Blog Kiosk: 3/28/2019 - Dodger Links - It is Opening Day!

Opening Day, Baby!

Above is a look at the two new patches the Dodgers will be wearing this season. First, you can see the MLB 150 patch that celebrates 150 years of professional Baseball and will be worn by every team in the league. Above that is the Don Newcombe memorial patch, via a tweet from Arash Markazi.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1970 Dodger Stadium was host to the "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial All-Star Baseball Classic". All-Star teams were assembled that included Joe DiMaggio as manager of the East and Roy Campanella as manager of the West team. Ron Fairly of Montreal and Ron Santo of the Chicago Cubs hit home runs as the East claimed victory, 5-1. In 1991 the Dodgers released legend and longtime Dodger hurler Fernando Valenzuela.  Per an AP article in the Lodi News-Sentinel:

"I will never forget Fernando and all he has done for me and the Los Angeles Dodgers," manager Tom Lasorda said. "It was a privilege and honor to manage him over the years because he was without a doubt a great talent and a great competitor. I want to thank him for all the memories."

Here's the Dodgers 25-Man Roster

The Dodgers just released their Open Day roster. As expected, Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Tony Cingrani have been placed on the 10-day IL (Injured List - formerly known as a Disabled List). 

Pitchers (13):

Starters:

• Hyun-Jin Ryu (L)
• Ross Stripling 
• Kenta Maeda
• Walker Buehler
• Julio Urías (L) 

Opening Day Homestand - Diamondbacks Series Starts Thursday - Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

Opening Day is here! The first home series of the 2019 season begins on Thursday against our rivals -- the Diamondbacks. Below are some odds and ends for this homestand. Below are some important links:

• 2019 Broadcast Schedule
• Parking Information 
• Special Events Schedule
• Promotions & Giveaways Schedule
• Silent Auction Schedule 
• Friday Night Fireworks Schedule 
• Viva Los Dodgers Schedule
• Dodger Stadium Parking / Transportation 
• Dodger Stadium Express / LA Metro  

As you know, Don Newcombe passed away on February 19 at the age of 92. Newcombe was beloved by the team -- having been a mentor to numerous Dodger players over the decades. In honor of his life and legacy the Dodgers will all wear a memorial uniform patch featuring his uniform number, #36, all season long. Furthermore, Morningside, Inglewood, Dominguez and Centennial High Schools will also wear the patch this Spring. You can see the patch on the top right.

Also, at the Top of the Park, fans will notice two new additions to the Retired Numbers plaza, five-foot microphones for Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrín. Check out a pic on the left. Additionally, the Top of the Park store has been remodeled for a modern shopping experience. You can see renderings below.

For expedited entry, fans can transfer their Dodger tickets into their Apple Wallet and gain access to the stadium and suites via near field communication (NFC) ticketing technology stadium-wide via their smart watch or mobile device. NFC for Google devices is expected to be ready mid-season. Fans will also be able to utilize Apple Maps in and around the ballpark to find their favorite food, retail store, nearest restroom or Fan Services location. To expedite ordering at concessions stands, the Dodgers have increased the number of Self Service Concession Kiosks throughout the ballpark.

At the very bottom of this post is some information regarding the various food options available at Dodger concession stands this season. BTW, Stuff in LA shares a nice list of Opening Day restaurant and bar deals at or near downtown Los Angeles. Check that out here.

---------------------------

Thursday, March 28th at 1:10 PM
Hyun-Jin Ryu vs. Zack Greinke

TV: SportsNet LA, ESPN (out-of-market only), SNLA Spanish

Radio: AM 570 LA Sports, KTNQ 1020

2019 Topps 852 Montgomery Club - 2nd Set - Clayton Kershaw

To open the 2019 regular season Topps has released their second 852 Montgomery Club membership set. As you know, last year Topps unveiled a collector membership club called '582 Montgomery' that included several exclusive perks like six different exclusive sets. Earlier this year they released the first club set (link here). Now, the second set has been delivered to members and it is a 20-card sticker set fashioned after a sticker test issue from 1967.

Clayton Kershaw is the only Dodger available to chase after. The reverse of the card is below. Go here for a complete checklist.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Scans of my 1950 Don Newcombe Comic Book

Finally! Here's a look at my dusty, but well loved Don Newcombe comic book. It was published in 1950 by Fawcett Publications -- the same folks who created the Jackie Robinson comics from the same time period (link here) -- following his near unanimous selection as the 1949 Rookie of the Year. 

As promised, I've scanned each page to share here. Check them all out below. Click on any pic to embiggen.

Blog Kiosk: 3/26/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Pee Wee Reese could soar like an eagle.

Featured above is a 1957 spring training pic taken by Herb Scharfman of Reese at Dodgertown. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Veteran Captain Pee Wee Reese of the Brooklyn Dodgers may not be as young as some of his teammates at the Dodgers spring camp, but he still has plenty of zip and bounce. He is floating over the pitchers batting screen here like a two-year-old.

The above pic is currently available through RMY Auctions (link here). Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1953 the St. Louis Browns returned pitcher Tommy Lasorda to the Dodgers after having just purchased him a month prior. In 1984 Jackie Robinson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan in a White House ceremony. Rachel Robinson accepted the award on her late husband's behalf. At the time, Jackie was just the third ballplayer to be given the distinction (Moe Berg and Joe DiMaggio were the others). You can watch the presentation here. In 1991 the Dodgers sign free agent catcher and future Hall of Famer Gary Carter to a one-year $500,000 contract. 
• Happy Birthday, Jack McCarthy, Joe Klugmann, José Vizcaíno & Frank Lankford!