Blog Kiosk: 9/2/2011

Check that out. It's just as empty in Pittsburgh as it is in Los Angeles. (Pic Link: TwitPic Seth_Percy)

• I want to extend a big Blue Heaven Congratulations to David Bugliari and Alyssa Milano on the recent birth of their son, Milo.
  
• Fangraphs takes a look at how awesome Clayton Kershaw has been.
  
• LFP makes an incredible 1975 Topps card for Steve Garvey. Then check out his 1972 Topps creations for Davey Lopes and Ron Cey.
  
• Zach Hample was at Dodger Stadium recently to snag some balls.
  
• Oldtimer's Game might be coming back to Dodger Stadium? Via Vin Scully is My Homeboy. I say WooHoo!
  
• Are the Los Angeles Dodgers Really Worth $1.2 Billion? Via Business Insider.
  
• BTW, if you haven't seen it yet here is the design for the 2012 Topps set.
• Ted Williams is getting a postage stamp, via ESPN. Tom Bartsch at SCD has a preview pic.
  
• From Mayor's Manor, check out the Staples Center as they make the ice for the upcoming Kings season. BTW, they kings buried 3 pennies into the ice for good luck, via Helene Elliot of the LA Times.
  

Video Link:

Daily Conlon: 235 through 243

Here are the Daily Conlon cards numbered 235 through 243, and not a Dodger in the bunch. Fortunately, this page makes that up by introducing us to a fellow with quite possibly the funniest nickname around.

On the top row, far right is Zeke "Banana Nose" Bonura. If you take a close look at the action photo (you can click the pic to embiggen) you can see quite clearly why he was called that. He was also apparantly quite colorful, as well. From the Baseball Library:

A fans' delight and manager's nightmare, Bonura led AL first basemen in fielding in 1936 by refusing to become involved. As easy grounders bounded by untouched, Zeke waved his "Mussolini salute" with his glove. Known affectionately as "Banana Nose," the colorful and outspoken Bonura was the White Sox' first bona fide home run hitter, with 27 in his rookie year. He continued slugging, but his nonchalant fielding, aggravating annual hold-outs, and rumored interest in owner J. Lou Comiskey's daughter got him traded to Washington in 1938 in exchange for Joe Kuhel, the AL's top fielding first baseman.

The Sounds of the Dodgers: What is a Dodger by Vin Scully

Following up on my post from yesterday morning, here is a second recording from the 1963 LP The Sounds of the Dodgers.

Quite possibly the best of the bunch, sit back and enjoy Vin Scully's spoken word (shall I dare say hipsterish) recording called What is a Dodger?

"A Dodger is way of life."

Video Link:

Casey Blake to Have Surgery

Earlier today we received word that Casey Blake will be having season ending surgery next week.

From Chris Adamski at MLB.

Blake, the Dodgers' third baseman when healthy, has been bothered by a pinched nerve in his neck all season. The pain didn't completely go away through three disabled-list stints, but Blake kept on playing.

Until now. The veteran did not make the trip with the team to Pittsburgh for the makeup game Thursday, and he will undergo surgery next week, ending his season.

"The whole idea is that this will give him the best chance to give it a run (at Spring Training next year)," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "He told me [Wednesday] -- we all knew it was his last day -- that he felt like a dog that was going to the vet. You put him in a car and he's kind of like, 'Hey I'm going to the vet. I'm in the car.' And then you get to the vet and you get sleepy, get tired. So I thought that was a good analogy."

I've always liked Blake and hope he can fully recover to play another day.

(Photo Credit: LA Dodgers Jon Soohoo)

Burke Offers $1.2Billion for Dodgers

Yes, Please let this happen sooner than later. Just about anyone is better than the McCourts. Via Bill Skaikin of the LA Times we learn that Bill Burke has offered $1,200,000,000.00 for the Dodgers.

The bid terms proposed by the Burke group call for an all-cash payment to buy the Dodgers, all real estate related to the team and the team's media rights, according to the letter. Attorneys for McCourt have said he could try to keep Dodger Stadium and the surrounding parking lots even if he sold the team.

The bid would expire in 21 days, according to the letter, with the goal of closing a deal within 90 days, subject to the approvals of the bankruptcy court and Major League Baseball.

It sounds like a Letter of Intent was submitted with a drop dead date 3 weeks out. This is certainly not a firm expiration date, nor does it appear that it was an offer filled with specifics. Still, this offer would probably work as a guideline for future negotiations towards a mutually acceptable agreement.

Check out a fairly detailed biography of Bill Burke at the South Coast Air Quality Management District. He is currently the Governing Board Chairman, and more importantly is a local guy with strong ties throughout the community.

UPDATE: From what I read from the Times article, the Chinese connection is related to the financing of the deal. I do not get the impression, at all, that Burke is a front for Chinese investors. In fact, the article states

"the letter did not specify who would finance the Burke bid, other than to say the money would come from "certain state-owned investment institutions of the People's Republic of China" as well as unidentified American investors"

So, a foreign bank (think a Chinese version of Goldman Sachs) would provide the debt, but not necessarily control the team.

Blog Kiosk: 9/1/2011

I want to that thank everybody who participated in the Beatles CD giveaway contest. To all the winners, I just mailed them all out and included some cards that I hope will fill out your collections. There was one exception, though. The winner of the Magical Mystery Tour CD has not contacted me yet and I have no way of contacting her. If you happen to know who "Kimberly B" is please have her contact me. If a week passes I will run another drawing to give it away.

• Ethier First in 10 Years to get Two Hits in One Inning, via Dodger Thoughts.
  
• Check out Greg's Clayton Kershaw 1 of 1 printing plate at Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle.
  
• I'll take this as a good sign. McCourts Sell One of Two Holmby Hills Homes, via Steve Dilbeck of the La Times.
  
• Sandy Koufax's First Record-Breaking Night by Opinion of Kingman's Performance.
  
• The Kings are officially changing their team colors back to the Gretzky era. It's now Black, White and Silver. Check out the ensemble of uniforms for this coming season.
• If your going to the Kings Hockeyfest on September 11th then be sure to check out the schedule of events at King's Court.
  
• This is way off topic, but I thought it was too good not to link to. "Most You Have No Idea What Martin Luther King Actually Did" by Hamden Rice.
  
• This is really screwed up. Check out Chris Olds from Beckett as he shows you a retail blaster box that has been opened by an unscrupulous collector, resealed with worthless cards and returned to the store (like Target or Walmart). There's a special place in hell for folks that do this.

Video Link: