Blog Kiosk: 2/28/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Immediately following yesterdays spring game Dave Roberts, broadcaster Joe Davis and photographer Jon Soohoo flew back to Los Angeles to attend the LA Sports Awards at the Beverly Hilton. Roberts won the 2016 coach of the year award and Davis conducted a live interview with him on stage.

BTW, Julio Urias is scheduled to make his first spring start against the Rockies today.  They'll be playing in Scottsdale and Urias will pitch two innings as he prepares for the upcoming season.  In other news, Hyun-Jin Ryu is considering a position change, as evidenced by this Ruthian swing captured by Jon SooHoo (pic on the right).

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterday; including pics from Mondays game.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1966 the great Koufax/Drysdale contract holdout commences.  In 2002 the Dodgers signed free agent Japanese starting pitcher Kaz Ishii after posting a $11.26 million bid to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows for the right to negotiate with him. He would eventually sign a four-year $12.3 million contract with the Dodgers.
• Happy Birthday, Al Humphrey, Orlando Alvarez & Trent Oeltjen!
  

2017 Topps Now - Road to Opening Day Team Set - Kenta Maeda

Last week I briefly mentioned the first Topps Now cards of the 2017 season.  It is part of a set called "Road to Opening Day" and each team in the league has their own 15-card set available.  Furthermore, there are two different sets -- a normal 15-card offering and the same 15-card set plus a mystery autograph card (either Maeda, Toles or Seager).  Go here or here to check them out and order.  They will be available for sale throughout spring training.

So far only one card in the set has been revealed.  It is of Kenta Maeda, and you can see it at the very top.

BTW, the set could expand beyond the initial 15-card set.  Bonus cards will added depending upon the success of the team in 2017.  Below is a list of milestones that will expand this set:

• Dodgers place first in division at MLB All-Star Break
• Dodgers pitcher tosses no-hitter or perfect game at any point in regular or postseason
• Dodgers hitter hits for cycle at any point in regular or postseason

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A Collection of Claude Osteen Items at Lelands Auctions

As previously promised, here is a quick peek at some of the items from the Claude Osteen collection currently available at Lelands Auctions.

Claude Osteen was a workhorse of an starting pitcher for the Dodgers from 1965 to 1973.  In that span he recorded 147 wins against 126 losses, a 3.09 ERA, 100 complete games, 34 shutouts, a 3.15 FIP and a WHIP of 1.217.  In other words, he provided some needed innings and ace workmanship after the Dodgers struggled to compete following the retirement of Sandy Koufax in 1966.

Blog Kiosk: 2/27/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Friday was photo day for the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch - when media groups around the country come into town to capture the "Boys in Blue" on film (or bytes, if you will).  Above is Adrian Gonzalez with his emoji, taken by Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017.  Go here to check out more pics he took on photo day; including practice on the field.

You can also check out pics by Jon SooHoo from Saturday (link here) and Sunday (link here), as well.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1932 the Brooklyn Dodgers signed future Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt to a free agent contract.
• Happy Birthday, Roy Hutson, Rube Melton, Carl Warwick, Henry Cruz, Willie Banks & Carlos Triunfel!

Ron Cey, Fleetwood Mac and a Lamp

You never know what you're going to find on eBay.  In fact, if you search long enough you'll no doubt see something weird.

The lamp in this post is a good example.  Featured is a circa 1982 working lamp made especially for the band Fleetwood Mac.  It features a penguin dressed up in Dodger Blue, and it has been signed on the lampshade by the Penguin himself, Ron Cey. (eBay Auction Link) 

Dodgers Memorabilia at Lelands Current Auction

Lelands current auction, dubbed the "Steel Curtain" auction due to large number of Pittsburgh Steelers jersey's available, includes several fantastic Dodger items.  I'll highlight a couple of them here and focus on a group of other stuff from the collection of former Dodger pitcher Claude Osteen later on.