Blog Kiosk: 7/18/2016 - Dodgers Links - Sports Museum of Los Angeles Now Open to Everyone

As you surely know, yesterday marked the 75th anniversary of the end of Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak.  For a period of two months DiMaggio owned Baseball.  From May 15 to July 16, 1941 DiMaggio slashed .408/.463/.717/1.181 while slugging 15 home runs, 16 doubles, four triples, driving in 55 runners and scoring 56 times himself.  He also struck out only five times in 247 plate appearances.  In other words, he was a one man wrecking machine.  The Yankees went 41-13-2 during that stretch. 

In honor of his rare feat check out the pics above of an display at the Sports Museum of Los Angeles that celebrates the 56-game hitting streak.  As you may know, this museum has once again opened its door to the general public.  It had been closed and available only through special tours and private events.  Now, sports fans of all stripes can visit the 20,000 square feet museum on the weekends.  Via a press release:

“We are excited to be able to give Dodgers fans and sports fans in general the opportunity to view up close these priceless, one-of-a-kind objects,” Cypres said. “The items in the Sports Museum of Los Angeles bridge the history of the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles and it has been a labor of love to acquire them and make them available to the generations of sports fans in Southern California.”

If you have never had a chance to visit then you should do it right away.  In my opinion it's the best Baseball museum outside of Cooperstown, and clearly the best Dodger collection I've ever seen.   Go here for information.  It is open to the general public only on weekends from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and over and students with ID, and $9 for children ages 5-12. On-site parking is $8.  Below is a brief listing of what you can see there:

• T206 Honus Wagner trading card – the Holy Grail among collectors
• Gallery dedicated to Negro Leagues and Jackie Robinson, including his game-worn jersey and bat
• Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe MVP and Cy Young awards, Johnny Podres’ 1955 World Series MVP trophy
• Handful of dirt and first ball thrown out on opening of Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field in 1913 
• Don Drysdale collection from high school days in Van Nuys through Brooklyn and L.A. Dodgers
• World Series trophies from 1970-2000 
• Willie Mays and Willie McCovey game-worn jerseys

Pics above provided by the Sports Museum of Los Angeles.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1939 the Dodgers trade for Pee Wee Reese from the Red Sox for $35,000 and a handful of other players.  In 1949 Jackie Robinson testified in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities to disagree with singer and actor Paul Robeson’s belief that African-Americans would refuse to fight in any war against Russia due to the country’s history of racial discrimination.  In 1957 Gil Hodges his his 12th career gran slam to tie a NL record.
• Happy Birthday, Joe Torre!

A 2016 Topps Now Card for Chris Taylor's Grand Slam Effort - #252

Rookie infielder Chris Taylor had a legendary night at the plate.  In fact, it was so great he ended up putting himself in the Dodgers record books.  In a three for five night, Taylor recorded a double, triple and a grand slam.  Furthermore, his homer was the first time in Los Angeles Dodgers history, and fourth time in franchise history, that a Dodger recorded his first Major League home run as a grand slam.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"Mentally, it's big to have a game like this, especially early in my season as far as the big leagues," he said. "The biggest thing is for my confidence and to help me relax and play free like I did at Triple-A."

In honor of his fantastic evening Topps is making a 2016 Topps Now card that you can now order.  Go here to check it out.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 260.

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Blog Kiosk: 7/16/2016 - Dodgers Links - Ethier, Thompson and Chris Taylor's Big Night

Chris Taylor had a heck of a game last night.  The young infielder went 3 for 5 with a double, triple, grand slam, for his first career home run and six RBI's.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

Taylor became the first Los Angeles Dodger, and only the fourth in franchise history, whose first Major League home run was a grand slam. The others are Chico Fernandez (1956), Irv Palica (1950) and Preston Ward (1948).

"That's pretty cool, that's awesome," Taylor said.

In eight inning of the game Chris came up to the plate with an opportunity to record an elusive cycle.  He was just a single short.  The last time a Dodger had done it was Orlando Hudson in 2009 against the Giants in the home opener.  Having proven his muscle with the bat Taylor attempted to sneak a bunt single past the deep infield on the left side.  Unfortunately, he just missed getting it past a sprawling pitcher, who eventually threw him out.

"I thought it was a good time," said Taylor. "They had the third baseman back and it's always been part of my game, regardless of the hits. In that situation again, I'd try it again. Unfortunately I didn't have good angle and the pitcher made a nice play."

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

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1948 Brooklyn released their manager, Leo Durocher, so that he may become the skipper for the Giants.  Burt Shotten would take over the managerial sport for Brooklyn.

2016 Topps Tribute - The 2016 Rookies, Relic, Prime Patches Cards

Now that you've seen the base cards below are the two Dodger players found within the 2016 Rookies insert set and some of the relics.  Go here to check out my previous post on this set.

2016 ROOKIES

#16R-2 Corey Seager                         #16R-10 Kenta Maeda

An Ebbets Field Blueprint at Goldin Auctions

I am oftentimes drawn to the unique.  So when I first saw the above blueprint I was smitten.  Featured above, via Goldin Auctions current summer offering (auction link here), is a circa 1952 seating diagram of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.  In fact, it includes two different drawings, one on each side, showing both the lower and upper tiers of seats. 

According to the auction description it was originally found within the collection of a local NY tavern owner who counted many Brooklyn players as patrons, and was acquired by the consignor from a legendary dealer named Alan "Mr. Mint" Rosen.  Many of us old-timers will remember that fellow for his grandiose declarations of wealth - kind of like a hobby version of a Donald Trump without the baggage of racist underpinnings and numerous corporate bankruptcies.

This blueprint would look fantastic in a nice frame, and would be even cooler if it were double-sided.  That way you could flip it around whenever you wanted a different look on the wall. 

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Blog Kiosk: 7/15/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

As a final goodbye to All-Star weekend I thought I'd put up this fantastic vintage photograph of Jackie Robinson congratulating Stan "the Man" Musial on the plate after hitting an homer in the first inning of the 1949 All-Star Game in Brooklyn.  The photo was originally tweeted by @OTBaseballPhotos.

The American League eventually bested the National League, 11-7.  Jackie was 1-4 with a walk, a double and three runs scored.  Pee Wee Reese went an unheralded 0-5 with a walk.  Gil Hodges batted 1-3 with a run scored.  Roy Campanella would go 0-2 with a walk.  Preacher Roe pitched a scoreless inning in relief.  Lastly, Don Newcombe took the loss, as he threw 2.2 innings, gave up two runs on three hits and recorded one walk.  He did not strike out a batter, though, Don did get an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the second inning.  Check out the boxscore here.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1955 Dodgers hurler Don Newcombe hit his sixth home run of the season as a pitcher, tying a National League record.  He would eventually finish the year with seven home runs.  In 1995 rookie pitcher Hideo Nomo won his seventh straight decision in a game against the Florida Marlins.  In 2004 Eric Gagne set the Dodgers career mark for saves with 130 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.