Billy Harris Vintage Dodger

Pic Link: Virtual Card Trader:

Former Dodger Billy Harris is excited about being a part of Topps upcoming 2009 Heritage Baseball card set. He only had a couple cups of coffee in the big leagues, but stayed in the Dodger organization from 1951 to 1960.

"(The photo) was taken in Vero Beach, Florida -- Dodgertown," said Harris, a member of both the the New Brunswick and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame who has lived in Tri-Cities since 1962. "What (Topps) gave me was two sets of spikes a year, three gloves a year and a set of golf clubs."

But as the hobby developed and became flooded with new product, card companies found that a higher premium was being placed on vintage sets, such as the 1960s set.

"Ten years ago, it was a big deal, but I thought (the hobby) died out. With the reprinting of these cards, it must be getting popular again," said Harris, whom Topps paid $500 to autograph the cards. "Now, I'm making more money on my cards then I did when I played."

There will be three subsets of Harris autographs in the Heritage edition. There will be 100 cards signed in blue ink and 60 special edition cards signed in red ink, both on the original design base set. A third subset -- a 25-card dual-auto set titled "Past and Present" -- will feature Harris and current Dodgers' pitching phenom Clayton Kershaw.

I don't know if putting Kershaw and Harris on the same card is the best thing in the world. I would prefer Sandy Koufax or another Dodger great. Nevertheless, it's great that even unsung and relatively unknown Dodgers from the past are getting a chance to show up on cardboard again.

Hat Tip: SCD:

Blog Kiosk: 1/25/2009

Just a few more weeks until Baseball!

• Check out Blue Notes blog post that features some videos of our young Dodgers hanging out with the Lakers. Blake Dewitt and Clayton Kershaw are ecstatic to be there.
  


• Sports analogies are popping up everywhere. Can Obama return the public trust in our government the same way Babe Ruth returned the public trust in Baseball?


• WFAA in Dallas interviews our very own Clayton Kershaw as he reminisces about his early Baseball career; including a perfect game in high school. (Hat Tip: LA Dodger Talk)

• Jose Canseco fought Danny Bonaduce.

• Forbes ranks the Top 10 Baseball cards of All-Time. (Hat Tip: SCD)
  


• The LA Times remembers LA's own Wrigley Field. (Hat Tip: Dodger Thoughts)
  


• Upper Deck will be inserting limited edition cards featuring the First Hockey Winter Classic into their 2009 Baseball packs. (Hat Tip: Stale Gum)

• In honor of Todays All-Star game below is the complete game from the 1981 All Star game in Los Angeles featuring our Triple Crown Line of Marcel Dionne, Charlie Simmer and Dave Taylor. (Hat Tip: Inside The Kings)
  

• Estranged brother of Mark McGwire is pitching a book claiming he introduced Mark to steroids.


• Remember this name, Bryce Harper. This 15 year old will be the #1 draft pick during the 2011 draft.

YouTube Link: PowerShowcase:
Hat Tip: Diamond Hoggers:

Videos: Manny, the Babe and the 1966 Pennant Race

Below is a video of Manny's first day at Dodger Stadium. I had not seen this before so it was nice to be reminded about his great season last year with the Blue Crew.

YouTube Link: preciosadesiree:

Here is a great video featuring Babe Ruth in "Fancy Curves."

YouTubeVideo: DashHopes1:
Hat Tip: Walk Off Walk:

Here are a series of great lost interviews with the 1966 Dodgers as they race towards a pennant.

YouTube Video:Footage World:

Wolf, Garland or Looper?

ESPN tells us that the Dodgers are chasing three starting pitchers with the desire to sign one of them. They are former Dodger Randy Wolf, former White Sox and Angel Jon Garland and converted reliever Braden Looper.

The rumors that the Dodgers and Randy Wolf were getting close to a deal appear to be wrong.

Last weekend, it appeared that conversations had heated up between Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti and Wolf's agent, Arn Tellem. But indications Friday were that the two sides hadn't spoken in several days.

I don't really see much of a difference between the three pitchers. So, I would be fine with any of them as our end of the rotation guy. Although, I always thought Jon Garland had some good stuff with the White Sox. He may be the best bet since he isn't too far removed from his 18 win seasons in 2005 and 2006.

Rare Photo Sold on eBay

This is a very rare photograph of a Baseball team that dates to the early 1860's. It is a ambrotype photograph and measures 5 1/4 by 4 1/4 inches. Notice how large the bats are. They are very representational of the giant clubs that were used back then. Also, the uniforms (especially the belts) and facial hair styles give away the date. Unfortunately, it has some serious condition problems. Nevertheless, it sold for a healthy $1,325.00.

Hat Tip: Vintage Baseball Card Forum:

SCP Auctions: Photos, Pennants, Silver and Cigars

SCP Auction is the only locally based sports collectible auction house. They run usually 2 or 3 auctions a year and typically have some great quality items available. This time around they have some unique Dodger related collectibles.

As some of you may know, O'Malley made some attempts to keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn. One of these plans included building a new stadium in the burrough. Below are 2 wire photos featuring the proposed complex. It was conceived as either a domed or open air stadium, would seat 50,000 fans and could be completed by 1958. Furthermore, the seats would be movable to accommodate different sporting events.

SCP Auction Link: Proposed Brooklyn Dodgers Stadium:

Here is a 23" long Brooklyn Dodger pennant with a caption picture of Pee Wee Reese.

SCP Auction Link: Reese Pennant:

The item below came originally from the estate of the former commissioner of Baseball, Bowie Kuhn. It is a 1990 Silver Los Angeles Dodgers Season Pass. It was created by Tiffany & Co. and has an engraved 100th Anniversary Dodger logo, facsimile Peter O'Malley's signature and Bowie Kuhn's named engraved on the bottom.

SCP Auction Link: Silver Season Pass:

Here is a silver commemorative plate presented to Gil Hodges by his teammates on Gil Hodges Honor Night on July 17, 1957 in Brooklyn. It features engraved signatures of the entire team, coached and team officials.

SCP Auction Link: Gil Hodges Commemorative Plate:

Here is the lone non-Dodger related item I've decided to highlight from this auction. Below is a early 1920's cigar box promoted by Honus Wagner. It features a photograph of a younger Wagner wearing a Louisville Colonels uniform from the late 1890's. This is very rare and is one of only a handful known to exist. This cigar box certainly puts a wrinkle into the folklore about Wagner and his refusal to be included in the T206 set due to his disdain for smoking.

SCP Auction Link: Wagner Cigar Box: