Blog Kiosk: 1/26/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

LA Councilmember Gil Cedillo made a special presentation to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts yesterday afternoon at City Hall in recognition of his "Manager of the Year" award for the past season.  This was part of the teams ongoing Dodgers Love L.A. Community Tour that continues with a few more events today.  Go here to watch a bunch of videos from yesterdays events, via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider.

Fernando Valenzuela is scheduled for a surprise visit somewhere in the Southland.  So, stay tuned for that.  Additionally, Kiké Hernandez and Rob Segedin will make a surprise pizza delivery to a special group of city employees in recognition of their commitment to creating a positive impact in the community.  Lastly, Joc Pederson will host a Pet Family Photo Day at the Silver Lake Dog Park, starting at 2:00 PM.

Photo at the very top via @Dodgers on twitter.  Go here to take a look at a bunch of photos from yesterday from Jon SooHoo, Juan Ocampo and Jill Weisleder.  Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Kaiser Wilhelm, Johnny Frederick & Antonio Perez!
  

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Dodgers FanFest & the NHL All-Star FanFair

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.

This is a big weekend in sports for the Los Angeles area.  Not only are the Dodgers holding their annual Dodgers Love L.A. Community Tour this week, but they are also hosting their FanFest on Saturday.  Also, the NHL All-Star Game FanFair is also taking place at the convention center from Thursday to Saturday.

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On Thursday, January 26th Joc Pederson is hosting a Pet Family Photo Day at the Silver Lake Dog Park as a part of the Dodgers Love L.A. Community Tour starting at 2:00 PM.  Go here for some information.

Blog Kiosk: 1/25/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Yesterday afternoon Trayce Thompson hosted a bunch of kids and their families who are patients at Cedars-Sinai for a movie night at Dodger Stadium.  First, though, he spent some time showing the tykes the Dodgers clubhouse.

Day three of the Dodgers Love L.A. Community Tour is today and it's filled with plenty of appearances throughout LA.  First, Andre Ethier and Julio Urias will hold a clinic for more than 20 Special Olympics of Southern California athletes at the Dodgers Dreamfield at Baldwin Hills Recreation Center from 9:30 Am to 11:30 AM.  At 10:00 AM the Los Angeles City Council will formally recognize Dave Roberts as the 2016 NL "Manager of the Year" at City Hall.  At the same time, Adam Liberatore, Ron Cey, Al Ferrara and Dennis Powell will promote literacy at four different Los Angeles public libraries.  Finally, Ethier and Roberts will take part in a "Thank You Lunch" for the LAPD at the Northeast Community Police Station.

Photo at the very top via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017.  Go here to check out more pics taken by Jon from yesterday's tour events.  Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Ray Schmandt, Ed Head & Ed Goodson!
  

Blog Kiosk: 1/24/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The first day of the Dodgers Love L.A. Community Tour was on Monday, and to start things off was a brief visit by Justin Turner and Yasiel Puig to local area Coffee Bean's.  They greeted fans, served coffee and even posed for pictures.  Watch a couple videos featuring their visits via Dodger Blue (link here).

Today, Dodger Strength and Conditioning Coaches Brandon McDaniel, Travis Smith and Shaun Alexander will hold a fitness and health clinic 100 underserved young women from the New Village Girls Academy at Dodger Stadium.  Also, Trayce Thompson will host a movie night at the Dodger Lexus Dugout Club for Cedars-Sinai’s pediatric patients and their families.

Photo above of Justin Turner and the crew from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in West Hollywood via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon and Jill Weisleder taken from Day 1 of the Dodgers community tour.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1963 the Dodgers acquired Don Zimmer in a trade with the Reds for a minor leaguer.  This is Don's second stint with the team; having originally been signed by them as an amateur in 1949 and rising up their ranks.  In 2006 the Dodgers signed free agent reliever and soon-to-be legend Joe Beimel.  In 2014 the Dodgers signed free agent utilityman Chone Figgins. 
• Happy Birthday, Neal Finn & Scott Kazmir!
  

Welcome to the Blue, Logan Forsythe!

Just when I thought, as many did, that the Dodgers were effectively done for the winter they go ahead to make a trade.  As you may have heard, the Dodgers have found a solution to their second base problem this coming season.  They have traded for Tampa Bay second baseman Logan Forsythe in exchange for top-flight right-handed pitching prospect Jose De Leon.  Per a Dodger press release:

Forsythe, 30, has combined to slug 57 doubles, 37 homers and drive in 120 runs in 280 games with Tampa Bay over the past two seasons, including batting .264 with 52 RBI and setting career-best marks with 20 home runs, four triples and 76 runs scored as the Rays’ primary leadoff hitter in 127 games last year. In 2015, batting in the middle of the Rays’ lineup, Forsythe led Tampa Bay qualifiers in batting average (.281), on-base percentage (.359) and slugging percentage (.444), while posting a .299/.373/.599 slashline against left-handers. His slugging percentage against lefties (.599) ranked third in the American League in 2015, behind only Nelson Cruz (.673) and Josh Donaldson (.632).

Blog Kiosk: 1/23/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

On Saturday both Dave Roberts and Corey Seager received their respective awards from the Writers Association of American annual dinner.  As you know Roberts was named the "Manager of the Year" and Seager won the "Rookie of the Year" awards.

As you may know, Dave Roberts battled cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, several years ago, so he made the point of talking about it.  Per Mark Newman at MLB.com:

"Jed Hoyer is here, and he's one of my very good friends," Roberts said of the Cubs general manager, sitting at a nearby table. "As I was going through cancer in 2010, he gave me a job as a Padres special assistant to him. Baseball got me through it. Jed, I really appreciate you giving me some off-days to go through chemo and get through it. We're here."

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

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1932 the Brooklyn Dodgers traded for future Hall of Famer Hack Wilson (during the tail end of his career) for a minor leaguer and some cash.  In 1962 Jackie Robinson, along with Bob Feller, are selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame in their first years of eligibility. 
• Happy Birthday, Joey Amalfitano & Billy Mullen!