Blog Kiosk: 11/19/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

With surgery looming, Kenley Jansen spent part of this past weekend at 14th annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway at Dodger Stadium. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"This shows you how great this organization is, and it's awesome to be a part of it," Jansen said. "We're putting smiles on people's faces and helping them enjoy their holidays."

Kenley is slated to have heart surgery next week, November 26th. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“It’s health first and make sure everything is good,” Jansen said. “I want to be back healthy and perform here again and try and help the Dodgers win ballgames.”

Photo above via Kenley Jansen on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1992 Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros is named the National League Rookie of the Year. He slashed .257/.304/.426/.730 with 20 home runs and 88 RBI's. In 1993 the Dodgers made one of the worse trades in their history. They sent starting pitcher and future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez to the Expos for infielder Delino DeShields. In 2015 the Dodgers signed free agent utilityman Charlie Culberson. He would go on to play a significant part in two pennant winning Dodger clubs. 
• Happy Birthday, Eddie Morgan & Roy Campanella!

2018 Topps Gallery - All the Dodgers Base Cards

This week saw the official release of Topps Gallery Baseball -- an online and Walmart exclusive card brand. It features a 200 card base set of what is described as hand-painted portraits. Check out all of the Dodger base cards below. Go here to check out a complete checklist. As I said, they can be found only on the store-shelves of your local Walmart. You can also order boxes direct from Topps here. At this time only the 7-pack value boxes are available - the 20 pack hobby boxes are sold out. BTW, poster sized versions of these cards are also available directly from Topps. Go here to check those out.

Base

#9 Tim Locastro            #10 Alex Verdugo

#18 Yasiel Puig                 #34 Chris Taylor

Blog Kiosk: 11/16/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I can't wait for spring.

Featured above is a 1942 Spring Training pic during a Dodgers trip to Havana, Cuba. You can see shortstop Pee Wee Reese comically stepping over some bats at La Tropical Stadium. Photo found at CubanBéisbol.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1961 the expansion New York Mets unveiled a circular logo that includes the team colors of the two teams who skipped town just a few years before -- it has Dodger Blue and Giants orange. In 1966 Sandy Koufax missed out on winning his second MVP award by ten votes to Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente. As you know, this would be Koufax's last major league season. 
• Happy Birthday, Joe Strauss, Glenn Burke & Julio Lugo!

Blog Kiosk: 11/15/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I yearn for Spring Training.

Here is another spring pic (eBay auction link) from Dodgertown in Vero Beach. It features grizzled vet Duke Snider taking some rips at the plate. It is dated on the reverse to January 6, 1961, but that couldn't be right. I can't imagine he, or any ballplayer, would be in Florida this early. Also, does anybody know who the coach is in the background - likely hitting grounders to eager infielders?

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1962 Dodger Hall of Famer Don Drysdale is named the NL Cy Young Award winner.  He went 25-9 with an 2.83 ERA, 19 complete games and 232 strike outs.  In 1988 Dodgers outfielder and legend Kirk Gibson was named the NL MVP. He lead the Dodgers to an unexpected World Series Championship -- slashing .290/.377/.483/.860 with 25 home runs, 76 RBI's and an untold number of highlights throughout the season. In 2016 Dave Roberts is named the winner of the Manager of the Year Award in the National League. The rookie skipper records a 97-71 record to finish 1st in the NL West.
• Happy Birthday, Pat Ragan, Jay Partridge, Mickey Livingston, Jack Smith & Pedro Borbón!

Blog Kiosk: 11/14/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The Hollywood Stars Game was the best. Featured above are 1981 participants John Ritter and Ann Jillian, found on eBay.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1979 the Dodgers signed free agent starting pitcher David Goltz to a six-year $3MM contract. The former eight-year Twins veteran went 9-19 with a 4.25 ERA in three season with the team before being release in 1982. In 2016 Corey Seager is the unanimous winner of the National League Rookie of the Year award.
• Happy Birthday, Harry Howell, Red Sheridan, Jim Brewer & Tim Hamulak!

Blog Kiosk: 11/13/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

If I could name a 'Captain' on the Dodgers it would be Justin Turner. He, along with several other Dodgers' spent yesterday afternoon with 400 military veterans and their families at Dodger Stadium. Per Doug Padilla at MLB.com:

"Being Veterans Day, Veterans Weekend, having a chance to give a little bit of time to say thank you and spend time with the men and women that sacrifice their life, their family, their time to go defend our country is a no-brainer for me," said Turner, who also visited fire evacuation centers in the Los Angeles area last week. "I would have not been anywhere else.
...
"For me, my guy is Justin Turner, because every time I see him, I'm always watching him and he's always saluting the vets and he's always into the vets," Ortega said. "So that's my favorite player right there. He is a good teammate, and it reminds me of all the guys I was with [in the Army]. It was all about teamwork."

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

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1974 Steve Garvey was named the National League MVP; receiving 13 of 22 first-place votes. Lou Brock was the runner-up. In 2003 Eric Gagne becomes the ninth reliever to be named a Cy Young winner. He recorded 55 consecutive saves this season. In 2014 Clayton Kershaw becomes the first pitcher to win the National League MVP award since Bob Gibson of the Cardinals in 1968. He received 18 of 30 first place votes.
• Happy Birthday, Andrew Friedman, Moose Clabaugh, Alex Kampouris, Steve Lembo, Steve Bilko, Wes Parker, Tony Abreu & Carlos Frias!