Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Tim Leary & AJ Ellis

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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AJ Ellis will be signing autographs this coming Sunday, August 25 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Manuel's El Tepeyac in the City of Industry.   Autograph Pricing: $29 Any Item.  More information available via Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy.

Manuel's El Tepeyac
13131 Crossroads Pkwy South 
City of Industry, CA 91746 
(626) 488-9432 

Merchandise available for signatures: 8x10 Photos $5, 11x14 $15, 16x20; $25 Baseballs & Mini-Helmets - $15 each; Big Stick Bats - $30

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A 1887 Dodger Baseball Card of a Player Involved in a Play of Deception

Following up on yesterday's post featuring a couple of vintage Dodgers memorabilia items for sale at Legendary Auctions, I want to take a moment to point out a late 19th century Baseball card for sale of a former Dodger player I thought worth mentioning.

The below card is a 1887 Old Judge tobacco card of Brooklyn Grays starting pitcher Stephen Toole.

He isn't notable because he was a great pitcher worthy of serious consideration into the Hall of Fame.  Toole was a rather poor pitcher who played in only 4 Major League seasons (2 of which with the Brooklyn Grays/Dodgers - 1886 to 1887). 

I highlight Stephen Toole because he played a part in a very unusual triple play.

As a member of the Brooklyn Galdiators (American Association) in 1890 he, along with 2 teammates, were called out in a triple play that can only be described as an act of trickery. 

Toole was on 2nd base with the bases full as the batter, John Peltz, popped it up to the short stop, Marr Phillips.  Seeing an opportunity, the short stop decided to let the ball fall untouched.  In a time before the advent of the "infield fly rule", the runners, unsure of what exactly to do, first held fast then ran for the next base.  As you can imagine, they were all putout for a triple play.

Obviously, the Brooklyn club protested.  They claimed that the league recently declared that only the batter would be out in this situation (i.e. the infield fly rule).  Unfortunately, the umpire, ironically named Barnum, would have none of that.  He declared it a triple play, claiming that he had not been notified by the league of any rule changes.

BTW, the Brooklyn Gladiators lasted only one season as a going concern.  They folded up after the 1890 season, having gone 26-72 for the year.  The team that would be known as the Brooklyn Dodgers, on the other hand, had left the American Association that season and won the National League.

*The above triple play story came from the SABR Triple Play database.

(Auction Link)

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Blog Kiosk: 8/21/2013 - Dodgers Links - Gammons on Urias and a Puig Overload

“Yasiel Puig was late to the dance, but boy he has cleared the floor!” -Rick Monday. gif above via Dodgers on tumblr.  Check out a bunch of pics from yesterday from Jon SooHoo here.

• Peter Gammons at The Daily Gammons writes about our 17-year old pitching prospect Julio Urias.

“I have never seen a 17-year old like him,” says one scout. “He is unbelievable. Kind of a Wandy Rodriguez build, but a strong core. Throws 94-96 with legitimate athleticism, has a breaking ball and a curveball. One thing I look for is anxiety. This kid has none. He knows exactly who and what he is.

• David Pinto at Baseball Musings writes about the perceived issues with Puig.  I side with the idea that we should just let Puig play while continuing to work on any deficiencies.  Yasiel is a net positive for the Dodger (by far), and I see no reason to potentially fill him up with excess information.  I'm still in the mode of thinking that we should cut him some slack.
• Via Tony Jackson at Dodger Scribe, "The lowdown from Mattingly on his meeting with Puig".

“He left late enough to make it too close,” Mattingly said. “Trust me, he isn’t the first guy who has been here after the last bus. And it has happened (with other guys) more than two or three times.”

• I don't feel like writing anything about Plaschke's recent article about Puig's benching.  It's idiotic dribble.  Instead, check out Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts response.  It's excellent. 

But when you argue in print that a 22-year-old ballplayer, after 2 1/2 months in the major leagues, is so lacking in character that you “desperately” need a mechanism to keep him in line – weeks from now, over and over again, because the initial punishment or his natural development has so little chance of working  – you’ve revealed to the world your bias against him.

• Drew Fairservice at Getting Blanked speaks with both Clayton Kershaw and AJ Ellis on how they prepare between starts.
• According to Deadspin, the LA Times reporter Dylan Hernandez is the best Dodgers beat reporter.  ESPN's Mark Saxon is the worst.  This seems very unscientific.
• Via Jason Gay at the Wall Street Journal, "These Bums Are Baseball's Best".

They have become the big show. They have done it with pitching, long and short; they have done it with pricey names and discount ones; they have done it with the rookie Yasiel Puig, an electric cocktail of raw talent who may only be a fraction of the player he will become. They have finally and thankfully wrestled headlines away from all that recent drug drama and the inane argy-bargy in New York, where the Yankees and representatives of Alex Rodriguez continue to sock each other over the head with pillowcases full of gym socks. Thanks to the Dodgers, baseball is back to being about actual baseball. Not lawyers. It's a forgiving relief.

• GCRL shares his mighty bounty of Allen & Ginter Dodger cards from Crackin' Wax's Charity Box Break.
• ND at Baseball Musings wrties, "My Cuban Florida baseball experience - Part One - Paul Casanova's baseball academy".
• Via Liz Klimas at the Blaze, "The Awesome Story About a Group of Men Who Have Been Playing a Single Game of Tag for 23 Years".

