Thursday, August 18, 2016

Vintage Newsletter - Dodgers Line Drives - 6/15/1948, Vol. 10, No. 2


Here is another issue of an Dodgers newsletter from yesteryear.  This time it from the 1948 season, and is dated to June 15th.  Click on any pic to embiggen.  Below is a brief listing of interesting stories within:
  • Of note, it mentions the first no-hitter thrown by a Dodger (either in the Majors or Minors) that year.  It was thrown by Jim Lamay of the Idaho Falls Russets in the Pioneer League against the Pocatello Cardinals, 6-0.  Lamay pitched four seasons of minor leagues, but never advanced above the Class C level.  
  • The newsletter also makes note of fast rising minor league prospect Duke Snider.  He had gotten a cup-of-coffee the prior season, and began the year with Brooklyn before being sent back to Montreal for some additional seasoning.  He had slashed just .158/.256/.395/.651 in 43 plate appearances for the Dodgers.  The newsletter mentions that Duke debuted with Montreal during a doubleheader and proceeded to hit home runs in each game.
  • There is an introduction of a Dodgers Broadcaster named Bob Edge.  He had began doing play-by-play for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 for CBS.  I am uncertain how long he remained with the club.  
  • Another story tells fans of an brand new Dodgers initiative to scout the country for new Baseball talent, via a contest through men's magazine Argosy.  I should note that future Dodgers hurler Billy Loes was chosen in September 1948 as the "Recuit-of-the-year" in this contest.  The 18-year old was immediately signed to a contract, and would eventually play on Ebbets Field two years later.
  • On the last page there is a fantastic facsimile autograph sheet featuring the Dodgers.
A big thanks to Dodgers collector Doug for passing this newsletter along.

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Blog Kiosk: 8/18/2016 - Dodgers Links - De Leon's Immaculate Inning, AJ on Vinny and Adrian Gonzalez


What he said!

Joc Pederson tweeted the above photo after the Dodgers, with the help of Adrian Gonzalez, defeated the Phillies, 7-2.  He added the following caption,
"@Adrian_ElTitan put the team on his back"
Last night AGon hit a three-run homer in the third to give the Dodgers a lead.  Then, for good measure, he blasted a two-run home run in the seventh as insurance.  Joc Pederson, for his part, went three for four on the evening.  Per Todd Zolecki and Evan Webeck at MLB.com
"Everybody's made some great adjustments," Gonzalez said. "For the most part, I feel like [Joc Pederson has] made some great adjustments, [Howie Kendrick has] made great adjustments. The guys who were already swinging it well have continued swinging well. When you've got one through eight swinging it great and taking great at-bats, it makes it really tough on the opposing pitcher."
Below are more links to check out:
  • This Day in Dodger History:  In 1959 former Dodger GM Branch Rickey is named President of the newly formed Continental League.  The new third Major League never plays a game, though.  Instead, it became a catalyst for the addition of eight more teams to the American and National Leagues over the next decade.  In 1995 the Dodgers traded for Brett Butler.  This would be his second stint with the team.