Opening Day Homestand - Diamondbacks Series Starts Thursday - Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

Opening Day is here! The first home series of the 2019 season begins on Thursday against our rivals -- the Diamondbacks. Below are some odds and ends for this homestand. Below are some important links:

• 2019 Broadcast Schedule
• Parking Information 
• Special Events Schedule
• Promotions & Giveaways Schedule
• Silent Auction Schedule 
• Friday Night Fireworks Schedule 
• Viva Los Dodgers Schedule
• Dodger Stadium Parking / Transportation 
• Dodger Stadium Express / LA Metro  

As you know, Don Newcombe passed away on February 19 at the age of 92. Newcombe was beloved by the team -- having been a mentor to numerous Dodger players over the decades. In honor of his life and legacy the Dodgers will all wear a memorial uniform patch featuring his uniform number, #36, all season long. Furthermore, Morningside, Inglewood, Dominguez and Centennial High Schools will also wear the patch this Spring. You can see the patch on the top right.

Also, at the Top of the Park, fans will notice two new additions to the Retired Numbers plaza, five-foot microphones for Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrín. Check out a pic on the left. Additionally, the Top of the Park store has been remodeled for a modern shopping experience. You can see renderings below.

For expedited entry, fans can transfer their Dodger tickets into their Apple Wallet and gain access to the stadium and suites via near field communication (NFC) ticketing technology stadium-wide via their smart watch or mobile device. NFC for Google devices is expected to be ready mid-season. Fans will also be able to utilize Apple Maps in and around the ballpark to find their favorite food, retail store, nearest restroom or Fan Services location. To expedite ordering at concessions stands, the Dodgers have increased the number of Self Service Concession Kiosks throughout the ballpark.

At the very bottom of this post is some information regarding the various food options available at Dodger concession stands this season. BTW, Stuff in LA shares a nice list of Opening Day restaurant and bar deals at or near downtown Los Angeles. Check that out here.

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Thursday, March 28th at 1:10 PM
Hyun-Jin Ryu vs. Zack Greinke

TV: SportsNet LA, ESPN (out-of-market only), SNLA Spanish

Radio: AM 570 LA Sports, KTNQ 1020

2019 Topps 852 Montgomery Club - 2nd Set - Clayton Kershaw

To open the 2019 regular season Topps has released their second 852 Montgomery Club membership set. As you know, last year Topps unveiled a collector membership club called '582 Montgomery' that included several exclusive perks like six different exclusive sets. Earlier this year they released the first club set (link here). Now, the second set has been delivered to members and it is a 20-card sticker set fashioned after a sticker test issue from 1967.

Clayton Kershaw is the only Dodger available to chase after. The reverse of the card is below. Go here for a complete checklist.

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Scans of my 1950 Don Newcombe Comic Book

Finally! Here's a look at my dusty, but well loved Don Newcombe comic book. It was published in 1950 by Fawcett Publications -- the same folks who created the Jackie Robinson comics from the same time period (link here) -- following his near unanimous selection as the 1949 Rookie of the Year. 

As promised, I've scanned each page to share here. Check them all out below. Click on any pic to embiggen.

Blog Kiosk: 3/26/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Pee Wee Reese could soar like an eagle.

Featured above is a 1957 spring training pic taken by Herb Scharfman of Reese at Dodgertown. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Veteran Captain Pee Wee Reese of the Brooklyn Dodgers may not be as young as some of his teammates at the Dodgers spring camp, but he still has plenty of zip and bounce. He is floating over the pitchers batting screen here like a two-year-old.

The above pic is currently available through RMY Auctions (link here). Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1953 the St. Louis Browns returned pitcher Tommy Lasorda to the Dodgers after having just purchased him a month prior. In 1984 Jackie Robinson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan in a White House ceremony. Rachel Robinson accepted the award on her late husband's behalf. At the time, Jackie was just the third ballplayer to be given the distinction (Moe Berg and Joe DiMaggio were the others). You can watch the presentation here. In 1991 the Dodgers sign free agent catcher and future Hall of Famer Gary Carter to a one-year $500,000 contract. 
• Happy Birthday, Jack McCarthy, Joe Klugmann, José Vizcaíno & Frank Lankford!

Blog Kiosk: 3/22/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Are those taco's I see?

LAD Executive Chef Ryan Evans shared a bunch of new munchies that'll be available at Dodger Stadium at Dodger Insider; including the chicken taco's seen above. Go here to check them all out. Other new items include Chicken burrito bowl and a veggie burger.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1962 a former Giant, who wanted to remains anonymous, revealed that the Giants had help during the 1951 playoff against the Dodgers (this is the series where Bobby Thompson hit that infamous homer). They had a sign-stealing clubhouse spy at their home field for the last three months of the season. In 1993 Indians pitchers Steven Olin, Bob Ojeda and Tim Crews (a former Dodger) are in a boating accident at Little Lake Nellie in Clermont, Florida that kills both Olin and Crews. Ojeda is seriously injured in the crash. In 2014 the Dodgers and Diamondbacks begin the regular season in Sydney, Australia. The Blue Crew defeat Arizona, 3-1, behind a stellar start by Clayton Kershaw (6.2 innings, 7 strikeouts and one earned run) and a double and home run by Scott Van Slyke (boxscore).
• Happy Birthday, Bill McClellan, Overton Tremper, Ramon Martinez & Juan Uribe!

2019 Topps Inception - All the Dodger Cards

The Topps Inception brand can now officially be found on hobby shop shelves. There are only a handful of Dodgers' available -- including just three ballplayers in the base set and only two autographed insert cards. Check them all out below. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base

#11 Clayton Kershaw