In Honor of George Carlin

George Carlin was the best comedian I've ever had an opportunity to see. I'll miss his sharp wit and social commentary. Below is a great tribute featuring some of his greatest routines that was created in his honor.

YouTube Link: LordoftheJimmy:

The Other Side of Wrigley Field

Los Angeles sure use to look different in the 50's. Below is a great vintage photo, courtesy of Richard, of an old LA trolley car near Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. It's hard to believe the city use to be connected by a public transportation system rivaling any modern town at the time. I'm sure we all wish something like this existed today. It probably would have been well extended by now to include other local counties. Fortunately, the rail lines are just starting to come into their own and will hopefully expand to other areas of the Southland. It's about time.

Wrigley Field can be spotted in the background by its tall clock tower and multiple lights along the 1st base line. It would have been great symbolism to have the original Trolley Dodgers play here for a season. Baseball fans could have done their best Brooklyn impressions by dodging trains while getting to the game.

I love that billboard on the top left advertising an ale called Burgermeister. Has anyone every heard of this beer? It sure doesn't sound too appetizing.
Below is a view from the clock tower at Wrigley Field. Unfortunately, it's a view of destruction. Wrigley Field is being torn torn down and we get a wide view of the occasion. The beginnings of the Los Angeles skyline can be seen in the distance.

WooHoo Dodgers Win!

This was a hard fought battle. The Dodgers came screaming out of the gate by scoring 4 big runs in the 1st inning on a 2 run double by Loney and a 2 run homerun by Russell Martin. Unfortunately, an initially hittable Paul Byrd righted his ship. Byrd finished the game by pitching 7 strong innings. For the remainder of the game the Dodgers would scatter just 5 more hits and would score no more runs. They could only get a man to thirdbase twice the last 7 times up to bat.

With Chad Billingsley on the mound the whole stadium was hoping that he could hold on. Would the abusive Summer heat drain all of his energy? Can the Dodgers pull this out? His curve ball wasn't sharp so the Indians batters starting sitting on the fastball. Chad gave up 8 hits. He lasted only 5 innings, but would give up only 3 runs. Can the one run lead hold up?

The relief corps had to bear down. Averting a sweep was a must and we all knew they would be the key. They battled and clawed through the suppressive heat to pitch 4 scoreless innings. Kou, Beimel, Broxton and Saito closed the doors. Only one hit was given up between the 4 of them. They showed us what this team can accomplish. If only the team can show a little bit of consistency. Nevertheless, this was a well earned victory. Dodgers 4, Indians 3.

Watch highlights below.

Blog Kiosk 6/22/2008

In these lazy heat-filled days of summer it makes more sense to just watch the games on the TV.

• Will it blend? (Hat Tip:For the Love of Baseball")
  

YouTube Video Link: Will It Blend:

• A Pack A Day pulls a great Steve Sax vintage pin. I have a couple of these pins in my collection and always assumed they were sold at the stadium as a countertop point-of-sale items. Instead, I find that they came in packs. Color me surprised.
• The 29th Annual Sports Card Collectors Convention is coming up ina month (July 30-Aug 3) in Chicago. If anyone who reads this blog is attending please pass along some pics. I'd love to put them up. I won't be there so I'll be unable to check out some of the rare and unusual collectibles that always seems to show up.
  
• Say hello to a new Dodger blog Dodgers Digest. As I always say, "the more the merrier."
  
• What a great find. Trolley Dodger shares a great Koufax photo from one of his favorite photoblogs. From the best titled blog I've ever heard"If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger, There'd Be A Whole Lot of Dead Copycats."

• You must check out Variety's special issue featuring the Dodgers and its 50th Anniversary in Los Angeles. Click Here.
  
• Our favorite video blogger, Troy From West Virginia, was arrested during the Dodger road game in Cincinnati. Diamond Leung has all the news. Troy responds on YouTube about the incident in 4 parts. Click here for Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. Mark of LADodgerTalk recalls seeing Troy last year and has photos to prove it.
• True Blue LA sounds off against the irrationally stupid Philly faithful in defense of JD Drew.
  
• Mario and Tatiana go video by starting "The Baseball Card Show." This married duo is become the leaders and head innovators within the collector blog community. Check out their video here. In other news Mario finds an eBay auction for a rare "1 of 1" card featuring Dodgers fan favorite Brett Butler. It sold for an unbelievable $263.88.
• I love seeing pics from space. Below was made courtesy of Boston.com and features Cumulonimbus clouds over Africa. Click here for more pics. (Hat Tip: Oliver Willis)
• The August Chronicle ask its readers to tell us about their favorite Baseball card and gets a big response. Unsurprisingly, childhood memories surround many of the stories.

  I was just a kid and baseball was the only thing on my mind. John Smoltz came to the Kroger on Washington Road to sign baseball memorabilia. I waited in what seemed an eternal line of eager kids and parents. Finally, my turn came and I was standing in front of my favorite pitcher, overwhelmed with excitement. I handed Mr. Smoltz the card, and as he signed it I was overwhelmed with the urge to talk baseball with him, to tell him how dedicated I was to the sport, and that I never missed one of his games. But with the long, impatient line still trailing off behind me, all I could do was ask him for a handshake. Without hesitation, he extended his famous right hand. I'll never forget that firm handshake with the hand that won so many division titles and took the Braves to numerous World Series. Yet, this time the humble man held his hand out to me, a no-name Little Leaguer from Augusta, and I will never forget it.

  (Hat Tip: SCD)
  
• Euro Soccer Girls!
  
• What do you get when you put Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick and a T206 vintage Baseball card together? You get a movie called "Diminished Capacity." (Hat Tip: Sports Cards Uncensored)

YouTube Link: Diminished Capacity:

Card of the Week: Nolan Ryan

In 1989, Upper Deck ushered in a new era for Baseball cards. They had clean white borders made with thick glossy cardboard. For the first time a major set had color photos on both the front and back of the card. A unique diamond shaped hologram was placed on the rear to insure its authenticity. The design was simple and clean. I consider it one of the great Baseball sets of my generation.

When most people think of this set Ken Griffey Jr. immediately comes to mind. As written about recently by Slate reporter Darren Rovell, his rookie card in that set is considered one of the great cards of the 80's, if not the entire history of the hobby. That card, numbered #1, was one of the hottest cards in the market. They sold for hundreds of dollars and caused grown men to go crazy.

Another card in that set that caused just as much fanfare, albeit without the huge price spike, is the above Nolan Ryan card. Numbered #774, it was a part of a 100 card update set released towards the end of the year.

Everyone wanted this card. I remember selling them for as much as $20.00 a piece. The strange thing about it, though, was that it wasn't particularly rare. Nor was it a rookie card for this soon to be Hall of Famer. Instead, collectors just plain loved the card.

It was seen as unique and special. A card showing Nolan Ryan throwing a football was a perfect match. After all, we all knew that if Ryan hadn't played Baseball he would have been quarterback for the Cowboys. Of course, if he hadn't played Baseball we never would've seen him headlock Robin Ventura and we all would be worse off for that. Nolan Ryan was the symbol of aging gracefully at a time when old men wanted to relive their youth. He aged with both pride and toughness and this card epitomized that idea.

Dodger Turmoil?

I'm not sure what to make of this, but the Dodgers coaching crew and their struggle with its young players was the subject of an ESPN story this morning. They even speculate that Torre may only stay in LA for one year.

Frankly, I think this is a made up controversy. Sure, the team is struggling, but give them time to build a culture of winning. It can't be done overnight, or even over several months of the season. They must grow into it and it is my hope that Torre and crew can help facilitate that. Patience really is a virtue.