Blog Kiosk 6/29/2008

It seems that our pitching is turning the corner, when will our offense?

• Negro Leaguer Art "Superman" Pennington has lost his home and a lifetime of memories as a result the floods ravaging through Iowa. Please help him out if you can here. (Hat Tip: Dodger Thoughts)
• Did you hear about Shawn Chacon knocking out GM Ed Wade? Listen to Geoff Blum talk about the incident on the Scott and BR Show. (Hat Tip: Falling Leaves of Sunshine)
• MSTI praises, of all people, TJ Simers who criticizes Ned Colletti.
• Disgraced autograph authenticator, Donald Frangipani, is suing HBO for their piece called "Forger's Paradise." He is well known throughout the vintage collector community as someone to avoid.
  
• This is a must read, especially if you collected cards as a kid.
  

  Years went by and finally in the Spring of 2007 I opened those old boxes one last time. I sorted through the cards and relived the memories of my childhood. Not one single card beckoned for me to stay. I thought about how much money I had spent and regretted that I hadn’t invested my money more wisely as a child. But, then again, how many kids really do that.

  Near the end of the box, I found my Tom Niedenfur card and I sat and stared, searching for something that I had never noticed about it. I flipped it around in my hands and read both sentences on the back over and over again. Eventually, my wife came in and I tried to stuff the feelings back into the forgotten place that they had come from. It wasn’t possible. I had opened a door to a part of me that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to close again.

• Drawings in the sand by Jim Denevan. Hat Tip: Neatorama:
  
• I love this video because it makes me a little envious. It also makes me smile. Check out "Where the Hell is Matt?"
  

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
(Hat Tip: Oliver Willis)

Card of the Week: Bert Blyleven

Things are a little blurry right now. The Dodgers beat the Angels last night without getting a hit. So, I know the Angels must be seeing doubles- heck quadruples. To commemorate the event please check out the above 1990 Upper Deck card featuring Bert Blyleven. This should be Hall of Famer is seen in a four frame superimposed photograph.

Video Highlights From Last Nights Game

19th Century Only Auction: Harry Wright

19th Century Only is one of my favorite sports collectibles auction houses. They always feature some great rare artifacts from Baseballs past. Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot of Dodger related items available, but there is an interesting studio cabinet of "The Father of Professional Baseball" Harry Wright. This cabinet photo is part of a set of 9 cards that feature members of the 1886 Philadelphia National league team. I'll let the auction description tell you all about Harry Wright.

Born in England, Wright came to America with his father who was well known as a Cricket player. Along with Harry's brothers Sam and George, the three sons took up the game of baseball when it began in America. Harry Wright became a pioneer of this new game. Harry joined the New York base ball club, the Knickerbockers. Backed by investors from Ohio, Wright formed the Cincinnati Red Stockings with his younger brother George. This was the first professional base ball club. This team went undefeated in 1869 with 65 wins and 0 losses. Wright managed the Boston Red Stockings in 1871 through 1875, the Boston Red Caps from 1867 through 1871, the Providence Grays from 1882 to1883, and the Philadelphia Quakers (Phillies) from 1884 through 1893. Harry Wright was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.

Auction Link: Harry Wright Cabinet:

Dodgers at the Coliseum 1958

We are enjoying the fruits that the greatest generation could provide. Housing is plentiful and affordable. Jobs are everywhere. It seems like everybody is getting a new car. Styles are elegant and daring. Not only that, the Dodgers have just come to Los Angeles. Finally, the City of Angels can step onto the giant stage and proclaim themselves a metropolis. We are now living in a city with its own Major League Baseball team. Those folks on the east coast can no longer wince at us. One of the most heralded franchises in sports history is ours and we are never going to let them leave.

It is August 1958 and the Dodgers are playing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In your hands are the tickets, your lady friend - who you are lucky to be with - is at your side and your trusted new camera is loaded with film so as to be ready at a moments notice.

You walk along the street that heads towards the stadium and pause for a moment. Your best lady, dressed in a gown Vogue would be proud of, takes a couple of steps past you. She slowly turns and gives you a pose. Your hands are at the ready as you press the button and hear a click.
You are now within the stadium grounds. The growl of your stomach beckons to be satisfied.

You bellow, "we'll have a couple of hot dogs and cokes!"

Around the corner you spot the condiment table and wonder , "where's the ketchup?"
The field is as you remember it. The backstop rest far back along the tunnel. The press box hovers behind the fence as if suspended with wires. The visitor dugout looks empty, but you notice that the players are huddled in the shade. It's far too warm for our Northern California foes. We still have some time to finish our meal and take more pictures. Who knows? Maybe we can catch a glimpse of a Hollywood star.
The San Francisco Giants are in town this afternoon as you notice that the field is starting to fill up. The grass is not up to today's standards, but no one seems to care.
The fence in left field is a wonder to behold. Its tall wire mesh is the west coast version of Boston's "Green Monster."

What beautiful afternoon for a Baseball game.
Thanks again to Richard for providing the photos above. These are old stereo-slide pics which are smaller than the more common 35 mm seen today. Go ahead and click the photos for a larger view. Richard noted that the Coliseum was filled with wooden bench seating back then and his father recounted that they were awful to sit on.

Game Highlights From Yesterday

Below is a video featuring game highlights of yesterdays loss to the White Sox.