eBay: Go to Bat for the Dodgers Pin

The nerd in me absolutely loves this pin. When I saw it on eBay I knew I just had to have it.

So, I decided to make an opening bid (the first bid of the auction) at $20.00 figuring that it would likely sell for more than that. How much more? Well, I had no idea.

As you can see from the pic below, it is a circa 1960's Dodgers pin with a Batman theme- "Go To Bat For The Dodgers," and I had never seen it before in the years I've been a serious Dodger memorabilia collector.

Anyway, I studiously tracked the auction until the very last day when it sat at just under $30 bucks with roughly 5 hours to go. Being impatient as I usually am, I placed another bid at just over $30 bucks and found myself in the lead. Four hours later (with just about an hour to go) I came back to check on it and found that I had been outbid. So, I slowly bid in increments.

First, I bid $35.32. No dice. I was not the leading bidder.

Then, I bid $38.32. Just a nibble to test its current auction price. I was still outbid.

Then, $42.32. At this point I was feeling desperate. This auction was quickly approaching my max.

$45.32 was next and I was still outbid. Dammit! I could go no higher.

In my many years of eBay buying I had learned that you should always establish your max price before placing any bid. If you don't, you'll find yourself getting onto an emotional roller coaster bound to make you regret the entire exercise.

So, I was out, and I would have to enjoy the pin from afar with the knowledge that I did the best I could. Nevertheless, I continued to follow the auction just to see where it ended up at.

With about half an hour left it rose quickly to $76.99. From there, it looked like it would settle at that price. Unfortunately for the high bidder at that time a couple of snipers had this auction in their sights, as well.

If you don't already know, there are a couple of services that will place a bid on your behalf at the very last moment of any auction. That way you can anonymously make a bid at your maximum price without anyone knowing that you bid in the first place.

Well, with less than a minute to go the sniper bids came in and raised the final selling price to a surprising (at least to me) sale price of $128.28.

Wow! I knew this was scarce, but I had no idea it would be so sought after. A bigger nerd than me with a wallet to match had won, and I am left to wallow in sadness.

(Auction Link)

Collection: Ron Cey 2001 Archives Autographed Card

This is my 2001 Topps Archives autographed card of "The Penguin," Ron Cey. It borrows the vintage 1972 card design for Cey, but with a little twist. The 1972 Ron Cey card, his rookie card, is a "1972 Rookie Stars" card featuring 3 players on the same card (Ben Oglivie and Bernie Williams are the other two players). For this modern reproduction they zoomed in on just Cey for the front of the card for him to sign. Strangely, they kept the reverse of the card the same as its vintage counterpart. (See the reverse below)

As the story goes, Cey received the nickname "The Penguin" from Tommy Lasorda while in the minors in Spokane. Unfortunately, this is not true. Barry Bolton at Cougfan.com sets the record straight.

AFTER MORE than 40 years, the truth comes out. It was Bobo Brayton, not Tom Lasorda, who slapped “The Penguin” nickname on Ron Cey, the former Washington State and Los Angeles Dodgers star. “He (Lasorda) gets the credit for it, but the honor actually goes to Bobo,” Cey told Cougfan.com

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Day 9

Steve Lyons hanging out with Don Mattingly, via twitter @SteveLyons12.

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

(Loney Signing for fans, via twitter @Dodgers)

• MARCH MADNESS: Chris Capuano, Mike MacDougal, Matt Guerrier, Todd Coffey, Javy Guerra, Scott Elbert, Kenley Jansen, Stephen Fife, Will Savage, John Grabow, Matt Chico and Alberto Castillo threw live BP to Dodger hitters today on the third day of full-squad workouts at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. With the calendar flipping to March, the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener is just four days away with the club taking on the White Sox on Monday at Camelback Ranch. The club’s home opener is the following day, on March 6, with Los Angeles taking on the Giants at 1:05 p.m.
• ON THE DIAL: Tonight, The Spring Training Baseball Show with Kevin Kennedy & David Vassegh debuts on the Dodgers’ new radio partner AM 570 Fox Sports L.A.. The show will air immediately following the UCLA-Washington State basketball game from approximately 10:30-11:30 p.m. PT and tomorrow night from 9:00-10:00 p.m., but the hour-long show will normally air six days a week (excluding Sunday) at 7:00 p.m.
• #THEHAWK: The Dodgers would like to wish right-handed reliever Blake Hawksworth a very happy 29^th birthday today. Hawksworth ranked fourth on the team last season with 49 appearances and 53.0 innings pitched as a reliever, going 2-5 with a 4.08 ERA and limiting opposing hitters to a .225 batting average in his first season with Los Angeles. Be sure to follow Blake and wish him a happy birthday on Twitter, @BlakeHawk425.

(A Sea of Dodgers, via twitter @SteveLyons12)

• GREEN BLUE EGGS WITH HAM: As a part of the 2012 Read Across America celebration, Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis and White Sox pitcher Addison Reed visited the Velma Teague Library in Glendale to read to local school children. Ellis, who also participated in the event last year, is poised to take over as the Dodgers’ starting catcher in 2012 after batting .271 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 31 games with Los Angeles a year ago. Back in Los Angeles, members of the Dodger Alumni Association will visit 10 local schools this weekend to read to kids and speak to them about the importance of literacy.
• SAY CHEESE: The media flurry has started at Dodger Spring Training with ESPN, FOX and PRIME TICKET interviewing players on site today and the club’s annual Photo Day taking place tomorrow morning at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. This year, a bevy of entities will be taking part in Photo Day, including the Associated Press, Getty Images, Dodger radio partner AM 570 Fox Sports Radio L.A., MLB International, MLB Photos, Baseball Magazine Sha, Dodger broadcast partner KCAL 9, Topps and MLB.com.

(Pic from Baseball tryouts at Spring Training, via twitter @Dodgers)

• DREAM A LITTLE DREAM: Earlier today, the Dodgers held their annual open tryout at Camelback Ranch – Glendale with candidates competing for a minor contract. One of the 125 hopefuls was 22-year-old Francisco “Chico” Herrera, who has worked the past four seasons as a batboy in the Dodger clubhouse. Herrera, an infielder, has already made several highlight-reel catches at Dodger Stadium with his exploits as a ballboy being showcased on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Blog Kiosk: 3/1/2012

Beckett shared some preview images of 2012 Topps Heritage. See them here. Above is a Matt Kemp "New Age Performers" insert card.

• Steve Lyons promises to be much more active on his new twitter account: @SteveLyons12.
  
• Brandon Lennox at True Blue LA ranks the top 200 Dodger prospects.
  
• Check out Will Carroll's Dodgers Team Health Report 2012 at Sports Illustrated, here. 3B

  Juan Uribe
  Uribe was terrible last year, but much of it was done fighting through a sports hernia. This wasn't a good signing, but if he's healthy, it might not be so bad. Then again, there's still some downside in him as well, since he's only had one good, healthy season.

• Emma at CrzBlue's Dodger Blue World put together a great tribute to Dodger Stadiums 50th Anniversary.
  
• Ramona Shelburne at ESPN writes about Dodger bat boy Francisco "Chico" Herrera and his invitation to tryout for the Dodgers.

  “Jon Garland and I were playing catch in the outfield,” Herrera said. “He was hurting at the time, but he could still play catch and he’s like, ‘You really do have a good arm. When are you going to try out?’”
  
  Try out?

• Check out this great interview at Panini with Deion Sanders- video included. He reminisces that he often wonders what could've been if he had just stuck with Baseball only. I often think the same thing about him and Bo Jackson.
  
• Ryan at Chaos and Kanji provides a tour of Prince ChiChibu Memorial Stadium and Museum in Japan.
  
• Greg Aronowitz visited the 2012 New York Toy Fair. Check out his report.

Collection: Jason Werth SPX Autograph

This is my 2005 Upper Deck SPx autographed card of Jason Werth.

