Check out this Vintage Brooklyn Dodgers License Plate

Here's something new to me.

Featured is a vintage license plate topper that advertises Brooklyn as a future vacation spot. It includes a fantastic graphic of a loudmouthed umpire, the Brooklyn bridge, a batter and a palm tree (I think) with "Coney Island" written across it. "Dodgers" is also written in cursive, in the middle of the drawing.

BTW, it might be that the tree seen in the graphic is in reference to book -- 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.'  For those who don't know, this was a 1943 book by Betty Smith that uses a tree as a metaphor for the ability to thrive in an difficult environment.

There's a tree that grows in Brooklyn. Some people call it the Tree of Heaven. No matter where its seed falls, it makes a tree which struggles to reach the sky. It grows in boarded up lots and out of neglected rubbish heaps. It grows up out of cellar gratings. It is the only tree that grows out of cement. It grows lushly...survives without sun, water, and seemingly earth. It would be considered beautiful except that there are too many of it.
— A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Introduction

Unfortunately, the license plate is undated, but is clearly pre-1958 (the year the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles). It also measures 10" x 4 3/4".

This piece recently sold on eBay (auction link) for a hefty sum -- $177.50 -- so the marketplace recognized its scarcity right away.

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Blog Kiosk: 5/12/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a look at a mundane activity that happens in every clubhouse -- the manicuring of a Baseball uniform. Featured is Dodger coach Leo Durocher, circa 1961, having the sleeves on his shirt trimmed by a clubhouse attendant (eBay auction link)

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 Dodgers hurler Carl Erskine throws his second career no-hitter -- becoming the eighth Dodger to do so in their history. He blanked the New York Giants, 3-0 (boxscore), at Ebbets Field. In 1979 Saturday Night Live Weekend Update anchorman Bill Murray announced that lovable All-Star second baseman Chico Escuela (played by Garrett Morris) would quit baseball after Steve Garvey crushed a ball that hit Escuela in the crotch -- rendered him irreversibly infertile. In 2004 Alex Cora had his famous 18 pitch at-bat (including 14 consecutive fouls balls) at Dodger Stadium against Matt Clement of the Cubs that culminated in an unbelievable two-run home run.  You can watch this at-bat here. In 2015 Giancarlo Stanton owned Dodgers pitcher Mike Bolsinger when he become only the fourth player to hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium. Watch it here. Stanton's homer would prove to be the only run the Marlins would score (boxscore).
• Happy Birthday, Lave Cross, Dutch Henry, Rafael Bournigal & Adam Liberatore!

Blog Kiosk: 5/11/2020 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Great photo - Bad result. Pete Reiser was out at home. (eBay auction link) Below is what's written on the reverse:

Dusty Dodger Out At Home 

Boston, Mass... Pete Reiser, Dodgers' left fielder made at game try but is declared "out" at the plate in the third inning of the opening game at Braves Field here today. The putout was made on Connie Ryan's throw to Phil Masi. Pee Wee Reese had previously scored on Saunders' fumble. The Boston Braves were trailing the Brooklyn visitors at this stage of the game 2 to 0. (Dated 7.7.1946) (Photo via Myer Ostroff).

Unfortunately, the Dodgers would lose this game, 3-2 (boxscore). Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1963 Sandy Koufax no-hit the Giants at Dodger Stadium, 8-0 (boxscore). In fact, he had a perfect game going into the eighth, before walking the second batter of the inning. Overall, he recorded four strikeouts, two walks and faced only 28 batters - only one more than the minimum. This was also his second career no-hitter.
• Happy Birthday, Gene Hermanski, Bill Bean, Trent Hubbard & Red Patterson!

2020 Topps 'Turn Back the Clock' -- Campy's 40 RBI in 30 Games

1953 could not have started any better for Roy. After enduring a year filled with injuries, Campanella began the new season with a single to left field off of Pittsburgh hurler Murry Dickson and just never stopped hitting.

During that Opening Day game he went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. Over his first ten games he slashed .368/.442/.684/1.126 with three homers and 17 RBI. At twenty games Campanella exploded -- going .372/.437/.769/1.206 with nine home runs and 33 RBI. In thirty games he established a new Major League record by recording his 40th RBI in thirty games -- a mark that would not be eclipsed until Tino Martinez did it with the Yankees in 1997. BTW, he slashed .333/.420/.711/1.130 with twelve home runs and 44 RBI during those thirty games -- no doubt, Herculean type of numbers.

Blog Kiosk: 5/8/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a fun Herb Scharfman International News press photo from the first day of spring training at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, 1954, and as you can see it features a rather nimble Duke Snider. Don Newcombe, who was on the mound, was aiming for Snider's rear-end, and the Duke had to do a jitterbug to get out of the way. Per the descriptor attached to reverse (eBay auction link):

Pitch went Wild
Vero Beach, Florida -- Brooklyn outfielder Duke Snider isn't going into his dance as might be supposed from his gyrations in this picture. A pitch by Don Newcombe tagged Duke on his trouser seat in Opening Day workouts at Vero Beach yesterday. A sartorial note was added to the scene by Snider who appeared in a polo shirt of violent scarlet, trousers of a golden hue, two-tone shoes and a straw hat modeled like a long-ago box baseball cap. The Dodgers spring training underway under the guidance of their new manager, Walter Alston.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1941 the Giants and Dodgers play an Army-Navy Relief exhibition game that raises over $60,000 for the Navy Relief Fund in front of 24,000 fans. Brooklyn edged out their rivals, 7-6, on a Dolph Camilli home run in the seventh inning. BTW, everyone, including the umpires, coaches and players, paid admission to enter Ebbets Field. In 1973 Willie Stargell hit an Andy Messersmith pitch out of Dodger Stadium. This was the second time he had accomplished the feat at the stadium and only the second time it had ever happened in its history. In other words, Willie Stargell owned Dodger Stadium. In 1981 Fernando Valenzuela pitched his seventh straight victory to open the season -- shutting out the Mets by a score of 1-0 at Shea Stadium.
• Happy Birthday, Dan Brouthers & Adrian Gonzalez!

2020 Topps Definitive Collection - All the Dodger Cards

A couple of weeks back Topps released their super-premium brand, 2020 Topps Definitive Collection. For the price of about $1500 (holy smokes) you can get a single pack of eight cards -- six of which are autographed. Go here for a complete checklist.

As always, this set features clean and crisp background designs -- always in white with numerous colored parallels available. Also, all autographs are on-card (with exception of the cut signatures).

Below is a look at most of the Dodger cards available. I make special note of a Joc Pederson relic card with a game-used jersey piece attached.

Definitive Rookie Autographs

#DRA-DM Dustin May         #DRA-DMA Dustin May