Dan Bankhead Puerto Rican League Baseball Card

I came across the above 1949-50 Toleteros Puerto Rican Winter League Baseball card above at a CubanBaseballCard.com auction and decided to share it.  It is currently available on auction.  Check that out here.

It features former Dodger pitcher Dan Bankhead as a member of Caguas Criollos.  As you may know, he was the very first African-American pitcher in the Major Leagues; having joined Brooklyn just a few months after Jackie's debut.  At the time, the Dodgers were hurting for pitching, so the team scouted the Negro Leagues for an immediate filler.

Sometimes compared to Bob Feller, he was a well-known commodity with a blazing fastball, but a penchant for being wild.  Still, he had the "can't miss" label stamped all over him, so the team was thankful to have signed him.

Since Brooklyn needed his arm right away, Bankhead was immediately tasked with joining the big club.  Unfortunately, his first Major League game was not a good one.  He came in out of the bullpen against Pittsburgh in late August 1947, and got pummeled.  I don't mean that in a physically violent way, although by some accounts this was a worry for Bankhead.  What I mean is that the Pirates knocked out ten hits in his 3.1 innings of work; driving in eight earned runs.  Certainly not a great beginning for Dan.

What's interesting about this game, though, is not how poorly he pitched.  What's interesting is the outcome of an single at-bat that happened in the fourth inning against Pirate outfielder Wally Westlake.  On the very first pitch to Westlake, with two men on, Bankhead threw a fastball that got away from him.  Dan's pitch had launched itself hard and fast, and struck Wally square into his left elbow.

Based on certain accounts, Dan Bankhead was scared to death of this possibility.  Per Buck O'Neil, as told by Rory Costello at the SABR Biography Project:

“See, here’s what I always heard. Dan was scared to death that he was going to hit a white boy with a pitch. He thought there might be some sort of riot if he did it. Dan was from Alabama just like your father. But Satchel became a man of the world. Dan was always from Alabama, you know what I mean? He heard all those people calling him names, making those threats, and he was scared. He’d seen black men get lynched.”

Can you imagine what was going through his mind after that?

I can only guess that glimpses of past horrors rushed to him like a hurricane in the Pacific.  As O'Neil intimated above, having witnessed the worse society can offer, I'd be willing to bet that Dan Bankhead was in the midst of fearing for his life.  Instead, a better outcome ensued.

Wally Westlake brushed it off like it was any other hit-by-pitch.  He took his base to load them up without any fanfare.

And with that the game of Baseball, in the span of a single season, had witnessed not only its first integrated game but also a hit batsman that didn't invoke a race riot.  I know that in today's eye's this notion seems silly, but in 1947 this was a real concern... And a major societal advancement for the country.

If you're interested in knowing more about Dan Bankhead I suggest checking out Rory Costello's fantastic biography at the SABR Biography Project here.  It's well worth your time to read.

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Vintage LA Dodger Pennant from the Teams First Year

I've never been much of a pennant collector, but the one featured above and currently available for sale at Worthridge Auctions is too cool not to mention.  Check out the auction here.

Here is a 1958 Los Angeles Dodgers pennant from the teams first year in California that includes a fantastic graphic of the LA Coliseum.  Best yet, the lovable Brooklyn Dodger "Bum" is seen with a halo over his head and the following caption:

"A New Home"

Awesome!

I have no idea what something like this is valued at, but I bet it would look great on the wall of Dodger fans sport cave.

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Blog Kiosk: 10/23/2015 - Dodger Links - Breaking Up is Hard to Do

They sure do know how to pack them in.  Above is a view of the Dodger press room for yesterday's press conference to discuss the departure of manager Don Mattingly, and it was filled to the brim.  Even with the World Series on the horizon the Dodgers became the talk of Baseball, and I suppose we fans would want nothing less.  The photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Also, you can watch the entire press conference here.

There isn't much more that I can add to what's already been said and written.  Donnie is gone, and the impression given by all parties is that it was an amicable split.  Of course, that's like any breakup with a significant other that didn't end with screaming expletives and broken bottles.

"Sure... It just didn't work out... Let's just be friends... No, it's me... Really, it's me, not you."

Nevertheless, that's the story they are telling and nothing in the world will change their narrative.  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“If there was a reason that this happened, we would share it,” Friedman said during a 45-minute session for him and Zaidi at Dodger Stadium. “There’s not. It was a collection of a lot of different conversations over many days that got us to this point. So it’s not so black and white here. There is a huge middle, and it’s gray, and that’s how everything played out.”

Mattingly expressed similar words, as shared by Mark Saxon at ESPN:

"I can't sit here and say I'm just bubbling over," Mattingly said. "There are a lot of emotions that go into this, a lot of discussion, a lot of talk, but it gets back around to the same thing as we kept talking and going over it. We all came to the same conclusion. This is best for both parties."

Wow!  It's amazing how much this does sound like a high school breakup. 

Below are more links to check out:

• Bill Shaikin at the LA Times suggest, "Five candidates to replace Don Mattingly as Dodgers manager."
• Via Howard Cole at Forbes, "BookMaker Names Bud Black Best Bet To Succeed Don Mattingly As Dodger Skipper."
• Justin Turner appears to be doing well after his surgery yesterday, via his tweet:

Surgery was a success! Thank you @NealElAttrache and thanks to everyone for all the well wishes! #LA @Dodgers pic.twitter.com/V5Tj2HG3Cw

— Justin Turner (@redturn2) October 22, 2015

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, with Mattingly now out of the picture, "Dodgers coaching staff told they are free to look elsewhere for jobs."

