Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 8/9/2012

Apparently, Sandy Koufax was at yesterdays game.  Pic via Jon SooHoo/ Dodgers 2012.  Jon writes,

Thank you Sandy for allowing me to take you from the clubhouse up to the press box for this photo. Thank you Vin for allowing me to interrupt your pre-game ritual to take this photo. All of your fans in blue truly appreciate it. Now I really feel like Barney Stein.

• Left Field Pavilion wonders where is the Think Blue sign.
• Al Yellon at SB Nation speculates that a Dodgers' TV rights deal could be worth as much as $8Billion.  $8 Billion!!!
• I'm not sure if this is a good thing.  Per Gaslamp Ball, Tiger Woods is a Dodgers fan.

"Absolutely," Tiger Woods said when asked if he’d be interested in owning one of his favorite teams. "I just need a lot more money. My teams are the Lakers, Dodgers, and the Raiders, so I’ve got to play really well."

• Alex Angert of MLB.com writes about Matt Treanor's joy at seeing his wife win her third gold medal.

"I'm not afraid to cry," said Treanor. "I'm not afraid to snap a bat over my neck or whatever it is. That's the way I am. That is the way I'm built. Being Irish-Italian doesn't always help, either."

• Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts writes for CityThink at LA Magazine, "When Mike Trout Surpasses Matt Kemp."

At the start of the season, there's no one in baseball I would have traded Matt Kemp for. But now, I would exchange him straight up for Mike Trout, the superb fielder, baserunner and hitter who just turned 21. Not that the Angels are offering.

• Former Dodger Rick Auerbach is True Blue.  As seen on Reddit via StickyStanceMikey we find out what he thought it was like playing with Johnny Bench when he was on the Reds.  

• The Baseball Continuum takes a look at the other sports that Baseball has spawned.
• Have you ever wondered what a formal warning from MLB looks like for taking too long on the mound?  Baseball Prospectus has a copy of a letter sent by Joe Garagiola Jr. (a Senior VP) to Rockies Pitcher Mike Eckstrom.
• If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger... puts up a great photo of a 1955 women's Japanese softball team.
• Best cake ever!  Via Puck Daddy.  It was made for Kings goalie Jonathan Quick to help him celebrate his day with the Cup.

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Encore Screening - BLUETOPIA: The LA Dodgers Movie

If you haven't seen BLUETOPIA: The LA Dodgers Movie yet, and want to enjoy it within a setting surrounded by Baseball then you should check out this encore screening of the movie at the Craft and Folk Art Museum on Wilshire.  Go here for details.

Thursday, August 16 | 7:00pm

Free with museum admission. In celebration of the Dodgers’ 50th year in Los Angeles, Bluetopia traces the lives of devoted Dodger fans throughout the 2008 season. Demonstrating how fans of diverse backgrounds can unite in their reverence of the team; this film is as much about love as it is about baseball. Producer/Director Timothy Marx will introduce the film and take questions after the screening.

Film has a running time of 88 minutes. RSVP requested to rsvp@cafam.org

Craft and Folk Art Museum
5814 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 937-4230

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Also of note, there is another Baseball event at the Craft and Folk Art Museum this evening that looks interesting.  Tonight, August 9th at 7:00 PM is the "Beyond Dodger Stadium: LA’s Community Leagues Panel Discussion." For more information go here.

Galleries open at 6:30pm for exhibition viewing. Free with museum admission
Along with being home to the Dodgers, Los Angeles has a long and rich tradition of neighborhood baseball leagues. Learn about the history of LA’s Latino, African American, and Japanese American leagues with panelists Tomas J. Benitez, Terry Cannon, Daryl Russell Grigsby, and Bobby Umemoto. To view full bios of the panelists click here. 

Refreshments will be served. RSVP requested to rsvp@cafam.org

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2012 Topps Finest Baseball- Dodgers Base Cards

The newest Topps Baseball card set has been released.  It is their 2012 Topps Finest set, and it includes only two Dodgers players in the 100 card base set.  See them below.  Of note, the Kemp card is different than the preview image Topps provided just a few days ago- see that here.

#40 Matt Kemp

#50 Clayton Kershaw

Furthermore, this set is very light on Dodgers players.  You will only find cards of Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw as inserts.  Check some of them out below. 


This is a "Faces of the Franchise Inserts" and only Matt Kemp is represented.  According to a checklist on Sports Card Radio, there is a Matt Kemp autographed version of this card, but I have yet to see it.  (UPDATE: a redemption card for the Kemp auto are inserted into packs)

FF-MK Matt Kemp

Here is a "Finest Moments Inserts" card of Clayton Kershaw.  Again, he is the only Dodger represented in this insert set, and like the Kemp above there is both a normal card and an autographed version available.

FM-CK Clayton Kershaw

Finest Moments Autographs

FMA-CK Clayton Kershaw

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Gold! Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh do it for a Third Time

There is now a gold medalist in the Dodger family.  I would like to extend a great big Dodgers Blue Heaven congratulations to the beach volleyball team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh on their gold medal winning performance this afternoon. 

