This is Some BS - AGon FanFest Autograph Time Change

I was so excited.

During this past Friday's Dodgers FanFest autograph voucher sale I was able to nail down the one autograph that had eluded me for so long.  I was able to get a voucher for Adrian Gonzalez!

WooHoo!

He was scheduled to sign during session #5 starting in the early afternoon - at 2:10 PM. (You can see the original schedule here)

Now, after receiving an email from the Dodgers that initial excitement has been totally deflated - like pummeled with a brush filled with sharp pointy needles.

Apparently, AGon will not be signing autographs at the previously allotted at time.  It has been changed!

Adrian Gonzalez has been moved to Session #1.  Per an email I received:

Adrian Gonzalez will now be signing autographs with Jerry Hairston Jr. from 10:10-11:00am (instead of 2:10-3:00pm). There are a limited amount of vouchers still available for this session. If you would like to exchange your 2:10-3:00pm voucher for Adrian's new 10:10-11:00am session, you may do so on a first come, first serve basis.

There are instructions to exchange my ticket for the early morning session, but as I write this little post I still remain on-hold waiting to talk to a representative.  Ugh!

Will I be able to make the exchange, or will I be facing another year of autograph hunting futility.  I guess only time will tell.

BTW, the Dodgers sneakily changed the entire autograph schedule on their website.  See it below.  Click on the pic to embiggen.

Below is the original schedule.

Obviously, with Brandon Beachy being outrighted to the minors yesterday having him scheduled to sign in the morning wasn't optimal.  Naturally, they wanted to replace him with somebody... But did they have to move Adrian?

And I know some of you are thinking, "well, Yasmani Grandal ain't bad."  And, yeah, he's fine, but he's no Adrian Gonzalez. 

I'm so irked right now.

UPDATE:  WooHoo!  I'm happy again. I just got off the line with a rep and I was able to exchange my old ticket for a new one.  As of this update (4:58 Pm), as passed along by the rep, there are about 14 tickets left for exchanges. 

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Blog Kiosk: 1/28/2016 - Dodgers Links - Garko, Puig and Corey Seager

Several Dodgers' spent yesterday afternoon with survivors and first responders involved with the recent San Bernardino terrorist attack.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"It's amazing to see," Ethier said. "Being in Arizona, you know what happened, but you can't realize the impact and the magnitude like when you come here and see it first hand, even two months after. You ask them how they're doing and everyone says, 'One day at a time.' You hope you can brighten their day, even though you know they have a long, tough road to recovery."

This was a part of the clubs continuing "Love L.A." Community Tour throughout the Southland. BTW, Andre also commented about losing Zack Greinke in the same article above:

"It hurts big losing Zack," Ethier said. "Personally, he is one of the better friends I had on the team. It hurts a lot to lose a guy like him, but that happens in any sport and especially baseball. But it happens and we've got to move on and figure a way to get better, and we'll see in a couple weeks. 

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter/Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Check out more photos from yesterdays event from Jon SooHoo here.  Below are more links to check out:

• Could something be brewing?  The Dodgers announced yesterday that they have outrighted pitcher Brandon Beachy to their Triple-A roster, with the right-hander still set to appear at big league camp during Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.  This move means they now have 39 players on the 40 man roster.  So, why do they need the extra room on the roster?
• Listen to Dave Roberts on Inside the Locker Room with Petros and Money, here.
• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Dodger third-base coach Chris Woodward will make you believe."

“The biggest thing for me is the fight the ballplayer has,” Woodward said. “They look at it from a softball standpoint, where it’s more like a recreational kind of, ‘Let’s go have a few beers after the game.’ The competition part was kind of lacking. That’s one thing I want to create in the ballplayers. It’s an uphill fight, but if you do it right you can establish baseball the right way.”

• Panini America released a whole bunch of preview pics from their upcoming 2015 National Treasures College set; including a pic of Jackie Robinson in an UCLA uniform (a track uni?).  See that on the right.  Go here to check out more photos.  This set officially hits stores on Friday.
• Via JP Hoornstra at the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, "Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is slimming down at the team’s request."

“This year, 280,” he said in English, breaking into a grin. “I’m so fat.”

After a pause, Puig said he now weighs 240 pounds. That’s 15 pounds lower than his listed weight in last year’s media guide.

“I’m working to slim down,” he said. “Maybe when we go into spring training, 236 or 237.”

• Guess who's #1 in MLB Pipeline's list of top shorstop prospects?  Corey Seager, of course!  Via Jim Callis at MLB.com, "Top 10 shortstops."

His brother Kyle is an All-Star, and Corey should be even better. He led the Minors in hitting (.349) and doubles (50) in 2014, then batted .337/.425/.561 during a September callup last year -- at age 21. Seager may eventually move to third base, but his combination of a sweet left-handed stroke, bat speed, strength, uncanny feel for hitting and mature approach give him a higher offensive ceiling than any Major League shortstop except for Carlos Correa.

• Via Barry Lewis at Tulsa World, "New manager Ryan Garko learned from Drillers legend Bobby Jones."

“One of the best parts was I got to play for Bobby Jones. He was a treat to play for. He was in a tough spot because that was a veteran club, a lot of guys going back and forth and didn’t want to be there. But Bobby handled it great. Everybody who has been around Bobby knows what a great baseball guy he is.”

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Dodgers FanFest this Saturday! Vouchers Still Available!

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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There is only one event to care about in Los Angeles this weekend.  This coming Saturday is the Dodgers FanFest at Dodger Stadium and if you plan on attending you need to get a free admission ticket here.

