The 1962 Union Oil Dodgers Player Portrait Set - A Newly Completed Set for My Collection

WooHoo!  There's nothing like the joy of a completed set.

Last week, I was able to finally finish off another Dodgers Union Oil Player Portrait set.  This time I was able to complete the 1962 Union Oil Dodgers Player Portraits set, and I have scanned it in its entirety in order to share.  Earlier in the year, I snagged a 1969 Union Oil set for a bargain of a price.  This time, I had to build this set from several large lots I was able to find on eBay. 

As you know, these portraits feature drawings by noted artist Nicholas Volpe. The 1962 set consist of 24 different sheets, and measure 8 1/2" x 11".  I am not entirely sure if these were given out by select Union Oil gas stations or were a giveaway at games at Dodger Stadium.  My trusted standard catalog doesn't provide any clues about that, but it does mention that it has been reported that as many as 200,000 copies of each portrait was produced.  I know that sounds like a lot, but considering the passage of time it's likely a vast majority of them are long gone.  Still, it's a gorgeous set that tends to command a premium when in great condition.

Check out the entire set below.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

BTW, I've got only the 1964 set remaining to complete, and  I only need 3 more sheets - Willie Davis, Joe Moeller and Lee Walls.

Larry Burright

Doug Camilli

Andy Carey

Tommy Davis

Willie Davis

Don Drysdale

Ron Fairly

Jim Gilliam

Tim Harkness

Frank Howard

Sandy Koufax

Joe Moeller

Wally Moon

Ron Perranoski

Johnny Podres

Ed Roebuck

John Roseboro

Larry Sherry

Norm Sherry

Duke Snider

Daryl Spencer

Lee Walls

Stan Williams

Maury Wills

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Blog Kiosk: 6/24/2014 - Dodger Links - All-Star Dee Gordon, World Cup Fever and Don't Trade Kemp

Zack Greinke did not have a happy homecoming in Kansas City yesterday.  In just over 5 innings he allowed 5 earned runs on 11 hits.  On top of that, the Dodgers offense sputtered in the cavernous stadium.  The Dodgers lost 5 to 3.  Fortunately, the Giants also lost, so we didn't lose any ground.  Pic above via @Dodgers on twitter.

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Dee Gordon's All-Star case."

“I would absolutely love it,” Gordon said. “If I don’t, I don’t. And, honestly, I’m not supposed to be where I am anyway, but that would definitely be something that’s cool. My whole family would be there.” 

• Via Nick Cafardo at the Boston Globe, claims that the Red Sox have been watching Matt Kemp.  Sounds creepy to me.  On the other hand, Rob Bradford at WEEI says there is no truth to the rumor.  It seems to me that the annual parade of rumors, innuendo's and fake headlines is starting right on time.  As always, I suggest ignoring these stories.  None of these "in the know" guys know what they are talking about.
• Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest that, "There is no benefit to the Dodgers trading Matt Kemp."

There is no benefit to trading Kemp. If the Dodgers did trade him, not only would they have to a large portion of the $107 million he’s owed from 2015-19, the return would be miniscule at best. For Kemp to have any real trade value, he’d have to be hitting well for a few months. If that were the case, the Dodgers wouldn’t want to trade him anyway.

For the record, I agree with Dustin on this one.  Of all the outfielders we could trade, I would consider Kemp to be the least desirable to go since he has the best upside.  Besides, I always thought Ethier would be a better candidate for a trade.

• Via Chad Moriyama at Dodgers Digest, "Down On The Farm Update: Games Of 6/16 – 6/22 – Seager, Leon, Pacheco."
• A hearty Blue Heaven congratulations to all the folks who were elected to enter into the 2014 class of the Hockey Hall of Fame; especially former longtime Kings defenseman Rob Blake.
• Some Dodgers have World Cup fever.

After that Mexico goal, Adrian Gonzalez grabbed a Mexican flag and ran around the #Dodgers clubhouse as if he had scored.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) June 23, 2014

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Kershaw is the National League Player of the Week - Several New Blue Heaven Fantasy Cards

This is really no surprise.  After all, if you throw a no-hitter you are probably going to be honored by the league with Player of the Week honors. 

In honor of his incredible feat and subsequent honor as the player of the week, I made several Clayton Kersahw fantasy cards featuring photos taken by Jon SooHoo during his no-hit game. 

Via a Dodger press release:

Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who threw his first career no-hitter on Wednesday, June 18, has been named National League Player of the Week for the period ending June 22. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Kershaw was unhittable in his only start of the week, leading the Dodgers to an 8-0 victory and completing a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Facing the best-hitting team in the Majors, the three-time N.L. All-Star needed just 107 pitches (79 strikes) in 9.0 innings of work to earn his first career no-hitter and to improve to 7-2 on the season. Kershaw faced just one batter over the minimum in the outing and did not issue a walk, while fanning 15 Rockies hitters. The only batter to reach base did so by way of an error to lead off the seventh inning. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, his 15 strikeouts were the most in Major League history by a pitcher that did not allow a runner to reach base via hit, walk or hit-by-pitch. The previous mark of 14 strikeouts in such a performance was shared by Nap Rucker (September 5, 1908), Sandy Koufax (September 9, 1965) and Matt Cain (June 13, 2012). In addition, the 15 strikeouts were tied for third-most overall in a no-hitter, and tied for the most by a left-hander, matching Hall of Famer Warren Spahn (15 on September 16, 1960). Kershaw's performance was the 22nd no-hitter in Dodger franchise history, which is the most by any Major League club. It came just 24 days after his teammate Josh Beckett threw his first career no-hitter (May 25 vs. PHI), marking the shortest span between no-hitters by a team since Cincinnati's Johnny Vander Meer did it in consecutive starts on June 11 and 15, 1938 (Elias Sports Bureau). With the no-hitter, Kershaw saw his ERA dip to 2.52 (18 ER/64.1 IF) for the season. This is his fourth career Player of the Week honor, having previously won April 1-7, 2013; May 14-20, 2012; and June 20-26, 2011.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Kershaw's Dodger teammate Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-0, 1.50 ERA, 8 SO, 12.0 IP); Colorado's Corey Dickerson (.500, 11 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .955 SLG, .522 OBP); Atlanta's Freddie Freeman (.394, 13 H, 4 2B, HR, .667 SLG, .412 OBP); Philadelphia's Ryan Howard (.345, 6 R, 10 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI, .690 SLG, .441 OBP); Milwaukee's Aramis Ramirez (.500, 9 R, 14 H, 4 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .964 SLG, .517 OBP); David Wright (.444, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .815 SLG, .448 OBP) and Zack Wheeler (1-0, 0.00 ERA, CG, SHO, 8 SO, 9.0 IP) of the New York Mets; and Washington's Rafael Soriano (0-0, 1.50 ERA, 4 SV, 6 SO, 5.0 IP).

In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Clayton Kershaw will be awarded a watch, courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.

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