Bid on Vin Scully and Magic Johnson 2014 Opening Day Memorabilia

A couple of items from yesterdays Opening Day festivities at Dodger Stadium have just gone up on auction at MLB.com.  Although the game was less than memorable for Dodger fans, I think we can all agree that these two memorabilia pieces could assuage your frustration.  Besides, they would look great in anyone's collection.

These items are a part of a Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation auction that benefits the Dodgers RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities), a comprehensive, urban youth baseball program for boys and girls ages 5 to 18.

With an opening bid of $5,000 you can take home the actual Vin Scully first pitch mound from the 2014 Opening Day ceremony.  You can see it in the photo below (pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014).  It is the circular white Dodger logo Scully is standing on.  Per the auction description:

The item comes signed by Vin Scully and the 2014 Los Angeles Dodger roster.

Go here to check out the auction.

You can also take home the actual Dodger jersey Magic Johnson wore yesterday.  He has also signed it for you.  See him wearing it in the photo below (pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014).  It also starts at an opening bid of $5,000.00.  Check out this auction here.

Here is some background on Dodgers RBI (from a press release):

Working together with local organizations, parents, coaches and volunteers, Dodgers RBI currently offers 2,400 youth the opportunity to learn and enjoy the games of baseball and softball with special emphasis on education, recreation and healthy habits for young people. Dodgers RBI is a cornerstone program of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, the official charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation provides uniforms and equipment, recruitment assistance, cash grants, coaches training, youth clinics and education and health resources to all teams. Using the power of sport to mold major league people, Dodgers RBI seeks to impacts 10,000 youth in some of the most under-resourced areas of Los Angeles during a three-year period.

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Blog Kiosk: 4/5/2014 - Dodgers Links - A Billingsley Rehab Start on Sunday, Beckett Tweaks Ankle and Puig Forgettable Day

Vin Scully make the Opening Day pitch to Sandy Koufax in the above photo, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Check more pics of Opening Day from Jon here.

• Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, "Magic Johnson on Yasiel Puig: 'He has to make the right decisions'"

"We’re hoping that he’ll get better making the right decisions with his life," Johnson said. "He has to remember that those decisions also can affect what you do on the baseball field."

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Puig apologetic, Mattingly forgiving after benching."

“It was 100 percent my fault,” Puig said. “It was nothing to do with my teammates and my manager. I didn’t realize stretch was as early as it was. But it was absolutely my fault, and I ask forgiveness from my teammates and obviously from my manager.”

Puig said that once he realized he was late, he knew that “there’s pretty much no chance that you’re going to play, and I certainly felt bad about that.”

“I want to ask forgiveness from the fans,” he added. “I was very sad that I wasn’t able to play on Opening Day. It’s something that I’m not proud of and I take full responsibility.”

• Ramona Shelburne at ESPN.com writes a great commentary, "Yasiel Puig needs to cut the chaos."

What everyone with the Dodgers is hoping, is that days like Friday make him realize that the chaos he creates actually does affect other people sometimes. That it isn't just something to charge him up or push him to another next level. The dust he kicks up gets in other people's faces sometimes and has real consequences. Once he sees that, once he experiences a day like Friday, there is a real moment to change. Not to save the season or his career or anything so dramatic. Just to make it easier on himself and everyone involved.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Chad Billingsley starts rehab assignment Sunday in Rancho Cucamonga."

"It's getting close. I'm just going to start working and prepare for each [rehab] start like it was the regular season," Billingsley said. "But I'll work on things too, using these starts at my spring training."

• Mark Townsend at Big League Stew writes, "MLB report: Dodger Stadium a 'culture of apathy' on day of Bryan Stow beating."
• Not again!  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Beckett exits rehab start with apparent injury."  According to reports, he tweaked his ankle fielding a bunt, via Raymond Bureau at Sports Injury Alert.
• Via Craig Minami at True Blue LA, "Dodgers 4/4/14 minor league report - Duke von Schamann is efficient in win."

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Puig Arrives Late - Scratched from Game - Kemp Now In

I can just imagine the howls from the peanut gallery now.

"Puig is an irresponsible oaf!" 

"He is a clubhouse cancer!"

"He needs to grow up!"

And, you know what?  Considering the news that has been percolating this morning, the naysayers would be right.

