Blog Kiosk: 4/6/2020 - Dodgers Links & News -- Some Odds and Ends

Check out this 1939 spring training AP press photo featuring three Dodgers' wearing Brooklyn pinstripes as they prepare for the upcoming season (eBay auction link - please ignore the watermark). I just love their socks and imagine that there's a whole lot of red in there. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Clearwaterm FLA. March 9th -- These three sentries are likely choices to patrol the outfield for the Brooklyn Dodgers this season. Left to right: Oscar "Ox" Eckhardt, up from the Missions of the Coast Leaguel; Freddie Lindstrom, former Chicago Cub; and John Cooney, who came from Indianapolis of the American Association. Cooney has been showing well in spring practice and Eckhardt hit .395 last season.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1982 the Dodgers raise their 1981 World Series banner at Dodger Stadium. In 1989 Orel Hershiser's consecutive scoreless innings streak ends when he give up a run in the first inning to the Reds during his first start of the new season. In 1996 Chan Ho Park becomes the first pitcher born in Korea to win a Major League game. He threw four inning of shutout relief to earn a 3-1 victory over the Cubs. In 2002 Japanese hurler Kazuhisa Ishii made his Major League debut against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium, and proceeded to throw 5.2 innings of scoreless ball to earn his first Major League win. In 2004 Dodger third baseman Adrian Beltre becomes the 36th player in history to hit 100 home runs before the age of 25. He hit it off of Antonio Osuna of the Padres.
• Happy Birthday, Red Smith, Tom Fitzsimmons, Ernie Lombardi, Dee Moore, Jim Romano, Don Elston & Phil Regan!

Blog Kiosk: 4/3/2020 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Here is a vintage 1950 photograph taken during the filming of The Jackie Robinson Story featuring Jackie with his military baseball team -- the 761st Black Panther Tank Battalion, based at Fort Hood, Texas. This photo happens to have been signed by Robinson. It is currently available on auction through Heartland (link here). Jackie Robinson is standing on the top row, on the far left.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1968 the Dodgers traded for left-hander Hank Aguirre from the Tigers for a player to be named later -- minor leaguer Fred Moulder. He played one season in Blue, and is best known for being the worst hitter in Major League history -- slashing .085/.117/.108/.225 and striking out an astounding 61% of the time through a 16-year Major League career. In 1974 the Dodgers traded for soon-to-be fan favorite Pedro Guerrero from the Indians in exchange for pitcher Bruce Ellingsen. In 2004 the Dodgers traded Franklin Gutierrez and Andrew Brown to the Indians for outfielder Milton Bradley. 
• Happy Birthday, Wally Moon & Tim Crews!

2020 Topps Now - Bracket Challenge - And Then There Were Two

The Topps Now Bracket Challenge is now down to eight and two Dodgers' are represented -- Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts. As a result, a third round of Bracket Challenge cards have just been released. BTW, the previous round included future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, but he was unable to upend Mets ace Jacob deGrom in online voting.

The first Dodger card available is of outfielder Cody Bellinger (#BB3-2). See his card above and to the right. He had to defeat Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado. Go here to check it out and order. Unfortunately, he isn't likely to advance any further. His next round opponent is Mike Trout.

Blog Kiosk: 4/2/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Dated to Opening Day, April 17, 1934, here's a AP press photo featuring Dodger manager Casey Stengel shaking hands with Boston Braves skipper Bill McKechnie (eBay auction link).

BTW, the Brooklyn Dodgers won that afternoons contest, 8-7, on the back of homers by outfielders Danny Taylor and Hack Wilson and a complete game by Van Lingle Mungo.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1972 47-year old Dodger great Gil Hodges dies of an heart attack. In 2008 Dodgers coach Larry Bowa is ejected from the game for not staying within the boundaries of the coaching box. He is given a three-game suspension for "inappropriate and aggressive conduct," in which he had to be restrained by manager Joe Torre and bench coach Bob Schaefer. As background, Mike Coolbaugh, first base coach for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, was killed the year prior from a batted ball that struck him in the temple while coaching. You can watch the ejection here.
• Happy Birthday, Hughie "Ee-Yah" Jennings, Don Sutton, Reggie Smith & Mike Kekich!

Blog Kiosk: 4/1/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Fernando!

Here's a fun UPI wire photo that I ran into on eBay (auction link).

12/2/1981 -- Hollywood: Left handed pitching sensation for the Los Angeles Dodgers Fernando Valenzuela wears a Mexican sombrero at a press conference after it was announced that he has been named the National League "Rookie of the Year". Valenzuela pitched the Dodgers to the World Championship in 1981.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1963 the Dodgers sold veteran outfielder Duke Snider to the New York Metropolitan's for $40,000. Snider would go on to represent the team in the All-Star Game. In 2013 Clayton Kershaw would be the first Major League pitcher since Don Drysdale, back in 1965, to throw a complete game shutout and hit a home run on Opening Day. Check out the boxscore here. You can watch the homer here.
• Happy Birthday, Ed Kennedy, Ron Perranoski, Matt Herges, John Axford & Chris Withrow!

Blog Kiosk: 3/31/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

The look of despair is palpable. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Rough Afternoon in Brooklyn, NY ...
Brooklyn rightfielder Carl Furillo wipes his brow after watching Elston Howard's home run sail over the right field scoreboard in the fourth inning of the final World Series game here Oct. 10th, to increase the Yankee lead to 5-0. New York went on to take the series with a 9-0 rout, as Yogi Berra clouted two consecutive homers, and Bill Skowron slugged a grand-slammer, while young Johnny Kucks blanked the Brooks with three hits.

From the 1956 World Series. The above United Press photo is available on eBay here. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1948 the Dodgers played their very first Major League exhibition game at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida. They competed against their top farm team, Montreal Royals, and defeated them 5-4. Jackie Robinson hit a first inning home run. Per  HistoricDodgertown.com:

Florida Governor Millard Caldwell threw the ceremonial first pitch at so-called “Ebbets Field No. 2.” A sign reading “You Are Now Entering Dodgertown” welcomed a strong showing of some 6,000 fans, paying $1.25 in the grandstands and bolstered the idea of more games being played on base in the future. Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler, who had suspended Manager Durocher one year earlier, shook hands with “The Lip” and wished him good luck. Vero Mayor Merrill P. Barber looked on and a contingent of the Brooklyn National Guard, who had traveled to Florida to watch the Dodgers, was introduced and went home with a “load of oranges presented to them by the Vero Beach Jaycees.”

• Happy Birthday, Bill Hallman, Gene Snyder & Balvino Galvez!