Blog Kiosk: 10/30/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Check out Gil Hodges and Carl Furillo in the above September 20, 1959 AP press photo I ran across on eBay (link here). It says in the descriptor:

THEY ARE IN FIRST PLACE - Gil Hodges, left, and Carl Furillo who got some World Series experience as Dodgers from Brooklyn, are two happy players in the dressing room today after the Los Angeles club went into first place in the hot National League race with an 8-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. Furillo doubled in two runs in the a big ninth inning rally.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 the Dodgers sell Ebbets Field to real estate developer Marvin Kratter. The sale includes an initial three-year lease for the team and is eventually extended two more years. This sale is the first clear signal that the franchise would be seeking a new home soon. In 1963 Sandy Koufax is named the National League MVP Award winner. In 2007 it is announced that manager Grady Little is leaving the Dodgers with a year left in his contract. 
• Happy Birthday, Bobby Bragan, Chet Kehn & Tom Brennan!

Blog Kiosk: 10/29/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I've been absolutely swamped at work today, so I apologize for this very late post.

First of all, congrats to the Red Sox on their World Series victory.

As you can imagine, yesterday's loss sure does put a damper on the Dodger season. Nevertheless, I am hardly discouraged. I guarantee there are 28 other teams that would have killed to be in our position, so losing really only stings for a bit. Via Alden Gonzalez at ESPN:

"I think you have to realize that we are a really good team to get to go to the World Series two years in a row," Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw said, his response to a question about how the organization can improve to finally win it all. "It might not be a personnel thing; it might just be a 'play better' thing."

...
"The pain that you have last year, it really hurts, but the good thing is that it motivates you to get back here -- and we did," Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen said. "This one hurts, too. You can say all the good things and motivate yourself, but at the end of the day, we're still human. It's still going to hurt."

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1942 Branch Rickey, architect of the St. Louis Cardinals' farm system, resigned as their vice president. He would join the Dodgers three days later as the clubs president - taking over for Larry MacPhail who had enlisted into the Army to serve in WWII.
• Happy Birthday, Sam Kimber, Earl Yingling, Pete Richert, Karim Garcia, Will Venable & Dana Eveland!

2018 Topps Now - World Series Game 3 Cards, Relics and Autographs

This might be the case of maximum overkill on the part of Topps, but who cares. Last night's game was epic and that requires an epic number of cards. Featured here are the six different 2018 Topps Now base cards highlighting just about every important moment from last night's game and more relic/autographed cards than you can imagine... Really, there are 16 of them. Wow!

First, let's start of with card #936 which features our rookie starting pitcher Walker Buehler. It notes his brilliant seven inning shutout performance -- a franchise best since Johnny Podres in 1955. Go here to check it out and order.

The next card (#937) takes a look at the Joc Pederson's solo home run in the third inning to open the scoring. He walloped Rick Pocello's first pitch into the right field stands. Go here to check it out and order.

Some Vintage Dodgers Memorabilia at REA

We are hours away from the start of Game 3 of the World Series, so why not begin the afternoon with some vintage Dodgers memorabilia. Featured here are some Dodger goodies found at REA's current Fall auction.

Directly above is a rarity. It is a 1940's era Ebbets Field employee badge. (Auction Link) To the right is a vintage ticket from the very last ballgame played at Ebbets Field, dated September 24, 1957. (Auction Link) Per the auction description:

While Brooklyn Dodgers fans were always a resilient group, forever buoyed by the familiar refrain of "wait 'til next year," nothing could have prepared them at the start of the 1957 season for what just a few short years earlier would have been the unthinkable: the Dodgers leaving Brooklyn. Yet that is just what happened when, on October 8, 1957, team owner Walter O'Malley announced he was moving the Dodgers to Los Angeles. Rumors had been swirling the entire summer about such a possibility, but most fans chose to bury their heads in the sand and ignore such blasphemous talk. Perhaps that's the only way to explain why, on September 24, 1957, only 6,702 fans attended Brooklyn's final home game of the season at Ebbets Field. It is also possible that some fans just could not bear to say goodbye to their beloved "bums" and the venerable old stadium they called home. The significance of the final out was obviously not lost on longtime organist Gladys Gooding, who serenaded the fans with the tune Auld Lang Syne as they exited the ballpark for the very last time.

Weekend Autograph Opportunity: Meet the Bulldog - Orel Hershiser!

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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Dodger great Orel Hershiser will be signing autographs at Dick's Sporting Goods in Torrance on Saturday, October 27th from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Go here for more information. This is a free signing event, but you will probably need to get to the store early. From what I understand, they will hand out wristbands at 9:00 AM and only the first 350 are guaranteed an autograph.

Dick’s Sporting Goods
21800 Hawthorne Blvd, #301
Torrance, CA 90503
(424)206-4240

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Blog Kiosk: 10/26/2018 - Dodgers Links - Game 3 is Tonight!

Earlier this morning a twitter account dedicated to the history of the Montreal Royals put up the above fantastic 1948 editorial cartoon drawing from the Montreal Gazette (@Royals_46season), and I wanted to share it here. It celebrates the four African-American ballplayers who donned Montreal Blue in the late-40's. BTW, if you love Dodger history I would suggest giving this account a follow.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1950 Walter O'Malley became the ninth president and chief stockholder in the Dodgers franchise. Following the death of team owner John L. Smith (who owned one-quarter of the club) O'Malley navigated a deal where he bought Branch Rickey's share of the club and essentially became a trustee over the Smith family portion to take over majority control.
• Happy Birthday, Doc Newton, Tommy Griffith, Ed Vande Berg, Mark Sweeney& Daniel Coulombe!