The Dodgers Lone Leap Year Ballplayer -- Ed Appleton

With the recent passing of Leap Day -- February 29th -- I thought it would be fun to take a look at the lone Dodger ballplayer born on that day. His name is Ed Appleton, and he was a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1915 and 1916 Baseball seasons.

Having been nicknamed Whitey, for whatever reason, Ed Appleton played much of his professional ball in various leagues in Texas. Which isn't surprising since he was born, raised and died in Arlington, Texas. His first taste of pro-ball was as a 19-year old with the Fort Worth Panthers of the Texas League in 1911 -- where he went a respectable 7-8, while allowing 3.67 runs every nine innings.

Four years later in 1915 he would find himself half-way across the country in Brooklyn, as a swing man in the Dodgers pen. He would start ten games (out of 34 appearances) and would prove to be effective -- recording an 3.32 ERA his rookie season. Unfortunately, he would run into some tough luck that year.

2020 Bowman Next -- Wave 2 -- Gavin Lux

The second wave of Topps 2020 Bowman Next online exclusive brand have been arriving on collectors stoops, and this time only one Dodger prospect is available in the 15-card offering. It is second base phenom and the #2 prospect in the country, Gavin Lux. A total of 750 sets were ordered, which translates to an autograph print run of 75. Go here for a complete checklist.

Wave 2 Base

#T16 Gavin Lux

Wave 2 Autograph

#T16A Gavin Lux

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Blog Kiosk: 3/3/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Check out this fantastic vintage press photo (eBay auction) from the Houston Post featuring (from L-R) Billy Cox, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson being filmed by the media. It is dated to September 23, 1958 on the reverse, but that can't be right. The Dodgers were in Brooklyn that day to play the Cardinals, and I'm fairly certain the Dodgers spring home in Vero Beach is in the background. Additionally, Billy Cox last season as a Dodgers was in 1954, so clearly this is a photograph taken many years before finally being archived by the Houston Post.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1872 future Hall of fame Dodger Wee Willie Keeler is born in Brooklyn, New York. He would play five season for the Dodgers -- slashing a remarkable .352/.389/.425/.815. Overall, he batted over .300 16 times and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1939. In 1987 the legendary entertainer and creator of The D-O-D-G-E-R-S Song, Danny Kaye, dies of heart failure. He was 74-years old. Go ahead and sing along to his famous ditty here. In 1988 the famous incident between Kirk Gibson, a newly signed free agent outfielder, and reliever Jesse Orosco occurs in Vero Beach. Orosco was a well known practical joker, but his barb against Gibson caused an uproar. He put eyeblack in Gibby's cap, so Kirk walked out of training camp while excoriating the club for not taking their job seriously. This incident would be heralded as an important moment for the soon-to-be championship club. 
• Happy Birthday, John Ward, Wee Willie Keeler, Ed Phelps, Joe Koukalik, Bert Griffith, Scott Radinsky & Matt Treanor!

2020 Topps Heritage - A Last Look at the Dodger Inserts

Here is a final look at the Dodger Inserts available in packs on 2020 Heritage. Check out the Dodgers' Real One Autographs, Baseball Flashbacks, 1971 Mint Relics, 1971 Bazooka's, 1971 Scratch-Off's, Baseball Tattoo's and Sticker cards below.

Real One Autographs

#ROA-DM Dustin May        #ROA-GL Gavin Lux

Blog Kiosk: 3/2/2020 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

LeBron James was seen sporting a Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers jersey over the weekend, via a tweet from the Lakers.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 the Dodgers sold pitching prospect Tommy Lasorda to the Kansas City A's. In 1976 the Dodgers traded outfielder Willie Crawford to the Cardinals for infielder Ted Sizemore.
• Happy Birthday, William Fischer, Moe Berg, Woody English, Cal Abrams, Chico Fernandez, Jay Gibbons & Bud Norris!

Blog Kiosk: 2/28/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Today marks the anniversary of the greatest Baseball contract holdout in history. Thirty-two days later Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale ended it. Featured above is a 1966 UPI Telephoto of the dynamic duo board a plane to begin their spring workouts. Per the descriptor:

Dodgers pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale wave goodbye as they board an airliner bound for Phoenix, Ariz. to join their teammates after a much celebrated and publicized 32-day holdout in which the pair asked for a million dollars combined salary over a three year period. They signed for a one year contract and and undisclosed salary.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1966 the great Koufax/Drysdale contract holdout commences. They are seeking a collective three year $1MM contract -- to be split evenly. In 2002 the Dodgers signed free agent Japanese starting pitcher Kaz Ishii after posting a $11.26 million bid to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows for the right to negotiate with him. He would eventually sign a four-year $12.3 million contract with the team.
• Happy Birthday, Al Humphrey, Orlando Alvarez & Trent Oeltjen!