There are all kinds of events planned; including autograph sessions with players, coaches and personalities.  Festivities will be from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.and it'll happen "rain or shine."  Parking gates open at 9:30 AM and it is free, as well.  You will enter the event either through the left or right field plaza gates at 10:00 AM.

Earlier this week the Dodgers started selling their $25.00 voucher tickets for autographs, and most of the top players are already sold out.  There are tickets available though.  Go here to see who's available.  Below is a current listing.

Session 1

10:10am-11:00am
Line 4: Jerry Hairston Jr. and Brandon Beachy

Session 2

11:10am-12:00pm
Line 3: Zach Lee and Chris Hatcher

Session 3

12:10pm-1:00pm

Line 2: Kenny Landreaux and Pedro Baez
Line 3: Brandon McCarthy and Mickey Hatcher

Session 5

2:10pm-3:00pm
Line 3: Brandon McCarthy and Bill Russell

BTW, I've attended the past three FanFest's and shared a bunch of photos from those days (these post also include numerous links of post from other bloggers and writers).  Check out the below links to check them out.

• 2015 Fan Fest
• 2014 Fan Fest
• 2013 Fan Fest

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The Don Drysdale Estate Collection is Coming to Auction in April

Several months back I was told by the folks at SCP Auctions that Dodgers collectors should expect to see something fantastic soon.  When I queried excitedly, they said the Don Drysdale Collection is coming.

I was shocked.

"Really?"

"Holy Moly," I exclaimed.

Next to the Kirk Gibson collection SCP sold several years back, this might be the greatest hoard of player memorabilia from a former Dodger player to come to the market in well over a decade.  Based on a handful of preview images provided so far, it looks like it'll include many of his best items.  Below is a small dose of what you should expect to see in a couple of months.

• Don Drysdale's 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers Game Worn Home Uniform from His Rookie Season

Blog Kiosk: 1/27/2016 - Dodger Links - Smokeless Tobacco, New Trainers and Dave Roberts

Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts had quite a busy day yesterday.  As a part of the clubs continuing "Love L.A." Community Tour Roberts visited the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors as an honoree.  He was recognized as the Dodgers first minority manager.  Then, he skipped over to Muir High School in Pasadena to preview a screening of portions of Ken Burns’ upcoming “Jackie Robinson” documentary and to speak with students.  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“Twenty-eight years ago, I was in your shoes,” Roberts said. “I just want to challenge you all to really have the vision to be great and be leaders. … Find something you love to do, and be great.”

So far, Roberts is hitting all the right buttons.  He's proving to be a leader in the community, and hopefully this translates well into the Dodgers clubhouse.

The photo at the very top via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics from Jon of yesterdays events.  Below are more links to check out:

• It's now official.  Smokeless tobacco, affectionately called "chew," is now banned at Dodger Stadium (for both players and fans).  Via Hector Bacerra at the LA Times, "Smokeless tobacco at Dodger Stadium? You're out of here!"
• The Dodgers officially announced their 2016 training staff yesterday.  Via a press release: 

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced their training staff for the 2016 season, with the additions of Neil Rampe as head athletic trainer and Nathan Lucero and Thomas Albert as assistant athletic trainers. Brandon McDaniel (strength & conditioning coach, fourth season), Steve Smith (physical therapist, fifth season) and Yosuke “Possum” Nakajima (massage therapist, second season) will return to the club in their same roles as 2015.

For the past eight seasons Rampe had been the Diamondbacks manual and performance therapist.  Lucero spent the past seven seasons as the Astros head athletic trainer.  He worked within Houston system the past 23 years.  Albert was the rehab coordinator for the Indians the past four seasons.

• Card Collectors Universe shares a bunch of preview pics from Panini's 2016 Donruss Baseball card set; including the Zacl Greinke card on the right.  Go here to check out more pics.  This set will be coming out in early March.
• Via Hillary Jackson at MyNewsLA, "Will Dodger Stadium street be named after longtime announcer?"

Los Angeles City Councilman Gil Cedillo introduced a motion Tuesday to rename a street near Dodger Stadium after longtime Los Angeles Dodgers announcer Vin Scully.

The motion would begin the process of renaming Elysian Park Avenue between Sunset Boulevard and Stadium Way as “Vin Scully Avenue.”

• Via Evan Bladh at Think Blue LA, "Dodgers sign 17-year-old Nicaraguan shortstop Mike Loaisiga."
• Saturday, February 6th is slated to be National Hockey Card Day, and several southland stores are slated to participate.  As you may know, this is an promotion by Upper Deck and they have made limited edition packs available to local card shops.  Go here for a listing of stores throughout the country. BTW, there are two different sets available (one American and the other Canadian).  Unfortunately, no Kings player is represented.  Boo!!!

The council voted Tuesday morning to approve an ordinance banning the use of smokeless tobacco products at all baseball fields and other sports venues in the city. The L.A. council vote, in sports vernacular, was a blowout: The motion won 14-0. In a statement, the council said the ordinance was passed “both to set the right example for America’s youth and for the health of the players.”

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2015 Leaf Legends of Sport - All the Dodgers Cards

I thought I'd take a moment to put up this brief checklist of the Dodgers cards found in a set I had neglected to mention.  Here are the Dodgers cards found in packs of Leaf's Legends of Sport set.  As with all Leaf products there are no team logos.  Heck, there isn't even a mention of what team anyone played for.  Therefore, I am only listing the obvious Dodgers players below.  I also include the cards for Magic Johnson since he happens to be in the set and is a team owner.  BTW, former Dodgers players I did not include are Pedro Martinez and Rickey Henderson.  Go here for a complete checklist.

Base Autographs

#BA-DS1 Don Sutton                            #BA-MJ1 Magic Johnson