Blog Kiosk: 5/16/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I just can't get enough of these vintage action photos -- even if it doesn't show the most desired result. Featured above is a 1955 United Press pic, dated June 1st, of Jackie Robinson being tagged out at the plate. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers is tagged out at home by Milwaukee Catcher Del Crandall in the second inning of the night game at Ebbets Field June 1st. Robinson tried to score on Junior Gilliam's short fly to second baseman Hank Aaron, who threw to Crandall. Umpire is Dusty Boggess.

I don't think you can be too angry about being beat by a great play from future Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. BTW, this pic is on auction at Memory Lane (link here). Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1970 a fourteen year old fan named Alan Fish was struck by a batted baseball at Dodger Stadium and would unfortunately die four days later. This marked the first fatality of a fan from a batted ball in a Major League game. Tom Hoffarth provides more detail about the terrible incident here. In 2000 was the infamous fight at Wrigley Field that started when Dodgers catcher Chad Kreuter, sitting in the Wrigley exposed bullpen, was hit in the back of the head and had his hat stolen by a unruly fan. Several players and coaches jumped into the stands during the ensuing melee. 
• Happy Birthday, Watty Clark, Rube Walker, Rick Rhoden, Mitch Webster & Eugenio Vélez!

Blog Kiosk: 5/15/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Here is one of what must have been numerous different conceptual drawings put together by architects for the O'Malley's. The drawing above, recently shared by MLB Cathedrals on twitter, is dated 1957 and was created by a local father and son duo of Stiles and Robert Clements.

Stiles Clements is famous for his art deco and streamline moderne styles in Los Angeles. He designed the El Capitan Theater Building, the Mayan Theater, Adamson House in Malibu, Samson Uniroyal Tire Factory (present day Citadel Outlets mall), the Wiltern Theatre and Jefferson High School. His son, Robert, had designed more than 110 buildings on Wilshire Boulevard alone.

BTW, Dodger Stadium was designed by New York based architect and civil engineer, Emil Praeger. Below are more links to check out

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 the Dodgers purchase starting pitcher Sal "the Barber" Maglie from the Indians. 
• Happy Birthday, Alex Verdugo, Jack Corcoran, Jimmy Wasdell, Al McBean, Bill North & Josh Beckett!

2018 Topps Now - #208 - Mother's Day Card with Yasiel Puig

If the Dodgers aren't playing well enough to earn their own 2018 Topps Now cards then I guess you gotta settle for one of these.

Featured is the newest 2018 Topps Now card to include a Dodger. Instead of a card highlighting some remarkable feat (like a combined no-hitter) we instead get a look at Yasiel Puig in Mother's Day pink. Go here to check it out and order.

One thing of note, the photo used for Puig is not from yesterdays game. There was no special Mother's Day "Pink" jerseys for ballplayers to wear.

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Blog Kiosk: 5/14/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

(Lasorda & Gibson, via Jon SooHoo)

At the least the Dodgers couldn't lose the Alumni/Old-Timers Game this weekend. Featured above is the 1988 World Champion Dodgers in attendance at this past Saturdays game. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“It’s been a rush for me, because I think back so fondly about 1988,” (Ricky) Horton said. “It was such a special thing. You realize and remember it’s not about what you did, but about the people you did it with. This kind of deal reminds you, and you just jump right back into the relationships with Jay Howell and Orel Hershiser and John Tutor and guys I spent … every day with, doing something that was pretty darn cool. I’m very thankful the Dodgers included me in this. The Dodgers are such a classy organization and they’re doing it right.”

Photo above and on the right via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1968 Don Drysdale shutout the Cubs at Dodgers Stadium, 1-0. This victory was the first of six straight shutouts thrown by Drysdale that would eventually lead to him setting a consecutive scoreless streak at 58 2/3 innings. On a side note, on this day Walter Johnson sees his consecutive scoreless streak come to an end at 55 2/3 innings in 1913. This was the record Drysdale broke 55 years later. In 2011 hard-luck pitcher Chad Billingsley and the Dodgers lose a tough one to the Diamondbacks when they give up just one run on one hit to lose, 1-0. This is the first time the club has lost when giving up only one hit since 1914.
• Happy Birthday, Tony Smith, Johnny Babich & Chink Zachary!

2018 Topps Now - Dodgers 'Road to Opening Day' Set

What now feels like a long time ago, during spring training I ordered the 2018 Topps Now Dodgers' "Road to Opening Day" 15-card set. I figured, "what the heck. Right?" I've started to grow more comfortable with the exclusive online card sale concept, and besides these cards look cool; especially when you consider they will only be using pics from this spring. So, I won't have to suffer through a stack of cards using photos I've seen a hundred times before.

Now that we're nearly a quarter into the season the set has finally arrived, and I've prepared scans of each one to share here. Check them all out below. Click on any pic to embiggen.

BTW, the print run for this set is 528 sets.

#OD-408 Clayton Kershaw

Blog Kiosk: 5/10/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Sometimes you need just need a little bit of help from the Baseball gods.

Three of the Dodgers first four runs scored last night came from some unlikely plays: two wild pitches and a hit-by-pitch. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"We were gifted some runs," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "It wasn't ideal, but we'll take it. There was really no rhythm and it was kind of funky. But I thought the energy was really consistent. We're fighting. We realize the situation we've put ourselves in, that an urgency has got to be there."
...
"Sometimes," said Jansen, "you've just got to be lucky."

Pic above of Taylor getting hit via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1955 Don Newcombe threw a complete game shutout against the Cubs while facing the minimum of 27 batters, 3-0. He allowed just one hit, to second baseman Gene Baker, who would subsequently be caught stealing. In 1966 the Dodgers sent 1955 World Series hero Johnny Podres to the Tigers as part of an conditional deal. In 1968 the Dodgers signed free agent infielder Ken Boyer. At the age of 37 the aging All-Star would slash .271/.317/.403/.720 with 60 hits, six home runs and 41 RBI's that season. In 1996 Tommy Lasorda managed his 3,000th major league game. It was against the Cardinals, and the Dodgers defeated them in twelve innings, 3-2. 
• Happy Birthday, Bill Davidson, Jim Hickman & John Cummings!