Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 1/16/2013

Matt Kemp recently chose to honor his grandparents with a large chest tattoo, and it is awesome.  The artwork was done by Jun Cha.  His website is here, and it includes more pics.  (Hat Tip: Lauren Lloyd of LAist)

• Dustin Nosler at Feelin' Kinda Blue puts together an exhaustive list of his 50 top Dodger prospects.  It's very informative.
• GCRL makes a bunch of 1982 Topps fantasy cards that should have been.  They are postseason championship cards featuring the 1981 Dodgers World Series champs, and they are awesome.
• Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA, writes a great biography on the other Dodgers lefty ace- Karl Spooner.
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, both Ronald Belisario and AJ Ellis have filed for salary arbitration.
• This sounds like another BS rumor.  Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, we hear that the Dodgers have been thinking about adding Scott Rolen- which is strange since he is believed to be in retirement mode.  The money quotes is this:

 The team has not reached out to Rolen to gauge his interest, the person said.

Sounds like just another baseless rumor that is based upon speculative brainstorming rather than actual discussions with said player. 

• Angels announcer Victor Rojas shares a recent chat he had with Vin Scully.
• Don Mattingly recently spoke with Jay Mohr on AM570, and endorsed Jack Morris for the Hall of Fame.
• Check out a bunch of vintage photographs of Los Angeles here.
• Today is the 43rd Anniversary of Curt Flood's lawsuit challenging Baseball's reserve clause. Check out a video below.

Video Link:

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Meet Former Clipper Olden Polynice

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events 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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This appears to be the only sports related autograph signing for this coming weekend.  Former Clippers centerman Olden Polynice will be singing free autographs in Rowland Heights on Saturday, January 19th from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.  More information can be found here.

Optometry Practice of Dr. Alex Liu
19735 E. Colima Road, Suite 4
Rowland Heights, CA 91748

Hat Tip: Edgar at My Autograph Signings

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UPDATE:
This just came in.  If you are heading out to downtown LA on Saturday morning then you might consider this.  Via a tweet from the LA Kings.  Prior to opening game of the season at Staples Center both Marcel Dionne and Darryl Evans will be signing autographs.

(twitter link)

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A Panini Cooperstown Blaster Box Break

You know what's great about getting gift certificates for Christmas?  Being able to use them to buy some Baseball cards.  And this past weekend, I did just that.

I walked down the card collector aisle at my local Target and stumbled upon a blaster box of Panini's Cooperstown Baseball cards.  I knew right then what I wanted to buy.  I've been fascinated with the set ever since I wrote about it back in November (here & here).  Now, I have an opportunity to actually open some packs.  So, check out my booty in the pics above and below.

The best part about the set is the large number of Dodgers within it.  I pulled out a Jackie, a Walter, a Burleigh and a Campy.  Scans of both the front and reverse are shown in this post.  Click any pic to embiggen.

I had initially disliked the design of the base cards, but now that I held some in my hands, I have to say it is growing on me.  Below are some other non-Dodgers I pulled. 

I loved that they included a Hall of Fame umpire in the set, and I think it would be great if current umpires were included in future Baseball card sets - just so I can burn them when they make a bad call against the Dodgers. 

Below are some of the inserts I pulled.  Unfortunately, I didn't get any more Dodger players, but I did get a interesting wooden card of Reggie Jackson (bottom row, far left).

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Is Rihanna the Succubus Back in Kemp's Life?

With a Hat Tip to Left Field Pavilion I bring to you the latest in Dodger gossip.  Specifically, who is Matt Kemp dating now!  BTW, check out Left Field Pavilions photoshopped pic, it's a gas.

Via Amethyst Tate at the International Business Times, we learn that Matt Kemp was recently spotted having a cozy dinner with former lady-friend Rihanna.

The Barbadian beauty is back with ex-boyfriend, Matt Kemp, who plays baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hollywood Life said.

They first dated in January 2010, but the two broke up after almost a year, citing the strains of a long-distance relationship, a source told the New York Daily News.

"She basically was just over it," and Kemp was not able to “keep up with her crazy travel schedule," the source said.

Moreover, Kemp was "sick of always following after her like a puppy dog all over the world. He wants something more normal," the source added.

To this I say, "Nooooooooo!"

I'm sure we all remember the last time these two were together.  Matt had a very un-Kemp-like year, although his numbers would make all-stars out of most other men.  Still, I don't like the prospects of him being distracted due to the demands of a starlet of her level.  On the other hand, I'm not surprised if she finds herself falling for Matt again.  After all, Kemp strikes me as a real gentleman.  I just would prefer that Matt stick to Baseball, and to finding someone normal.  Of course, what right do I have to tell him what to do.  So, there's that.

Since I've been on a fantasy card making kick lately, I thought I would make the below Matt Kemp & Rihanna Baseball card.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 1/15/2013

Here is another great pic from the Scout's dinner this past weekend.  This time, Harrison Ford joins Bud Selig and Vin Scully.  Pic via twitter @Dodgers.

• Emma at Dodger Blue World has decided to start writing biographies on every living Brooklyn Dodger.  She starts with Mike Sandlock.  Keep up the great work Emma!
• Check out Chan Ho-Park in a tuxedo for 'Gentleman Korea' magazine.  One pic is on the right.
• RIP:  Former Dodger Enzo Hernandez was recently found dead from an apparent suicide, via AP on USA Today.
• The LA Sports Council just started their 8th Annual fan vote for the LA Sports Awards.  Go here to check it out and make your mark.  (Hat Tip: JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers)
• Via JP Hoornstra at the Daily News, the Dodgers announced single ticket pricing plan based on a 4-star scale.  These tickets will go on sale during the the Dodgers FanFest on Saturday, January 26th.  From a Dodgers press release earlier today:

The Dodgers’ 2013 individual game pricing starts at $8 per ticket for One-Star games, $10 per ticket for Two-Star games, $20 for Three-Star games, and $30 per ticket for Four-Star games. 

• Via Flip Flop Fly Ballin', we learn that they almost turned Chavez Ravine into a zoo before it became Dodger Stadium.
• I call "Bunk!" on the rumor that the Dodgers are looking into reliever Rafael Soriano as tweeted by Buster Olney.  It would be a silly move for the Dodgers to pay his salary and lose a draft pick.  I believe this is a rumor floated by Soriano's agent (Boras) to get the bidding up higher.  On a side note, have you notice how the Dodgers are thrown around as interested in everybody?  I assure they are not.  It's just mutually beneficial.  The agents love spreading these rumors in order to help their clients, and the Dodgers don't mind since it adds some favor with those agents since they are likely to work with them in the future.
• jbox at Gaslamp Ball brings us the story of the Adrian Gonzalez autographed photos with the tagline, "I Bleed Dodgers Blue..."

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A Vintage Brooklyn Dodger Exhibit Card- 1922 Walter Ruether

Here is another vintage Brooklyn Dodgers Baseball card in my collection.  This time I show you a 1922 Exhibit card of Walter "Dutch" Ruether.

These cards are much larger than your typical Baseball card (about the size of a modern postcard), and were produced by the Exhibit Supply Company of Chicago.  They were distributed solely in vending machines.  For the price of a penny you pulled out a couple of cards.  The back of this card is blank, although in subsequent years a postcard back was added.

Dutch Ruether - notice the card above misspells his name - was a starting pitcher for the Brooklyn team from 1921 to 1924.  He came to the Brooklyn Robins (as they were known back then) by way of a trade with Cincinnati for future Hall of Famer Rube Marquard.  Overall, he compiled 54 wins, with a 3.97 ERA, and a 99 ERA+ with Brooklyn.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball-Reference.

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