Woo Hoo! Dodgers Win!

After what feels like an eternity, the Dodgers final win a game.  I feel like celebrating!


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Star Wars Night on Monday

This coming Monday is the 4th Annual Star Wars Night at Dodger Stadium.  Unfortunately, the event that includes the above t-shirt give-away is sold out.  On the other hand, there is another Star Wars related activity the following weekend that should satisfy your inner geek.  Check out the video below as Chris Hardwick of the Nerdist talks about the Dodger Stadium event and the Course of the Force.

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Course of the Force is an Olympic torch style relay run with lightsabers, where participants will make a journey from Santa Monica to San Diego while benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  It will take place from July 7 to 11.  Go to this link for more information.

Dodgers Photo Day

Yesterday afternoon was Dodgers Photo Day on the field at Dodger Stadium. Here are some pics I found as I searched through twitter.  BTW, Dodgers photographer Jon SooHoo has a bunch of photos up on his blog as well.  Go here to check those out.  Also, a Redditor named RynoXD was there and posted a bunch of pics in imgur.  See those pics here.

Here's the field in preparation for yesterdays photo day.

(pic via twitter @MLBONFOX)

Check out that crowd.

(Pic via twitter @lauren_sapa)

 

(Pic via instagram @justine_diane222)

Mattingly really gets into it.

(Pic via twitter @Dodgers)

Hairston does some chatting and appears to get a big smile from some fans. 

(pic via twitter @MLBONFOX)

Matt Kemp!!! 

(pic via twitter @djkeb)

Take a Look at Sandy's Bobble

Not too shabby looking if you ask me.  This is an early peek at the Sandy Koufax bobblehead that will be given out on August 7th.  Of special note, today happens to be a major Koufax milestone, per a Dodgers press release:

On this very day in 1962, Dodger Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax threw the first of his four no-hitters and the very first no-no by a Dodger in Dodger Stadium history. Koufax blanked the New York Mets on a Saturday evening, 5-0. He went on to throw three more no-hitters, including a perfect game on September 9, 1965. Koufax will be featured on the ninth bobblehead night of the season on August 7 when the Dodgers take on the Rockies at 7:10 p.m. This marks the Hall of Famer’s first-ever Dodger Stadium bobblehead and it will be given out to fans with the first 50,000 tickets.

Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 6/30/2012

With the National Sports Collectors Convention fast approaching Upper Deck unveiled some giveaways available through their pack-break program.  Check out the Mattingly autographed card with him in a Kings uniform that will be seeded in packs.  Check out more information here.

• Our old friend Ken Levine (former Dodger Talk host) writes that "Vin Scully is a National Treasure."
• It's looking like the Dodgers are close to sign their No. 1 draft pick, Corey Seager, via Salisbury Post.  (Hat Tip: True Blue LA)

"We knew negotiations had really stepped up between Jeff (Corey's father) and the Dodgers and we sort of knew the Mooresville game Wednesday night would be Corey's last one," Kannapolis coach Joe Hubbard said. "He still helped us win one last game, and now we just wish him the best. All summer, it's been kind of day to day, not knowing when we might lose him, and now we know. He flew out to L.A. early this morning to take his physicals. Maybe he hasn't officially signed yet, but you know now that it's going to get done.

 Dylan Hernandez notes that the agreement has been finalized.

Seager will receive a bonus of $2.35 million, according to people familiar with the deal who spoke under the condition of anonymity because it wasn't expected to be announced until today. Seager was selected with the 18th overall pick, which was designated a slot value of $1.95 million by the commissioner's office.

• I just received notice that Amir ‘King’ Khan's autograph session on Sunday during Viva Los Dodgers will be from 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. 
• Stab Kasten tells Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times that the Dodgers do not plan on being idle.

“I promise you we’ll explore everything,” Kasten said. “Look, as candid as we can be, we’re the Dodgers. We’re supposed to be big. We intend to be big. Will we look at big things? You bet.”

• Brilliant.  Let's Go Dodgers post up a funny graphic.

• Mark Ellis is close to coming back, via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA.

Ellis, who had fasioctomy surgery on May 19 to relieve pressure in his left leg one day after a collision at second base, played a simulated game on Friday, and will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Saturday.

• Rawlings and the Negro League Baseball Museum teamed up to name the Negro Leagues All-Time Gold Glove team.  Check it out here, via Bugs and Cranks.
• The Kings bring The Cup to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Gann Matsuda of Frozen Royalty has a nice writeup and photo essay of the festivities.
• Crime doesn't pay.  A SoCal man pleads guilty to 1 count of wire fraud related to a sale of a fake Babe Ruth game-used glove.

Scheib purchased a 19th century baseball glove on eBay for $750 in January which was described as an “1890’s Full Web Workman Baseball Mitt.” At the time he bought the glove, prosecutors say Scheib knew that the glove had no connection to Ruth.

Eric Karros Honored Last Night

With the Dodgers on a protracted downward slide,  I sometimes find it best to take my attention away for a moment.  For instance, why fret about the current 5 game losing streak?  It could only give you an ulcer, and besides there is nothing you can do about it right now anyway.  The way I see it, the Dodgers are going through a serious injury bug and are fortunate to be in the situation they are in. 

Heck, I can hear the worried screams of the Dodger faithful.  All I can tell ya is to calm down and take a deep breath.  So what if we lost our season-long grip on first place?  There is more than enough time to right the ship once our sails are at full mast.

That said, I figured it would be nice to take a brief look back at yesterday's festivities.  After all, it was Eric Karros bobblehead night.
 

(@Dodgers/ Instagram)

Karros had his two sons with him, and made sure to say hello to Maury Will.  Better yet, Jon SooHoo put up some great historical photo of Eric Karros during his Dodgers career.  See them all here.  Below is probably my favorite one.

(Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers)

If the photos don't quite do it for ya, how about an exclusive interview with Eric by the Daily Bruin.  Tyler Drohan speaks with Karros about UCLA Baseball.

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