Frank, Your Fired!!

Will wonders never cease. There is a god! Frank McCourt has been kicked to the curb. Considering the dismal night and depressing morning I was having, I must say that I am feeling a bit chippy right now. From the MLB press release.

“Pursuant to my authority as Commissioner, I informed Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt today that I will appoint a representative to oversee all aspects of the business and the day-to-day operations of the Club. I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the Club, its great fans and all of Major League Baseball. My office will continue its thorough investigation into the operations and finances of the Dodgers and related entities during the period of Mr. McCourt’s ownership. I will announce the name of my representative in the next several days.

“The Dodgers have been one of the most prestigious franchises in all of sports, and we owe it to their legion of loyal fans to ensure that this club is being operated properly now and will be guided appropriately in the future.”

Auto Collection: Sutton Sweet Spot

My love for the Sweet Spot continues. Above is a 2005 Don Sutton Sweet Spot autograph card. This Dodger Hall of Famer spent 16 of his 23 Major League seasons with the Dodgers. He ranks as one of the more durable and proficient Dodger pitchers of all time. Sutton is the franchise all-time leader in wins (with 233), games pitched (550), innings pitched (3,814), strikeouts (2,696) and shutouts (52). He was elected to the Hall in 1998 and immediately had his number (#20) retired by the team that year.

One of the great innovations made by Upper Deck was the inclusion of autographs on pieces of wood. Below is the Sutton Sweet Sticks card from the same year. It is numbered 11 out of 25.

The Most Passionate Fans in SoCal Sports Will Converge on Staples Tonight

I know the Dodger fans who read this blog are wondering, "well, how about us True Blue fans?" And, yes, we Dodger fans are a passionate group, but as many of you know the fanaticism of your run-of-the-mill Kings hockey fan is something entirely different. After all, when you choose to be a Kings fans in an area filled with so many other options you can't help but wear your pride on your sleeve. Add the fact that we are a long suffering bunch only amplifies the passion.

So, tonight we will arrive in downtown LA for the first home game in a first round match up against the San Jose Sharks. Yes, the rivalry between north and south even extends to hockey. It will be a loud and raucous affair filled with black laden fans (fans are being encouraged to wear black- a veritable "Black Out"), a live band (The Briggs will be performing their song "This is LA"), and a local team that has so far controlled most of the action on the ice this series.

For more, check out the always excellent Kings official blog- LA Kings Insider. Also check out Mayor's Manor- who has quickly become one of my favorite Kings blogs.

WooHoo! Playoffs, Baby! It's is here!

For your enjoyment, below are some great Kings videos. Time to get pumped up!

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This is from last year, but it's so damn good.

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Auto Collection: Odalis Perez Sweet Spot

Ya know, I always liked Odalis Perez. He started with a bang for the team in 2002 as he recorded 15 wins with a 3.00 ERA. Even more impressive was a strike out to walk ratio of over 4. That's 4 strike outs for every walk he gave up. Unfortunately, in his following years he struggled with keeping runs off the board, but still maintained a healthy K/BB ratio of nearly 3. Nevertheless, by 2006 he was shipped off to Kansas City for Elmer Dessens, and disappeared from the league just a couple of years later. His one claim to fame is being the first pitcher to give up a home run in Nationals Park to Chipper Jones.

Here is another Sweet Spot Signatures card of Odalis Perez from 2004 from my collection.

Jackie Robinson Foundation Award- "The ROBIE"

SCP Auctions, now famous for its sale of some Kirk Gibson memorabilia, is now running their most recent auction that focuses on items from the estate of former Boston Celtics coach and President, Red Auerbach. As expected, most of the items available are basketball related, but there is one item that struck the fancy of this Dodger fan.

In 1987 Red Auerbach won the Jackie Robinson Foundation Award for

"...outstanding record as a successful business leader, positive role model and pioneer in your efforts to open up professional basketball."

I'll let the auction description describe the award itself.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) is a national, not–for–profit, organization founded in 1973 as a vehicle to perpetuate the memory of Jackie Robinson through the advancement of higher education among underserved populations. The Jackie Robinson Foundation Awards Dinner is held annually at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. For nearly three decades, the iconic event pays tribute to individuals who embody the humanitarian ideals of Jackie Robinson and raises funds for the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

Go to their website here to learn more about this organization.

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Blog Kiosk: 4/19/2011

• Punk Rock Paint continues with his Star Wars Retro Baseball Card set. Below is card #8- C3PO on a 1888 N162 Goodwin Champions design. Check out this label to see his other Star Wars creations.
• Cooperstown Chatter tells of a afternoon Baseball game in 1886 where a dog helped a batter with a home run.

  Wolf lofted a fly ball in Powell’s direction, but before he could collect the ball to return to the infield, he was attacked by a dog that heretofore had been snoozing in the outfield grass.

• Bob Lemke reads through an entire run of The Sporting News magazines from 1953 so you don't have to. Read his post as he recounts the happenings, going-ons and his perception of what the Baseball season was like back then.

  The now-defunct tradition of baseball players picking up a little post-season income by scheduling barnstorming exhibition games in small towns and cities around the country was in its heyday in 1953. Besides Lopat's tour in Japan, exhibition schedules were set by all-star aggregations led by Frank Shea in New England, Jackie Robinson throughout the South and into Mexico, and Roy Campanella out west and in Hawaii.

• Check out the fireworks from Jackie Robinson Night this past Friday at Dodger Stadium. I sure do love the music they played.

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