Blog Kiosk: 11/8/2009

A congratulations to Luc Robitaille on his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame this coming Monday.

"On the lighter side, the good thing about me is I never had a step (quick move up ice), so I never lost it," he said. "That's why, maybe, I was able to play 19 years."

• Here is a great photo of a very young Jerry Doggett and Vin Scully, via If Charlie Parker was a Gunslinger...
• The #5 Type Card Collector introduces us to the 1978 Post Cereal Steve Garvey Baseball Tips set.
• Here is a great read about Maury Wills in the Washington Post. (Hat Tip: Inside the Dodgers)
  
• Read a little bit about a recent find of some vintage soccer cards in Canada.
  
• The Olympic medals for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver are very cool looking. Not only that, each medal is unique from any other medal that will be given out. See the video here about how they were conceived and made. (Hat Tip: Bit Rebels)
• Sports Locker meets the men of Easy Company and gets their autos at a book signing.
  
• Wow. Check out these pics of the Martian landscape at Boston.com.
• Someone pulled the Cy Young, Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker autographed card! (Hat Tip: Wax Heaven)

Gary Nickels- King of Scouts

(pic link: eBay)

Not only is Dodger scout, Gary Nickels, being inducted into the Midwest Scouts Association Hall of Fame in a couple of days, but he also has had an illustrious career as a print advertising pitchman for State Farm. Check it out above. Also, check out the press release below provided by the Dodgers this afternoon. One thing of special note is that he was the mentor to our guru of scouting, Logan White.

Dodger Midwest Scouting Supervisor Gary Nickels will be inducted into the Midwest Scouts Association Hall of Fame on November 7 and the Mid Atlantic Scouts Association Hall of Fame on November 14.

“ Gary is the most professional, punctual, organized and thorough baseball man I know,” said Dodger Assistant General Manager of Scouting Logan White. “I have had the good fortune to have been hired and mentored by this man when I was a young scout, and he is the epitome of a class act in all facets of life.”

The 2009 season is Nickels’ 38th as a scout, and seventh in his current position. Notable current Dodgers drafted under his supervision include Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, Scott Elbert, Blake DeWitt, Cory Wade, and A.J. Ellis. His scouting territory includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

The Midwest Scouts Association Hall of Fame induction will occur at the Midwest Scouts Association Banquet at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. He will be inducted along with Mike Radcliff of the Minnesota Twins and Bill Bryk of the San Diego Padres during the event’s dinner at 7:00 p.m.

The Mid Atlantic Scouts Association (MASA) Hall of Fame induction will take place at its annual banquet at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen , Maryland . Nickels’ name will also be added to the Hall of Fame plaque which hangs permanently at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland .

Nickels worked for four clubs prior to joining the Dodgers in 2003. From 1999-2002, he served as the San Diego Padres’ Pro Scouting Director following nine years in Baltimore as the Orioles’ Scouting Director (1991-98) and Midwest Supervisor/Crosschecker (1989-90). He also was the Chicago Cubs’ Midwest Region Supervisor from 1982-88 and got his start in baseball as an Administrative Assistant, Scouting (1972-75) and Area Scout (1976-81) for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dodgers Decline Garland's Option

(Photo courtesy of Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers)

We get word today that the Dodgers have declined Jon Garland's 2010 mutual option. Read about it here.

That's too bad. Garland has always been a dependable innings eater. Since 2002, he has never pitched less than 191 innings. Hopefully, the Dodgers can find some way to ink him to a new deal.

Dodger Correspondence: Lee Pfund

If you are a college basketball fan then you may know the name of Lee Pfund. From 1951 to 1975 he coached the basketball team at Wheaton College. Over those years he won five College Conference of Illinois (CCI) championships, captured the 1956-57 Small College National Championship and had a lifetime 362-240 (.601) record. Prior to his career as a coach, though, he played pro ball for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945.

(click pic above to enlarge)

He wrote the following.

I spent 8 seasons in professional Baseball over a period of 10 years. I was a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. Pitched in 15 games (10 starts) before injury to my right knee ended my career there. It happened in the Red Cross Benefit game played in Wash. D.C. vs. the Senators. That year was the only year there had been no All-Star game scheduled since 1933. I was the starter and got hurt in the 2nd inning while fielding a swinging bunt on a wet field.

Since 1949 til 1975 I coached Baseball and basketball at Wheaton College in Illinois. I resigned from coaching that year to become the Executive Director of the schools Alumni Association. I have just retired as of December 31, 1987.

I have a keen interest in footbal, basketball, Baseball and golf. We have three sons. One with Bank of America in Calif., one in a men's clothing business in Wheaton and the youngest an assistant coach with the LA Lakers.

Keep well, enjoy the game and read the bible regularly.

Cordially,

Lee Pfund

His youngest Son, Randy Pfund, is currently the GM of the Miami Heat. Also, an important note is that when he played for the Dodgers he pitched with a "no Sunday" contract.

(click pic above to enlarge)

eBay Auction Link: Lee Pfund Letter:

Great Dodger Photos via Legendary Auctions

Legendary Auctions recently had a bunch of vintage press photos on eBay for sale. Below are some choice examples featuring our beloved boys in blue.

O'Malley and a whole cadre of Dodger fans from the old borough of Brooklyn cheer on the Dodgers before the 1963 World Series against the Yankees. The old Brooklyn cheer must have been magic since the Dodgers swept the Yankees that year.

(auction link)

Walter Alston goes through a range of emotions during the 1961 pennant race. Unfortunately, the Dodgers ended up 4 games back of the Reds.

(auction link)

Below is a Sport Magazine original photo of Duke Snider taking his whacks in the batting cage.

(auction link)

An argument and fight ensues after Don Drysdale throws a "duster" at Joe Cunningham. Dated September 4, 1959.

(auction link)

Nice wheels Sandy.

(auction link)

Out at home! June 1, 1955; Jackie Robinson is tagged out at by Del Crandall. This photo was featured in a September 1962 Sport Magazine issue.

(auction link)

Card of the Week: The Unfamiliar #37

This week's "Card of the Week" is in honor of the Phillies and my hope that they kick some Yankee butt. Above is Mike Schmidt's unusual 1983 Donruss Baseball card. What makes this card so strange is that he is wearing the wrong number. The Phillies faithful know him from his recognizable #20, but above he is wearing a #37 jersey.

According to Donruss, this photo was taken a couple years before in Spring Training when Mike Schmidt's jersey was stolen. So, the future Hall of Famer had to put on a loaner, and Donruss captured the moment on cardboard.