Bid on a Scully Baseball - In Benefit of LADF

Many moons ago I got lucky.  I was visiting Dodgertown one spring over ten years ago, and decided to linger around Holman Stadium after a game.  To my surprise, a line had formed near the press box area after much of the crowd had left for the exits, and standing there was Vin Scully greeting and signing for everyone in line.

How fortuitous, I thought.  I had learned from other autograph hounds that you have to leave games early in order to get anything signed from escaping ballplayers.  So, that was my mode that week.  But, for whatever reason I didn't do that during one afternoon game.  Instead, I walked around and sought to enjoy the ambiance (as if on an quixotic search for Baseball meaning).  For daydreaming, I was able to get a Vin Scully autograph on an Baseball.  Today, it remains a prized treasure in my collection.

Unfortunately, instances like that are few and far between for Dodger fans these day.  Vin Scully is the toughest and most "in-demand" autograph in the hobby, so good luck trying to get his autograph. Worst yet, I find that many of his signatures found online are not real (in my opinion).

So what's a fan to do, eh?

Fortunately, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation has a solution.  Available for auction is a real Vin Scully autographed Baseball and all proceeds from its sale will go to a good cause.  Go here to check it out. 

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Blog Kiosk: 9/19/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kazmir, Jansen, Turner and the Champion Loons

Congratulations to the Dodgers Single-A affiliate Great Lakes Loons on their Midwest League Championship series win over the Clinton LumberKings last night.  This achievement marks their first championship in their ten-year history.  The game itself was highlighted by an five-run come-from-behind sixth inning that gave the Loons a lead they never would relinquished.  Per Hugh Bernreuter at MLive:

"I think the tough times in the first half made it possible for us to persevere in games like this," Loons manager Gil Velazquez said. "Winning a championship in the minor leagues means something.

"They learned how to play when the pressure is off the charts. They learned how to come through and play big in tough situations. They played in a playoff situation and succeeded. It shows what they're made of. They carry that for the rest of their lives."

Hopefully, many of them will carry the experience learned there to the Dodgers.  Photo above via Great Lakes Loons on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 2000 a Dodger fan, in addition to other court-ordered restrictions, has been banned from attending home games in Los Angeles for 18 months. The irate patron threw coffee in the face of a Mets fan who was cheering a grand slam hit by New York's catcher Todd Pratt.
• Happy Birthday, Charlie Haeger, Joe Ferguson and Duke Snider!

Seager Sets Dodger Rookie Hit Record - 2016 Topps Now - #471

Corey Seager has far exceeded expectations.  Sure, many knew he'd be good, but I doubt anyone expected the results we've been enjoying so far. As a 22-year old Seager has not only entered into this seasons MVP discussions but has also surpassed numerous Dodger records in the process.  So far he has broken franchise marks for home runs by a shortstop, doubles by a rookie, and now has just passed Steve Sax for hits by a rookie with 181.  Corey said this about the new achievement passed, per Ken Gurnick and Jake Rill atMLB.com:

"It's another cool one, but kind of has to get put on the back burner until the offseason while we still have to keep winning games," said Seager.

In honor of this Topps has issued his fifth Topps Now card of the year.  Go here to check it out and order.  Below is what is written on the reverse:

Corey Seager recorded two hits against the Arizona Diamondbacks during their September 17th matchup.  The two hits were significant in that they set a Los Angeles Dodgers single-season, franchise record for most hits by a rookie (181).  One of those hits was a single, while the other was a triple, and Seager finished with a 2-for-4 line with two runs scored en route to a 6-2 win for the Dodgers.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 696 copies.

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Giants Series Starts Monday - Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts Monday evening against the San Francisco Giants. Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The twelfth 2016 issue of the new Dodger Insider magazine, featuring Vin Scully on the cover, will be available at Dodger Stadium.  (see it on the left).  The 96-page September 19-25 issue of Dodger Insider magazine is devoted entirely to Vin Scully, in honor of the Hall of Famer’s final homestand with the Dodgers after 67 seasons.  The Dodgers merged their previously separate Playbill and Dodger Insider magazines into one publication with a new edition available each homestand.  They are distributed at auto gates (one per vehicle) and via Fan Services for those who use alternate transportation.  

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Monday, September 19th at 7:10 PM
Madison Bumgarner vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Blog Kiosk: 9/17/2016 - Dodgers Links - Anderson, Scully and Kenta Maeda

Kenta Maeda was brilliant enough to help the Dodgers defeat the Diamondbacks, 3-2.  Uncharacteristically wild, he went five arduous innings, recording six strike outs, three walks and one earned run with 94 pitches. It was enough, though, to help him earn his fifteenth victory of the season.  It also dropped the clubs "Magic Number" to just twelve games.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN:

"He started to get a little better with his command, but he was just on the edges too much and missing with his fastball," manager Dave Roberts said. "With Kenta, you can tell. When he is getting ahead of guys with the fastball and then throwing the slider and is around the zone you know he has good rhythm. And he didn't have it [Friday] until the fourth inning. It was a grind for him."
...
"He still found a way, like he seemingly always does, to give us a chance to win a baseball game," Roberts said. "That's a sign of a great competitor, which Kenta is, and a winning pitcher. I don't know the win-loss, but Kenta, every single time he takes the mound he gives us a chance to win."

Maeda added more, via Ken Gurnick and Jake Rill at MLB.com:

"My command was off in general today and I wasn't able to get into a groove and put a lot of pressure on the other players to pick up the slack," said Maeda. "I felt okay overall, just didn't have my fastball command. Our team scored early in the game and that helped me."

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1912 Brooklyn outfielder and future Hall of Famer Casey Stengel made his Major League debut.  He collects four hits, drives in two runs and swipes a pair of stolen bases.  In 1979 Dodger catcher Joe Ferguson hit his 20th homer of the season against the Atlanta Braves, which gave the team their fifth player with at least 20 homers on the year for the first time in franchise history.  In 1981 Fernando Valenzuela ties a Major League record for shutouts at eight when he defeated the Atlanta Braves, 2-0.  In 1996 Hideo Nomo threw the Dodgers 20th no-hitter in franchise history.  He defeated the Colorado Rockies, 9-0.  Watch the last out of this game here.

Snapshots from the 1955 World Series

It's been awhile since I've trolled around the eBay marketplace, so when I took a gander the other day I was happy to find a few items that struck my fancy.  As you may know, I'm a big proponent of fan-taken photos from yesteryear.  These little pictures are often one-of-kind and provide a brief look at moments in history that have since been long forgotten... and, I don't mean moments that are particularly noteworthy either.  Instead, these pics are very candid and they can provide a brief glimpse at normal everyday activities that we didn't see back then.  Featured below are photos of three Brooklyn Dodger legends being hounded by adoring fans as they enter Yankee Stadium before Game 6 of the 1955 World Series.

In the photo on the above left we see Roy Campanella, in a rather dapper hat, being surrounded by onlookers (Auction Link).  It seems like he is in a bit of a rush and wanting to get inside the stadium.  To its right is Duke Snider (Auction Link), and he too looks quite serious.  Below, Gil Hodges is seen signing for a fan (Auction Link). 

No doubt the weight of that days event is on each of their minds.  It is several hours before they have to get on the field and it's obvious they already have their game-faces on.

Unfortunately, the Brooklyn Dodgers were unable to finish the job that day.  The Yankees, behind the brilliant pitching of Whitey Ford, defeated the Dodgers 5-1 to force a Game 7 match at Ebbets Field.  As you know, the Dodgers would eventually take home the crown and be named World Champions for the first time in their history the very next day.

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