Blog Kiosk: 9/17/2016 - Dodgers Links - Anderson, Scully and Kenta Maeda

Kenta Maeda was brilliant enough to help the Dodgers defeat the Diamondbacks, 3-2.  Uncharacteristically wild, he went five arduous innings, recording six strike outs, three walks and one earned run with 94 pitches. It was enough, though, to help him earn his fifteenth victory of the season.  It also dropped the clubs "Magic Number" to just twelve games.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN:

"He started to get a little better with his command, but he was just on the edges too much and missing with his fastball," manager Dave Roberts said. "With Kenta, you can tell. When he is getting ahead of guys with the fastball and then throwing the slider and is around the zone you know he has good rhythm. And he didn't have it [Friday] until the fourth inning. It was a grind for him."
...
"He still found a way, like he seemingly always does, to give us a chance to win a baseball game," Roberts said. "That's a sign of a great competitor, which Kenta is, and a winning pitcher. I don't know the win-loss, but Kenta, every single time he takes the mound he gives us a chance to win."

Maeda added more, via Ken Gurnick and Jake Rill at MLB.com:

"My command was off in general today and I wasn't able to get into a groove and put a lot of pressure on the other players to pick up the slack," said Maeda. "I felt okay overall, just didn't have my fastball command. Our team scored early in the game and that helped me."

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1912 Brooklyn outfielder and future Hall of Famer Casey Stengel made his Major League debut.  He collects four hits, drives in two runs and swipes a pair of stolen bases.  In 1979 Dodger catcher Joe Ferguson hit his 20th homer of the season against the Atlanta Braves, which gave the team their fifth player with at least 20 homers on the year for the first time in franchise history.  In 1981 Fernando Valenzuela ties a Major League record for shutouts at eight when he defeated the Atlanta Braves, 2-0.  In 1996 Hideo Nomo threw the Dodgers 20th no-hitter in franchise history.  He defeated the Colorado Rockies, 9-0.  Watch the last out of this game here.

Snapshots from the 1955 World Series

It's been awhile since I've trolled around the eBay marketplace, so when I took a gander the other day I was happy to find a few items that struck my fancy.  As you may know, I'm a big proponent of fan-taken photos from yesteryear.  These little pictures are often one-of-kind and provide a brief look at moments in history that have since been long forgotten... and, I don't mean moments that are particularly noteworthy either.  Instead, these pics are very candid and they can provide a brief glimpse at normal everyday activities that we didn't see back then.  Featured below are photos of three Brooklyn Dodger legends being hounded by adoring fans as they enter Yankee Stadium before Game 6 of the 1955 World Series.

In the photo on the above left we see Roy Campanella, in a rather dapper hat, being surrounded by onlookers (Auction Link).  It seems like he is in a bit of a rush and wanting to get inside the stadium.  To its right is Duke Snider (Auction Link), and he too looks quite serious.  Below, Gil Hodges is seen signing for a fan (Auction Link). 

No doubt the weight of that days event is on each of their minds.  It is several hours before they have to get on the field and it's obvious they already have their game-faces on.

Unfortunately, the Brooklyn Dodgers were unable to finish the job that day.  The Yankees, behind the brilliant pitching of Whitey Ford, defeated the Dodgers 5-1 to force a Game 7 match at Ebbets Field.  As you know, the Dodgers would eventually take home the crown and be named World Champions for the first time in their history the very next day.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 9/16/2016 - Dodgers Links - Alvarez, Buehler, Jansen and Rich Hill

Things got a little overheated at yesterdays Dodger game. 

Ageless wonder Rich Hill, who had pitched 19 scoreless inning since becoming a Dodger, had finally given up a couple of runs to the lowly Diamondbacks, and apparently he didn't like that one bit.  He was in full-on game mode and made sure everyone in the stadium knew he wouldn't take an inside pitch, which he claims nicked his index finger, lightly.  He chirped and they chirped, the benches cleared, and then things went back to normal.  Per Jake Rill at MLB.com:

"It was just being competitive, just wanted him to get the ball over the plate and really that was the end of it," Hill said. "There was no ill will or anything like that. Just got excited. I saw the pitch, it was supposed to be inside and he just missed. I guess being a pitcher, I just got excited."

Opposing pitcher Archie Bradley said this, per Kevin Zimmerman at Arizona Sports.com:

“It’s just two guys playing the game hard, nothing more than that,” Bradley told the media after the game. “I was going in before he squared to bunt. Maybe the pitch was more in than it should have been.

Unfortunately, the Dodgers were unable to capitalize on the emotion of the evening and lost the first game of the series, 7-3.  

Pic above via ESPN LA on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1957 the Los Angeles City Council approved the sale of Chavez Ravine to the Dodgers.  In 1988 Reds pitcher Tom Browning throws a Perfect Game, 1-0, against the Dodgers in Cincinnati.  Browning is the second pitcher to throw a perfect game against the Dodgers - Don Larson threw his perfecto during the 1956 World Series.
• Happy Birthday, Orel Hershiser!

Blog Kiosk: 9/15/2016 - Dodgers Links - #PuigMyTooth, Utley, Urias and Clayton Kershaw

That's the ace we know.

Clayton Kershaw came out to pitch his second game since landing on the DL, and showed us all that he's still the guy.  Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

"It was more about getting back into that playing mode, that competition, and what we need to do to win," catcher Yasmani Grandal said. "So the first game was more of a kick-start, and this game was, 'All right, we're here, let's get it done.'"

Did he ever get it done. Yankees manager Joe Girardi wrapped it up succinctly: "Kershaw was Kershaw."

After the game he added more:

"I gave up a hit so there's a bad pitch there," he said. "But for the most part ... it's tough to be satisfied when you only pitch five innings. I guess really six. But with the rain delay and everything considered, it was OK. It was good."

Clayton was nearly perfect in his five innings pitched.  He gave up just one hit, walked none and struck out five Yankee batters with just 64 pitches.  Unfortunately, he didn't take home a win, but he did keep the Dodgers in contention long enough for them to pull out a 2-0 victory in the ninth inning.  A series of Yankee errors contributed to the only runs of the game.  You can listen to Kershaw speak about his evening with Alanna Rizzo here.

Photo above via SportsNet LA on twitter.  The Dodgers now sit five games above the Giants in the NL West.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1978 the Dodgers became the first club in Major League history to draw three million fans at home. The Dodgers entertained 47,188 fans with their 5-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Gavin Lux in Wisconsin

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.

---------------------------

Former Rams defensive end D’Marco Farr will be signing free autographs at the grand opening of Barbeques Galore's newest location in Agoura Hills on Saturday, September 17th from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.  Go here for more information.

Barbeques Galore Agoura Hills
28501 Canwood Street
Agoura Hills, California 91301

---------------------------

If you happen to be near Kenosha, Wisconsin then you should think about visiting the SportsDome to meet 2016 Dodgers 1st Round Draft Pick Gavin Lux.  He will be signing autographs there on Saturday, September 17 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  Go here for more information.

SportsDome
4623 75th Street
Kenosha, WI 53142

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 9/14/2016 - Dodgers Links - Seager, No Scully for Playoffs and the Loons Advance

The Loons carried the day. 

As you may know, the Dodgers Single-A club Great Lakes Loons were in the midst of a playoff series against the West Michigan White Caps.  The series was tied at one game apiece going into last nights deciding game.  Everything was looking bleak to start for the Loons as they were no-hit through the first six innings.  Then the bats started to come alive.  Per Matt DeVries at MiLB.com; "On to the Midwest League Championship."

The fireworks of the night would come courtesy of second baseman Omar Estevez. With Whitecaps reliever Drew Smith (BS 1, L 2-1) on the mound and (Brendon) Davis already on base after his second single of the game, Estevez smacked a ball over the wall in left field for a two-run home run to give the Loons their first lead of the game.

Insurance runs were on the way in the top of the 9th inning when Gage Green scored on Davis' third hit of the game and Saige Jenco scurried home on a wild pitch by Mark Ecker to push the lead to 5-2 for Great Lakes.

They now earn the right to face the Clinton LumberKings for the Midwest League Championship on Wednesday.  Photo above of the team celebration via DJ Peters on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1945, during an overnight trip between St. Louis and Chicago, the Brooklyn Dodgers train rammed into an gasoline truck, sending flames everywhere.  The train engineer and a firefighter were killed.  The Dodgers survived without serious injury because the momentum of their section carried it through the burning remains.  I had previously written about this incident here.  In 1993 Mike Piazza hit home runs no. 29 and 30 to break the Major League record for homers by a rookie catcher.  In 2002 24-year old Chin-Feng Chen becomes the first Taiwan-born ballplayer to make an appearance in the Major League game.  The first baseman walked as a Dodger pinch-hitter and eventually scored a run.  
• Happy Birthday, Jerry Doggett!  Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider pens a great piece celebrating his 100th birthday today (link here).