"We talked to them this morning. Obviously we wish that we had more answers to provide but we don't. This process is just getting underway," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said on Thursday. "We told them they are free to look elsewhere."

In fact, Eric wrote earlier that, "Tim Wallach interview(ed) for Nationals' managerial opening."

• To the surprise of no one, Mattingly's players come to his defense.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com: "Dodgers players hold Mattingly in high regard."  

"I loved playing for Donnie," said Clayton Kershaw, Opening Day starter for each of Mattingly's five seasons. "He has and will always have my utmost respect. I have nothing but positive things to say about him as a person and a manager. He will be missed."

Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "A.J. Ellis has strong words of support for Don Mattingly."

"From my experience, rarely does a player you grew up idolizing come close to even meeting your expectations. To say Donnie exceeded mine is an understatement. Donnie is the most consistent, optimistic person I have ever been around, on or off the field. It was an honor playing for him, and to embrace each other as we did these past three years after clinching a division title are cherished memories. I have no doubt he will be a world champion manager some day, and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to play for him."

• Former Dodger pitcher Dan Haren has called it quits.  He is retiring from the game, via his tweet:

Thank you baseball. I played this beautiful game for 30 years. I took my jersey off for the last time tonight. It was an honor. #ithrew88

— dan haren (@ithrow88) October 22, 2015

• Um.... What?  Keith Hernandez told Dan Patrick that the Dodgers front office created an essay test for their scouts, and whoever didn't pass was fired.  It starts at the 6:18 point.  I want to know what the three test questions were.

Video Link:

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Vintage Dodger Shot Glasses to Ease the Soul - At ITPC Auction

I could certainly use a little bit of drink in the above shot glasses right now.  Couldn't you?

After excitedly following the Dodgers all season long, I find that what transpired over the past several weeks to be more than deflating.  It was gut-wrenching, demoralizing and just plain awful.  Everything was looking great coming into October then the wheels fell off... The oven cooled... That phone number was suddenly disconnected.

The season ended with a thud, and now I'm left wondering what to make of the future.  Everything will be different next year, and the fear and uncertainty that comes with change will soon envelop everything.

So, I'm sitting here at my desk pondering what I should drink in the above vintage shot glasses that celebrates one of the six championships won by the franchise - 1963 to be exact.

What do you think, folks? 

Whisky, Taquila or Schnapps?

You decide. 

In the meantime, check out the Inside the Park Collectibles Auction where you can find this four-piece set seen above.  It is currently available for sale there.  I am uncertain how exactly these little glasses were originally distributed.  I had previously read that they were sold at Dodger Stadium the following season; which is certainly possible. 

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2015 Topps Update Baseball - The Dodger Variation Cards

Following up on yesterday's post featuring the Dodger base cards found in the 2015 Topps Update set, I now share the numerous variation cards that are available.  Check them all out below.

As you can see, there is one Dodger base photo variation card, two different sparkle cards and three sabermetric statistic cards.  You can see a complete checklist of variations available here.

Base Photo Variations

#US-309 Howie Kendrick

Normal Base                                           Variation Card

And He's Gone - Don Mattingly Decides It's Time to Go

The move that has been speculated about endlessly has finally happened.  After winning his third straight division championship - a first for the franchise - manager Don Mattingly and Dodgers have agreed to part ways.

I can't say that I'm surprised, but I hardly believe it to be warranted.  As I've written about plenty of times before, I like Donnie Baseball, and it seems clear to me that he had the respect of the clubhouse.  That said, maybe change was needed for the team, the new ownership, the front office and its fanbase.  Maybe it is just time.

Certainly, Don Mattingly felt it was time to go.  In a strange turn, it appears this decision to part ways was not initiated by the Dodgers front office.  Instead, according to Ramona Shelbourne at ESPN, it was Donnie who ultimately decided it was time to go.

Mattingly had one year remaining on his contract, and sources indicated to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne that the Dodgers offered him an extension this past weekend. But after years of uncertainty about the Dodgers' long-term commitment to him -- Mattingly has worked under two ownership groups and two general managers -- he informed the team earlier this week that he preferred to move on.

So, assuming this is true, it appears it wasn't the front office who pushed for this conclusion.  Heck, they wanted him to stay.  After all, there aren't too many managers out there willing and able to juggle an ever-changing roster the way Mattingly did; while at the same time accepting and implementing the constant input (i.e. demands) of an stat orientated front office.  That's the kind of work a magician does.

Per a Dodgers press release:

Dodger President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, General Manager Farhan Zaidi and Senior Vice-President of Baseball Operations Josh Byrnes met and talked extensively with Mattingly for several days following the conclusion of the season.

“As our end of season process began, we discussed the past year, our future goals, necessary changes, roster needs and other matters relating to next year’s campaign,” said Dodger President, Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. “As the dialogue progressed daily, it evolved to a point where we all agreed that it might be best for both sides to start fresh. We decided to think about it for a couple of days and when we spoke again, we felt comfortable that this was the direction to go. I have the utmost respect for Donnie and thoroughly enjoyed working with him this past season. I want to thank him for his hard work and collaboration, as well as his accomplishments, including three consecutive National League West titles. I wish him nothing but success in the future.” 

“I’m honored and proud to have had the opportunity to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers,” said Mattingly. “I’ve enjoyed my experiences and relationships with the organization’s staff and players throughout my eight years in L.A. After meeting with Andrew, Farhan and Josh, we all felt that a fresh start would be good for both the organization and me. We talked about several scenarios, including my returning in 2016. However, I believe this is the right time and right move for both parties. I’m still very passionate about managing and hope to get the opportunity in the near future. In the meantime, I want to thank the Dodger organization, the city and our fans for the opportunity and wish the club well going forward.”

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.

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