Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 6/20/2012

The Dodgers recently released the second Dodger Stadium collector cup to certain concessions (so be sure to ask), pic via twitter @DodgersManny58.  It features some pitching greats. 

• Get well soon, Roberto.
• I don't know how much of this really matters, but since Dodger Stadium is running up against the Brewers Miller Park I thought a little mention was in order.  ESPN has a "Battle of the Parks" contest right now, so be sure to go here to vote for Dodger Stadium.
• Stacie Wheeler at Lasorda's Lair recaps the recent AJ Ellis signing at All Star Collectibles.
• Save the Dodgers briefly speaks with AJ Ellis about everything from his season to Between Two Palm Trees.
• Orbit has been named the best mascot in Minor League Baseball, via the Isotopes Twitter.

• A little bit of cross-promotion never hurt anybody.  The Dodgers team up with Nickelback ... no, I mean Linkin Park in a ticket package that includes a game ticket (June 29 vs. NYM, 7:10 p.m.) and a digital copy of the band’s fifth studio album “LIVING THINGS."  It will cost $23.00 and will include an Infield Reserve ticket and a redemption code for a digital copy of “LIVING THINGS” that will be available for download on the June 26th. Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda will be at the game.  Go here for details.
• LA Blue Crew has photos from the recent Manny Mota signing at El Tepeyac, and from the James Worthy signing at Living Spaces.

(2012 Topps Pro Debut)

• Dodgers prospect O'Koyea Dickson makes an impression at the Midwest League All-Star Game, via Patrick Brown at MLB.com.

Dickson helped lead the charge as the East Division scored 13 times over the first two innings and coasted to an 18-2 thumping of the West Division All-Stars in front of 7,528 fans at Kane County's Fifth Third Field.

Dickson went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and two runs scored and was named Most Valuable Player.

• I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier.  Harry at Eye on LA Sports has a great rundown; including plenty of photos from several games and his autograph "gets," from the Brewers series a few weeks ago.

eBay: 1956 World Series Souvenir Trophy

This just goes to show you how much condition can make a difference.

Below is an eBay auction item I ran into recently.  It is a 1956 World Series souvenir trophy sold in stadium concession stands.  It measures approx 6" to 6 1/2" high and features a nameplate celebrating the Dodgers and Yankees in the Fall Classic.  This memorabilia item is scarce and rarely seen; especially in this condition. 

(eBay Auction Link)

Well, as you may recall, I had highlighted a very similar item earlier this year (See that post here), and as you can see they are very different.  The item I wrote about in January was in exceptionally poor condition.  It had turned green from years of mishandling.  Of course, it wasn't so bad that the collector community shunned it.  In fact, that poorly conditioned souvenir trophy sold for $36.00. 

What did this near mint condition trophy sell for?  It closed 3 days ago at $201.50.  That's quite a jump in value.

(eBay Auction Link)

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Kenley Jansen, Dustin Brown & Bernie Bobble Belly!

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

This coming weekend figures on being a slow autograph weekend (especially when compared to last weekend).  I am aware of only 1 Dodgers related autograph opportunity, and a free signing featuring Stanley Cup Champion Dustin Brown in Van Nuys

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Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen will be signing autographs in Anaheim Hills on Saturday, June 23rd, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.

Pepz Pizza & Eatery
6304 E. Santa Ana Canyon
Rd. Anaheim, CA 92807
714.637.1920

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Get there early if you want an autograph of the current Captain of the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings.  You know, it never gets tiring typing that.  Dustin Brown is signing at the Living Spaces in Van Nuys on Saturday, June 23rd from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  Only 1 autograph per person.  Autographs available as time permits.  Line will be limited to 300 guests.  Your place in line does not guarantee an autograph.  Go here for more info.

Van Nuys at "The Plant"
14400 Arminta St
Panorama City, CA 91402

Hat Tip:  Eye on LA Sports

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The Inland Empire 66'ers (the Angels Class A team) will be giving out Bernie Bobble Belly to the first 1,000 Fans in attendance on Sunday, June 24th.

San Manuel Stadium
280 South E Street

San Bernardino, CA 92401 (map)

*Info here.

eBay: Dazzy Vance in Brooklyn Blue

Why have the Dodgers not retired the number of Dazzy Vance?

This is certainly a name many Dodgers fans have long forgotten.  Dazzy Vance played in Blue before the heyday of the "Boys of Summer." He was known for a blazing fastball that allowed him to lead the league in strike outs for 7 straight seasons- from 1922 to 1928.  In 1924 he struck out 3 batters in one inning on just 9 pitches (only the 7th Major Leaguer to ever do that).  Furthermore, in that year he struck out more batters than any 2 National League pitchers combined.  Vance wasn't always great.  He spent a decade in the minors honing his craft (career saving surgery probably had a lot to do with it) before finally catching on at the age of 31.  As soon as he was given that opportunity he wowed the crowd.  In 1955 he was elected into the Hall of Fame.

Below is a vintage news service photograph issued by Pacific & Atlantic of Dazzy Vance showing his fastball grip, as found on eBay.  BTW, Vance wore number #15 - although I'm unclear if he wore a number for a very long time.  Many teams, including the Dodgers, did not have numbers back then.  Check out a great biography on Vance at the SABR Biography Project.  There is a interesting tidbit that suggest that Vance may have benefited from arm surgery (see it below).

It was in the Big Easy that the career-changing poker game occurred. According to Jack Kavanagh and Norman Macht, Vance banged his arm on the edge of the table while raking in a pot. He immediately felt intense pain. When the arm still hurt the next morning, Vance went to a doctor, who diagnosed an underlying injury that had not been discovered by all the medicos who had examined him previously. Exactly what the doctor did is unknown. Bill James speculated that the surgeon probably removed bone chips and debris from the elbow. That guess seems as good as any. At any rate, the operation was a success and the patient not only survived, but he thrived. After receiving this treatment, Dazzy was able to pitch again painlessly. The Dazzler rebounded to win 21 games for the Pelicans in 1921, his first 20-win season since 1914. He made it to the majors to stay the very next year. “It was an odd thing,” Vance later recalled. “My arm came back just as quickly as it went sore on me in 1915. I awoke one morning and learned I could throw without pain again."

(eBay Auction Link)

Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 6/19/2012

Aaron Harang is quite the artist.  Via Patrick O'Neal's twitter, above is what Harang drew on the Dodgers white board.

• GCRL shares a Koufax sportscaster card.
• Team-First Culture Explains Dodgers' Success, via Alex Angert of MLB.com.

"Most teams get along," Mattingly said. "But they are united in the purpose. They are playing as a we. If you get guys that play as a group, they hold themselves accountable. It doesn't happen that often."

• Chad Moriyama follows up Angert's MLB story, above, by calling it lazy.  

Whenever a team achieves something above what was expected, the media generally takes the easy way out and attributes the success to chemistry or some other intangible. It’s a simple justification for a complicated reality, and it basically amounts to saying, “We were wrong, but not actually wrong, we just couldn’t see the things that nobody else could have seen either!” But that’s lazy to me, and it’s almost completely devoid of responsibility.

I don't entirely disagree, but I do think it's far too easy to discredit the importance of leadership within a team environment.  And I'm not just talking about generalship from the field, either. 

• Mark Langill, the Dodgers official historian, talks a bit about the old Brooklyn Dodgers football team.
• Check out Josh Suchon's great story about his first job in Baseball after college and the day he shuttled around Sparky Lyle.
• Our 1st round draft pick, Corey Seager, has been named to Baseball America's 2012 High School All-America Team.
• Youkilis in our sights? MLB Trade Rumors reports that the Dodgers are interested.  I, on the other hand, am not. 
• Bob Lemke shows a "Pretty Picture" from his collection- a Sandy Koufax pic with Mr. Ed.
• All Trade Bait, All the Time shares his two favorite vintage Baseball cards, and they are a couple of classic Dodger cards.
• Mickey Mantle's Restaurant in New York City recently closed so the memorabilia inside will be sold in a bankruptcy auction, via Sports Collectors Daily.
• How Every Club in MLB is Getting Rich, Thanks to Television, via Maury Brown at Baseball Prospectus.
• Puck Daddy has more on the Kings, The Cup and Las Vegas.  Apparently, the adage that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas doesn't apply to Stanley Cup Champions.

2012 Topps Pro Debut- Dodgers Base Cards

If you love the Minor Leagues then this set is for you.  Last week Topps released their 2012 Pro Debut set that features prospects for every team.  There are 6 Dodger farmhands in the set.  Check them all out below.

#29, Allen Webster

Chattanooga Lookouts

#125, Justin Boudreaux

Ogden Raptors

#131, O'Keyea Dickson

Ogden Raptors

#208, Joc Pederson

Ogden Raptors

#212, Devin Shines

Ogden Raptors

#217, Alfredo Silverio

Chattanooga Lookouts