Vintage Roy Campanella Cuban League Photo at Hake's

Hake's 216th auction is currently ongoing, and it once again includes a large number of rare photographs from the noted Negro League collection of Richard Merkin.  One of these photos is of a 23-year old Roy Campanella as a member of the Marianao Tigers of the Cuban Winter League.  It is dated from 1943-44 and stamped by Fotografio Novoa on the front and reverse.  Check it out above.  You can see the auction item here.

As you can see, it shows an exciting play at the plate.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that Campanella was able to complete a tag as the ball sails over the runner and seemingly towards the head of the umpire.

Also included is an 1920's era team photo of the Homestead Grays.  Check it out below.  Here is the auction link.  Photographs from early Negro League teams like the Gray's are extremely rare, so when they pop up you have to take note. 

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Blog Kiosk: 11/2/2015 - Dodger Links - Mattingly, Greinke and World Champion Drew Butera

Congratulations to the Kansas City Royals and former Dodger Drew Butera for their thrilling World Series victory last night.  I was so hoping they'd have him pitch for a bit.  Alas, that was not to be.  The photo above via Butera's twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• Since the 2015 season is now in the books let's take a look at the odds for 2016.  Via David Purdum, at ESPN, "Dodgers are 2016 World Series favorites." 
• ICYMI: It's now official.  Don Mattingly has been named the new manager for the Miami Marlins.  Barry Jackson at the Miami Herald shares some, "Highlights from Don Mattingly's introductory news conference Monday."
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Don Mattingly: 'I think Tim Wallach is going to come with me to be the bench coach'" 

"We've been in conversations about the staff. I don't know if it's something I really want to get into at this point," Mattingly said. "We've talked about some guys. I think Tim Wallach is going to come with me to be the bench coach.

"There are a number of guys coming back. I have pretty much talked or texted with every member of the staff. I don't know if Michael [Hill, president of baseball operations] wants to talk about the staff or not, but some of the guys coming back I'm comfortable with. I think it's important to the continuity of where we're going."

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Jacob Scavuzzo emerges as a prospect to watch."
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Van Slyke approaching crossroads of his MLB career."
• Via Joshua Sadlock at Baseball Essential, "Zack Greinke won’t be going anywhere."
  

  For a team that shells out $300 MM per season, bumping Greinke up an additional $5 MM per year is a drop in the bucket. There could be concerns about giving him a contract that will run up to age 37. Greinke has had some minor injury concerns, but nothing huge. Since 2008, there have been only two seasons in which he failed to surpass 30 starts. Greinke is not a power pitcher, and his ability to locate, change speeds, and move the ball around in the strike zone will still play even when he loses a few more ticks on his fastball. Pitching in Dodger Stadium suits Greinke, and he pitches to contact and lets the ballpark hold hits down.

• Congrats to LA Kings broadcaster Nick Nickson on his inclusion into the Hockey Hall of Fame.  On Monday, November 9th he'll be awarded the Foster Hewitt Award as a part of the HOF's Induction weekend.  Bob Miller, the Kings other Hall of Fame broadcaster, pens a great piece in honor of Nick, here.

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Blog Kiosk: 10/31/2015 - Dodger Links - Honeycutt, Farmer and Darin Erstad?

Check out this fantastic photo of the Ebbets Field press box in 1953 with Vin Scully at the mic.  Photo above via Old Time Baseball Photos on twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• Remember this!  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, the 2016 Dodger FanFest will be on Saturday, January 30th.
• Via David Montero at the Daily News, "This Dodgers organist will be in the Bobblehead Hall of Fame."
  

  “I was pretty surprised by it,” (Nancy) Bea said. “I didn’t even know there was such a thing as the Bobblehead Hall of Fame. But that’s great.”

• With word leaking that Mattingly will want pitching coach Rick Honeycutt by his side in Miami, we find out that the Dodgers and Honeycutt are in contract negotiations, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.
• Via Jim Callis at MLB.com, "Dodgers in the AFL: Versatile Farmer continuing transition to catcher."
  

  "We have a great pitching staff here, and I'm looking forward to working with them," Farmer said. "Also, honing in on my own skills and working on blocking the ball better, receiving better and stuff like that. It's fun, and it's an honor to be out here."

• Huh... Erstad is an intriguing choice.  He was one of those gritty type of players.  Via a tweet from Ken Rosenthal:

Sources: #Dodgers plan to interview Darin Erstad, University of Nebraska head coach (and former #Angels OFer) for their managerial opening.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 30, 2015

• Panini America will once again roll out a Black Friday promotion for local card shops this year.  Go here to check out a bunch of pics of the cards that will be available in packs; including the Joc Pederson and Clayton Kershaw cards below.  The Kershaw card is especially awesome.

• This is too bad.  Grantland had some fantastic writing.  Via a ESPN press release:

Effective immediately we are suspending the publication of Grantland.  After careful consideration, we have decided to direct our time and energy going forward to projects that we believe will have a broader and more significant impact across our enterprise.

• BTW, Dave Cameron at InstaGraphs shares some of his favorite Grantland pieces here.

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Vintage Dodgers Flag and Jackie Robinson Memorabilia at Hunt Auctions

Here is a second helping of Dodgers' related memorabilia available for sale at Hunt's current Live Auction at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory.  Yesterday, I shared pics of some vintage advertising pieces. 

