Blog Kiosk: 8/15/2011

Here is a great pic from astronaut Ron Garan of a shooting star as seen from space. (Twitter: @Astro_Ron)

• Ralph Branca recently discovered his Jewish roots, via Vin Scully is my Homeboy.
  
• Listen to the Sports Rabbi speak with Vin Scully, here.
  
• Check out For Baseball Junkies post about his family's connection to the Brooklyn Dodgers, as team physician and dentist. Then check out this great poem his Great Uncle wrote, the Dentist Laureate, about the Dodgers and published in the Brooklyn Eagle, here.
• Matt Kemp signing at Spring PCS August 26th. See the flyer sent to me below. Only the 1st 200 fan guaranteed to get an auto. Check out more Baseball/ Dodger related events in my Calendar tab.
• LFP has made some new fantasy cards of our newest rookies using the 2011 Topps design- Justin Sellers, Nate Eovaldi and Javy Guerra.
  
• Heartbreaking Cards of Staggering Genius unveils a great vintage Snider card, complete with markings from a young fan.
  
• Bob Lemke retells the story of how much of the valuable internal Yankee documents would wound up in the hands of collectors.
  
• Lawsuits everywhere. Topps is now suing Leaf, via SCD.
  

Legendary Auctions: A Couple of Dodger Goodies

Legendary Auctions is currently running their August auction and it includes a couple of Dodger related items of note.

Below is a great vintage, circa 1950's, photograph of Duke Snider.

(Auction Link)

Here is a great advertising piece for Coca Cola featuring Dodger catcher and spokesman Roy Campanella. This piece dates to 1952 and would typically be seen on the counter top of your local soda shop. This style, with Campy, was distributed only in the New York area and is fairly scarce. Be forewarned, I've seen fakes before (especially on eBay) so be careful if you ever consider buying one.

(Auction Link)

Blog Kiosk: 8/12/2011

Clayton Kershaw talking about bowling for the Dodgers Dream Foundation, via Twitter Lockerz Pic.

• Tommy Lasorda's blog is always a must read. Here he reminisces about Mike Scioscia.
  

  Mike Scioscia had a habit of gaining weight. He liked to eat. One winter he was playing the in Dominican and Al Campanis told Ralph Avila to get a stationary bicycle with an odometer, and to check it every Monday and see how many miles he was riding.

  Mickey Hatcher told me he was walking by Scioscia’s apartment and he heard the wheels of the bike pumping.

  “Man, Mike is really pedaling hard,” said Mickey.

  He opened the door, and when he walked in he saw Scioscia lying on the couch with a pizza on his chest, and a Dominican kid was pedaling the bike!

• Congrats, Greg, on snagging that vintage 1956 Topps Campanella card.
  
• Tom Hoffarth tells us about the link between Duke Snider and Elvis Presley.
  
• Former Dodger slugger, Mike Marshall, gets into a tussle as the manager for the Chico Outlaws- he slugs it out with former Major Leaguer Tony Phillips, via Steve Dilbeck.
  
• I'll take any little victory that comes. Dodgers sign their #1 draft pick, Chris Reed, via the LA Times.
  
• At least our pitchers can hit, via FoxSportsWest.

  But in the National League, several pitchers are known for being dangerous hitters, and Kershaw and Billingsley are among them.
  
  "You take it very seriously, because there are a couple games throughout the course of the season where you can win a game as far as getting a bunt down or the big hit," Billingsley said. "It's happened quite a few times."

• Check out the new Ron Santo statue unveiled by the Cubs, via 30 Year Old Cardboard.
  
• Upper Deck suing Upper Deck? Via The Cardboard Connection.
  
• SCG Media talks to Dodger prospect Tony Delmonico.

Video Link:

Javy Guerra Appearance at Viva Los Dodgers

It has just been announced that rookie relief pitcher Javy Guerra will be signing for fans this coming Sunday at Viva Los Dodgers, along with former Dodger Lee Lacy. Of special note, he specifically asked to be part of the event. Here are the particulars:

Dodger relief pitcher Javy Guerra will meet and sign autographs for fans starting at 11:30 a.m. The 25-year-old rookie has been a key contributor to the Dodger bullpen this season, going 2-0 with a 1.63 ERA and successfully converting all 10 of his save opportunities. As of late, he has fired 10.1 consecutive scoreless innings over his last 11 appearances since July 8. Guerra is the son of Mexican immigrants and a Texas native. He requested to appear at “Viva Los Dodgers Day” to meet fans and experience firsthand the Dodgers’ event that celebrates Latino culture in Los Angeles.

WHERE: Dodger Stadium, Lot 6
WHEN: Sunday, August 14, 2011
11:10 a.m. Auto gates open
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Guerra in autograph tent
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lee Lacy in autograph tent
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Upground performs

A Full Field View of Ebbets

Here is a great vintage photograph taken from the upper deck seats behind home plate at Ebbets Field during a World Series Game against the Yankees in 1955. You can just about see the entire field and stadium. What I didn't realize was how much room there was in foul territory.

(Auction Link)

Blog Kiosk: 8/11/2011

Tommy and Whitey Ford, via TwitPic: @TommyLasorda.

• How could the season get any worse- Dee Gordon to the DL, via AJ Cassavell.
• Newcombe meets the President, via LA Examiner.

  “I just had the honor of…taking a picture with him and he was very gracious in saying…Jackie would be proud. And I said, well, I would not be here if it were not for Jackie and if it were not for Don Newcombe.”

• Roberto shares some photos of Amare Stoudemire sporting a Ethier Jersey at the LA Zoo at Vin Scully is My Homeboy.
• This makes me sad, via LA Times.

  "Let's just say it's been a role reversal," (Davey) Lopes said. "The Dodgers used to be the model organization … now that's the Phillies."

• LFP says its over.
• Dodger financing looks worse and worse. They will lose $27 million in LA attendance losses and more in Arizona.
• It's great to know that he's doing better. Bryan Stow is responsive, via Cash Kruth MLB.
• Who would have thought that freezing bats would strengthen them. (Hat Tip: 6-4-2)
• Alyssa Milano unveils a sneak peek at her upcoming Summer Baseball Collection. (Hat Tip: Alyssa Milano Blog)

Touch by Alyssa Milano from lindze b on Vimeo.