Seager Sets Dodger Rookie Hit Record - 2016 Topps Now - #471

Corey Seager has far exceeded expectations.  Sure, many knew he'd be good, but I doubt anyone expected the results we've been enjoying so far. As a 22-year old Seager has not only entered into this seasons MVP discussions but has also surpassed numerous Dodger records in the process.  So far he has broken franchise marks for home runs by a shortstop, doubles by a rookie, and now has just passed Steve Sax for hits by a rookie with 181.  Corey said this about the new achievement passed, per Ken Gurnick and Jake Rill atMLB.com:

"It's another cool one, but kind of has to get put on the back burner until the offseason while we still have to keep winning games," said Seager.

In honor of this Topps has issued his fifth Topps Now card of the year.  Go here to check it out and order.  Below is what is written on the reverse:

Corey Seager recorded two hits against the Arizona Diamondbacks during their September 17th matchup.  The two hits were significant in that they set a Los Angeles Dodgers single-season, franchise record for most hits by a rookie (181).  One of those hits was a single, while the other was a triple, and Seager finished with a 2-for-4 line with two runs scored en route to a 6-2 win for the Dodgers.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 696 copies.

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Giants Series Starts Monday - Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts Monday evening against the San Francisco Giants. Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The twelfth 2016 issue of the new Dodger Insider magazine, featuring Vin Scully on the cover, will be available at Dodger Stadium.  (see it on the left).  The 96-page September 19-25 issue of Dodger Insider magazine is devoted entirely to Vin Scully, in honor of the Hall of Famer’s final homestand with the Dodgers after 67 seasons.  The Dodgers merged their previously separate Playbill and Dodger Insider magazines into one publication with a new edition available each homestand.  They are distributed at auto gates (one per vehicle) and via Fan Services for those who use alternate transportation.  

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Monday, September 19th at 7:10 PM
Madison Bumgarner vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

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."
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"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.

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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.