Blog Kiosk: 11/9/2016 - Dodgers Links - Alvarez, Jansen, Turner and Hendrick

I thought I would start the day by sharing this pic of a group of vintage Ebbets Field postcards that are currently on auction at Hunt's Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory auction (Auction Link Here).  Most of these are the standard fare, with an exception being the B&W real-photo-postcard seen on the bottom row.  According to the auction description it dates to 1927 and features a group of students who play high school football running around the infield in the shape of the letter "S".

Below are more links to check out:

• Video: Watch Dodgers prospect Willie Calhoun speak with Sande Charles of FanRag Sports. (Link Here)

Blog Kiosk: 11/8/2016 - Dodgers Links - Jansen, Turner, Seager, Maeda, Roberts and Calhoun

This kid is looking like a big hitter! This past weekend was the Arizona Fall League All-Star game, and Dodger prospect Willie Calhoun was on-hand to show-off his progress.  He went 3-for 3 and walloped a two-run homer to take home MVP honors.  Per William Boor at MLB.com:

"It means so much, being recognized by everyone and being the Most Valuable Player on this field is a blessing for sure," Calhoun said. "Being out here with these guys, and the talent these guys have is unreal. It's a real honor."
...
"He's awesome," Bellinger said of Calhoun. "He's my guy. We've been boys. We're going up the ladder together. I'm not surprised, he can just flat out rake."

Fellow Dodgers prospect Cody Bellinger also hit a two-run home run; going 1-for5 on the evening.  Photo above via the AFL on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1990 Darryl Strawberry signs a five-year free agent contract to play for the Dodgers.
• Happy Birthday, Darwin Barney, José Offerman, Nick Punto and Yasmani Grandal!

Welcome to the Blue, Vidal Nuno!

The Dodgers appear to have made their very first move of the winter off-season.  Although not officially confirmed by the team, word has spread throughout the interwebs that they have moved catcher Carlos Ruiz to the Seattle Mariners for left-handed relief pitcher Vidal Nuno.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

Nuno, 29, was 1-1 with a 3.53 ERA and a career-high 1.33 WHIP in 55 appearances, all but one in relief, although he has made 42 Major League starts. He was drafted by Cleveland in 2009 and released two years later, briefly playing independent ball before signing with the Yankees in June 2011. Nuno made it to the Major Leagues in 2013, then was traded to Arizona in '14 for new teammate Brandon McCarthy and was traded to Seattle with Mark Trumbo in 2015.

1966 Union 76 Dodgers 45 RPM Record Set Featuring Vin Scully Interviews

With the off-season officially upon us I though I would take a moment to checklist a scarce set from  the mid-60's.  Featured below are the twelve different Union 76 Los Angeles Dodgers 45 RPM records featuring Vin Scully interviewing 24 different players and executives.

As you can see, it includes a colorful sleeve with drawings done by Nicholas Volpe -- known for the various player portraits handed out by Union 76 over the past several decades.  Furthermore, each sleeve includes a portrait drawing of Vin Scully.  Each record has a separate Scully interview on each side, and fans were able to purchase a single record at participating gas stations for $0.49 each with a minimum purchase of gas.

On the right is a advertising poster for the records that had been previously shared by Mark Langill at Dodger Insider (link here).  Apparently, the poster is thought to be the only copy in existence today.

As for the records, I don't have any recordings to share.  If you happen to know where I could listen to any of them please pass that along to me. 

1966

Union 76 - 7” 33RPM Record EP Set - 12 Record Set

Record One

Sandy Koufax/John Kennedy

Blog Kiosk: 11/4/2016 - Dodgers Links - Demolition Photos of Brooklyn Ballpark Washington Park II

Here is something I didn't expect to find on eBay.  Featured here are three original photographs, dated to 1926, that shows progress of the demolition of the Washington Park II.  As you may know, this ballpark was one of the earliest homes of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1898-1912.  It was also home to a short lived Federal League ballclub known as the Brooklyn Tip Tops.  (Auction links here, here and here)

The pics was taken by local photographer Joseph Smith, and it appears they were taken for the benefit of the Brooklyn Edison Company (due to some markings indicated on the reverse).  This also makes a lot on sense considering that the current occupants of the land is Con Edison of New York.  It states that demolition work began on April 29th, 1926, and these photographs were taken more then a couple months later on July 15, 1926.

Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Eric Karros!

Blog Kiosk: 11/3/2016 - Dodgers Links - Congratulations, Cubbies!

Congrats, Chicago Cubs fans!  

I truly didn't believed I'd ever see this happen.  And now I must find all of those Cubs fans I've teased over the years and five them a high-five.

Photo above via AM570 on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1965 Sandy Koufax is named the Cy Young Award winner by unanimous vote.  It is his second Cy Young in his career.
• Happy Birthday, Ed Lennox and Bob Welch!