Friday, February 21, 2014

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Full-Squad Workout #8


Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.
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(Vizcaino,Wills,Bundy, Castro, Davis and Stubbs, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

THE BEAT GOES ON: The Dodgers completed their eighth full-squad workout today with the club’s Cactus League opener only five days away! Los Angeles will kick off its 25-game exhibition slate on Wednesday against the D-backs at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
  • Dan Haren, Kenley Jansen, Brian Wilson, J.P. Howell, Chris Perez, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Chris Reed threw normal bullpens today, while Clayton Kershaw, Javy Guerra, Seth Rosin, Jose Dominguez, Ross Stripling, Daniel Moskos and Sam Demel faced live hitters during simulated innings. 
  • Matt Kemp got a few extra swings in today and faced live pitching on the minor league side.
  • Yasiel Puig was held out of on-field action again today, instead working out in the batting cage and the weight room, after fouling a ball off his right leg on Wednesday. He is expected to be a regular participant in tomorrow’s workout.
(Kershaw and AJ Ellis during similated game, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

A-OK: Earlier today, Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax was struck by a foul ball off the bat of Andre Ethier during live BP as he watched the action in one of the bullpens down the left field line of Field 1. Koufax was joking about the incident a few minutes later and emerged with only a small cut on his forehead. As a precaution, he was taken to a local hospital for a CT scan, which came back negative.
(Sandy Koufax, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

“THE KID”: Tomorrow, the City of Fullerton will honor Baseball Hall of Famer and former Dodger Gary Carter by dedicating Field No. 2 at Fullerton Sports Complex in his name. The ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. at Fullerton Sports Complex at 560 E. Silver Pine St. and will be attended by Carter’s wife, Sandy, brother, Gordon, and other family members. Carter grew up in Fullerton and played 19 Major League seasons, including the 1991 campaign with the Dodgers, before his election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. Carter passed away on Feb. 16, 2012 at the age of 57.

THE GAMES BEHIND THE GAMES: The Dodgers will play two intra-squad games on Sunday, Feb. 23 and Monday, Feb. 24 on Field 1 at Camelback Ranch - Glendale. Pitchers scheduled to throw on Sunday include Matt Magill, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Chris Perez, Brian Wilson, Kenley Jansen and J.P. Howell. On Monday, Stephen Fife, Dan Haren, Chris Reed, Paco Rodriguez and Jamey Wright each will pitch.
(Koufax and Jansen, pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

ALL DODGERS, ALL THE TIME: We’re just four days away from the launch of SportsNet LA on February 25, the new 24-hour-a-day network of the Dodgers. SNLA will televise all of this year’s Dodger Cactus League games, with the exception of two split-squad games, giving fans more Spring Training coverage than ever before. In addition to airing games during Spring Training, SportsNet LA will also air a nightly show, “Access SportsNet: Dodgers,” at 7:00 p.m. PT.
  • The network has announced its full launch night programming schedule, led by the live studio show “Access SportsNet: Dodgers,” the inaugural episode of “Backstage: Dodgers,” back-to-back “Connected With…” interview shows featuring Clayton Kershaw and Don Mattingly and a one-hour retrospective special about last year’s season.
  • SNLA’s programming lineup will include shows “Backstage: Dodgers,” “Access SportsNet: Dodgers,” “Leadoff LA,” “Dodgers Clubhouse,” “Connected With,” “Talkin’ Blue,” “Dodgermentary,” “Timeless Dodgers” and “Dodgers Squeeze Play,” all set to air starting Feb. 25. For more information, please visit www.ineedmydodgers.com.
(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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Some Vintage Baseball Photographs at RMY Auctions - Including Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson at UCLA and Hands of the '37 Yankees

It's amazing the level of quality vintage press photographs that have been hitting the hobby lately.  Yesterday, I shared some Jackie Robinson photographs from the collection of famed sports broadcaster George Michael.  Today, I show some vintage photographs that are available through RMY Auctions.

BTW,  this auction closes on Saturday (tomorrow), so get crackin' if you're interested.  I apologize for putting this up so late.  I just found out about it (via Sports Collectors Daily).

Below is a photograph of a teenage Babe Ruth as a member of St. Marys Industrial School.  It was originally taken in 1913, but this print is a second-generation print, circa 1920's.
(Auction Link)

Now that you've seen Babe Ruth as a teen at the start of his Baseball life, check out Ruth at the very end of his Baseball career below.  Here is a 1938 photo of some Brooklyn boys singing a tune.  From left to right: Tuck Stainbuck, Buddy Nassett, KiKi Cuyler and Babe Ruth.
(Auction Link)

Below is an ACME press photo featuring the 1940 UCLA "first string".  As you can see, fullback and future Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson is on the right side.  This photo is from the first day of practice.
(Auction Link)

I love seeing photos of the Brooklyn faithful cheering on their Dodgers.  The below photo is from 1942, and was taken in Shibe Park.  Over 400 Dodger fans drove all the way to Philadelphia to see them play. 
(Auction Link)

This is one of the more unique press photos you'll ever see.  Below are the hands of the starting lineup of the 1937 Yankees.  From left to right: Frank Crosetti, Red Rolfe, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Bill Dickey, George Selkirk, Myril Hoag, Tony Lazzeri, and Lefty Gomez.
(Auction Link)

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The Willie Davis 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet

Here is another post featuring the 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet set.  Go here to see my past post showcasing this set; including complete scans of both the Vin Scully/Jerry Doggett and Walter Alston booklets.  This time I share the Willie Davis Booklet.

Arkansas born Willie Davis was a standout athlete at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles.  He was a 3-sport star, but it was Baseball were scout Kenny Myers came calling.  (BTW, Myers was one of the more highly regarded scouts and Baseball mind in the game.  He signed a MLB contract at age 15 and was a master at teaching hitting.)  Davis signed a contract with the Dodgers upon his graduation in 1958, and played his first game as a Dodger two years later. In 1961, he would take over centerfield duties from Duke Snider, and remain there over the next 13 years.

Willie Davis currently holds the longest hitting streak in Dodgers history (31); most triples in a season as an LA Dodger (16); tied for most hits in a game (6); most singles in a game (6); most career games, hits, runs, triples, at-bats, total bases and extra base hits as an LA Dodger.  The man was a machine.

Below are complete scans of every page from Willie Davis' 1961 Union Oil Dodger Family Booklet.  Click any pic to embiggen.









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Blog Kiosk: 2/21/2014 - Dodgers Links - Guilty Pleas from Stow Attackers, Miguel Rojas and Arruebarruena


It was photo for the Dodgers yesterday.  Kershaw and Kemp are above.  Pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.
"We are pleased that the culpable parties have finally accepted responsibility for their actions and have been sentenced for their crimes."
“People in Venezuela are doing something special right now. They’re showing the government they’re not happy with what’s happening over there,” Rojas said. “I know that’s not the right way to do it, but they have to do it anyways, because the people are not happy.” 
The infielder is currently working out in the Dominican Republic and is waiting on a P-1 work Visa before he can finalize what is expected to be a five or six-year deal worth $25 million with Los Angeles. The Dodgers, who also signed Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero to a four-year, $28 million contract this winter, have not confirmed the Arruebarruena signing.
  • Wow!  This is an impressive looking set.  Panini unveiled more preview pics from their upcoming 2014 Donruss set that comes out next week,  Check out a bunch of pics here.  Below are some of the Dodger cards.
"It was not just one thing," he said. "It was not just mechanical. It wasn't just preparation. It was one thing one time, something else another time."

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