Since I didn't have a chance to watch the game live, I thought I would troll "the twitter" to see what updates I could get. Below are some pics I gathered up.

As you can imagine, Matt Treanor, the proud husband of this blogs favorite Olympian was on pins and needles today.  He came into the park early to catch the game, and while in the clubhouse, as the photo below suggest he hid himself in the privacy of Don Mattingly's office.

(twitter pic @Dodgers Jon SooHoo)

He would soon, though be surrounded by a teammate and his skipper.  Both Don Mattingly and Clayton Kershaw watch the match in support.

(twitter pic @Dodgers Jon SooHoo)

And to the joy of all, Misty and Kerri win their third straight gold medal.  Below, Al Roker (yes, that Al Roker) shares a pic on twitter showing them celebrating after their win.

(twitter pic @alroker)

Here is another Al Roker pic of them celebrating.

(twitter pic @alroker)

Several other fans share more pics.

(twitter pic @Carlos_DKight)

Here is the best one of the day.  Misty gives a big thumbs up to the cheering crowd while Kerri gets ready with the flag.

(twitter pic @MeganPura)

While here at home, Matt Treanor sports the Olympic rings in what must have been an emotional moment.  No doubt, he is proud as heck.  Pic below via twitter @Dodgers Jon SooHoo/Dodgers 2012.

(twitter pic @Dodgers Jon SooHoo)

 

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 8/8/2012 - Vin Scully's 1st Autographed Insert Baseball Card!!!!

This is the MUST-HAVE card of the century.  Panini America is releasing a Vin Scully autographed card in their 2012 Cooperstown Baseball card set.  Only 100 of these cards will exist.  This is the 1st Scully "on-card" autographed card ever made.  Wowzers!  See more information here.

• Per John Heyman at CBS Sports, the Dodgers where willing to go big for Cliff Lee. 

The Dodgers not only claimed Lee, they made offers of players for him. (Colletti and Kasten wouldn't talk about waivers or Lee, since waivers are allegedly a secret and Lee is still a Phillie, but others confirmed their involvement.) 

• Taylor Nestra at Dodgers Nation writes about "Dodgers History: A Great Example Set Forth by Sandy Koufax."
• Howard Cole writes, "Koufax Bobblehead Nice, Koufax Statue Better."
• Cards that Never Were makes his own version of a Maury Wills 1962 Topps Baseball card, and it's pretty awesome.  Check it out.
• Dodger Dugout reviews a children's book called "Gibby's Homer: The 1988 World Series."
• Don't expect to see the National Sports Collectors Convention back in Anaheim any time soon.  Via a tweet from the National's PR group @natsportsshow.

• Emma at Crzblue's Dodger Blue World relays a great story about a found kitten near the Dodgers parking lot before yesterdays game and the man who saved him.  There is something wonderful about animal rescue stories.  BTW, Michael, the man who went out of his way to save the kitty, has named him Koufax.
• Jim Tracy comments on Vin Scully's call of his expletive filled tirade the other day, via Troy Renck at the Denver Post.
• "Juan Uribe's Days Could be Numbered", writes Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times.

"Whatever happens, there's nothing I can do about it," Uribe said. "I can't control that. If they want to trade me or do something else, that's something I can't control. The decision is for them to make. I'm here to do whatever they want me to do."

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: An Ace, a King, and a Couple of Garvey's

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.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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Angels ace, Jered Weaver will be signing autographs at Silk the Club inside the Pechanga Resort & Casino on Thursday, August 9th.  Go here for more information.  There is a limit of one autograph per person.

August 9th; 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
at the Silk the Club
(inside Pechanga Resort & Casino)
45000 Pechanga Parkway
Temecula, CA 92592

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Both Steve Garvey and LA Kings defensemen Alec Martinez will be signing free autographs on Saturday August 11th at the Grand Opening of the Sports Authority store in the Northridge Fashion Center.  It is at the upper level next to CPK.  Go here for more information.

The first 250 customers win MYSTERY BUCKS, valued up to $500 on Saturday only at 8am.
$100 GIFT CARD GIVEAWAYS Every hour from 9am–6pm Saturday only.
$500 SHOPPING SPREE Register for your chance to win AUGUST 11–18, 2012**

The Alec Martinez signing will start at 10:30 AM.  Steve Garvey will begin signing at 1:00 PM.

Sports Authority (Northridge Fashion Center)
9301 Tampa Avenue
Northridge, California 91324 

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Steve Garvey will be a busy man on Saturday.  After signing at the Sports Authority early in the afternoon, he will then head over to the Normandie Casino in Gardena at 5:00 PM.

August 11, 2012;  5:00 PM
Normandie Casino
1045 West Rosecrans Avenue
Gardena, CA 90247

Hat Tip: Vin Scully is My Homeboy

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