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Dodger Days of Our Lives

If you've been reading the chattering classes then you've undoubtedly come across the recent hubbub about the unruly and immature attitude of Cuban slugger Yasiel Puig.  Heck, you couldn't follow anything on twitter that was Dodger related the past couple of days without being bombarded by this.

Puig moralizing was everywhere.

Puig was branded with every negative adjective you could think of.  He was disrespectful, immature, emotional and rude.

And now that he has been benched for this evenings game, much of the media appears to believe that the Dodgers are sending him a message.  But, are they really?

Or is this just another day of the world turning for the young and restless?  After all, they've got one life to live and the bold and beautiful are searching for a better tomorrow.

Here's a brief timeline of todays hot soap opera style gossip.

Yasiel Puig is not in today's lineup and showed up to the ballpark at 4:50 pm, now is in Don Mattingly's office with his interpreter
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) August 20, 2013

Puig is Late!  Puig is Late!

So Yasiel Puig hustled into locker room at 4:50. 35 minutes before stretch. Well after most players here. Now in mgr office with Mattingly
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 20, 2013

Oh Oh!  Time for a spanking.

Puig-Mattingly meeting lasts 10 min after which Puig refuses to talk with the media. He is the only #Dodger not available pregame
— Kevin Baxter (@kbaxter11) August 20, 2013

Spanking completed.  That'll show him who's boss. 

This was a very bad day for Puig to show up late to the clubhouse. No spinning now, even tho it was 50-50 as dayofftbenching b4
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) August 20, 2013

It's getting serious now!

Puig not acting like a guy who was just read the riot act. Still laughing and bantering with teammates like any other day.
— Anthony Jackson (@dodgerscribe) August 20, 2013

Wait, Wha?  Hasn't he gotten the message?

Don Mattingly said Yasiel Puig was fined for arriving late to ballpark Tuesday.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 20, 2013

There ya go.

Mattingly said his meeting w/Puig was to let him know he isn't in lineup and talked about the baseball mistakes and why he was late today.
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) August 20, 2013

Will it be enough to knock some sense into him?

Business as usual now for #Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig. pic.twitter.com/k7hG7FJzE3
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 20, 2013

For the purposes of this soap opera and the future bylines of the travelling press corps, I hope not.  This perceived train-wreck is too salacious and sexy to allow a little bit of reason to get in the way.

UPDATE:  I guess I should add that Puig is staying with relatives in the Miami and headed for the ballpark a little late.  Then, he got stuck in traffic.  

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A Couple of Vintage Dodgers Memorabilia Items at Legendary Auctions

Legendary just opened up their August auction and it includes a couple of notable Dodgers memorabilia items.  Check them out below.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

Here is a 1915 Fatima Turkish brand cigarettes advertising poster that features Hall of Fame Brooklyn Dodger Zach Wheat.  He, along with fellow National Leaguers Red Smith and Gavvy Cravat, forms the "The Strong Arm Squad of the National League".  As you may know, Fatima created a couple of cards sets posthumously known as T200 and T222 in 1913 and 1914, respectively.

(Auction Link)

This next item is really neat.  Below is a scorecard and ticket stub from the game in which Don Drysdale completed his Major League record 58 2/3 scoreless innings pitched.  The ticket stub is from June 8, 1968.  Drysdale gave up his first run in the 5th inning of this game against the Philadelphia Phillies after pitching shutouts in 6 consecutive games.  Check out the game box score here.

(Auction Link)

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Seating Chart for Kings / Ducks Game at Dodger Stadium Is Available

Via Bennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period on twitter, he shares a pic of the seating chart and ticket prices for the upcoming outdoor hockey game at Dodger Stadium.  The game will feature the LA Kings versus the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, January 25th.

At first glance, the ticket prices are high.  I've been told, though, that you are paying for the experience of the event and not necessarily a hockey game.  As a fanatic Kings and hockey fan, I will be there - come hell or high water.

Field level, Pavilion, and Top Deck seats, which will likely have terrible views, are the cheapest tickets available at $89.00 to $149.00.  The Top Deck area might not be so bad.  You may be far from the action, but at least you can get a full view at the cheapest prices.  Loge level are the priciest tickets at $279.00.  Club level are at $259.00.  Reserve level seats range from $189.00 to $249.00.

BTW, ticket prices are determined by the NHL, not by the Kings, Ducks or Dodgers.

I wonder if I can get press access.  I'll have to check on that.

I do not know what is planned for Kings, Ducks or Dodgers season ticket holders.

As a long-term Kings season ticket holder, I hope they do us a solid.

You can sign up for Stadium Series information here.  It doesn't appear that you can order yet, but this chart should be helpful in your planning.

UPDATE:  Apparently, Kings season ticket holders have been placing ticket orders since either Monday or Tuesday.  Since I don't handle the account for my season tickets, I didn't find out that they were for sale for us until this morning (8/21).  I'm shooting for Top Deck seat.  Hopefully, we can get into their system.  My season ticket buddy had some initial problems getting in this morning.

UPDATE II:  Victory!  I just received confirmation that I now have a ticket to sit in the Top Deck for this hockey game.  Hooray!

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