Blog Kiosk: 1/26/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This was probably one of the cooler events held by the Dodgers during this week-long Community Tour. Yesterday afternoon Yasiel Puig joined in solidarity with several pediatric cancer patients to have his head shaved. It happened at Dodger Stadium and included a pizza party for all those who attended. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I get excited to do this for the kids," said Puig. "These kids are fighting for their lives. I want to come here for the kids. I like children. Sometimes they have situations like these with cancer, spend a lot of time in the hospital, have a lot of surgeries. Maybe this makes them excited, and that's why I want to do something for the kids. And I like it." 

And the hospital likes Puig. 

"We're phenomenally grateful to the Dodgers' organization for this; it's a great team effort, and we feel very privileged to serve the families and communities that need our services," said Dr. Charles Simmons, professor and chairman of pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai. 

"The kids and their families are so resilient, and we are reminded all the time that it's not just about yourself and how you adapt, but the people around you. And the Dodgers give them a sense of self and part of a team effort. It's very impactful."

Photo at the very top via Puig on twitter. Group photo on the right via Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2017 the Dodgers signed super-stud free agent reliever Brandon Morrow.
• Happy Birthday, Jeff Branson, Kaiser Wilhelm, Johnny Frederick & Antonio Perez! 

Blog Kiosk: 1/25/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Both Kenley Jansen and Nomar Garciaparra joined the Dodgers Community Tour yesterday afternoon by hosting a skills clinic for RBI youth at GBG Training Academy in Inglewood. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"This reminds me of when I was younger, and I see guys like Andruw Jones and Randall Simon in my country give clinics," said Jansen, now 30 with two All-Star appearances and two National League Reliever of the Year Awards. 

"Just to give back to these kids and the community is an awesome thing," he said. "Reminds me how amazing it is to be with a Major Leaguer. Maybe a few of these kids can have their dream to be a Major Leaguer like me."

Photos above via the Dodgers Foundation on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1934 Giants skipper Bill Terry, when asked about the Dodgers prospects for the upcoming season, remarked, ""I haven't heard anything from them; are they still in the league?" This obviously caused all of Brooklyn to scream in outrage, and ultimately lead to the Dodgers' greatest revenge. With the Giants tied with the Cardinals and with just two games left to play in the season (both against Brooklyn), the Dodgers would sweep to deny them the pennant.
• Happy Birthday, Danny Richardson, Ray Schmandt, Ed Head & Ed Goodson!

Congrats, Jim Thome! You're a Hall of Famer!

I don't care what you say. Jim Thome is a Dodger Hall of Famer!

I jest, of course. After all, Thome spent a very short amount of time in Dodger Blue during the 2009 season -- having been traded to the team as a late-season pinch-hit threat for the playoff run. During that season he never got on the field, and only recorded four hits in 17 at-bats. In the playoffs he went 1-2 with a walk.

Regardless of his short stint in Blue I felt it necessary to make a bunch of Thome fantasy Dodgers Baseball cards in his honor. Check out all nine in this post.

Gil Hodges in "The Geisha Boy"

Steiner Sports, the famed retailer of sports memorabilia, is currently running their Winter Classic Auction, and it happens to include a very unusual item that is notable to both Dodger fans and fans of Jerry Lewis. Featured above is a 1958 Day Player Agreement between Dodgers first baseman Gil Hodges and Paramount Pictures (auction link here).

As you can see, the agreement is for his appearance in an Jerry Lewis 1958 comedy called "The Geisha Boy." Having never seen the flick and being the curious sort, I decided to do some research and share that here. Per IMBD, we find out what this movie is all about:

Gilbert Wooley (Jerry Lewis) is a second-rate magician who is sent to entertain the troops in the pacific. During his time in Japan he becomes attached to a little orphan boy.

Blog Kiosk: 1/24/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The Dodgers Community Tour yesterday included a special visit by Yasiel Puig at a local McDonald's and Joc Pederson for a doggie 'Meet & Greet.' Per Michael Duerte at NBC Los Angeles:

Puig signed autographs for fans and employees, and posed for pictures throughout the hours that he was there, saying that he couldn't eat too much McDonald's on the day as he was preparing for Spring Training which takes place next month in Glendale, Arizona. 

"For spring training, I can't eat too much McDonald's today," Puig told the employees at the restaurant. "All of my team is at the stadium right now... Practice and be ready for spring training and make a good year and try to win the championship."

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Pic on the right via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1939 former Dodger Wee Willie Keeler (along with George Sisler and Eddie Collins) are elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Keeler famously said, "hit 'em where they ain't." In 1963 the Dodgers acquired Don Zimmer in a trade with the Reds for a minor leaguer.  This is Don's second stint with the team; having originally been signed by them as an amateur in 1949 and rising up their ranks. In 2006 the Dodgers signed free agent reliever and soon-to-be legend Joe Beimel. In 2014 the Dodgers signed free agent utilityman Chone Figgins.
• Happy Birthday, Jim Lindsey, Neal Finn & Scott Kazmir!

Dodgers Diamond Anniversary Gets a Special Patch

The marriage between the City of Los Angeles and Dodgers will be 60 years strong this season, so naturally a commemorative patch is in order. This afternoon the team unveiled that patch. Check out an graphic of it above. Below is a look at the real thing on a Kenta Maeda jersey.