Vintage Dodgers' Minor League Championship Ring at SCP - Great Falls Electrics

Have you ever heard of the Great Falls Electrics?

Neither had I.

If your a student of the franchise then it's likely you've heard of the Great Falls Dodgers; who were an advanced rookie league club for the franchise in the Pioneer League for nearly twenty years starting in 1984.  What you probably didn't realize is that the Dodgers were previously affiliated with this farm team in the 50's, and that they were largely known as the Great Falls Electrics during that period.  BTW, for one season (1957) they were briefly known as the Great Falls Dodgers.

Featured in this post is an original 1954 Great Falls Electric Pioneer League Championship ring that is currently available on auction at SCP.  Check out the listing here.  That season the Electrics went 70-62 and included only two future Major Leaguers: Lou Rochelli and the very effective right-handed Dodger reliever Larry Sherry.  Although, Sherry did not pitch well for the Electrics in his four pitching appearances for the farm club.  He went 0-3, gave up eleven earned runs in 12.2 innings of work. 

The ring once belonged to longtime Baseball man Leonard "Len" Monheimer.  His affiliation with the Electrics isn't exactly spelled out in the auction description, but it appears likely that he worked in the front office for the club.  Per the auction description:

Monheimer got his start in baseball when he was hired by the New York Yankees first basemen, Babe Dahlgren, to manage his Ontario, California, team. As his career progressed, Len became the General Manager and/or Owner of many minor league baseball teams nationwide: he was Manager of the Stockton, California, and Douglas, Arizona, teams to start. He then became the General Manager and/or owner of the Portland Beavers, Charleston Charlies, Arkansas Travelers, Bakersfield Bears, Las Vegas Wranglers, Salem Dodgers, Davenport Browns, Peoria White Sox, Amarillo Gold Sox and the Augusta Pirates. He also worked as the Promotional Manager for the ill-fated Seattle Pilots, now known as the Milwaukee Brewers. Additionally, he had brief stints working in professional basketball with the San Diego Clippers and in professional soccer with the Portland Timbers.

That's quite a resume.  BTW, he was also an event staff supervisor at the LA Coliseum in 1959.  Len passed away in 2011.  Per an obituary found at Legacy.com:

Anyone who met Len rarely forgot him. He was not only tall in stature, but had a superb mastery of baseball facts and stories. He loved discussing baseball with everyone.

I bet I would have enjoyed sitting with him hearing his stories about the game.

On a side note, I came across an replica jacket and uniform jersey from the old Great Falls Electrics team, and thought they were too fantastic not to share.  Check them out below.  I found them through the Ebbets.com website.  On the left below is a 1954 (same year as the ring) wool jacket, and on the right is 1961 jersey.  As you can see, the general style of the emblem is very similar to the Dodgers. 

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Blog Kiosk: 12/1/2015 - Dodger Links - Roberts, Greinke and Some Prospect Talk

Dave Roberts will make his first official appearance as the Dodgers manager later this morning as he'll be introduced during a press conference at 11:00 AM.  It'll be televised live on SportsNet LA, so those of you who have the channel can tune in.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers set to introduce new skipper Roberts."

"Don't mistake kindness for weakness," said Hoffman, who played with Roberts in San Diego, then watched from the front office as Roberts coached five years for the Padres.

"He's learned from a lot of people and I think he's ready for the opportunity. He's a great communicator and people gravitate to his energy. Being in the second biggest market will be a test, but nothing he hasn't seen. He won't be overmatched by anything."

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2004.  Below are more links to check out:

• Ben Badler at Baseball America answered a bunch of questions about the Dodgers Top-10 Prospects, here. 

Frank (Chicago, IL): Willie Calhoun a top 30 prospect for you? Is his destination to be the keystone, or can he play elsewhere?
Ben Badler: Definitely a Top 30 guy. I’m a huge fan of Willie Calhoun’s bat. When you watch his swing—wow. His hitting mechanics are outstanding. Short, compact swing, excellent rhythm and balance, with the barrel staying on plane with the ball for a long time. The crazy power numbers he posted as an amateur are going to come back down to earth, but for his size, he does have surprising power and could be a 15-20 HR guy. The way he raked in his brief taste of pro ball after signing this year is no fluke. Now the downside—he’s short, stocky, doesn’t have much physical projection left and his defense is poor. It doesn’t seem like he’s ever prioritized defense, so the hope is that with more emphasis on his fielding and the benefit of pro instruction, he can become at least a playable defender there, and I think he can do that. I love that pick by the Dodgers for where they got him.

Curtis (Nevada): Do you see the Dodgers trading Urias for a SP this offseason?
Ben Badler: I would be surprised if they traded Urias for anybody. He’s one of the truly elite pitching prospects in baseball.

• I really hate rumors on the hot stove.  More often than not they are baseless, unsubstantiated and totally made up.  That said, I figured this was something worth passing along.  Via Jerry Crasnick on twitter, the Zack Greinke market is red hot:

Zack Greinke's market is quietly heating up, says a source. #Dodgers, #SFGiants both looking for some clarity.

— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) November 30, 2015

• Dodgers adding more depth in outfield.  Via John Manuel on twitter, they are expected to sign Donavan Tate.  Mike Petriello at Dodger Insider writes about him here.

OF Donavan Tate, No. 3 pick in 2009 #mlbdraft, is expected to sign as a minor league free agent with the #Dodgers https://t.co/2hxGrAlzDC

— John Manuel (@johnmanuelba) November 30, 2015

• Jim Johnson, who the Dodgers acquired via a trade with the Braves, has signed a new deal with the Braves, via DJ Short at Hardball Talk.  As you'll recall, Johnson was absolutely horrible when he came to the Dodgers.
• Giovanni Balistreri at When Topps Had (Base) Balls creates a fantastic fantasy rookie card featuring Ron Cey.  Check it out here.
• Via Dylan Hernandez on twitter, the Dodgers avoid arbitration with Joe Wieland by agreeing to terms:

Source: Joe Wieland re-signs with #Dodgers for $590k. Wieland was a non-tender candidate.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) December 1, 2015

• On Wieland, via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors:

Though the soon-to-be 26-year-old is hardly an established major leaguer, the Dodgers obviously didn’t want to risk losing him with a non-tender. Wieland has worked almost exclusively as a starter over his career but could conceivably factor in the major league pen this year. Last season at Triple-A, he tossed 113 2/3 innings of 4.59 ERA ball with 7.3 K/9 against 2.0 BB/9.

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Important Game-Used Baseballs from Orel Hershiser's Career at Grey Flannel Auctions

Are you a big fan of the Bulldog?  Would a game-used ball from his career highlight your collection?

For those of you who remember the fantastic exploits of the Dodger right-hander and want to add something  to your collection that is a reminder of how great he was, then this current auction from Grey Flannel might be up your alley.  Featured here are several game-used Baseball for sale that come directly from Hershiser.

As shown above, this is a game-used ball from Orel Hershiser's 20th win from the year the Dodgers last won the World Series - 1988.  Check out the auction here.  On September 8, 1988 Hershiser blanked the Cincinnati Reds, 5-0, for his 20th win of the season.  As you know, he went on to win 23 games, was awarded the Cy Young and was the World Series MVP. 

On a side note, I wonder if this ball was decorated by Dodgers' Clubhouse Manager Mitch Poole.  You will notice that the writing on this ball is fairly ornate and very different from the other Baseball's that are for sale.  So, it might be fair to say that this is a Mitch Poole stylized Baseball since he was known to do that for the players.  Unfortunately, the auction description does not indicate this, but I can't help but think it is.

(Auction Link)

The balls above and directly below is a part of a three ball lot of game-used Hershiser Baseballs.  The jewel of the lot is the above ball from his very first complete game victory, dated June 29, 1984.  He beat the Cubs, 7-1, on eight strike outs, one walk and nine hits.  The other two balls include a 16th win ball from the 1985 season (dated September 17, 1985) and his 18th win from the same season (dated September 27, 1985).  Check out the auction here.

The Baseball directly below marks Orel Hershiser's 100th career victory.  Check out the auction here.  There are two Baseballs in this lot available from this game.  Hershiser went seven innings and struck out six batters to defeat the Cubs, 6-3.  As you can see he has both signed and wrote a description of the event on the ball.

BTW, there is also another group of seven different Hershiser game balls available in another listing that you can see here.  Those balls include his 2nd career shutout, 3rd career shutout, 4th career shutout, 5th career shutout, a two-hitter from 1985, a one-hitter from 1985 and another one-hitter from 1985.

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Blog Kiosk: 11/30/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Roberts and More

It was a Blue Friday celebration with Justin Turner at the Top of the Park store at Dodger Stadium this past holiday weekend.  I hear the lines were long, and those that got there early were lucky enough to get his signature.  BTW, every weekend until Christmas the Dodgers will be hosting free autograph opportunities, so be sure to check out my calendar for that information.  I will of course put together a post a few days before each event as a reminder.  Below is the upcoming schedule:

Saturday, December 5, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.                      Dennis Powell
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.                        Tim Leary
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.                          Eric Karros

Saturday, December 12, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.                     Ron Cey
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.                       Tommy Lasorda

Saturday, December 19, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.                        Tommy Lasorda
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.                          Eric Karros

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

• Why does there have to be this kind of Puig news during the off-season?  It's both tiring and disconcerting.  I won't go into details since I figure most of you already know about it.  I will add that video of the entire incident is out there, so we'll either be totally disgusted or relieved.  Suffice to say, this kind of stuff doesn't happen in a vacuum.  What I mean to say is that bad stuff tends to surround people who make bad decisions, and clearly this kind of thing does not bode well for his future in Dodger Blue. 
• Ben Badler at Baseball America shares his "Los Angeles Dodgers Top 10 Prospects" list, here.
• Chris Mitchell at FanGraphs shares, "KATOH’s Top 100 Prospect List for 2016," and nine Dodger players can be found on it.
• Via David Hood at True Blue LA, "Dodgers top prospects 2016: No. 18, Brendon Davis."

