Auto Collection: Johnny Podres

Once again, here is a scan of an autographed card in my collection that just looks terrible. It's way out of focus and the scratches on the holder is unbearable to look at. Sorry about that. For some reason my new scanner has major problems when scanning encapsulated cards.

This is a 2003 Topps uncirculated autographed card of Dodger World Series hero Johnny Podres. I swear it is in much better condition than the pic above and below suggest.

Philly Broadcasters Are Worse Than Philly Fans

I don't quite now what to think about this, but I am certain Phillies broadcaster Tom McCarthy (I initially had Wheelers name here, but that was wrong) is a douche. I know I have been accused of having no sense of humor, but forgive me for considering the term "brownie" as a derogatory description of a Mexican. What makes it worse is that it is a specific reference to Fernando Valenzuela... Not El Toro!... Check out the scoop from Sons of Steve Garvey.

UPDATE: SOSG provides further context, and suggest it's not as bad as initially thought. Apologies all around.

This whole thing made me think about a scene from Office Space... ya know... the "Jump to Conclusions Mat."

YouTube Link:

A Dodger Book: When the Dodgers Were Bridegrooms

How much do you really know about the Dodgers? Sure, you've heard of Charles Ebbets and his palace called Ebbets Field. And you know of the ballplayers with names like Durocher, Reese, Snider and Robinson who have been spoken and written about in ad nauseam, but how about McGunnigle, Adonis Terry or Charles Byrne.

Well, I have to admit, before finding out about this new book I had no idea who they were either.

Fortunately, these past Dodger characters have not been lost to time. Ronald Shafer, who wrote "When the Dodgers Were Bridegrooms," puts us through a time capsule that explores the birth of the Brooklyn franchise to the early 20th century, and I had an opportunity to asked him a couple of questions about it. Check it out below. Also, go to his website, here, for more information about the book.

1: Please tell me how you came up with the idea of this book?

I got the idea for the book after my wife, Mary, told me that her great-grandfather, Bill McGunnigle managed the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and invented the catcher's mitt. I found out that according to an 1895 baseball guide, Mac was indeed credited with being the first to use in mitt in 1875 (actually, a pair of bricklayer's gloves). I also found that the Bridegrooms were the same team that later became the Dodgers.

2: Considering we are looking at the late 19th Century, how did you do the research to fill out a complete story about the team and cast of characters? Resources must have been limited, and with the passage of time, stories a bit muddled.

I Don't Mean to Scare You

Yhea, this is a shirtless Tommy Lasorda throwing a pitch during batting practice. The eBay seller does not provide a date for the photo, but I suspect this was during the 80's.

Yhea, I Guess It Is One of LA's Best Kept Secrets

I remember one afternoon, at least 10 years ago, I ventured up to Dodger Stadium during the off season to go to the gift shop on the Top Deck (what I like to call the Upper Reserve). To my utter surprise, I ventured up to the store and discovered that I could walk out onto the Top Deck section, take a seat and enjoy a view of the field. There were no security guards. No person acting like Big Brother to make sure I had the best of intentions. Instead, there were only folks having afternoon lunch with friends, and a father with his kids marveling at the majesty of the stadium. I was sure I had stumbled onto something I wasn't suppose to. Was this for real?

Subsequent visits proved that it was the norm. The Top Deck is open to fans (when the store is open) on off days and in the afternoons during night games, and as this story from The Post Game can attest, it is the best lunch spot in LA.

For decades, a handful of in-the-know locals have used the upper deck of the stadium as a lunch retreat, a peaceful haven in which to meet friends and rejuvenate with the pastoral green field below and the San Gabriel Mountains above. So often associated with loud and raucous ballgames, Dodger Stadium is a monastery at noon.

...

Although the Dodgers do not publicize the access for picnickers, they are believed to be the only major league team that allows patrons to enter the stadium on any day there is not an afternoon game, and settle down in the bleacher seats for a snack or something more substantial.

It is incredibly simple: The lunch folks drive through the main gates at Elysian Park, tell the guard they are headed to the gift shop on the upper deck, then just walk on through and take their seats. ThePostGame had heard rumors of the informal arrangement, something which the club offers as a goodwill gesture to its followers and turns a blind eye to, but wanted to see for ourselves.

Check out the rest of the story here, and, by all means, enjoy the experience yourself.

Blog Kiosk: 6/7/2011

• GCRL shows off a 1970's Sportscaster with Rick Monday on it. I had no idea this particular card existed.
  
• Gaslamp Ball recently traveled through the MidWest and stopped off at some great Baseball sites; including the Field of Dreams. Check it out here.
• Bob Lemke makes a cool vintage looking custom card featuring Don Newcombe and Johnny Antonelli (of the Giants), right here.
  
• Ben Henry at The Baseball Card Blog shows off some fantasy SNL cards; including my favorite character Father Guido Sarducci. Check out more of them here.
• Check out the Business of Losing Teams by the Atlanta Post. (Hat Tip: Baseball Mussings)
  
• A Florida public school found a box of Baseball Memorabilia stashed away in the ceiling for over 50 years. It included autographed Baseball of the Yankees and Braves from the late 50's, via Jacksonville.com. (Hat Tip: SCD)
• Arizona's All-Star Cactus's went up today; including the one below in front of the Phoenix Convention Center. (pic via MLB_PR yfrog)