--------------

(Auction Link)

I'm sure this flag has seen it all.  According to the auction description, it: 

Originates from a descendant of the original recipient whom relates that it was obtained by her father, from an Ebbets Field grounds crew member, following the 1955 World Series.

It would look so great on my wall.  Unfortunately, the $7,500 to $10,000 estimated value far exceeds what I can dish out.

The next three items below all relate to Jackie Robinson.

First, check out a 1954 Jackie Robinson "Major League All-Stars Barnstorming Tour" program, and it's been signed by Jackie in one of the inside pages. 

(Auction Link)

And here is a Jackie Robinson All-Stars barnstorming team souvenir pennant.  It is unclear if this is an companion piece to the above program, but you have to think they were once sold side-by-side.

(Auction Link)

To finish off this post, below is an original painting of Jackie Robinson by Arthur K. Miller.  As you may know, Miller's work has graced the cover of numerous magazines and has been an consistent presence at NSCC for many years.  He's even had his work distributed by the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Go here to check out his website.

(Auction Link)

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2015 Leaf Ultimate Draft - All the Dodger Cards

I almost forgot all about this set.

Featured here are the four Dodger prospects found in packs of 2015 Leaf Ultimate Draft Baseball.  They include Jose De Leon, Julio Urias, Walker Buehler and Yadier Alvaraz.  Go here for a complete checklist.

Since Leaf does not have an MLB license none of these cards have team logos on them, so the photos look a bit odd.  The exception to this is the Yadier Alvarez card that shows him in a "IPL" uniform.  IPL is the International Prospect League and they put together showcase events for unsigned Latin American ballplayers. 

Base Autographs

#BA-JDL Jose De Leon                           #BA-JU1 Julio Urias

Blog Kiosk: 10/30/2015 - Dodger Links - Time Warner, Vin Scully and an Charity Sale with Unique Dodger Experiences

I can't wait for Spring.  It's a time for hope and optimism.  All that had happened the season before is like water under the bridge, and you can be sure that something new will emerge.  This coming March we'll have a whole new cast of characters manning the dugout, giving orders and navigating the seas.  And you can be assured that there will be plenty of changes on the bench, as well.  What will transpire over the coming months is sure to be a surprise, so I'll just sit back and watch, pontificate and hope for Spring.

The International News press photo above, dated Feb 27, 1957, is of an early spring training practice session at Dodgertown in Vero Beach.  Walter Alston is seen watching intently from the field behind a protective cage.  I found this pic on eBay.  You can check out the auction here.

Below are more links to check out:

• Did you miss Vin Scully's brief interview on SportsNet LA yesterday?  No worries.  Check it a 4:30 minute snippet here.  With regards to his recent medical procedure he said:

“I guess for the men watching I could just tell them that it had to do with plumbing, and we can let it go at that. But I’m fine. I really am.”

• Check out this fantastic charity sale being put together by AM570 in support of the 2015 Paralyzed Veterans of America Radiothon.  It includes once in a lifetime experiences with the Dodgers.  You can be a Dodger for a day, get a suite, throw out the first pitch, interview Adrian Gonzalez, take batting practice, etc.
• In case you're interested, the Dodgers AA club Tulsa Drillers have finalized their schedule for the 2016 season.  Check it out here.
• Both Zach Greinke and Adrian Gonzalez are finalist for Rawlings Gold Glove Awards this season.  Check out the finalist list here.
• Time Warner, owner of SportsNet LA, released their quarterly earning report yesterday and beat expectations.  Unfortunately, the followup conference call with investors didn't provide much news on the Dodgers channel and the drive to expand its reach.  Instead, they noted that the Dodgers contributed greatly to the increase in cost to the company.  Per a transcript of the call:

Programming and content costs, which increased $135 million, or 10.2% year-over-year, continued to be the biggest drag on adjusted OIBDA. As in Q2, contractual affiliate fee increases of roughly $100 million and a contractual increase of around $30 million in Dodgers' rights fees were the two biggest components of the increase.

So, at least the Dodgers are getting paid.

• Mark Saxon at ESPN writes about another Dodgers managerial candidate - Bob Geren.
• Matt Borelli at Dodger Blue writes about another Dodgers managerial candidate - Dave Martinez.
• Via Matt Miro at Baseball Magazine, "Remembering Eiji Sawamura: A Celebrated Life of Sacrifice."

17-year old Eiji Sawamura was widely considered the best high school ballplayer in Japan’s new and budding baseball culture. When he was asked to take part in the exhibition series it meant being expelled from high school and forfeiting the chance to pitch in college. But Sawamura saw it as a great opportunity to represent his country and gave up a future education for the chance to take on the best players in the world. The young righty hurler took the mound against Earl Whitehill and the two became locked in a pitchers’ duel that is still talked about today. Sawamura would steal the show despite ultimately losing the game. That’s not surprising considering he struck out Charlie Gehringer, Ruth, Gehrig and Foxx in succession, a stunning feat comparable only to Carl Hubbell’s performance in the 1934 All-Star Game and, later, Pedro Martinez in the 1999 All-Star Game.

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