:

GIF: Red Sox at Dodger Stadium attempts to rip foul ball out of Adrian Gonzalez's glove, sudden realization hits pic.twitter.com/aRdGabLKH7

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) September 15, 2015

• BTW, Adrian Gonzalez was named the Dodgers nominee for the 2015 Roberto Clemente Award.  This recognizes a Major League Baseball player who best represents the game through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement. Per a press release:

“It’s truly an honor to be our club’s Roberto Clemente Award nominee,” said Gonzalez. “Roberto Clemente was an exemplary man, a great player and humanitarian. I’d like to thank the Dodgers and MLB for this very special recognition that means so much to me and my family.”  

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers have a chance for best LA home record."
• Chad Moriyama at Dodgers Digest takes a look at Joc Pederson and some of the recent adjustments he's made: "Joc Pederson, his hands, and his September comeback."
• Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com, "Speedy rookie Peraza likely lost for season."
• Awesome!  I love these kind of stories.  Featured is a gold watch with a Brooklyn Dodgers Ebbets Field Lifetime Pass engraved on its back.  It was originally given by Walter O'Malley to Lt. Col. Anthony F. Story.  Via James Barron at the New York Times, "A Watch With Lifetime Access to Ebbets Field Has Mysterious Origins."
• Dodger Penguin shares his 2008 Clayton Kershaw Major League debut ticket stub.  Check it out here.
• Bob Lemke passes along an interesting tidbit about Negro League ballplayer Sam Jethroe, here.  Jethroe was in the Dodgers farm system before his debut with the Boston Braves in 1950.

At spring training with the Dodgers in Vero Beach on March 26, 1949, Sam Jethroe was unofficially clocked at 6.1 seconds in the 60-yard dash. That time tied the world’s record, and he had done it in full uniform and baseball spikes.

By comparison, Rickey Henderson ran the 60 in 6.4 seconds.

The current record for the outdoor 60-yard dash seems to be 5.99 sec.

Keep in mind that Sam Jethroe was 32-years old at the time.

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An Walter Alston Editorial Cartoon Find on eBay

I was perusing through eBay this past weekend, as I am wont to do, and came across an original sports editorial cartoon featuring longtime Dodger manager Walter Alston.  Check it out above.  See the auction here.

Likely draw in the early part of 1973, the cartoon points out how difficult it is to manage one club for a long period of time, and tips an Uncle Sam cap to Alston for his ability to do it for 20 consecutive seasons at that time.  As you know, Walter Alston would stay at the helm of the Dodger ship for 23 consecutive seasons before retiring; starting from 1954 to 1976.  Amazingly, he never signed a multi-year contract.  Instead, he signed 23 one-year contracts with the Dodgers.  Vin Scully had this to say about him:

"I always imagined him to be the type who could ride shotgun on a stage through Indian territory. He was all man and two yards tall. He was very quiet, very controlled. He never made excuses. He gave the players the credit and he took the blame. He was so solid, so American."

The artist is Alan Maver and he began his career in the early 40's as an assistant to former Olympian Feg Murray.  Murray won a bronze medal in the 110 meter hurdles during the 1920 Summer Games and went on to become a sports cartoonist and columnist at the LA Times.  Maver would soon become a prolific syndicated cartoonist - seeing his work in newspapers throughout the country.

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Welcome to the Blue, Ronald Torreyes!

The Dodgers added another player to their September roster.  Called up from the minors is versatile infielder Ronald Torreyes (pronounced tuh-RAY-us).  Per a Dodger press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today recalled infielder Ronald Torreyes (#59) from Triple-A Oklahoma City, increasing the number of players on their active roster to 35.

Torreyes, 23, will be making his Major League debut in his sixth professional season after being acquired by Los Angeles on June 12 from Toronto in exchange for cash consideration. Torreyes combined to hit .261 with 18 doubles, four home runs and 36 RBI in 110 minor league games this season with Double-A Tulsa, Triple-A Oklahoma City, Houston’s Triple-A Fresno and Toronto’s Double-A New Hampshire. He has a .298 career batting average with 22 home runs and 253 RBI in 612 minor league games in six professional seasons with the Reds (2010-11), Cubs (2012-13), Astros (2013-15) and Blue Jays (2015) organizations. He’s primarily appeared at second base (367 games) during the course of his career, but has also played shortstop (144 games), third base (62 games) and the outfield (22 games), with a .974 combined fielding percentage. The Venezuela native was originally signed by the Reds as a non-drafted free agent on Feb. 23, 2010.

As circumstances would have it, Torreyes made his Major League debut yesterday afternoon.  The days starting second baseman, Jose Peraza, left the game at the bottom of the fifth inning due to an apparent injury.  As you know, he has been having trouble with his hamstring the past week.  So, Torreyes came in and made the most of it.  He handled numerous plays on the field and recorded his first Major League hit on a double down the left field line off Diamondbacks pitcher Randall Delgado in the seventh inning.  Watch it below.

Video Link:

Overall, he went 1 for 2, and became the 55th person to play for the Dodgers this season - a franchise record.  Torreyes is also the 100th Venezuelan to appear in a MLB game this season - also a new record.

In celebration of Torreyes' promotion to the Dodgers I made the above fantasy card for him.  I used a photograph from Diario La Verdad on twitter and the 1971 Topps Baseball card design.

