Weekend Autograph Opportunities: All-Star FanFest in San Diego and Several Baseball Veterans at Frank & Son

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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Blog Kiosk: 7/6/2016 - Dodgers Links - Three Dodgers All Stars

Look at these All-Stars smiling wide.

As you likely know by know, the Dodgers will be represented by three players during this upcoming All-Star Game in San Diego.  They are shortstop Corey Seager, closer Kenley Jansen and ace Clayton Kershaw (not shown).  Selection was based on player balloting.  This will be a first All-Star appearance for both Seager and Jansen.  Kershaw is now a six time All-Star, but will not be playing due to a mildly herniated disc.  BTW, below are some additional facts:

• Jansen, 28, leads all relievers with a 0.66 WHIP and ranks among National League relievers in saves (25, 2nd), ERA (1.30, 3rd), opponents’ batting average (.153, 3rd) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.80, 2nd, 44 SO/5 BB) in 36 appearances this year.
• Jansen, who became the franchise’s all-time saves leader earlier this year, is the first Dodger reliever to be named to the All-Star team since 2010 (Jonathan Broxton & Hong-Chih Kuo) and is just the third All-Star ever from Curacao, joining Andruw Jones (2000, ’02-03, ’05-06) and Jair Jurrjens (2011). 
• Kershaw, 28, is the first Dodger to be named to six consecutive All-Star teams (2011-16) since Fernando Valenzuela (1981-86).
• Seager, at 22 years, 69 days, is the youngest position player to be honored as an All-Star in franchise history (previous: Pete Reiser: 22 years, 113 days) and the third-youngest Dodger All-Star overall (at the time of their first selection), behind only Fernando Valenzuela (20 years, 281 days in 1981) and Ralph Branca (21 years, 183 days in 1947). 
• Seager is just the second Dodger rookie shortstop to be selected, joining Bill Grabarkewitz in 1970, and the first Dodger shortstop to be named an All-Star since Rafael Furcal in 2010.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out a bunch of pics by Jon and Juan Ocampo from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1938 Leo Durocher hit a bunt home run as the Dodgers rep during the All-Star game in Cincinnati.  Per a description at Baseball Almanac:
  

  Frank McCormick had opened the seventh with a single and Leo Durocher, the next batter, was ordered to sacrifice. He followed the order as third baseman Jimmie Foxx charged in. Playing the ball, Foxx made the scoop and threw the ball into right field. Joe DiMaggio, in right in deference to Earl Averill, raced in, picked up the ball and fired it home. The throw was too high and sailed over catcher Bill Dickey's head, allowing McCormick to score. Meanwhile, Durocher never stopped running until he reached home.

  In 2000 Vin Scully is voted the #1 sportscaster of the 20th century by members of the American Sportscasters Association.
• Happy Birthday, Willie Randolph! 

2016 Topps Stadium Club - The Dodgers Variation Cards

This past Friday I shared photos of all the Dodgers base cards found in packs of 2016 Topps Stadium Club Baseball packs.  Now I show you the two Dodgers variations that are available.  Check out the Clayton Kershaw and Corey Seager base variation cards below.  They are paired with their normal base card for comparison.

Base Variations

#69 Clayton Kershaw 

Base                                                   Variation

#142 Corey Seager

Base                                                   Variation

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Blog Kiosk: 7/5/2016 - Dodgers Links - De Jong, a Dodger Emirates Plane and Flying Like an Eagle

What a fun evening at Dodger Stadium.  We got all of the pomp and circumstance you'd expect at a ballgame on Independence Day.  Folks from the armed services were on hand and unveiled a large flag on the field while another sang the national anthem.  Best yet, an American bald eagle, not the one shown with Dodger President Stan Kasten, soared above the stadium to the delight of the crowd.  Then, once realizing freedom was at hand, the eagle took off for the great open spaces and flew away - to the consternation of his handler.  Per an ESPN report:

The male eagle was supposed to fly from the top of the stadium down to its handler Monday as part of the pregame festivities for Independence Day.

Instead, the liberty-loving bird flew right on past its handler on the outfield grass and continued over the center-field fence.

It disappeared from view, prompting rumbles of laughter and concern from baseball fans.

Fortunately, the freedom loving eagle did not go far.  In fact, it appears he just decided to go on a little joyride.  Per a tweet from the LA Zoo:

@Dodgers Happily, our bald eagles are fine + safely back at the Zoo. Although he missed his mark, Chinook waited by the van for his trainer

— Los Angeles Zoo (@LAZoo) July 5, 2016

You can watch the eagle soar here.  Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics from Jon and Jill Weisleder from yesterdays festivities.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1935 Tony Cuccinello of the Dodgers and Al Cuccinello of the Giants hit home runs, the first time in the majors brothers on opposing teams homered in the same game.  In 1952 the Dodgers game against the Boston Braves is delayed when a small dog comes on the field.  Outfielders Carl Furillo and Duke Snider have to escort it to the stands.  In 2004 Eric Gagne's streak of 84 consecutive saves is ended by Chad Tracy of the Diamondbacks.  

A Corey Seager / Trayce Thompson 2016 Topps Now Card

For the first time this season a pair of Dodger players are the focus of a 2016 Topps Now Baseball card. It features rookie phenoms Corey Seager and Trayce Thompson and it celebrates a rare accomplishment at the plate.  For only the fourth time in history rookie teammates hit at least thirteen home runs before the All-Star Game.  Go here to check it out and to order.  This is the sixteenth Dodger card available in the set.  Below is what is written on the reverse.

Trayce Thompson scored the first run of the game for the Los Angeles Dodgers thanks to a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning, his 13th of the season.  The home run was somewhat historic, as Thompson and Seager, who's hit 17 home runs thus far, are the fourth rookie teammates in MLB history to each have 13 or more home runs prior to the MLB All-Star Game break, and the first to accomplish the feat since 1982.

UPDATE:  The final print run for this card is 749 copies.

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Blog Kiosk: 7/4/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw, Ethier and Brandon McCarthy

Brandon McCarthy sure did pick a heck of a time to throw his best game as a Dodger.  Having just concluded his rehab from Tommy John Surgery performed in late April last year, McCarthy returned to the mound to blank the Colorado Rockies for five innings at Dodger Stadium.  He struck out eight batters, gave up two hits and walked only one.  Per Ken Gurnick and Thomas Harding at MLB.com:

"It was surprisingly normal," said McCarthy. "I wasn't really expecting it to feel like I'd just get in the swing of things, but it felt normal. I didn't feel too nervous. There wasn't anything going on that I wasn't expecting. Just settled in normally."

Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

“It was great; this was as good as I’ve seen him in years past,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “The fastball had late life; he threw the breaking ball when he needed to, mixed in a couple changeups. Eight punchouts in five innings; he just kind of continued what our starters have done this entire series. We’re really excited for him. He drove in a run too. It was good to see.”

The Dodgers outshined the Rockies, 4-1, to win their fourth straight and last six out of seven games.  Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon and Jill Weisleder from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1980 Hall of Famer Don Sutton fired the 52nd and final shutout of his career in a 4-0 victory over the Giants at Dodger Stadium.  In 2006 Nomar Garciaparra ties a Major League record for being hit by a pitch three times in a game.