More Jackie Robinson Collectibles

These are movie theater lobby cards for The Jackie Robinson Story.

PhotoAlbum: Jackie Robinson Items:

Odd-Ball Jackie Robinson Collectibles

I'm an avid collector of all things Dodgers. Over the past year I've tried to scan and take photos of much of my collection. Unfortunately, I found this to be an incredibly time consuming task. Therefore, I have not been able to get to even a quarter of what I have. Considering that next week is Jackie Robinson day I thought I would take some time this morning and scan some items within my Robinson collection. Over the next week I hope to show as much of it as possible.

Below are two advertising blotters, circa 1950's, put out my Major League Baseball. Below is a 1951 Baseball game made by Arrow Toy & Novelty Co. of Brooklyn, NY. My PhotoAlbum & Collection Link: Jackie Robinson Collection:

What's Wrong with #42

What's with all of the criticism I've been reading online about the Dodgers wearing #42 on April 15? It's just one game.

Last night I heard Vin Scully mention that the entire Dodger team would be wearing the number 42 to commemorate Jackie Robinson and I was elated. What a nice gesture by the team to celebrate the great Mr. Robinson.

He played during a time when second class status was given to a large part of the American public. He carried the pain and bore the brunt of decades of discrimination. He was cursed at. His life was threatened. In spite of all this he became a trailblazer that made it possible for all people to be seen as equals. A persons skin color should be irrelevant in Baseball, as a persons skin color should be irrelevant in life. Jackie Robinson is one of America's greatest heroes.

The act of the team to honor this man in this manner is indicative of that message.

I read many stories online and in the paper about Ken Griffey, Jr. and other players requesting the opportunity to honor this man by wearing his number. All of them were African Americans. It was as if it would have been improper for anyone else to participate.

This would only have cheapened the accomplishment that Jackie had achieved. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." When Jackie stepped on that field that fateful afternoon he saved all of us. Not just African Americans, or minorities in general, but white America as well.

So on that Sunday afternoon I will put on my clothes making sure I wear my Jackie Robinson cap. I will put my various Robinson pins on my chest. I will encourage all of my friends, my African American friends, my Asian friends, my Hispanic friends and my Caucasian friends to honor this man. His sacrifice would not be complete unless we do.

Game MVP: Olmedo Seanz

What's that old saying? The first one is always the toughest.

Generator Link: The Talking Tomato:

Opening Day Carpool Special

Tony Jackson of the Daily News provides the info:

"By the way, the Dodgers have a special offer for fans who carpool to Monday's home opener: a free ticket to a future game for each passenger. But there are several catches: first, you have to arrive at the stadium between 9:30 and 10:15 a.m. (game time is 1:10 p.m.), you have to park in Lot 15 (a farflung lot that is used only for sellouts), and the offer is limited to the first 600 cars. Those fans looking to take advantage of this should enter through the Academy gate. They will also be given early entrance to the park (the leftfield pavilion, not necessarily their assigned seating area) to watch batting practice. Oh, and the lots on Stadium Way by the Los Angeles Fire Dept. training facility will cost just $5. Most importantly, ALL OF THIS IS FOR OPENING DAY ONLY"

If you are going to the game and plan on arriving early be sure to take advantage of this offer. Free tickets, early entrance and batting practice... It doesn't get better than that. Anyone got a couple of extras?

Tony Jackson Link:

Update: More info is available at Inside the Dodgers blog. The free tickets deal is for lot 15 only.

Neglecting the Kids?

In today's post Rob McMillin of 6-4-2 touches upon something that I was thinking about while driving to work this morning. Will Coletti do what he did in San Francisco? Will he opt to go with high priced aging veterans over developing kids with strong promise?

Like Rob, I'm still not sure that Coletti has created a situation in which he has overseen a "near-historic squandering of young talent." After all, don't we still have alot of young talent left?

When I think about the team today I want to see Kemp, Loney, Russell, Ethier, Billingsley and Broxton out there. In the very near future I envision Abreu, LaRoche, Elbert and Meleon on the field. Further out the names Mattingly, Kershaw, DeWitt and Hu keep me hoping.

Unfortunately, realty is far from what I imagined. James Loney deserves to be a starter on the team, but he is in AAA. He has nothing else to prove in the minor leagues. Matt Kemp is on the bench potentially wasting his power. Billingsley is sitting in the bullpen when he should be starting. The shinning exceptions are Russell, Ethier and Broxton. I guess three out of six, batting .500, ain't too bad.

So far, Coletti is far from realizing my worse fears, but I will be watching.