Weekend Autograph Opportunities: A Couple Kings on Friday

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.

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

LA Kings centerman Nick Dowd and goalie Jeff Zatkoff will be signing free autographs at a Staples store in Burbank on Friday, February 24th from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM.    Go here for information. 

STAPLES - Burbank
2080 Empire Ave.
Burbank, CA. 91504

*Appearance Will Last 60 Minutes. One Autographed Item And One Photo Per Person. No Exceptions, Please. Please Note That We Can Typically Accommodate 150 Fans During A 60 Minute Appearance. The First 150 Fans In Line Will Be Wristbanded. We Will Make Every Effort To Accommodate More Fans If Time Permits, But Please Be Advised That Only Fans With Wristbands Are Guaranteed Autographs.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

A Whit Wyatt Vintage Pin -- The Dodger Headhunter

I came across something at Hake's current auction that was entirely foreign to me.  Featured above is a 1" diameter, circa 1940's, Brooklyn Dodgers pin of right-handed hurler Whit Wyatt.  (Auction Link) As you can see, it includes bold colors not typically seen in pins from this period.  Additionally, as I was writing this post it came to my attention that I had not yet shared a group of vintage Dodger pins from this era in my collection.  So, I'll work on doing that soon.  In the meantime, I thought it'd be fun to take a brief look at this long-forgotten Dodger arm.

Blog Kiosk: 2/22/2017 - Dodgers Links - Buehler, Turner, AGon, Romo and Seager

The Dodgers held their first full-squad workout yesterday, and I think it's safe to say that everyone in Blue is excited.  Per Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA:

“It’s one of the most exciting days of the year, getting a chance to get the whole club together, see all the guys after the off-season even though I’ve been staying in touch with most of them,” said the de facto clubhouse leader. “Just kind of shoot the s**t a little bit and catch up, see what’s going on. Other than the whole physicals and testing and that part of it, this is a pretty fun day for us.”

The photo above of Justin Turner via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterday.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  First, I just want to mention that today in 1980 was the "Miracle on Ice" -- when a ragtag group of American college kids defeated the USSR in hockey during the Winter Olympics.  In 2009 the Dodgers signed free agent infielder Orlando Hudson to a one-year $3.4 million contract.  In 2014 the Dodgers signed Cuban infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena to a five-year $25 million contract.
• Happy Birthday, Ed Silch, Clarence Mitchell, Bill Hall, Roy Spencer, Bob Wilson & Steve Colyer!
  

Blog Kiosk: 2/21/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Clayton faced batters for the first time this Spring as he got on the mound on Monday to throw live batting practice to Dodger hitters.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"This day is always not the most fun. It's about as low-adrenaline as you can, and you have to try to be competitive," he said. "Overall, it went OK, and I got it out of the way and can pitch in a real game now. You've got to get your work in. It's necessary. You can't go bullpens into a game, you need to face hitters before a game. It's the same progression since I've been here."

BTW, On Saturday Kershaw was named this seasons Opening Day starter for the seventh straight year.  This honor ties a Dodger franchise record held by both Don Drysdale and Don Sutton. 

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017.  Go here to check out more fantastic pics taken by Jon from Monday.  You can also check out pics from Sunday (here), Saturday (here), and Friday (here).  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1957 Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley trades minor league franchises with Phil Wrigley of the Cubs.  Brooklyn trades the Ft. Worth club (Texas League) in return for the Los Angeles Angels (Pacific Coast League).
• Happy Birthday, Ted Savage, Sam Fletcher & Norman Plitt!
  

Original Nicholas Volpe Drawing of Claude Osteen

As a lad I remember sitting in the car with my folks and making note of every Union 76 station.  When one came into view I'd yelp out, "do we need gas?  Let's get some gas."  I'm sure I got to be quite annoying, but a young Dodger fan has got to do what he's got to do.  After all, I needed that new Dodger giveaway to add to my growing collection. 

As you know, the 80's (the principal time of my youth) was filled with Dodger memorabilia from that gas station.  They offered a series of pins during the later half of the decade and a highly attractive player portrait set created by noted artist Nicholas Volpe.  (You can see scans of my complete 1982 Volpe Dodgers Portrait set here.)

As I got older I found out that Volpe created similar sets for the Dodgers in the 60's, so I naturally sought them out too.  One of those portraits, from 1969, is the subject of this post.  Featured above is an original drawing by Nicholas Volpe of former Dodger pitcher Claude Osteen from the 1969 set, and it is currently available for sale on eBay. (eBay Auction Link) 

The drawing measures 10"x13" (slightly larger than the portraits given away by Union 76) and comes directly from the personal collection of Claude Osteen.  Strikingly, this years set includes a splash of purplish pastel hues in the background -- the kind of flare missing from his drawing produced in the 80's.  I have no idea if the $550 asking price is reasonable, but I do know that original drawings by Volpe from these sets do not come around very often.

Below are scans of the Osteen portrait given out in 1969 by Union 76.  You can go here to see scans of the entire set.

 Claude Osteen

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 2/17/2017 - Dodgers Links - Spring is Here

Spring training is officially underway.  There are 32 pitchers and six catchers currently in camp.  Additionally, several position players; including Justin Turner, Corey Seager and Joc Pederson, have also arrived ahead of their Tuesday reporting date.  In other news, Yasiel Puig is also at Camelback Ranch and he brought a little friend, per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

Yasiel Puig has arrived in Dodgers camp, bringing with him a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, housed in a wood box with "The Walking Dead" stamped on the outside. Spring training now has begun.

I suppose Puig is hoping to unleash his inner beast -- just like Negan.

Photo above of Dave Roberts first team meeting of Spring, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017.  Go here to check out more great pics from Jon SooHoo of the Dodgers first workout yesterday.  Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Ed Brandt, Ike Boone, Rod Dedeaux (also the longtime USC Baseball manager), Ed Chandler & Roger Craig!