Blog Kioks: 8/29/2013 - Dodgers Links - Nolasco, Kemp in Rancho Cucamonga and Puig

Ricky Nolasco was masterful yesterday.  Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.

• BTW, the Dodgers "Magic Number" is now 21!
• "Jackie Robinson at the March on Washington, D.C. 50 years ago," via David Brown at Big League Stew.
• "Dodgers' Matt Kemp to play in at least three minor league games," via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times.
• "Ricky Nolasco trade paying off nicely," via Mark Saxon at ESPN.

Since the Dodgers landed Nolasco from the Miami Marlins on July 6, he is 6-1 with a 2.20 ERA. 

• "Ricky Nolasco would like to re-sign with the Dodgers," via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers.

“My teammates have been doing a great job of welcoming me here,” Nolasco said after blanking the Cubs. “As far as what the future holds, we’re just going to have to wait and see what happens. I’m from here, and this is where I want to be. We’ll just see what happens.

• "The trouble with Yasiel Puig …," via Tony Jackson at Dodger Scribe.

“(Mattingly) told me I need to prepare well for each pitch. It was the right decision. He felt (Skip) Schumaker could come in and did a better job.”

“Everybody on this team, all these guys, are giving 100 percent. Anybody else can come in and do the job. I am not the best one on the team.”

Personally, I find this whole thing to be overblown.  Mattingly appeared to handle it well, Puig responded maturely and appropriately, and the team looks more united than ever.  Remember, the clubhouse has no responsibility to tell us every gritty detail.  They are not a reality tv show!

• "Edwin Jackson, 10 years later," via Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts.
• "Dodgers sign Edinson Volquez. Obviously they’re thinking … I don’t know what they’re thinking," via Chad Moriyama.
• Jon Heyman at CBS Sports notes that the Dodgers might not be so cash rich after they put together a big contract for Clayton Kershaw.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Carl Crawford, Bobby Castillo & Paco Rodriguez

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

---------------------------

Carl Crawford will be meeting with fans at the Sony story at the Beveryl Center on Saturday, August 31, 2013 from 11:15 AM to 12:00 PM.  Go here for more information.  From my understanding, this is a free signing event, but I suspect there will be a long wait.  Be sure to call the store to confirm everything, and get there early!

Sony Store @ Beverly Center
8500 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048

310-657-4428

---------------------------

Sunday is Cuban Heritage Day at Dodger Stadium. (1:10 p.m. vs. SD). As part of this cultural celebration, Dodger outfielder Yasiel Puig and reliever Paco Rodriguez will make a special appearance at Viva Los Dodgers. 

Auto gates open early at 10:45 a.m. and fans are encouraged to arrive to lot 6 early. 

Both players are scheduled to attend at 11:00 a.m. 

Paco Rodriguez will sign autographs (11:00AM - 11:30AM) for fans and Puig will be on stage to greet fans and partake in a Q&A session with fans. Legendary Dodger scout and native Cuban Mike Brito will also be on hand. Player appearance time subject to change.

---------------------------

Bobby Castillo will be signing autographs at Manuel's El Tepeyac in the City of Industry on Sunday, September 1, 2013 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Manuel's El Tepeyac
13131 Crossroads Pkwy South
City of Industry, CA 91746
(626) 488-9432

Hat Tip: Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy

---------------------------

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

A Blue Heaven Interview with Baseball Artist Monty Sheldon

Yesterday, I shared with you Monty Sheldon's most recent artistic creation - a painted Artball® of Yasiel Puig.  Check out that post here.  When I first came across that painted ball I immediately reached out to Monty to see if he'd be willing to answer some questions.  Thankfully, he was happy to oblige.

As you may already know, Monty Sheldon is an artist who primarily paints about Baseball using a baseball as his canvas.  He has also drawn sketch cards that have been used by Helmar Brewing and Topps for their card sets.  Feel free to check out his facebook page that includes hundreds of photos, and his website.

Below is my interview with Monty Sheldon.

-------------------------

Monty, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for me.  I’ve admired you work for several years and have always wondered what inspired you to paint on a Baseball? 

MS: Ernest, Thank you very much for the kind words and for taking the time to ask me about my art!

One day while visiting the Tacoma Dome memorabilia show near Seattle back in 1997, a good friend and dealer at the show, Mark Macrae, asked me if I had ever thought about painting on a baseball before.  Mark knew that I was an artist and that I worked for Dark Horse Comics at the time and he thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask.  He mentioned that a couple of tables over were examples of another artist (Eric Black) and that I should go check it out.

Now at that time I had many different passions in life, none of which really crossed paths with each other.  When I looked at Eric’s baseball art I can honestly say I had an epiphany.  With that one object I realized I could combine my passion for baseball, art, and collectables.  Over 570 baseballs later and I still feel the same way.

Blog Kiosk: 8/28/2013 - Dodgers Links - Greinke, Wilson, Kershaw and Kemp

Tommy Lasorda hugs it out with U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Cedric King of Norlina, NC.  Cedric was the Veteran of the Game, yesterday.  Pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.

King is a member of the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.  He has served one deployment in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. He is a Purple Heart Recipient for injuries he sustained during his second tour to Afghanistan when he was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device causing the loss of both of his legs and functionality of part of his foreman. He is currently undergoing treatment at the Walter Reed Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.

• "Greinke benefits from pitching alongside Kershaw," via Ramona Shelburne at ESPN.

“I think Clayton takes some of the attention away from him, which Zack doesn’t really crave, and Clayton can handle,” (AJ) Ellis said. 

• "Wilson’s role to remain unchanged," via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA.

“He’s given us what we wanted when we signed him. It gives us another quality arm back there in the closing innings in the game where we can spread out work where we don’t have to wear anybody out,” added Mattingly.

• "Kershaw keeps elite statistical company," via ESPN.
• "Matt Kemp rehabilitation scenarios becoming more clear," via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers.
• The Dodgers are sending 4 prospects to the Arizona Fall League.  Per the @Dodgers on twitter:

#Dodgers selected to participate in the @MLBazFallLeague: Brian Cavazos-Galvez Pratt Maynard Chris O'Brien Corey Seager
— Dodgers PR (@DodgersPR) August 27, 2013

• "Cracking the door ever so slightly on Dodgers' Yasiel Puig ," via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times.
• "A Look Back: The Rick-Monday-for-Bill-Buckner Trade," via Howard Cole at LA Weekly.
• Left Field Pavilion shares a colorized photo of Gil Hodges and Duke Snider.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Check Out Monty Sheldon's Painted Artball® of Yasiel Puig

Following up on a tradition made famous by George Sosnack and emulated by our very own Mitch Poole, I share with you the newest Artball® creation by Baseball artist Monty Sheldon.  He is undoubtedly the preeminent sports artist working on Baseballs as a medium today.

He recently unveiled his painted ball of Dodger sensation Yasiel Puig, and it is awesome.  See photos of it above and below.  You can also see more photos of it on his facebook page, here.

I have an interview with Monty Sheldon ready to share with you, so stay tuned.  I'm planning on posting that up tomorrow.  In the meantime, check out his Puig ball, and his facebook page that has hundreds of other photos.  His website can also be accessed here.

This is what he wrote about the Yasiel Puig Artball®:

Here it is, my recently finished Yasiel Puig rookie Artball®!

This is only the second time in 15+ years of painting on baseballs that I have painted a major league player during his rookie season. That first player? Ichiro Suzuki back in 2001. Considering that I have painted 570 Artballs® to date, that makes these "rookie" Artballs® vary rare indeed.

This Puig Artball® is for sale and comes with a special offer. The person who purchases this ball will also receive another Yasiel Puig Artball® that will be finished at the end of this year. That Puig Artball® will include his final season statistics as well as any highlights/awards he may collect by the end of his regular and post season. N.L. Rookie of The Year? NLCS MVP? World Series MVP? The sky's the limit for this kid. I'm certain he will be as much fun to watch as Ichiro has these past 12 years.

This two-for-one offer only pertains to this Yasiel Puig Artball®. If interested, please send me a personal message through this FB page or contact me through my website: montysheldon.com

Thanks for checking it out!

The asking price for this Puig ball and the promised second ball at the end of the season is $2,500.00. Considering the artistry, I don't think that's too bad.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

1956 Brooklyn Dodgers Tour of Japan Baseball Guidebook

I ran into this great vintage Brooklyn Dodgers collectible on eBay and wanted to share it with you.

It is from October 1956 and highlights the Brooklyn Dodgers Tour of Japan that year.  As you can see, it features a great drawing of the Brooklyn Bum by Willard Mullin on the cover.  It sold for an impressive $119.16 this past weekend.

(eBay Auction Link)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *