Blog Kiosk 9/28/2008

So what are you doing on Wednesday?

• Robert of Trolley Dodgers finds a great video at Flickr featuring the demolition of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Go here to see the video.
• Trolley Dodgers also comes across some incredible photos posted by the Library of Congress on Flickr featuring the Brooklyn Dodgers from the early part of the 20th Century. Check them out here. Below is Red Smith.
• On the day the Dodgers clinch the division title Erin watches an unsuspecting Dodger fan who accidentally falls onto the field get tackled by security. Read about it here. Heavy handed tactics by those in authority seems to be more the rule than the exception these days.
• Of course, you must check out the hazing pics of Dodger rookies at Sons of Steve Garvey. Clayton Kershaw is dressed as Little Bo Peep.
• Cardboard Junkie opens up packs of 2008 Upper Deck X and pulls a Furcal.
• Night Owl Cards shows off a great early 70's set featuring the 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers from prolific card producer TCMA. They are well known for being the chief manufacturer of minor league Baseball cards in the 80's. Check out his website for more pics from the set. Clearly, the best card is below. You just can't beat a card featuring an infield with Jackie, Gil, Campy, Pee Wee and Billy Cox. One of these days I'm gonna add this set to my collection. Fortunately, they are not particularly rare or expensive. BTW, this collector blog is run by a Dodger fan so expect to find plenty of Dodger cards featured throughout.
• Here is a brand new collector blog that will focus on vintage Topps cards and other oddball stuff called The Topps Archives. They start off great by highlighting an interesting press photo celebrating the an early Topps Company publicity stunt in the late 40's.
• 117 original paintings used to make the 1953 Topps set have just been consigned to REA's April 2009 auction. A complete list has yet to released, but I'm hoping Pee Wee Reese shows up. The Jackie Robinson and Campanella was sold in the 1989 Guersney's Auction for $71,000 and $33,000, respectivley. Probably the most desired painting yet to find it's way to the market from this set is probably Satchel Paige. I wouldn't be surprised to see it reach well into the 6 figures if it goes on sale. Read The Infield Dirt for more.
• This video is unbelievable. Never pass out drunk at a ball game, especially in New York. Hat Tip: Lion in Oil:

• I promise this will be my only politically partisan post regarding our upcoming Presidential election. It's just that I dig this video so much and I love this song from Le Miserables.

YouTube Video Link: NatHeadquartersObama:

Dodger Videos

Here are more videos to help you through till the rest of the season.

1955 Dodger Victory Dance

YouTube Link: bkaye:
Hat Tip: True Blue LA:

Here are highlights from the 1955 World Series.

YouTube Link: gmelita:

Joe Pignatano and Danny McDevitt are on hand at a Brooklyn Cyclones game to reenact the last pitch thrown by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957.

YouTube Link: CarmieP:

Sunday Night Rally!

Unfortunately, I'll be in Las Vegas enjoying some hockey pre-season, but, if I were in town, I would definitely be at the rally. If you don't know already the Dodgers are holding a post-season rally at Dodger Stadium this coming Sunday at 6:00 PM. Parking is free and $2 Dodger dogs, drinks, peanuts and nachos will be available. Gates open at 5:00 PM

From the press release.

The Los Angeles Dodgers today clinched the 2008 National League West Title, sending the club to postseason play for the third time in five seasons. The Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals, who eliminated the Arizona Diamondbacks with their victory this afternoon, are the only two National League clubs to have earned that distinction.

Punctuating their 50^th anniversary celebration, the club will play “October Baseball” for the 16^th time since moving to Los Angeles and the 25^th time in the history of the Dodgers franchise.

Fans are invited to a free “Postseason Rally presented by Bank of America” this Sunday evening, September 28, at Dodger Stadium from 6-8 p.m. The event includes Dodgers alumni, musical entertainment, special pricing for Dodger Dogs and other popular items, and the welcome back of the National League West champions after their afternoon game in San Francisco (provided the game and travel circumstances allow).

"This is an important first step towards our ultimate goal," said Dodger Owner and Chairman Frank McCourt. "The entire organization, from Ned Colletti and his staff, to Joe Torre and his coaches and all of the players and staff members throughout our front office and minor leagues deserve tremendous credit for their hard work and dedication over the last eight months. We expect that this culture of winning will continue and that today is just the first of many exciting days in the month to come."

“We cannot possibly thank the fans enough for their constant support,” said Dodger President Jamie McCourt. “They have come out to Dodger Stadium all season long, through thick and thin, and they continue to embrace the team in ways that surely contributed to the team’s terrific home record.”

Sunday’s rally includes free parking, free admission, and special pricing of $2 for Dodger Dogs, soft drinks, peanuts, and nachos.

Bank of America, the official bank of the Los Angeles Dodgers, will determine the “Fan of the Rally,” who will win four tickets to one game of the 2008 National League Division Series.

The Sunset gate and turnstiles at Dodger Stadium will open at 5 p.m., and merchandise commemorating the title and the anniversary will be on sale.

FSN Prime Ticket and Dodgers flagship KABC 790 Radio will present the event live.

This season marks the third time in L.A. ’s history that the Dodgers have reached postseason three times in a five-year span and the first time since 1985.

In the 1960s, the club made it to the postseason in 1963, 1965, and 1966. In the 1970s, they reached the level in 1974, 1977, and 1978. In the 1980s, they made it to October in 1981, 1983, and 1985. After winning the 1988 World Series, they reached postseason play only twice, 1995 and 1996, over the next 15 years, including an L.A. franchise-high drought of seven straight years starting 1997 through 2003.

The Brooklyn Dodgers won pennants four times in five years (1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956), the best five-year stretch in franchise history. They also won three (1949, 1952, 1953) in a five-year period. Note that the 1951 playoff versus the Giants concluding with Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” is not included as postseason play.

The Dodgers’ Sunday celebration will be part of Major League Baseball’s events in each qualifying city marking the arrival of October Baseball.

Dodger Art

Please check out this great painting recently completed by local artist Roderick Smith. He was kind enough to allow me to share it with all of you.

The painting began in late July. Many sketches and photographs were taken from the surrounding hills in its preparation. The feeling I tried to convey was the sense of timelessness. A place familiar yet oddly strange. Like a dream land. A stage were actors play their parts with improvised scripts. A circus tent from the sixties still barking cotton candy and side show delights. One of the last great arenas of the game still standing. In the late afternoon it flickers in an impressionist light. There is roar as the sun sets in the west. The players are in motion.

It's like an Elysian Field.

Go check out his website.

October Baseball!!!!!

Ohhh Yheaaaa!!!


YouTube Link: pugger0:

Pop the Champagne!!

All of the sudden I love the Cardinals.

As I write this it is the bottom of the 8th inning in this afternoons game between the Diamondback and Cardinals. St. Louis has a comfortable 10 to 3 lead. Check out the box score here.

Pic Link: Sock Pockets from Hell:

Minor League Players of the Year

Here are two more guys to watch for in the future. The Dodgers recently announced the winners of their annual player of the year awards for the minor leagues.

Below is the Dodgers winner of the Minor League Pitcher of the Year James McDonald.

McDonald’s 3.19 ERA with Jacksonville ranked second in the Southern League, and his 113 strikeouts ranked ninth. He struck out 141 batters in 141.0 innings overall with Jacksonville and Las Vegas . The 6-foot-5, 195-pounder struck out 10 in both of his first two Triple-A starts. He allowed three runs or less in 22 of his 26 starts overall. The Long Beach Poly High School grad was recently voted as having the best changeup in the SL in Baseball America’s annual “Best Tools” survey of league managers and coaches.

McDonald earned SL Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of May 5-11, when he went 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA (2 ER/13.0 IP) in two starts. He also posted stellar numbers in June, going 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA (7 ER/35.0 IP) in six starts. In his final three starts of June, he allowed only one run in 18.0 innings. McDonald also went 2-1 with a 3.82 ERA (14 ER/33.0 IP) in six starts in May to share Jacksonville ’s Dodger Pride Award for the month with right-hander Jesus Castillo.

Winner of the Minor League Player of the Year is Ivan DeJesus, Jr.

The 21-year-old DeJesus, making his Double-A debut, led the Southern League with a .419 on-base percentage and ranked fifth with a .324 batting average. He finished second in the circuit with 76 walks and tied for third with 150 hits. DeJesus was named to the SL’s South Division All-Star team, but did not appear because he was selected to play in the XM Radio All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. He was the lone Dodger farmhand to be selected to the annual exhibition featuring the game’s top prospects. He was recently named as the second baseman on Baseball America’s Minor League All-Star Second Team.

DeJesus, who was selected by Los Angeles in the second round of the 2005 draft, ended the year with a 23-game hitting streak, batting .420 (37-for-88) with 27 runs scored to raise his average from .301. He hit .438 (46-for-105) with five homers, 16 RBI, and 31 runs scored in 27 games in August.

DeJesus earned Jacksonville ’s Dodger Pride Award for May, when he hit .299 (29-for-97) with 18 walks, 24 runs, and a .412 on-base percentage.

Baseball in England in 1755?

Last year Major League Baseball went to England to film an upcoming documentary about origins of the game. They ended up finding something unexpected.

Julian Pooley, the manager of the Surrey History Centre, said Thursday he has authenticated a reference to baseball in a diary by English lawyer William Bray dating back to 1755 -- about 50 years before what was previously believed to have been the first known reference to what became the American pastime.

The Diary entry is as follows.

"Went to Stoke Ch. This morning. After Dinner Went to Miss Jeale's to play at Base Ball with her, the 3 Miss Whiteheads, Miss Billinghurst, Miss Molly Flutter, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Ford & H. Parsons & Jelly. Drank Tea and stayed till 8."

This is fascinating stuff. Although, it shouldn't be surprising since Baseball is believed to have been developed from several English childrens games.

The film, called "Base Ball Discovered" is to be premiered at the 3rd Annual Baseball Film Festival in Cooperstown next week.

Hat Tip: VBCF:

Collection: 1981 Albuquerque Dukes

Its been awhile since I've posted anything from my collection. So, please check out my favorite Dodger Minor League Baseball card set. Below are cards from the 1981 Albuquerque Dukes. What makes this set so notable is the inclusion of the Sandy Koufax. I believe this is the only minor league set with a card of the Dodger Hall of Fame lefty.The Dukes that season was a phenomenal team.

They won the first half of the season by 13 games (48-16) and the second half by 10 games (46-22) and won the Pacific Coast League playoff by beating Tacoma (Oakland) three games to one.

You will also recognize many other former Dodgers. Above is "Mr. Slow Windup" Alejandro Pena and below is triple crown winner Mike Marshall. He hit 34 homeruns, recorded 137 RBI's and batted .373 that year.

Other notables are Ron Roenicke, Brian Holton, Jack Perconte, Rudy Law and Candy Maldonado. Check out a scan of the complete set here in my photoalbum.

ITPC Auction

This is the first time I have highlighted an Inside The Park Collectibles Auction, so I'm happy it has some great Dodger related items involved.

For those who collect rare vintage memorabilia this company should be well known. Several years ago they purchased one of the rarest collections of porcelain collectibles from the late 40's to early 50's. It was dubbed the "Gibbs-Conner" estate find and featured pre-production (prototype) samples of several previously unknown items.

Gibbs-Conner was a small manufacturer of porcelain products located in Cleveland Ohio. Although it was not their main source of income, in the late 40's/early 50's Gibbs-Conner produced several porcelain banks with the likeness of the Cleveland Indians mascot- Chief Wahoo. Their work rivaled that of their main competitor, Stanford Pottery (also based in the Cleveland area), although their workmanship has always been considered a touch below in quality. As far as we can tell, Gibbs-Conner closed their doors for business in the late 50's. The original banks were not produced in large quantities and are still very popular among figural collectors.

To ITPC's surprise a collection of rare porcelain items featuring many other teams (other than the Indians) was found in an attic. One of the teams present was the Brooklyn Dodgers. ITPC has been fairly quiet about the actual number of individual pieces, but they have said that only a handful of each example exist. Below is a Brooklyn Bum ashtray that sold for $807.00 a few weeks ago. In the past, I have seen a large cookie jar and coin bank featuring the Dodgers from this find. Go here and here for some additional information about this find.

Auction Link: Gibbs-Conner Dodger Ashtray:

Below is something I have never seen before. It is a souvenir statue from the 1956 World Series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees. As you all know this was the year of the Dodgers first World Series title.I wonder if this was sold in the stands during the October classic? It sold for $100.00.

Auction Link: 1956 WS Souvenir Trophy:

Dodger Videos

It seems I've been neglecting my duties of late. To make up for it, please check out the below Dodger themed videos.

Here is Manny's 5th inning homerun from this past Saturday filmed by a fan in the left field pavilion.

YouTube Link: Dodgerfilms:

Watch former Brooklyn Dodger Andy Pafko sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

YouTube Link: Leinielodge:

Below is a public service announcement shot at Dodger Stadium to benefit the 8th Annual "Strike Out" AIDS charity. Andre Ethier is the honorary host.

YouTube Link: EdwardHeadington:

I love fireworks night at Dodger Stadium. It's one of the few times you can go out onto the field without being tackled by security. Check out this fans video from August 16, 2008.

YouTube Video: bigkatmanning:

Here is another video of a young fan dancing in the outfield on the same evening.

YouTube Link: davistruckingllc:

Blog Kiosk 9/7/2008

8 game winning streak and 1.5 games in first place. Just when I thought all was lost the Dodgers go ahead and turn things around.

• Baseball card hobby pioneer, Lionel Carter, passed away early this week at the age of 90. In 1933 he bought his first pack of cards and never looked back. He eventually amassed one of the greatest and most envied collections in the hobby. He was noted for being a true collector as he cared little about the value of the cards. Last year, to his consternation, he sold his entire collection after being burglarized in 2006 (It sold for $1.6 million last April). Keeping his treasures at home had became unsafe.

  “I sold every one of the cards because I didn’t want anything to remind me of them,” Carter said. “They meant so much to me (after) so many years of collecting. They were just a big part of my life."

  Go here for some tributes 1 2 3 4 . Here is an interview with him from NPR.
• Only 600 fans showed up for a Marlins game this past Wednesday. Tatiana & Wax Heaven, the married card collecting duo, sound off.
  
• The 1983 Fleer Project picks up another Dodger autograph- Pedro Guerrero.
• Zach was at Dodger Stadium and has some incredible photos detailing how to snag some balls. He was also in Anaheim and San Diego.
• I had meant to point this out previously. The Trolly Dodger visits Manzanar Internment Camp and checks out the Baseball field. He also links to the hilarious Angel Berroa/ Manny Ramirez postgame interview.
  
• If you are a LA Kings fan check out Rich Hammond's full coverage of the teams "Breakfast with the GM" meeting with season ticket holders yesterday here. I was there and all I got to say is that I believe in Dean's mission to build from within.
  
• Are Baseball card price guides destroying the hobby? Are price guides even relevant anymore? Are they even accurate? Sportscards Uncensored puts it all in perspective.

I agree with the above completely. In my mind, guides like Beckett or Tuff Stuff depend on advertising revenue. Therefore, they are beholden to card manufacturers and dealers. So, I'm sure there is some pressure to make sure values are high in order to drive the market and pad their advertisers revenues.

As a collector always focus on what you enjoy, not what it is worth.