Dodgers Blue Heaven

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Matt Kemp In?

Even with Matt Kemp not winning the the All-Star vote it appears he may be in anyway. Carlos Beltran will not be going to the game due to injury so his spot has opened up, and Kemp is the likely replacement.

Manuel, who will manage the NL All-Stars, will pick Victorino if it’s his call, but he thought Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp may get in because he finished higher in the players’ vote.

“One of the things that the league office was kind of concerned about is Kemp had more player votes and that plays some kind of part in it,” Manuel said. “I have to wait and see.”

Hat Tip: Twitter:TrolleyDodger:

Dodger Correspondence: Earl Mossor

Here is another letter written to Jim from former Dodger Earl Mosser. He would only play 3 games in the majors, but played 14 years of professional ball. Earl writes a great story about his first inning of pro ball.

Dear Jim,

I guess the one thing that I will always remember in my 14 years as a pro baseball pitcher is the time that I made the big jump from class "B" baseball to the big leagues in 1951 with the Dodgers. I walked into Ebbets Field on cloud "9", and about a month later I got into my first game as a big leaguer against the Card's with two men on base and one out. I was shaking like a leaf. I get the first man out on a pop up to the infield, and guess what?

(click to enlarge)

I had never even seen the guy before, let alone pitch against him, and there he was kicking a little dirt around in the batters box, Stan "The Man". Now I was shaking even more. I said to myself, I can't run in the dugout and hide. I have to pitch to him. I said there is a guy getting a $100,000 a year and me $10,000 and I am supposed to get him out? Ha. Anyway, I worked the count to 3-2 on him and threw him a big change curve and ducked. Ha. He missed it (by) about 2 feet so I struck him out, and I was about the happiest boy in the world. I struck out "The Man", and the first time I ever saw him.

Best of Luck Jim,

Earl Mossor

(click to enlarge)

eBay Auction Link: Mossor Letter:

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Vote For Kemp!

It is time to go online and vote for the most deserving of candidates. Vote for Matt Kemp!

Dodger Correspondence: Ralph Onis

While on eBay recently I came across a seller with numerous letters written by old Dodger players to a young fan. Below is one of those letters. A kid named Jim ask former Dodger catcher Ralph Onis what was his most favorite moment in Baseball and he was kind enough to respond.

(click to enlarge)

eBay Auction Link: Onis Letter

Ralph Onis only got a "cup of coffee" in the show, but it obviously was a memory worth remembering. After all, not every player can say they have a lifetime batting average of 1.000. He played one game in 1935. He writes:

May 1935. Ebbets Fied, Brooklyn, NY. My first game, relieved Al Lopez 5th inning. Went to bat against "Left" Brant (Boston Braves) 2nd pitch hit a line drive between 3rd and shortstop for a base hit.

I am hitting 1.000 in the Big Leagues.

For a man who spent so little time in the show, it seems he appreciates being remembered. He writes that Jim's letter was no inconvenience at all.

Hunt: More Dodger Goodies

After a short break, here is my second post featuring Dodger memorabilia in Hunt's upcoming auction.

Here is an unusual item I doubt you'll find in many Dodger collector homes. This is a actual cash register from the Ebbets Field, circa 1940's- 1950's. It has the original paper identification labels and inspection labels stating, "H.Stevens (Ebbets Field) Brooklyn".

(click to enlarge)
Auction Link: Ebbets Field Cash Register:

The September 22, 1947 issue of Time Magazine has one of the great cover art drawings ever done of Jackie Robinson. Below are some original drawings done for that issue by Ernest Hamlin Baker.

(click to enlarge)
Auction Link: Time Magazine Original Artwork:

Below is a LeRoy Neiman serigraph titled "Dodger's Centennial" completed in 1990.

(click to enlarge)
Auction Link: LeRoy Neiman 1990 Dodger Centennial:

This is a very rare postcard of the 1907 Brooklyn Baseball Club. There are 12 individual player portraits attached in a accordion style fold-out. Unfortunately, the auction does not feature pics of any of them.

(click to enlarge)
Auction Link: 1907 Brooklyn Postcard:

Since the original 1955 Championship ring belonging to Jackie Robinson remains in the hands of his family the next best thing is a salesman sample. Besides, these rings are more affordable since they feature cubic zarconia gemstone.