Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Hershiser, Gibson and Lasorda on Saturday

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.

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Now this is an autograph signing for Dodger fans. This coming Saturday, Jackie Robinson Day, at the Sports Authentic store at the Puente Hills Mall, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, will be a trio of Dodger hero's from the 1988 World Series. Signing autographs will be Tommy Lasorda, Kirk Gibson and Orel Hershiser.  Go here for information. 

This is a pay signing event. Prices start at $59 for Hershiser, $79 for Gibson, and $99 for Lasorda.

I thought I would add one little note. I suspect all three of them will be at Dodger Stadium for the official dedication ceremony for the Jackie Robinson statue on that day. That ceremony is not open to the public and begins at 3:00 PM. So, I suspect that all three of them will leave promptly at 1:00 PM.

Sports Authentic store
Puente Hills Mall
South Azusa Avenue
City of Industry, CA

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Blog Kiosk: 4/12/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

A part of the famed George Michael Collection of Baseball sliding press photographs (eBay auction link), featured above is a 1952 United Press Photo of a soaring Jackie Robinson. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Both feet in the air, Brooklyn second baseman Jackie Robinson whips the ball to Gil Hodges at first after forcing Chicago Cubs' Hank Sauer out at second in the second inning of the Ebbets Field Contest, Sept. 11. Jackie was too late for the double play. Sauer tried to advance to second on Toby Atwell's grounder.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1962 left-handed rookie Pete Richert made his major league debut by striking out the first six batters he faced -- tying records for strike outs in an inning (4 K's in the 3rd inning), successive strike outs by a pitcher in his major league debut, and consecutive strikeouts by a relief pitcher. 

"I had good stuff and somebody up there likes me," Richert said of his first big league game. "What I mean is that I always say a little prayer when I’m nervous and excited. And I was tonight as I started walking to the mound." 

• Happy Birthday, John Harkins, Mickey O'Neil, Walt Moryn, Vicente Romo, Paul LoDuca, Antonio Osuna & Justin Ruggiano!
  

Blog Kiosk: 4/11/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This coming Saturday is Jackie Robinson Day at Dodger Stadium, and as you surely know by now the Dodgers will be dedicating their very first statue at the stadium in honor of Jackie that afternoon. As you can see in the pic above, work has gotten underway to install the bronze figure.  It features Robinson sliding hard into home -- likely stealing home.

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

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1959 Don Drysdale hits his second Opening Day home run to become the first pitcher with teo career homers on Opening Day. In 1962 the Dodgers won their very first game at Dodger Stadium, defeating the Reds, 6-3.
• Happy Birthday, Pop Corkhill, Al Nixon, Roy Gordinier & Kenta Maeda!
  

Blog Kiosk: 4/10/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

There are few things more picturesque than this.

Featured above is Kenta Maeda warming up within the woodsy bullpen of Colorado's ballpark before his start against the Rockies yesterday afternoon.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017.  Below are more links to check out:

(via NYT Archives on twitter)

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 the Dodgers officially announced, during the sixth inning of an exhibition against the Royals, that they had purchased the contract of Montreal Royals infielder Jackie Robinson.  He would be the first African-American to be on the roster of a modern Major League club. In 1962 the Dodgers played their very first home game at the newly built Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine.  There were 52,564 fans on-hand to watch Johnny Podres throw the first pitch to infielder Eddie Kasko -- who promptly doubled in the at-bat. Duke Snider would record the first Dodger hit with a single in the second inning.  Unfortunately, the Dodgers would lose the game to the Reds, 6-3. Reds outfielder Wally Post hit the first homer in the stadium during the seventh inning to lead Cincinnati.
• Happy Birthday, Bob McGraw, Chuck Connors, Lee Lacy, Mike Devereaux, Alberto Reyes, Andre Ethier & Charlie Culberson!
  

2017 Diamond Kings - The Dodgers Insert Cards

Here is a last look at some of the Dodgers' cards found within packs of Panini America's 2017 Diamond Kings Baseball set.  Featured below are all the non-autographed insert cards that are available.  Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

Aurora Set

#3 Clayton Kershaw

Blog Kiosk: 4/7/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Beloved comedian and great friend of the Dodgers, Don Rickles, passed away yesterday at the age of 90.  In his honor I made the above two fantasy Baseball cards of him.  Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“I’ve lost and the world has lost a very dear friend,” Lasorda said in a statement. “I remember the many times he came into our locker room and had our players in stitches before a big game.”

You can watch Don Rickles insult the Dodgers in a great bit from a 1986 television show called "Rickles... On the Loose" here. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1969 Dodger reliever Bill Singer is the first major leaguer to officially be credited with a new fangled stat called the save.  It was on Opening Day in Cincinnati, and Singer pitched three scoreless innings to maintain a 3-2 victory over the Reds.  In 1977, on Opening Day, Don Sutton was directed to throw a gopher ball on the first pitch of the game to the Giants lead-off hitter Gary Thomasson.  That ball would then be given to the home plate umpire to be sent to Cooperstown.  As you might expect, the Giant batter instead hit the pitch for a home run.  He claims he had no idea about the plan (yhea, right!).  

"They told him that the first ball he threw would be sent to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown," Lasorda said. "Well, the first ball he threw was hit by Gary Thomasson halfway up the bleachers. I said to him, ‘They wanted to send the ball to Cooperstown; they didn'’t want someone to hit it there.’" 

This is the same game Frank Sinatra kept his promise to Tommy Lasorda by performing the national anthem at Dodger Stadium.  In 1979 the Dodgers traded pitcher Rick Rhoden to the Pirates for pitcher Jerry Reuss.

• Happy Birthday, Bobby Mitchell, Brett Tomko, Ronnie Belliard & Adrian Beltre!