More Photos From Leland's Auctions

Leland's just seems to have an incredible stockpile of press photos just waiting to be unearthed.

Below is an incredible photographic reenactment of the capture and shooting of John Dillinger.

"Superimposed on the photo image of the notorious Chicago street corner are the hand drawn images of the participants in this real-life crime drama."

Dillinger Wire Photo Link:

Of course, no auction is complete without a healthy dose of Dodger history. Emmett Kelly, hired by O'Malley to entertain the Brooklyn faithful, is shown below performing his "clean up man at bat" routine at Dodgertown in Vero Beach in 1957. Roy Campanella is behind the plate.
Dodger Clown Link:

Here is a great photo of one of the most famous brawls to ever explode on a Baseball field. Juan Marichal, taking exception to being buzzed by a throw from John Roseboro, let's his bat do the talking- and I don't mean he knocked a homer to show up the Dodgers. Instead, he takes his bat and proceeds to pummel Roseboro. Johnny is stunned and seen sprawled on the ground ready to tackle his assailant, Juan is being held back by the umpire with bat in hand and Sandy looks shocked as he heads towards home plate. What a game this must have been.
Marichal/ Roseboro Fight Link:

Since yesterday was Jackie's birthday it wouldn't be right to not highlight some great Jackie photos. Below is Jackie receiving his Silver Slugger award in 1949 from Ford Frick. My favorite part about this picture is the guy with the funny hat. Where'd he get that? And how about that bloke with the glasses and the giant grin. He thinks he's a star.
Jackie and his Silver Slugger Link:

Below is a 1947 photo during Spring Training in Cuba showing Jackie, wearing a Montreal Royals jersey, meeting his future manager Leo Durocher.
Durocher & Jackie Link:

A reflective and dejected Robinson sits in the clubhouse after a 4-2 loss to the Yankees in the 1952 World Series. This was the third time Jackie and the Dodgers failed to win the crown against the hated Yanks. All Jackie could say was, "they didn't miss Joe DiMaggio, it was that Mantle, that Mickey Mantle killed us."
Jackie Robinson having a Coke Link:

Leland's Auction House Link:

Tommy Speaks the Truth!

Oh how I miss those weekend afternoon pep talks with Tommy Lasorda on the television. He would mold my impressionable mind with stories of the great Dodger in the sky and the moral righteousness of Dodger Blue. It is his fault I'm a rabid unapologetic die-hard Dodger fan.

So, I'm happy to report that the great preacher of Chavez Ravine hasn't lost a step. From the LA Times.

Tom Lasorda served as the master of ceremonies at the 82nd annual Assn. of Professional Ball Players of America banquet Saturday night in Long Beach.

Lasorda spotted Gerald Pickens, head of the Compton Baseball Academy Teams youth program, in the audience wearing an Angels jacket.

"I would appreciate it if the guy with the Angels jacket would get out of here," Lasorda said. "The only Angels are ex-Dodgers and they're all in heaven."

That's right! Welcome to a Blue Heaven!

Happy Birthday Jackie!

I wanted to take this time to mention that today is Jackie Robinson's 88th birthday.

Also, other Hall of Fame Birthday's on this day include Ernie Banks and Nolan Ryan.

Other birthdays include the Sex Pistols frontman, Johnny Rotten.

eBay Find: Old Pittsburgh Crawford Photo Album

One Word.

"WOW!"

This is probably the most incredible baseball related find, not owned by a dealer, I've seen on eBay ever. The pictures are absolutely incredible.

This appears to be a late 1920's early 1930's photo album highlighting the early birth of the now famous Negro League team Pittsburgh Crawfords. Unbelievable!

What is great about the item is that it shows the team before it became the professional league team it is now famous for. When the Crawfords were a town-ball team. Before the time when stars like James "Cool Papa" Bell, Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson and Satchel Paige played for them.
As Ryan Cristoff states on the Vintage Baseball Card Forum, (btw, he runs the CubanBaseballCard.com website)

"They really seem to capture the essence of the Negro Leagues. The fans in the background, the buildings, the condition of the fields, the guys in street clothes pitching."

I am awe struck too.

Some noted experts on the Vintage Baseball Card Forum say that no one of significance is portrayed here, but I swear the guy in the middle picture above is a young Josh Gibson. (he's the guy taking a swing with a bat."
Anyway, I had to point this auction out. It is absolutely incredible.

eBay Auction Link: EBay: (linked fixed)

Hat Tip: Vintage Baseball Card Forum:

Lelands-Gaynor Auction

Lelands-Gaynor is back with its January Auction that includes some great press/ wire photos.

My favorite Dodger photograph is of Jackie Robinson punting his glove. No doubt he misses his days as a star football player at UCLA. Harry Houdini, in 1922, makes a harrowing escape from from a straight jacket in Washington DC. Bill Gates is the richest nerd in the world. This prescient photo tells us all about it.

Hanging Out With the Kings

As some of you may now, I'm also a rabid LA Kings fan. So, as a Dave Taylor Die Hard season ticket holder sitting up in the rafters in Section 315, my friends and I had a chance to hang out with the Kings. Well... Actually, it is a free autograph session with free tours of the the Staple Center locker rooms/ Zamboni. Below are some pics from last night.Below are my friends Craig, Bill and myself with King rookies Konstantin Pushkarev (on the left) and phenom 1st liner Anze Kopitar (on the right). Pushkarev got his first NHL professional goal a couple of nights ago. Anze is the future of the Kings. In the locker room. Below we are heading out to center ice. I almost felt like Rocky. I walked out through the locker room backdrop, raised my arms in victory and sat my rear end on the Kings bench. Then we had a chance to walk out onto the ice and pose with the mighty Zamboni.See those black seats on the top left in the picture below- above a rectangular advertising sign for BofA? That's where we sit! I had a bout of vertigo just staring up there.