Thursday, May 28, 2015

Gilliam and Dr. Marshall's Game-Used Jerseys at Lelands

What fan doesn't have a jersey of their favorite team?

It's way to express your loyalty and fanaticism in way that allows others to take notice.  Fellow fans will walk by and give you a knowing nod - as if you both belong to an exclusive club.  The opposition gives you a stare because deep down you know that they wish they could follow a team as cool as yours.

Then there are fans that have the ability to take the extra step of adding game-used apparel of your favorite player.  Not that this is required of any fan since many game-used jerseys can sell for far more than what a typical fan can afford.  It's just if you can do it, then by all means you should.  After all, having a game-used jersey is like wearing history.  And by donning them you can feel ever closer to your favorite team or player.

Featured below are a couple of game-used Dodger jersey's currently for sale at Legendary Auctions, and I thought I would share them with you.

Above is a 1977 Dodgers road jersey of then coach Jim Gilliam.  He was one of the most beloved Dodger players in Los Angeles history.  In fact, he is the only Dodger player to have his number retired who is not in the Hall of Fame.  He had suffered an brain hemorrhage near the end of the 1978 Dodger season, and was posthumously given the honor two days after his death - just prior to clubs World Series match-up against the Yankees that year.  The outpouring of respect and love he had from the players and the organization was enormous.
(Auction Link)

Mike Marshall, or Dr. Mike Marshall as he likes to be called, is one of the more legendary relievers to ever put on a Dodger uniform.  In 1974 he appeared in 106 games for Los Angeles (setting a Major League record), finished 83 of them and recorded 21 saves.  For his efforts he was awarded the Cy Young that season.  Featured here is a game-used 1975 home jersey once worn by Marshall.

BTW, Marshall has a Ph.D. in kinesiology, and is known to advocate a different style of pitching that he believes will end arm-related pitching injuries.  Per a brief description found on his wikipedia page:
Marshall teaches and advocates a pitching method he developed that he "believes could completely eradicate pitching-arm injuries." He wants pitchers to have a smooth transition. To pitch the arm has to externally rotate (hand lays back) before the ball accelerates. With traditional pitchers the thrower often lifts his elbow before his hand (also called scapula loading); this leads to the ball coming up late and the arm to externally rotate late. The elbow will be accelerated forward while the hand still goes backward, which creates enormous stress on the arm

Marshall instead wants pitchers to externally rotate early as they swing their arm up. That means the pitcher will lift the hand before the elbow, so that the wrist faces away from the body and up, the hand is above the elbow when the front foot touches the ground, which leads to a smooth transition without a "forearm bounce," as Marshall calls it (Marshall believes this causes UCL injuries, which require Tommy John surgery). He wants to first lay back the forearm and then accelerate by rotating the body instead of bending over, in order to protect the elbow against injury.
(Auction Link)

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2015 Topps Tier One - The Dodger Autograph Cards

After taking a look at the Dodger relic cards from Topps newest release on Tuesday, 2015 Tier One, I now share photos of all the Dodger autograph-only cards that can be found in the set.  Check them all out below.  Go here to check out all of my previous post on this set.

Acclaimed Autographs

#AA-AG Adrian Gonzalez            #AA-FV Fernando Valenzuela

#AA-HR Hanley Ramirez

Blog Kiosk: 5/28/2015 - Dodger Links - Uribe, Van Slyke and LAPD Baseball Cards


Is there any chance we can get close up photos of what these cards look like?

Featured above is Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck with Clayton Kershaw and his LAPD Baseball card that officers will be handing out while on patrol.  Like in years past, the LAPD has gotten together with the Dodgers to create Baseball cards that officers will distribute to children and families.  Per Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily:
If you’re a fan of police sets, those sports cards many law enforcement agencies handed out mostly during the 1980s, this will warm your heart.  The LAPD and LA County Sheriff’s Department are bringing them back.  A donation from the LA Police Foundation has covered the cost of printing one million Dodgers baseball cards.
The photo above was taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Below are some more links to check out:
“I feel good about being here [with the Braves],” Uribe said when asked about his reaction to the trade. “I’m going to miss my teammates and I think I can return to form like I was before.” Uribe also said it would be difficult needing to immediately face his former team, but that it was easier than his changing teams in 2011.

“It’s not going to be as difficult as when I went from the Giants to the Dodgers. I’m looking forward to playing in front of the fans and I’m expecting appreciation from them for what I did.”
"He had some back stuff going on the other day. We want to be a little careful with him," manager Don Mattingly said. "There are aspects he is available, and aspects that he's pretty much not."

    * Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
    * Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *