Blog Kiosk: 2/20/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

BFF's.

Photos above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1936 the Dodgers and Yankees complete their very first trade with each other. Brooklyn sent Buzz Boyle, Johnny McCarthy and $40,000 to the New York for Buddy Hassett. In 1984 Pedro Guerrero signed a five-year $7MM contract to stay a Dodger. In 2017 the Dodgers signed free agent outfielder Franklin Gutierrez to a one-year $2.6MM contract. He would only get into 35 games (primarily as a pinch hitter) before shutting down in June due to an recurrence of ankylosing spondylitis.
• Happy Birthday, Charlie Babb & Jack Bolling!

Dodger Correspondence: 1934 Wilbert Robinson Handwritten Letter to Casey Stengel

Check out this fantastic hand-written letter by retired Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers manager Wilbert "Uncle Robbie" Robinson to old friend Casey Stengel that is currently on auction at Heritage (link here). Dated March 6, 1934, the letter expresses great fondness and admiration for Stengel -- adding that he's happy to know that he will be managing his old club.

As you may know, Uncle Robbie headed the Brooklyn ballclub from 1914 to 1931, and coached Casey when he was just a lad with the team from Flatbush. Below is an what's written (unfortunately, Robinson's handwriting is a little difficult to decipher, so it might not be entirely accurate). It says:

Dear Friend Casey: 

I am sure pleased you have the position as Manager of The Brooklyn Club. I know you will do well in fact better than any one I know of with the material you have. Mrs. Robinson joins me in wishing you success and good luck. 

I am glad you kept Otto. He is one hundred percent man at all times. I owe him a letter and will write him soon. 

I expect to drive down to some of the training camps the last of this month and if I do I will stop and see you in Orlando.  

Give them hell old boy and make a good showing.

Yours As Ever, 

Wilbert Robinson 

I believe Otto is in reference to Otto Miller -- who caught for Robinson for much of his time in Brooklyn and would later on become a coach.

BTW, Uncle Robbie would not survive the year. In August of 1934 he would fall and hit his head, while also breaking his arm in a hotel accident. He would soon utter these words,

"Don't worry about it, fellas. I'm an old Oriole. I'm too tough to die."

A few days later he would die of a brain hemorrhage -- just months after a Baltimore Orioles teammate and fellow legendary manager John McGraw passed away.

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Blog Kiosk: 2/19/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Kershaw is excited for the season, regardless of the controversy currently embroiling the game. Via Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“I think any time you add players of Mookie’s caliber, of David’s caliber, there’s a little bit added excitement for sure,” Kershaw said. “We’re fired up. We know we have a good team. Now we’ve just got to go play.”
...
“I love baseball,” Kershaw said. “I’m excited about it, and I’m just thinking about the 12-year-old kid at home that… here’s all this stuff. It’s hard to decipher. It’s just a lot of negative and negative and negative, and rightfully so. It’s a lot of stuff that’s going on that shouldn’t have happened, but at the same time, the season’s going to happen. We’re excited about it. This team is excited. There’s going to be a lot of great baseball, and I’m fired up for that.”

Photos above and on the right via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1954 the Dodgers signed 19-year old Roberto Clemente to a one-year contract worth $5,000 with a $10,000 signing bonus. He was highly scouted by both the Yankees and Giants, but they all got outbid by the Dodgers. Unfortunately, they would lose Clemente's rights during the upcoming 1954 Rule V Draft to Pittsburgh... And guess who was the Pirates GM at the time -- Branch Rickey. In 1983 22-year old Dodger hurler Fernando Valenzuela becomes the first ballplayer awarded an $1,000,000 salary during arbitration. The Dodgers had countered with a salary of $750,000.
• Happy Birthday, Oscar Roettger, Dick Siebert, Gail Hopkins, Dave Stewart, Josh Reddick & Fabio Castillo! 

2019 Leaf Ultimate Baseball -- All the Dodgers Cards

Leaf has recently issued a new Baseball set, but for whatever reason they continue to pretend it's a brand from 2019. Featured here are their 2019 Leaf Ultimate Baseball cards and it includes several Dodger prospects found within packs. They include Gavin Lux, Jimmy Lewis, Kody Hoese and Michael Busch. Go here for a complete checklist. Check out all the Dodger players below.

Rookie Signatures

#RS-GL1 Gavin Lux        #RS-JL1 Jimmy Lewis

Blog Kiosk: 2/18/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Betts is looking like a happy camper. Photos above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are some notes from a Dodger press release regarding the Dodgers Spring.

• Right-handed pitcher, Brusdar Graterol, threw his first bullpen session (on Monday), making his Dodger Spring Training debut. The Venezuelan born pitcher was a combined 19-6 with a 2.48 ERA (59 ER/214.0 IP) in 51 minor league games in the Twins’ organization last season. After making his Major League debut on Sept. 1, 2019, the 21-year old made 10 relief appearances for Minnesota to record a 1-1 record with a 4.66 ERA (5 ER/9.2 IP) with 10 strikeouts against two walks.
• The Dodgers would like to welcome non-roster invitee Terrance Gore to camp. The outfielder spent last season between Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Kansas City. With Kansas City, he appeared in 37 games for a .275/.362/.353 slash line with two doubles and a triple. 
• The first live batting practices of camp were thrown Monday by Walker Buehler and Tony Gonsolin.

Photo on the right via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1960 Walter O'Malley and the Dodgers completed their purchase of Chavez Ravine by paying $494,000 for the property that was valued at $92,000. In 1986 the Dodgers signed 18-year old free agent Dominican infielder José Vizcaíno. He would go on to have an 18 year career in the Majors -- playing five seasons for the Dodgers. In 2017 the Dodgers re-signed Chase "Dad" Utley to a one-year $2 million contract. 
• Happy Birthday, Sherry Smith, Manny Mota, Bob Miller, Kevin Tapani, Jamey Carroll & Chad Moeller!

Blog Kiosk: 2/14/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Welcome back, boys! I'm more excited for this season then I've ever been.

Photos above via @Dodgers on twitter (here & here). Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: This isn't exactly Dodgers news, but it is relevant and important. In 1957 the Georgia State Senate approved a bill, introduced by state senator Leon Butts, that prohibits blacks from playing baseball with whites except at religious gatherings -- ten years after MLB had integrated. 

"Anything that tends to break down the bulwarks of segregation must be forcibly met by this general assembly. We have a situation in Georgia which has come about because of a national situation. I am referring to the Negroes in organized baseball in this state. It is unfortunate that some few people would participate in the destruction of our institutions for a few dollars."

• Happy Birthday, Mike Hechinger, Candy LaChance, Tim Jordan, Abe Kruger, Len Gabrielson & Takashi Saito!