Scorecard: Uncle Sam's Choice

On this Independence Day I share a vintage scorecard from my collection.  I am unsure as to its exact age, but I believe it is from the 40's or 50's.  This scorecard features Uncle Sam and Baseball.  There couldn't possibly be a more American combination.

We Sure are an Ugly Bunch

The Onion has some fun at our expense.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were forced to stop play Sunday against the Chicago White Sox to allow the grounds crew to come out and pull a tarp over the unsightly Dodger Stadium crowd. "You hate to stop the game, but it was getting next to impossible for the guys to play in conditions like that," manager Don Mattingly said.

Check out the rest here.

Star Wars Night Pics from the Twittersphere

As you know, last night was Star Wars Night at Dodger Stadium and I was unable to attend.  Fortunately, the wonders of twitter was there to capture the event.  Below are numerous pics of the evening as found on twitter.  Before you check that out, though see these graphics put together by the Dodgers featuring several Dodgers as Star Wars characters.  The most outrageous of which was the Chad Billingley/ Chewbacca pic.  See it below.  It is really scary.  Go here to see all 10 made by the Dodgers.  Furthermore. Chris Hardwick of the Nerdist was there to throw out the first pitch and shares some photos from the day on their website.  Go here to see them.

(Pic Link: Dodgers Facebook)

These Stormtroopers take aim at a menace in the sky.

(Pic Link: twitter @dalillamma)

Here is an awesome group photo of some of the participants.

(Pic Link: twitter @Dodgers)

(Pic Link: twitter @kt_wells)

Fear the Empire!

(Pic Link: instagram @arashmarkazi)

 
 Matt Kemp is digging these uniforms.

(Pic Link: instagram @Dodgers)

Yoda knows!  Dodgers all the way!

(Pic Link: twitter @Dodgers)

Chewbacca looks like he's melting.

(Pic Link: twitter @antimodel)

Here's a close-up view of the Star Wars t-shirts.

(Pic Link: lockerz @Matthew Hernandez)

Blog Kiosk: 7/3/2012

Maybe the Dodgers can put up this cardboard version of Magic Johnson around Dodger Stadium since some folks seem to believe his presence is key.  (Pic via instagram @mcnocando)

• Frankly, I think all of the recent flack hurled at Magic Johnson for being absent from Dodger Stadium to be a bunch of phooey.  On top of that, I don't want Magic to be hands-on with the Dodgers.  In other words, he's not a Baseball man and has very little to add when it comes to putting together the team.  That job belongs to Stan Kasten. 
• Jon Weisman writes a piece for LA Magazine that deserves your attention. "Dodger Thoughts: 20 Years Ago, the Epitome of Joy".

In other words, you think things are bad with this year’s Dodgers right now – well, they had nothing on the Dodgers of ’92.

• Arash Markazi at ESPN writes, "Loney Feels in Control, Mattingly: We'll See."

After going hitless in his previous 28 at-bats, Loney had an understandable smile on his face Sunday night after recording a hit and two RBI in the Dodgers’ 8-3 win over the New York Mets. He felt good enough to tell a skeptical Mattingly he had turned the corner.

“He came into my office and he felt like he’s got it, so we’ll see,” Mattingly said. “He feels good, so we’ll see. He’s confident.” 

• I just realized that former Dodger farmhand Justin Ruggiano is breaking out in Miami.  He was drafted by the Dodgers in 2004, and subsequently sent packing a couple of years later as part of the "player to be named later" in the Toby Hall trade.  Ruggiano is batting .397 in 26 games, and has a 1.212 OPS right now.  As Bugs & Cranks notes:

However, as baseball fans, we should enjoy those small sample size rides when we can. Right now, Marlins fans are enjoying the hell out of Justin Ruggiano’s mind-bending performance.

• Eye on LA Sports shares his photos from Photo Day at Dodger Stadium.
• LA Brew Crew had a busy weekend.  Check out all of his photos from Karros Bobblehead Night and Hello Kitty Sunday.
• Chad Moriyama has a .gif of last nights beaning of Cozart by Billingsley.  OUCH!
• Matt Kemp will be playing in Rancho Cucamonga today, via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times.
• This is just to make you laugh.  

When a college professor is enlisted to investigate a series of unusual snake attacks, he gets more than he bargained for - an assistant with a chip on her shoulder, a massive military cover-up, and of course, a whole lot of snakes. Sound good? Well, it's not, but the gang from Cinematic Titanic is back to help you laugh your way through it.

Video Link:

Collection: 1988 Dodgers Police Set

This team needs no introduction.  Featured here is a LAPD Police team set of the 1988 Dodgers- the team of destiny. 

Over the past several months I have periodically shared many of the Dodgers Police sets from the 80's, and plan on eventually posting up every card from the series going well into the 90's.  To see past sets going back to 1980 go here.

Here is what the reverse of the 1988 set looks like.  There is a small black & white portrait with basic player biographical data.  Also, each card has a different tip from your friendly neighborhood LAPD Crime Prevention Advisory Council. 

Here are pics of the rest of the set.  Click any photo to embiggen.

Some Random Dodgers Tidbits

There was a lot going on today in Dodgerland.  So, I thought I put up this quick post featuring a couple of Dodgers press releases and a pic that is too funny not to put up.

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The Dodgers get busy as the International Free Agency window opened today.  Via the Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the International signings of pitchers Lenix Osuna, Victor Gonzalez and William Soto and catcher Julian Leon. Dodger Assistant General Manager, Scouting Logan White made the announcement.

"We are pleased to announce we have been extremely active in the July 2nd signing period and have signed multiple players with more on the horizon,” said White.  “We are able to get three fine young arms with bright futures.”

In addition to the three pitching prospects, the Dodgers signed 16-year-old catcher Julian Leon out of Mexico. Said White: “Leon was highly regarded as one of the best catching prospects on the International market and he should follow a long list of quality catchers to come from Mexico.”

Lenix Osuna is the son of former Dodger Antonio Osuna.  I think it's a great sign that the Dodgers have started signing young players from abroad again.  Dylan Hernandez notes on twitter that the Dodgers spent about $1Mil signing these kids.

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With Dee Gordon experiencing leg cramps the Dodgers call up a SS to take his place.  Luis Cruz is starting tonight's game.  Via their press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today selected the contract of infielder Luis Cruz from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned right-hander Shawn Tolleson to Albuquerque. In a corresponding move, the club also transferred left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly (left shoulder inflammation) to the 60-day disabled list. Tolleson, 24, posted a 7.71 ERA in six big league relief appearances.

Cruz, 28, was selected to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team this season and is hitting .318 with eight home runs and 46 RBI in 74 games with the Isotopes. The native of Mexico was hitting .390 (30-for-77) with runners in scoring position and batting .433 (39-for-90) against left-handers with Albuquerque. Cruz, who batted .308 with a home run and eight RBI in 24 Spring Training games with the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee, has played in parts of three Major League seasons with Pittsburgh (2008-09) and Milwaukee (2010), compiling a .221 batting average in 56 games.

I suspect that Luis Cruz's call up will be short. 

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Oh, yeah!  Here's a funny pic, via Dylan Hernandez on twitter.