It has been reported widely on twitter that Yasiel Puig was late to the Dodgers workout.  He missed his rotation in the batting cage and was not on the field for early workouts.  Via Bill Plunkett at the OC Register on twitter:

Yasiel Puig arrived late. Was not on the field for most off the workout and has been pulled from #Dodgers lineup. Kemp is in.
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 4, 2014

As a result, returning outfielder Matt Kemp has been inserted into todays starting lineup.  Check it out below, via David Vassegh on twitter:

New lineup.  Yasiel Puig was late to ballpark.  Arrived approx 10:15am.  Don't know reason yet pic.twitter.com/OPdQmcsZ1Y
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) April 4, 2014

I've been willing to excuse much of the shenanigans surrounding Puig, but this is going too far.  It's Opening Day and he should know better by now.

What's the deal, Puig!

Here's a great photo from Scott Killeen on twitter of Manny Mota having a discussion with Yasiel.  I am sure it's the same lecture he's heard numerous times before.

@sosgsosg Puig getting schooled pic.twitter.com/x0MH61ir3K
— Scott Killeen  (@scottkilleen) April 4, 2014

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2014 Topps Museum baseball - Some Dodger Jumbo Relic Cards

Here are some more Dodger relic cards that can be found in packs of 2014 Topps Museum Baseball card packs.  This time, I share some of the 'Jumbo' relic cards that are available.  In my mind, these cards would look great autographed.  If you have one of these, I would suggest getting the player to sign it for you.  It would make the card look phenomenal.  Go here to check out my past post from this set.

Jumbo Lumber Relics

#MMJL-CK Clayton Kershaw

#MMJL-HR Hyun-Jin Ryu

#MMJL-MK Matt Kemp

#MMJL-SG Steve Garvey

Momentous Material Jumbo Relics

#MMJR-AEL A.J. Ellis

#MMJR-CB Chad Billingsley

#MMJR-HR Hanley Ramirez

#MMJR-MK Matt Kemp

There is also a Momentous Material Jumbo Patch Relics card of Matt Kemp (##MMJPR-MK) available, but a sample has yet to be unearthed.  I imagine it uses the same design and photo as the Kemp card directly above, but includes a monster uniform patch.

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It's Opening Day at Dodger Stadium - Matt Kemp has been Reinstated

What a wonderful day for some Dodger Baseball, and a perfect afternoon for Opening Day at Dodger Stadium.  To usher in the morning, the first thing I saw when I turned on my computer at work and saw my news feed was the above photo.  It was posted up by the Dodgers on tumblr.  Thank you, guys!

The first Dodger news story of the day is that Matt Kemp has officially rejoined the team.  He been reinstated.  Outfielder Mike Baxter has been sent down to AAA.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I'm as ready as I can be, and [I'm] excited to get out and compete again," Kemp said. "I've done all the practicing I can do, I've done the rehab. I've busted my butt and now I hope all the work has paid off."

(Matt Kemp, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

The early word is that Kemp will not be in today's starting lineup; which has him fuming a bit.  Via Eric Stephen on twitter:

Don Mattingly on Matt Kemp reacting to not being in lineup today: "I don't think he was too happy about it."
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) April 4, 2014

Alanna Rizzo adds on twitter:

Mattingly wants to get Kemp in the mix but doesn't want him to throw him into the fire. He'll likely get in the game in later innings.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 4, 2014

Then, Mattingly made an apt analogy, via Pedro Moura on twitter:

Mattingly compared Kemp's return to Dwyane Wade's for the Heat, where his minutes rose gradually: "I don't want to throw him into the fire."
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) April 4, 2014

The plan is to ease him into the regular starting job, so as to not put too much strain on him.  Frankly, this is exactly what the Dodgers should do, regardless of what Kemp thinks.  Sometimes, you just have to save the man from himself.

Below is the Dodgers starting lineup against the Giants.

(Starting Lineup, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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A Scarce 1958 Dodgers Bell Brand Set at MHCC Auctions

Mile High Card Company has their April 2014 auction up, and it includes a very rare near-set of 1958 Dodgers Bell Brand cards still enclosed within their original cellophane wrappers.  A total of 9 cards are a part of the auction; only missing the Johnny Podres card for completion.  See them below.

(Auction Link)

Since I find it unlikely that I'll every complete a full set of these, I thought I would share this auction with all of you.  BTW, I do have one of the cards in my collection - it's a Roy Campanella card in PSA 6 condition.

As I'm sure you know, this set is extremely scarce, and to find them still in their packaging is incredible... No, unbelievable.  Generally, 1958 Dodgers Bell Brand cards are rare in any condition.  They were inserted into packs of Bell Brand Potato Chips, so they are often found stained with chip grease or badly damaged from being in those bags.  The cards measure 3" x 4".  At the time of this posting, this auction lot is already priced over $9,000.  Wow!

(Auction Link)

Just to be complete, below is a pic of the Johnny Podres 1958 Bell Brand Baseball card, so that you can get a look at what a complete 10-card set looks like.

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