As many of you will recall, this former Phillies bomber hit 95 home runs in 4 years with Philadelphia, but didn't do jack with the Dodgers. Sure, there was always the promise of power, but it never truly developed. Then, a spate of injuries hammered Jason Werth. First, he broke his left wrist during Spring Training in 2005, but still played over 100 games that season. Then, as discomfort continued to plague him exploratory surgery was performed eight months after the initial break that discovered 2 ligament tears. It was repaired, but wouldn't be the end of his problems. Several more wrist related injuries followed that would eventually cause him to miss the entire 2006 season.

At this point, it was obvious that his Dodger career would be over. Werth became a free agent prior to the start of the 2007 season, and the Phillies came calling for his services. His time there would begin his amazing comeback from injury hell.

It's a great testament to his will and perseverance that he could come back from such career lows to eventually be one of the more sought after free agents after the 2010 season.

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Camelback Ranch Spring Training Fan Fest

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events, and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.

If you will happen to be in AZ for some Spring Training then be sure to head over to Camelback Ranch for their Spring Training Fan Fest on Saturday. It figures on being a fun morning. Go here for more information.
This will be a Dodgers/ White Sox event, and will provide four hours of free Baseball entertainment. It will start at 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM MT (gates open at 8:30 AM) and will feature in-stadium batting practice and autograph sessions for both teams. Player appearances have yet to be announced.

Batting Practice & Autograph Schedule:
White Sox Batting Practice......................... 9:00-10:30 a.m.
White Sox Autograph Session................... 10:30-11:00 a.m.
Dodgers Autograph Session...................... 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Dodgers Batting Practice............................ 11:30-1:00 p.m.

Concourse activities will include the Free Agent Sports Marketing Sports Card and Memorabilia Show, speed pitch, fan photos, kids’ inflatables, a Phoenix Coyotes booth featuring Howler, a Glendale fire truck and a Cactus League book signing with Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry. The Hall of Famer will sign purchased books Saturday for an extra $10 donation. Perry will sign from 9 a.m.-10 a.m.; author Susie Steckner will sign for free from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The book, Cactus League: Spring Training (Arcadia Publishing, $21.99) features more than 200 photos that take readers on a historic journey from exhibition games in the early 1900s up to the modern day 15-team Cactus League.

Promotional items will include bobbleheads (for the first 250 children, 12 and under), Coyotes ticket drawing for their March 3 game at neighboring Jobing.com Arena, Spring Training ticket raffles and other sponsored giveaways.

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UPDATE: I HAVE JUST BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE EBANKS SIGNING HAS BEEN POSTPONED & RESCHEDULED- DETAILS TO FOLLOW

LA Laker forward Devin Ebanks will be signing autographs at MVP Trading Cards Company in Northridge on Saturday. Go here for details. He will be there from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM. The price is $25.00 per autograph w/FREE autograph authentication.

MVP Trading Cards Company

9514 Reseda Blvd. Unit 14
Northridge, CA 91324

(818) 518-0989
Link:

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Also on Saturday, individual game tickets for Dodger Games go on sale, a special gala event is planned at Dodger Stadium for fans to celebrate it.

Single-game tickets for the Dodgers’ 2012 regular season and the Dodger Stadium 50th anniversary celebration will go on sale next Saturday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase a limited number of Opening Day tickets and regular season single game tickets at Dodger Stadium and on dodgers.com

Prices on advanced individual tickets for the 2012 season after Opening Day – Top Deck, Reserve, Loge, Field, Right and Left Field Pavilions – have been reduced as much as $20 per ticket.

Dodger fans are invited to celebrate the start of the 2012 Season in parking Lots B and P and enjoy their first Dodger Dog of the year. The Dodgers’ annual On Sale festivities will include music, trivia and contests and will be hosted by KLAC. Additionally, fans that purchase at least one ticket at Dodger Stadium at the On Sale event will receive a Dodger gift.

Additionally, prices on new 2012 Dodger merchandise have been reduced 20 to 50 percent from 2011 and new Dodger Stadium 50th anniversary items will be available for purchase starting next Saturday. All concessions for the On Sale event will be $3 or less.

Gates will open at 8:00 a.m. and parking is in Lot 12. Fans will receive numbered wristbands and a starting lottery number will be randomly selected at 9:00 a.m. The fan with the selected number will have the first chance to purchase tickets and the remainder of fans will be served in numerical sequence.