Blog Kiosk 6/29/2008

It seems that our pitching is turning the corner, when will our offense?

• Negro Leaguer Art "Superman" Pennington has lost his home and a lifetime of memories as a result the floods ravaging through Iowa. Please help him out if you can here. (Hat Tip: Dodger Thoughts)
• Did you hear about Shawn Chacon knocking out GM Ed Wade? Listen to Geoff Blum talk about the incident on the Scott and BR Show. (Hat Tip: Falling Leaves of Sunshine)
• MSTI praises, of all people, TJ Simers who criticizes Ned Colletti.
• Disgraced autograph authenticator, Donald Frangipani, is suing HBO for their piece called "Forger's Paradise." He is well known throughout the vintage collector community as someone to avoid.
  
• This is a must read, especially if you collected cards as a kid.
  

  Years went by and finally in the Spring of 2007 I opened those old boxes one last time. I sorted through the cards and relived the memories of my childhood. Not one single card beckoned for me to stay. I thought about how much money I had spent and regretted that I hadn’t invested my money more wisely as a child. But, then again, how many kids really do that.

  Near the end of the box, I found my Tom Niedenfur card and I sat and stared, searching for something that I had never noticed about it. I flipped it around in my hands and read both sentences on the back over and over again. Eventually, my wife came in and I tried to stuff the feelings back into the forgotten place that they had come from. It wasn’t possible. I had opened a door to a part of me that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to close again.

• Drawings in the sand by Jim Denevan. Hat Tip: Neatorama:
  
• I love this video because it makes me a little envious. It also makes me smile. Check out "Where the Hell is Matt?"
  

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
(Hat Tip: Oliver Willis)

Card of the Week: Bert Blyleven

Things are a little blurry right now. The Dodgers beat the Angels last night without getting a hit. So, I know the Angels must be seeing doubles- heck quadruples. To commemorate the event please check out the above 1990 Upper Deck card featuring Bert Blyleven. This should be Hall of Famer is seen in a four frame superimposed photograph.

Video Highlights From Last Nights Game

19th Century Only Auction: Harry Wright

19th Century Only is one of my favorite sports collectibles auction houses. They always feature some great rare artifacts from Baseballs past. Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot of Dodger related items available, but there is an interesting studio cabinet of "The Father of Professional Baseball" Harry Wright. This cabinet photo is part of a set of 9 cards that feature members of the 1886 Philadelphia National league team. I'll let the auction description tell you all about Harry Wright.

Born in England, Wright came to America with his father who was well known as a Cricket player. Along with Harry's brothers Sam and George, the three sons took up the game of baseball when it began in America. Harry Wright became a pioneer of this new game. Harry joined the New York base ball club, the Knickerbockers. Backed by investors from Ohio, Wright formed the Cincinnati Red Stockings with his younger brother George. This was the first professional base ball club. This team went undefeated in 1869 with 65 wins and 0 losses. Wright managed the Boston Red Stockings in 1871 through 1875, the Boston Red Caps from 1867 through 1871, the Providence Grays from 1882 to1883, and the Philadelphia Quakers (Phillies) from 1884 through 1893. Harry Wright was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.

Auction Link: Harry Wright Cabinet: