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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

In Honor of Mel Blanc!


UPDATE: "What a Moroon!"   I apologize, I'm a big idiot!  July 10th was the anniversary of Mel Blanc's Death.  I'll leave the body of the original post as it was. 

The voice of many Warner Brothers cartoon icons, Mel Blanc, would have been 105 today.  He was a giant hero to me, as well as many kids throughout the world.  After all, who else could convey the wackiness of Daffy Duck, and the grouchy nature of Yosemite Sam?

Do you know which character he is most famous for?

Mel Blanc was the man behind Bugs Bunny, and it is this lovable wild hare that causes me to write this post.  You see, Bugs Bunny was born a Brooklyn Dodger, and the man who made him who he is deserves a huge shout out. 

So, Happy Birthday Mel Blanc!

BTW, I thought I'd add a bit more information about our favorite rabbit.  As the story goes, Bugs Bunny was born underneath Ebbets Field in the middle of summer in 1940, which explains his unmistakable Brooklyn/ Flatbush accent.

Pic at the very top via Wikipedia Commons.

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eBay: a Vintage Dodgers Doll


It's been awhile since I've gone around eBay in search of strange and unusual Dodgers memorabilia.  So, the other day I decided to take a quick look to see what I could find, and fortunately I found some stuff that perked my interest.

As you may already know, I'm a lover of oddball collectibles.  Heck, give me a kooky looking thingamabob over a typical Topps Baseball card, and I'm a happy camper.  So, imagine my smile when I came across this vintage looking Dodgers cloth doll.  It stands about a foot tall and features a smiling Dodger player.  It's a little ragged, but that's OK.  I like to think of it as "well loved".  See the auction item right here.
(eBay Auction Link)

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Some Hollywood Stars Come Out

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.

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I don't know much about this event, but I thought I should at least make note of it.  Former Dodger Talk host Josh Suchon is having a book signing this coming Monday, July 15, at Barney's Beanery in Santa Monica and former Dodger Tim Leary is expected to stop by.  For more information check out Roberto's post at Vin Scully Is My Homeboy.

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UPDATE:  Here's a free Dodger signing this weekend.  Via the Dodgers website for Player Appearances, Paco Rodriguez will be at the Sports Authority on Friday, July 12th  from 11:00 PM - 12:00 PM.  Go here for more information.
Sports Authority
3610 Torrance Blvd
Torrance, CA 90503


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Since 1979 the Hollywood show has brought out celebrities of all stripes to meet with fans.  It's one of the few opportunities for fans to get "up close and personal" with their favorite stars!

This weekend is the Hollywood Show and over 90 stars will be there to sign autographs.  This is a pay event.  Admission is steep, from $20 to $35, and autographs prices vary depending on the person.  Go here for more information.

BTW, Pete Rose is slated to appear on Saturday.  Familiar (at least to me) stars expected to appear include; Ric Flair, Nichelle Nichols (who played Lieutenant Uhura in Star Trek), several cast members of the cult film Planet of the Apes, several cast members from the movie Jaws, and cast members of the TV hit Sons of Anarchy.
The Westin Los Angeles Airport
5400 W Century Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, 90045


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Baseball in Dublin, Ireland: The Peter O’Malley International Invitational


Check out the above stone commemorating the opening of the O’Malley Little League and Dodger Baseball Fields in Corkagh Park, West Dublin, Ireland (pic via walteromalley.com).  It was dedicated in 1998 and is written in both English and Irish Gaelic.    

