Walter Alston Memorabilia from his Estate will be at SCP Auctions

After a hugely successful auction that featured collectibles from the estate of Don Drysdale, SCP now lets us know about their next auction.  They will be hosting memorabilia from the career of Hall of Fame Dodger manager Walter Alston.  Per SCP:

A single at-bat, which resulted in a strikeout, comprised the playing career of the late Walter Alston. But four World Series titles, seven National League pennants, and 2,040 regular-season triumphs later – all realized in a managerial capacity at the helm of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers – cobbled his path to Cooperstown.

A native Ohioan, Alston earned the nickname “Smokey” in high school because of his blazing fastball. He attended Miami of Ohio University where he lettered in baseball and basketball before signing with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1935. In 1940, when it became apparent he wasn't in the Cardinals’ future plans as a player, Alston was given the opportunity to play and manage in their farm system. He was released by St. Louis in 1944, but was spotted by the keen eye of former Cardinals General Manager and then-Brooklyn President Branch Rickey who signed him to play and manage in the Dodgers minor league system. Following the ‘53 season, Brooklyn Skipper Charlie Dressen insisted on a multi-year contract to continue as Dodgers’ skipper. Brooklyn Owner Walter O'Malley balked at the demand and to everyone's surprise chose the little known Alston to pilot the club.

2016 Topps Tier One - The Dodgers Prime Performers and Tier One Insert Cards

Here is look at even more Dodgers cards found in packs of 2016 Topps Tier One Baseball.  Last week I shared pics of the Breakout, Clear One and Dual autographed cards.  This week we take a look at the Prime Performers and several of the other Tier One inserts that are available.  Later on this week I'll have a handful of photos of the scarcities.

Prime Performers Autographs

#PP-AGN Adrian Gonzalez        #PP-FVA Fernando Valenzuela

Blog Kiosk: 6/13/2016 - Dodgers Links - Draft Signings, Positive Rehab Results and Julio Urias

Julio Urias was very good on Sunday.  He began the afternoon by attacking Giants hitters with a mid-90's fastball and an effective curveball.  Then, more offspeed pitches came into play.  Through the first five innings he had given up just two hits, struck out six, walked one batter and given up no runs.  Unfortunately, an errant pitch by Urias in the sixth inning was deposited in the right field seats by Brandon Belt to give the Giants enough runs to win the game.  Via Mark Chiarelli at MLB.com:

"It was just a slider that stayed there," Urias said through an interpreter. "Like I've said before, I can miss once, but the second time, I can't miss."

Belt was the last batter Urias faced, which manager Dave Roberts said was the plan regardless of the outcome. Los Angeles has kept Urias on a strict pitch count as he develops stamina in the Majors, and he departed having thrown 86 pitches. Roberts noted that Urias had struck out Belt twice prior to the home run.

"I wanted him to get through Belt," Roberts said. "It wasn't a terrible pitch. It got a little too much of the plate."

AJ Ellis adds more, via Doug Padilla at ESPN:

“Sunday Night Baseball, biggest rival, pennant race starting to take form,” catcher A.J. Ellis said afterward. “For him to step in and throw the ball the way he did for 5 1/3 was phenomenal. The mix, the ability to finish guys with his fastball -- a lot of life on the ball today.”

The Dodgers were defeated 2-1, and are now five games back of the Giants.  Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to see more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1973 the infield of Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey play for the very first time together on the infield.  Then, ten days later they were inserted into the starting lineup for the first time and remained there for the next 8 1/2 years.  In 1998 the first triple play at Dodger Stadium is completed.
• Happy Birthday, Bill Bergen!

Blog Kiosk: 6/11/2016 - Dodgers Links - Smeltzer, Montas and Trayce Thompson

Justin Turner came up clutch in the ninth inning of last nights game against the Giants.  He belted a home run to win the game for the Dodgers.  Via Rick Eymer and Chris Haft at MLB.com:

"Just trying to get on base," said Turner, whose fifth homer of the season gave the Dodgers their 12th victory in 18 games. "Sometimes when you simplify things, bigger things happen."

For his part in the victory, Clayton was magnificent.  He went eight innings, walked none, allowed five hits, two runs and struck out thirteen to win his ninth game of the season.

"We got big plays all the way around," Kershaw said. "It was a fun game to play in. You know it's a big game but that shouldn't affect you one way or another. You try to pitch the same no matter what."

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1957 Roy Campanella hit his 237th career home run as a catcher to set a new NL record.  In 1972 both Willie Davis and Manny Mota would hit inside-the-park home runs against the Pirates at Dodger Stadium.
• Happy Birthday, Mike Davis and Odalis Perez!

Take a Look at the Dodgers Picks at 4 thru 10 - Welcome to the Blue!

On the second day of the 2016 Draft the Dodgers selected eight players between rounds three to ten.  Below is a short synopsis on the players taken from rounds four to ten.  You can check out my report on 3rd Round pick Dustin May here.

It should be noted that two of the players below, to go along with the Dodgers #1 pick Gavin Lux, are shortstops.  This is not to say that the Dodgers are looking to replace the current officeholder at the position, Corey Seager.  Instead, drafting is all about getting the best athletes possible.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“The theory is that looking throughout the history of the draft and how athletes develop and age, when they’re athletic enough to play shortstop, it’s a pretty good recipe — as they age and get older and their skills develop and their bodies go forward or backwards — they can usually play other positions,” Gasparino said. “So many players today who are left fielders or right fielders, third basemen, second basemen, started out as shortstops. If you can start there, it’s a lot easier to transition to other places on the field, and gives you more avenues of versatility that way.”

In other words, this isn’t the NBA. With development such a long, protracted process in baseball — and almost no such thing as a quick fix — the overwhelming tendency is to take the player with the greatest potential, regardless of what the current Major League roster looks like. If the worst-case scenario is the Dodgers have multiple quality shortstops, they’ll live with that.

In Jon's story he also shares some quotes from Billy Gasparino about the eight players taken today, and I've included them in the below writeups.

4th Round Pick

D.J. Peters

DJ Peters is a 6' 5" tall outfielder who played this past season at Western Nevada Community College.  Peters, a 20-year-old outfielder from Glendora, CA, set records for Western Nevada College in batting average (.419) and home runs (16) this season.   The Region 18 Player of the Year posted a .419/.510/.734 slashline and became the first Wildcat to hit above .400 in a season.  You can follow him on twitter here: @8Peters.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“He’s just an uber-talented outfielder with tons of tools and upside, and big power. He came to our workout at Dodger Stadium and was launching balls into the stands and throwing well and running well, just really a physical freak in some ways.”

Below are more stories and reports worth checking out:

Check the Cards of Dodgers 36th Pick Jordan Sheffield

Along with Gavin Lux, the Dodgers supplemental pick, 36th overall, Jordan Sheffield also has a bunch of Baseball cards to chase after.  Unlike Gavin, Jordan's cards were made by Topps and Panini America.  In fact, he has cards from when he was a member of Team USA's Under-16 ballclub in 2011.  That year, both Topps and Panini included several prep ballplayers within some of their regular Baseball card brands.  Check them out below.  If I missed any cards of his please let me know.

2011 Bowman Draft

Draft Prospects - USA Baseball 16U National Team

#BDPP106 Jordan Sheffield