Below are his career minor league stats, via Baseball-Reference:

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Blog Kiosk: 9/14/2015 - Dodger Links - Greinke, Rollins and Corey Seager

Justin Turner and the Dodgers had a grand ol' time in Arizona yesterday.  Turner recorded two hits and an RBI while the Dodgers won their second game of the three game series to drop their "Magic Number" to 13.  Best yet, Zach Greinke continued to build on his Cy Young bonifides by pitching eight shut out innings.  Via Steve Gilbert and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"They're an aggressive team and Zack just teases you with borderline pitches and that's why he gets so many ground balls against left-handed hitters," said catcher A.J. Ellis, who homered for the eventual decisive run. "Zack executes so well on the bottom half of the zone."

Photo above of Justin Turner goofing on DBacks mascot Baxter via SportsNet LA on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• Via Barry M. Bloom at MLB.com, "Improved Greinke is having all-time great season."

"I'm a better pitcher now," Greinke said. "I used to try and strike everybody out. Now I just try to make a good pitch. And then when I throw the next one, I try to make a better pitch."

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Rollins will get shortstop job back upon return."

Via Don Mattingly: "I don't know what the chatter is with Corey and that position, but he's going to be really good. At this point, where we're at, we don't plan … Andrew and the front office hasn't come to me and said, put him in there every day. The plan has always been to give Jimmy days and J.T. days. He's played more than we thought because of injuries and done a good job."

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Corey Seager continues to impress."

“When you’re going good, you’re always confident. That comes with it,” Seager said. “You’re relaxed, everything’s clicking. It’s been a good run so far, so I’m going to try to keep that rolling.”

• ICYMI:  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers deal Minor Leaguer Barney to Jays."  In return, the Dodgers receive minor league catcher Jack Murphy, via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA.
• Alex Cora at the Sons of Steve Garvey ran at the annual Dodgers 5K / 10K / Kids Run this past weekend and shares a bunch of pics.  Check it out here.
• Mat Latos will now work out of the bullpen as a long reliever, via Ken Gurnick on twitter:

Mat Latos now long reliever, Mattingly said.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 13, 2015

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

The next homestand starts tomorrow 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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Monday, September 14th at 7:10 PM
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

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

Southern California band the Dirty Heads will perform a pregame concert at approximately 6:45 p.m. from atop the Dodger dugout.  They will also throw the ceremonial first pitch Monday. Additionally, the host of “Entertainment Tonight” Kevin Frazier will throw a first pitch. Jim Gaffigan, Grammy-nominated comedian, will announce the Dodgers’ starting lineup. Grammy and Latin Grammy award-winning artist Lila Downs will perform the national anthem.

Dodger alum Al Downing will sign autographs in the left-field plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Dirty Heads will also sign autographs for fans in the right-field plaza from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Martinez.

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Tuesday, September 15th at 7:10 PM
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Tuesday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:10 PM.

It is also Law Enforcement Appreciation 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 commemorative Law Enforcement Appreciation travel mug.  See that on the left.  If not already sold out go here for information.

As part of Law Enforcement Appreciation Night, Levy Restaurants will offer a 25 percent discount at all concession stands, excluding alcoholic beverages, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the presentation of a valid law enforcement badge. Additionally, Levy Restaurants will offer a Law Enforcement Dog for $9, which consists of a quarter-pound all-beef Super Dodger Dog covered with chili, nacho cheese and fresh onions, at Extreme Loaded Dogs locations on field, loge and reserve levels.

Law Enforcement Appreciation Night will include pregame ceremonies. Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey and Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer will throw an honorary first pitch. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s color guard will be on hand for the national anthem. Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell and Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck will announce the Dodgers’ starting lineup.  LAPD Detective Alma Burke will sing the national anthem.

The Dodgers will also honor John Shoemaker who was recently appointed “Captain” of Player Development for his dedication through the course of 39 years with the Dodgers. Director of Player Development Gabe Kapler will make an on-field presentation to Shoemaker and a video with messages from current players will be played. Additionally, Shoemaker will throw the honorary first pitch.

Dodger alumnus Mickey Hatcher will sign autographs in the left-field plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Navy Operator First Class Peter Izarra.

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Wednesday, September 16th at 7:10 PM
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Wednesday's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:40 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:10 PM.  The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a Fernando Valenzuela bobblehead.  See it on the left.

The Dodgers will officially kick off their commemoration of National Hispanic Heritage Month and will be joined by legendary Mexican rock band Maná. The rockers from Guadalajara, Jalisco, will join Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) President Fidel Vargas Sr. in celebrating HSF’s 40th birthday. Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles Carlos M. Sada will be on hand to present the “El Grito” speech celebrating Mexican Independence Day. Sada along with Fher of Maná will also throw first pitches.

Fans are invited to arrive early for a special musical performance at approximately 6:40 p.m. by Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuellar. Mexican actor and singer Jaime Camil will perform the Mexican national anthem followed by the U.S. national anthem. Members of the Valenzuela family will officially start the game with “It’s Time for Dodger Baseball!”

The Dodgers will also join Major League Baseball in celebrating Roberto Clemente Day. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Dodgers will recognize their 2015 Roberto Clemente Award, All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. 

Dodger alum Al Ferrara will sign autographs in the left-field plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Edgar Valles.
• 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 Wednesday include an Andre Ethier autographed photo, Zack Greinke autographed baseball and Joc Pederson autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 8:45 p.m.

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