The offensive profile might be the most appealing part of Davis’ game. Davis shows excellent barrel control and a contact oriented approach to hit for solid average. His swing plane is mostly level and he will hit to both sides of the field. As he gets stronger, he should see even more success with his line drive approach from gap to gap.

• Bob D'Angelo at Sports Collector Daily shares a bunch of preview pics from Topps 2016 Finest card set; including the Corey Seager card on the right.  This set comes out in June.
• Via Bill Plunkett at OC Register, "Dodgers' hiring of Dave Roberts as new manager is endorsed by many."

“I’m thinking this guy is going to make the drive up from Poway three or four times. He did it three or four times a week,” (Former GM Dan) Evans said. “I remember thinking, ‘Wow. This guy gets it.’ I kept waiting for those Friday excuses. We all make them. You know what the traffic can be like on Fridays. He never made one.

“I think he has a chance to be really successful – and he doesn’t have to change. I’m a Dave Roberts fan, have been since the day we acquired him. I’m happy he’s not in our league. I can root for him until late October.”

• Via Matt Goldman at Beyond the Boxscore, "Joc Pederson's struggles, revisited."
• Apparently, Panini is teaming up with a bunch of case-breakers to provided limited Cyber Monday packs.  Go here for that information.  It includes the below Joc Pederson card in packs.
  

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A Visual Checklist of Sandy Koufax Baseball Cards - 1960 to 1962

Attempting to catalog every Sandy Koufax card and collectible from his playing days is proving to be far more difficult than I imagined.  In fact, I'm scratching my aching head wondering what the heck I got myself into.  Nevertheless, I will endeavor to complete this task.  You can check out Part I (1955-59) here.  Below is Part II - which covers 1960 to 1962.  Click on any pic to embiggen.  BTW, if I am missing any card issues please let me know.

UPDATE: You can view Part III here.  It covers cards and memorabilia from 1963 to 1964. Part IV (covering 1965-1967) can be seen here.

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#343 - 1960 Topps

#NNO - 1960 Danny Goodman - Dodgers Picture Pack - Blank Back
                 

The below photo came from a 20 photo set sold at concession stands during Dodger games.  They are commonly referred to as LA Dodger Picture Packs, but are sometimes called the Danny Goodman sets.  As you may know, Danny Goodman was the Dodgers Advertising Director for 25 years and the brains behind the multitude of Dodger collectibles and memorabilia available at the time.  In fact, his operation and consumer know-how vaulted the Dodgers to the top of the souvenir sales list.  To learn more about Danny check out Andy McCue's excellent biography at SABR, here.

Bobbleheads, Pins and a Justin Turner Chia Pet Highlight Dodgers' 2016 Promotional Schedule

Just as families prepare to enjoy a festive meal and do some holiday shopping the Dodgers decide to release their always anticipated promotional schedule for the upcoming 2016 Baseball season.  As you can imagine it's filled with a whole bunch of good stuff... Like some really awesome stuff.  Go here to check out the schedule.

There will be 10 bobblehead giveaway nights and 10 different pin giveaway nights commemorating the Dodgers’ retired numbers.  The Hollywood Stars game is coming back on August 27th and the Old-Timers Game will be on July 2nd.  BTW, a 1981 World Series tri-MVPs Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager bobblehead will be given out for the Old-Timers Game.  Also, Magic Johnson will be getting a gnome on August 14th.

Probably the most exciting giveaway is Justin Turner chia pet slated for April 30th.  Are you kidding me!  This might be the most awesome thing ever!

Other new items include a Vin Scully T-shirt on May 10th, kids’ batting gloves on May 15th, neck pillow on May 23th and Father’s Day Dodger boxers on June 19th.  Again, go here to check out the full schedule.

BOBBLEHEAD GIVEAWAYS

• Clayton Kershaw on April 25 (vs. MIA)
• Dodger manager Dave Roberts May 11 (vs. NYM)
• TBD May 25 (vs. CIN)
• Don Newcombe on June 8 (vs. COL)
• Dusty Baker on June 22 (vs. WAS)
• 1981 World Series tri-MVPs Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager on July 2 (vs. COL)
• TBD July 26 (vs. TB)
• TBD August 9 (vs. PHI)
• TBD August 25 (vs. SF)
• TBD September 20 (vs. SF).

RETIRED NUMBER PIN GIVEAWAYS

• May 9 (vs. NYM)
• June 4 (vs. ATL)
• June 16 (vs. MIL)
• July 5 (vs. BAL)
• July 7 (vs. SD)
• July 31 (vs. ARI)
• August 8 (vs. PHI)
• September 4 (vs. SD)
• September 7 (vs. ARI)
• September 22 (vs. COL)

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