Collection: Kuo Finest Auto

With Kuo's surgery on the horizon I thought it appropriate to share this 2006 Topps Finest Refractor autograph card of Hong-Chih Kuo. I'm hopeful his 5th elbow surgery is successful and he remains with the Dodgers. I think his commitment to the game and the team is worthy of an opportunity to stay here.

Blog Kiosk: 10/27/2011

Nice Dodger pumkin! (Pic via YFrog CraigStem) Be sure to check out the Pumkin Contest hosted by Tommy Lasorda. Details are below.

• The always sticky issue of contributory negligence enters into the Bryan Stow lawsuit, via ESPN.

  "You're saying to the jury, 'They (the Stow family) are saying we're 100 percent liable. But does that mean (Marvin) Norwood and (Louis) Sanchez, who beat this guy up, have no liability? And, does it mean Mr. Stow himself has no liability?' "

• Kuo to have his 5th elbow surgery, via LA Times.
• Those eTopps cards are very nice. Greg shows off his Russell Martin eTopps rookie card here.
• Enter the Tommy Lasorda Pumpkin Carving Contest here. Here is a stencil of Tommy you can use. Heck, Tommy will even provide an autograph to the best Tommy pumkin. More stencils can be found here.
• The awards keep coming for Kemp and Kershaw. They have both been named to the Sporting News National League All-Star teams. Matt Kemp was a unanimous selection. Story here.
• 'Zombie In A Penguin Suit" Just watch the video. You won't regret it.

Video Link:

Daily Conlon: 370 through 378

Here are todays Daily Conlon cards numbered 370 through 378, and it features former Dodger (Superbas) and Baseball umpire Mal Eason (center row, far right). Eason played in the Majors for 6 short years, two of which with the Brooklyn team in 1905 and 1906. By all accounts, he was lucky to have played that long. For Brooklyn he pitched a combined 15-38 with a 3.75 ERA, and lost twice the number of games he won in his entire career. You gotta feel bad for him, though. He played for some horrible teams.

To his credit, he did have one moment of brilliance. On July 20, 1906, against the St. Louis Cardinals, he pitched a no-hitter. He recorded 5 strike outs while allowing only 5 batted balls out of the infield.

After leaving the diamond he would umpire professionally for 13 years. Then, Mal became a cattle rancher in Arizona. A strange fact, he designed his own grave headstone in the shape of a mitt and ball. See it here.

Hake's Auction

As I had previously written about (here), Hake's is running an auction and it includes a couple of really great Dodger memorabilia items. Check them out below.

This is a 1963 World Series Stadium Club badge/pin produced by Western Badge & Trophy Co. This is seldom seen.

Auction Link:

I think this is my favorite Dodger item in Hake's auction. This is a large (3.5") circa 1960's pinback featuring slugger Frank Howard. This was originally sold in stadium kiosk. This is the first time I've encountered a pin like this for Howard, but am familiar with the style. A Maury Wills, Don Drysdale and Tommy Davis are known to exist. Strangely, a similar pin showed up in MHCC's auction a few weeks ago and sold for considerable less than Hake's starting price. I think I'll wait around for a better deal.

Auction Link:

Blog Kiosk: 10/26/2011

Pic above from Left Field Pavilion, titled 'Praying Won't Help.'

• Did you know McCourt tried to buy the Angels?From Bloomberg:
  

  (McCourt) wanted to bid for the Anaheim Angels in 2003, according to a person involved with the latter transaction, who asked not to be identified because of ongoing business relationships with MLB. This person says McCourt wanted to make a nothing-down offer for the Angels, eventually purchased by billboard magnate Arte Moreno for $180 million.

  (Hat Tip: Halos Heaven)
  
• Via SCD, the FBI has charged 6 dealers for fraud related to game-used uniforms and jerseys. This part of the memorabilia market is rife with problems.
  
• Dodgers BK trial has been delayed, via Steve Dilbeck of LA Times.
  
• Dodger Thoughts remembers Hong-Chih Kuo.
  
• Dodger Divorce analyzes the two BK plans.
  
• An extremely rare Ty Cobb tobacco tin is found hidden in a closet, via Sports Collectors Digest.
  
• Check out this story about David Kohler's Lakers collection from SCD.
• Here are some vintage Brooklyn Dodger newsreels. Unfortunately, no sound, but stillg reat.

Video Link:

Collection: Maury Wills Signature Decades Auto

Here is another card from my Dodger autograph collection. It is a 2005 Upper Deck Ultimate Signature Edition "Signature Decades" card of Maury Wills. The card is neither numbered or rare, but it's of Maury so you can't go wrong.