This field will play host to the first annual Peter O’Malley International Invitational this coming weekend, July 12-14.  (Check out a facebook events page here)  Four teams will participate: the Irish National Baseball Team, Rota Blue Devils, representing the United States Navy, British Baseball League entrant Liverpool Trojans and Los Barbaros, a team comprised of international players who have traveled from throughout the world to compete.
“It is an honor and privilege to return to Ireland for this special baseball tournament and I salute the organizers for putting it together,” said O’Malley, who will be throwing the ceremonial first ball. “Baseball in Ireland continues to grow and succeed with about 250 youth players across the island. The success of the Irish National team has generated interest in the game and it is gratifying that there are more fields being developed.” 
I have no idea what the level of play will be, but I do believe that the US Navy team will kick some butt.  USA!
(pic via the Rota Blue Devil facebook page)

The US Navy team call themselves the Rota Blue Devils.  They comprise of men stationed at Naval Station Rota, Spain.  The Blue Devils consists of active duty enlisted, officers, and dependents alike, and have been in existence since 2011.  Check out their facebook page here.  I also ran into a youtube video from AFN about the team that you can watch here.

BTW, O'Malley has privately built ballfields in several other countries.  In 1986 he built "Dodger Baseball Field" in Tianjin, China and "Dodger Little League Friendship Field" in Managua, Nicaragua in 1992.  He was also responsible for the building the Dodgers Baseball academy, "Campo Las Palmas," in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  So, he's always had a personal desire to spread the game throughout the world.

Below is a photo from the 1998 dedication ceremony of Corkagh Park in Ireland.  U.S. Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith threw out the first pitch. From L-R: Aldo Notari, President of International Baseball Federation; Dr. Creighton Hale, President, Little League Baseball; Ed Piszek, Little League Foundation Trustee; Ambassador Smith; Rod Dedeaux, legendary head baseball coach at USC; and Peter O’Malley.
At the time of dedication, O’Malley said, “In the past, children have been playing baseball on corners of rugby and soccer fields in Ireland, frequently being asked to relocate during the game. Now the children and families of Dublin have their own field of dreams to enjoy the game of baseball uninterrupted.”

Photos above courtesy of walteromalley.com

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Blog Kiosk: 7/10/2013 - Dodgers Links - A Ethier Bobblehead, Lilly to Pitch Relief and Vote Puig!


The Sun sure shines bright when you're winning.  Pic above of Don Mattingly via twitter @Dodgers.
  • Via Paulson at Sports Media Watch, the Dodgers hit a 4-year high in local tv ratings on Monday.
  • Orel at Sons of Steve Garvey notes down Vin Scully's story that he told on Sunday about former Dodger manager Burt Shotton's difficult All-Star game decision.
  • Awesome!  The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are giving away a Andre Ethier bobblehead before this coming Friday's ballgame.  The First 1,500 fans get one.  Go here for more information.
"Ideally, I'd like to be a starter and be effective in that role," said Lilly. "I've had a hard time staying healthy. I pitched Saturday [rehab start at Class A Rancho Cucamonga], and it was sore Sunday. Yesterday, it was pretty good."
  • Apparently, this is on the Staples Center in downtown LA, right now.  Via a tweet by DodgersBeat.


  • Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts/ESPN chats a bit about the Dodgers policy on retiring numbers and he includes a poll.  For the record, I voted no non-Hall of Famers.
  • Busting Packs provides a preview of some of the 2013 Topps Tier One Baseball cards that includes an autographed Sandy Koufax card (seen on the right).  It will arrive in stores next week.
  • GCRL shares the 2013 Dodgers cards from the factory set that includes a bonus Dodger Stadium card not available in packs.
  • Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times writes, "Dodgers' Matt Kemp has irritation in shoulder, MRI exam confirms".
  • Panini shares a bunch of preview pics from their the 2013 National Convention card set that they'll be giving out at the show.  See the Clayton Kershaw card on the left.
  • Via Paul Hagen at MLB.com, "Baseball possesses rich history in Australia: Dodgers, D-backs to add to legacy Down Under with 2014 opener in Sydney".
  • For the hockey fan who is missing Kings hockey, Jason Lewis at Hockey's Future takes a close look at the teams recent draft picks.  Then, Jon Rosen at the LA Kings Insider provides an update on the current Kings rookie development camp happening in El Segundo right now.
  • Via Sports Collectors Daily, through this coming Friday 6 different lots from the collection of Kobe Bryant memorabilia currently on auction through Goldin Auctions will be on display at the Newport Sports Museum in Newport Beach.

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