Spring Training in Daytona

(eBay Auction Link)

Prior to Vero Beach, the Dodgers spent their Spring in many different places. Oftentimes, they would play in Cuba, but in 1942, for a short time, they came to Daytona, Florida to warm up for the season.

An eccentricity not heretofore noticed about the Brooklyn Dodgers is that they will do their Spring training this year on two islands. The island shown above at Daytona Beach, Florida, will be the main training ground, but before taking up quarters there, the Brooklynites will go to the island of Cuba for several exhibition games. Eleven exhibition games will be played at Daytona Beach from March 16 through April 2. This and another field at Daytona Beach will be shared by the Dodgers with the Montreal Royals , their farm club.

What a crazy place to see a game. Above is a photo found on eBay of their brief Spring training home.

Get Well Soon Dave!

Easily one of nicest guys you could ever meet. Never have I seen this Dodger without a smile on his face. He was a joy to watch on the field and as exciting a base runner as I've ever seen.

Today we got a shock as news of his treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma was released. Fortunately, his prognosis is good.

I know all of Dodger and Red Sox Nation is praying for you. Get well soon!

1962 Dodger Snapshots

My favorite of all things to find on eBay are fan made snapshots of Dodger players and the stadium. Below are some great black & white pics of Dodger Stadium in 1962. The best thing about these is the parking lot area. It is just so barren looking. Another thing, in the top photo, what are those buildings in the distance?

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(eBay Auction List)

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(eBay Auction List)

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(eBay Auction List)

T206 Brooklyn Dodgers: Whitey Alperman

Whitey Alperman spent all four years of his Major League career with the Brooklyn Superbas. He was a light hitting second baseman and the ultimate Baseball trivia question. Who has the lowest single-season walk ratio of the 20th century?

It's Whitey Alperman.

In his last big league season, in 1909, he received only 2 walks in 442 plate appearances. The oddest stat of all, though, is that he got hit more than he walked in his entire career. He got hit a total of 36 times versus only 30 career walks in 1,758 plate appearances.

eBay: A Singing Wheaties Box

(eBay Auction Link)

One of the most frequently sung songs in the world, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is synonymous with America, Apple Pie and Cereal? Above is a great auction item of a record cut from a box of Wheaties from the 1950's. You would buy a box of cereal, cut along the dotted line, pierce a hole in the middle, and then play it on your record player.

What makes this recording so memorable is who is singing. For whatever reason, they didn't bother to tell you who lent their voice on the Wheaties record. They should have, of course, because it features four famous ballplayers- Phil Rizzuto, Tommy Henrich, Ralph Branca and Roy Campanella. Listen to a recording of this paper record right here, via Baseball Recording. Something to note, the original recording, produced by Arthur Shimkin, was sold as a separate record and is longer in length as it features sounds of them cheering, a batted ball and other sound effects. Listen to that recording here. Below is the sleeve from the record.

Blog Kiosk: 5/2/2010

It's way to early to worry about the Dodgers.

• With the Kings season over all there is left to do is gaze at pictures of the LA Kings Ice Girls, via Sports Illustrated.
• Check out this brilliant post featuring a modified Peanuts cartoon strip and the Dodgers, via It's Time for Dodger Baseblog. Awesome, just awesome!
  
• Remember Matt White? He was the former Dodger pitcher who's land was valued at $2 billion. Well, that value appears to be a bit overblown; nevertheless, he has been making a good living. On top of that, his dream of Baseball success has yet to disappear. Read more about it here.
  
• Check it out. Baseball-Reference is now doing cards- a Card of the Week, that is.
  
• You have to take a look at Ben's (from It's Time for Dodgers Baseblog) photos from opening day. They are very good!
• Check our Auction Recollections from Sports Pickle as they catch up with a Baseball card photographer for some stories. Very funny stuff. On Don Moss:

  "But his left eye still lingered in my direction, suspicious. Scared. Lazy. But I got my one shot, Don got through it all okay -- his coaches calmed him with a carrot and an apple -- and it resulted in what I think is one of my finest portraits."

  
• Adding insult to injury, Upper Deck loses their football license, as Topps regains theirs after a very short hiatus.