Weekend Autograph Opportunity: World Series Hero Scott Spiezio and Rams Legend Youngblood

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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Blog Kiosk: 9/12/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

To commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks yesterday the entire league wore special patches on their caps. Above is Cody Bellinger helpfully providing a nice view of the patch. As for the game... Well, I'll let Dave Roberts do the talking, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"They pretty much beat us in every facet of the game," said manager Dave Roberts. "Our guys understand these games are important to win, but we just can't get a win here."
...
"I don't think it's a matter of complacency. If anything, it might be a matter of trying too hard," said Roberts. "If you look at the grinding of at-bats versus going out of the strike zone, the games we don't score it's more a matter of going out of the strike zone. It's not about just rolling out the baseballs and expecting to win. I just don't think that's the case."

Photo of Cody Bellinger above via Katie Hanson/MLB.com at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1930 Dodger catcher Al Lopez hit the last Major League bounced home run. It was off Ray Kolp at Ebbets Field. Prior to the rule change any hit ball that bounced over the outfield walls was ruled a homer. Now, it'll be a ground-rule double. In 1963 the NY Mets hold a pregame ceremony in honor of Brooklyn favorite Duke Snider - "I look up into the stands, and it looks like Ebbets Field. The Mets are wonderful, but you can’t take the Dodger out of Brooklyn." In 2000 Dave Hanson broke former Dodger Johnny Frederick's record for pinch-hit home runs during a season when he hit his seventh pinch-homer of the year against Curt Schilling of the Diamondbacks. BTW, Johnny Frederick set his record of six pinch-homers on this exact same date in 1932.
• Happy Birthday, John Gochnaur, Masao Kida & Franquelis Osoria!

Blog Kiosk: 9/11/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

These Reds are frustrating. They sit at the bottom of the Central Division; yet, they seem to have the Dodgers number. In five contest so far against them the Dodgers have won none. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I wouldn't expect for our club to be 0-5 against anyone," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "That first time around they really pitched us well. We still can't figure a way to get Gennett out, and that was apparent again."

Last nights 10-6 loss dropped the club to 1.5 games back of Colorado with 18 games to play.

Photo above of Kike Hernandez doing his best to stop last nights slide, via Ryan Meyer/MLB at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1959 the Dodgers defeated reliever Elroy Face and the Pirates, 5-4; thereby, ending Face's consecutive win streak at 22. He finished the season going 18-1 (as a reliever, mind you) with a 2.70 ERA, 2.60 FIP and a 3.2 WAR. In 1998 Kevin Malone is named the Dodgers GM, replacing Tommy Lasorda. In 1983 RJ Reynolds squeezed home Pedro Guerrero in the ninth for an improbably walk-off victory against the Atlanta Braves.  The Dodgers scored four runs in the ninth to win. Tommy Lasorda called his decision to call for the squeeze his most "daring" of his career. UPDATE: I just found video highlights/footage of the ninth inning. Watch it here.
• Happy Birthday, Con Daily, Frank Kitson & Eddie Miksis!

2018 Topps Luminaries - All the Dodgers Cards

Following on the heals of their super high-end brand "Diamond Icons", Topps released another high-end product called 2018 Luminaries last week. A box includes a single pack with one encased, signed and numbered card to 15 or less for a bit over $200. Go here for a complete checklist.

Below is a checklist, as well as, several pics of some of the Dodger cards. Unfortunately, it appears both Clayton Kershaw and Sandy Koufax cards all come with a redemption. Furthermore, the directly below Mike Piazza "Home Run King" autograph cards come in two different versions, and I am uncertain which card numbers correspond to which card.

Home Run Kings Autograph (#/15)

• #HRK-MP Mike Piazza
• #HRK-MPI Mike Piazza

Both of the Mike Piazza cards (card numbers unknown)

Blog Kiosk: 9/10/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Weekend Odds and Ends

The Dodgers gained some ground over the weekend, and we have Justin Turner to thank for that. Yesterday afternoon he went 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and two RBI's to lead the club to a 9-6 victory over Colorado. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"J.T. led the charge, he's such a pro," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "[His value] is hard to quantify. When you're watching how he's grinding at-bats, that's contagious. He's been fantastic."

The Dodgers are now just half a game back of Colorado after taking the weekend series against them. There are only 19 games remaining in the season.

Photo above of Turner via Matt Kelley/MLB.com at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: I had no idea about this until now. In 1992 a report came out about a "security check" that revealed serious issues with two members of a buying group interested in purchasing the Giants and moving them to Florida. One of the investors mentioned was Vince Piazza -- father of recently called-up catcher Mike Piazza of the Dodgers. The deal falls apart, and MLB settles with the group for $6MM (which includes a letter of apology to Vince Piazza).
• Happy Birthday, High Pockets Kelly, Terry Wells, Danys Baez, Chad Hermansen & Nick Green!

Blog Kiosk: 9/7/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

"Tested. Unselfish. Focused"

These were the words spoken by skipper Dave Roberts, via Mike Lupica at MLB,com, and it embodies the entire Dodger season. Now, they have to follow through and finish the job as they enter divisional rival territory in Colorado tonight. They begin a three-game set, and clearly the entire season is at stake.

Photo above of Roberts and Matt Kemp via Jon SooHoo/la Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1889 the most controversial game in American Association history is held in Brooklyn. The St. Louis Browns hold a 4-2 lead in the ninth over the Bridegrooms, and claim it is too dark to continue. They light candles in front of their bench to emphasize this, but umpire Fred Goldsmith becomes determined to finish the game -- no matter what. When the game ends, several St. Louis players are hit with bottles by fans as they leave the grounds. The Browns will forfeit the game the next day because they fear for their safety. In 1903 the Brooklyn Superbas/Dodgers and the NY Giants play a two-stadium, same-day doubleheader. The first game began at 10:30 AM at Brooklyn's Washington Park (Giants won, 6-4), and the second game got underway later that afternoon at the Polo Grounds (Brooklyn won, 3-0). In 1924 the pennant race between the Dodgers and Giants gets crazy. So much so, a cavalcade of fans with crowbars stormed the Ebbets Field gates to watch the already sold out game. 200 officers were called, but an estimated 7,000 fans got in anyway. In 1962 Maury Wills stole four bases against the Pirates to break the modern National League record for stolen bases at 82. In 2001 Shawn Green hit two homers against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium to eclipse a Dodgers franchise record for home runs in a season. Green would finish the season with 49 home runs.
• Happy Birthday, Dave Wallace, Dave Foutz, Ed Poole, Lew Ritter, Curt Davis, Eddie Wilson, Willie Crawford & Brent Cookson!