A Koufax Tropicana Hotel Postcard - Sandy in a Dodger Uniform

Many moons back I briefly wrote about an oddball postcard I had run into. It is from the famous Tropicana Hotel on Santa Monica Boulevard, and it prominently featured Dodger legend Sandy Koufax. Check out that original post here (I wrote a bit about the hotels fun and sordid past).

As you'll recall, Sandy had purchased the facility in the early 60's, and wisely sought to cash in on his fame and popularity by using himself as an promotional tools. As a result, they issued various postcards splattered with either his name and/or face.

At the time, I was only aware of a casually dressed Koufax in these postcards (see that on the right), but now I realize a postcard exist with him in Dodger Blue -- albeit, with a poorly drawn-on Dodger uni. You can see that postcard at the very top of this post.

Blog Kiosk: 9/14/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Last Nights win puts the Dodgers magic number at seven. Yu Darvish was fantastic on the mound as he recorded seven shutout innings to lead the team. Just in time, eh? Darvish was not looking like the pitcher we thought we got. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"It's more like if I keep pitching like that with that kind of results, I'm not going to be able to pitch in the playoffs," Darvish said. "The Dodgers got me for that situation, the playoffs. That was my concern."

Overall, Dodger pitchers struck out seven Giants and their offense recorded seven hits. Best yet, Cody Belling hit his first homer into McCovey Cove. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“You always see it when you’re growing up watching Barry Bonds do it,” Bellinger said of the splash homer. “To actually do it, it’s pretty cool.”

The home run was Belli's 37th of the year -- just one shy of the National League record for a rookie. He also had seven total bases. Pic above via SportsNet LA on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1945, during an overnight trip between St. Louis and Chicago, the Brooklyn Dodgers train rammed into an gasoline truck, sending flames everywhere.  The train engineer and a firefighter were killed.  The Dodgers survived without serious injury because the momentum of their section carried it through the burning remains.  I had previously written about this incident here. In 1993 Mike Piazza hit home runs no. 29 and 30 to break the Major League record for homers by a rookie catcher. In 2002 Dodger infielder Chin-Feng Chen becomes the first Taiwan-born player to appear in the major leagues. He would get a pinch-hit walk and score on a double by Mike Kinkade.
• Happy Birthday, John Douglas, Stan Williams & Tim Wallach & Jerry Doggett! Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider wrote a great piece celebrating Doggett's 100th birthday last year (link here).

Blog Kiosk: 9/13/2017 - Dodgers Links - A Win and a Playoff Spot -- Woo Hoo!

Yeah!

That was a tough win last night. The Dodgers battled, fought and scraped their way towards snapping a losing streak that has been bane to faithful fans everywhere. Kershaw was good, but at times struggled. The offense showed signs of life, but still stranded eleven runners on base. The relief staff got the job done, but they sure did make me feel like downing a shot of whiskey after it was all said and done. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“This is a good thing for us,” Jansen told SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo. “It keeps us humble and keeps us in check. it shows you this game is not always going to love you. You love this game and sometimes it’s not going your way. Sometimes you have to be patient and remind you how hard it is to get to the playoffs and how hard it is to win the World Series.”

BTW, with the win last night the Dodgers finally clinched a playoff spot. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"When you get off to the start we did, teams are going to gun for you, people prepare and they're out to beat you," said manager Dave Roberts. "Now, with the win, we can exhale and reset. You'll see some guys enjoy a win more than typically enjoy a win. That's a good thing. We'll refocus tomorrow. Usually there's handshakes [after wins], but tonight there were hugs."

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1925 future Brooklyn Hall of Famer Dazzy Vance no-hit Phillies at Ebbets Field, 10-1. In 1977 outfielder Dusty Baker set a franchise record by recording five RBI's on a single inning -- during the second inning of a game against the Padres. His hits include a two-run double and a three-run homer.
• Happy Birthday, Harry Redmond, Dutch Ruether, John Kelleher, Sam Crane, Otho Nitcholas, Morrie Aderholt, Rick Dempsey, Andy LaRoche & Zach Lee!

2017 Dodgers Sports Crate - August Edition - Adrian Gonzalez

The newest edition of the Dodgers 2017 Sport Crate came in a little light, but that's only because they finally figured out that they can no longer wait for the figurines to arrive at their warehouse. As you may know, their Sports Crates have been fashionably late, so they recently sent emails to their MLB customers indicating that the figurine for the 4th edition of their MLB Sports Crates would not be included. Instead, they would be sending those along to fans in a separate mailer. They even provided a postcard in the crates to explain the situation (see it on the right - click to embiggen).

Blog Kiosk: 9/12/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

After a lengthy rain delay the Dodgers continued on their streak of loses -- losing to the Giants late last night, 8-6. Ugh! Per Ken Gurnick and Chris Haft at MLB.com:

"I wouldn't say it's demoralizing, but it's disappointing," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "Our guys played hard, I thought we were going to win that game and we were in position to, but we couldn't hold the lead."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1930 Dodger catcher Al Lopez hit the last Major League bounced home run. It was off Ray Kolp at Ebbets Field. Prior to the rule change any hit ball that bounced over the outfield walls was ruled a homer. Now, it'll be a ground-rule double. In 1963 the NY Mets hold a pregame ceremony in honor of Brooklyn favorite Duke Snider - "I look up into the stands, and it looks like Ebbets Field. The Mets are wonderful, but you can’t take the Dodger out of Brooklyn". In 2000 Dave Hanson broke former Dodger Johnny Frederick's record for pinch-hit home runs during a season with his seventh pinch-homer of the year against Curt Schilling of the Diamondbacks.  BTW, Johnny Frederick set his record of six pinch-homers on this exact same date in 1932.
• Happy Birthday, John Gochnaur, Masao Kida & Franquelis Osoria!

Blog Kiosk: 9/11/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I am sorry to report that legendary scout Mel Didier has past away, per a tweet from Bob Nightengale. He was 90. As you may know, Mel was the man who wrote the scouting report that Kirk Gibson depended on during the Dodgers thrilling Game 1 walk-off victory. You can check out an excerpt of that report in the photo at the very top, made available via Josh Suchon on twitter. It says, pertinently:

*Like to "backdoor" slider to LH hitters with 3-2 count. 

Below are more links to checkout:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1998 Kevin Malone is named the Dodgers GM, replacing Tommy Lasorda. In 1983 RJ Reynolds squeezed home Pedro Guerrero in the ninth for an improbably walk-off victory against the Atlanta Braves.  The Dodgers scored four runs in the ninth to win. Tommy Lasorda called his decision to call for the squeeze his most "daring" of his career. 
• Happy Birthday, Con Daily, Frank Kitson & Eddie Miksis!