Blog Kiosk: 12/20/2011

Pic via @Dodgers twitter. From their recent dedication of their 19th Dodger Dream Foundation Dreamfield.

• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy announces that the Dodgers will be having a Fan Fest on May 19, 2012. This is great, but I don't think the Dodgers understand what a team fan fest is all about. Typically, most fan fest events are held during the off-season. (Check out info about the annual Giants Fan Fest from Feb. 2011) Current and former players attend, there are Baseball clinics, and fun games are available for fans to participate in. This proposed fan fest will be during the season on a day the Dodgers play a game at home. So, having current players on-hand will likely be limited. Also, I don't see how you can have clinics. Access to the field will be limited due to the home game, and you can't take up too much space in the parking lot. So, what gives? Of course, if they hold it somewhere else, then that is a different story.
• Happy Birthday, Branch Rickey!
  
• Chris Jaffe at Hardball Times has a nice story celebrating the 25,000 day anniversary of the conspiracy by Dodgers players to oust Leo Durocher in 1943.
  
• TMZ has a 911 call from the James Loney accident.
  
• Forbes reports on the Dodgers Bid Marketing Package.

  The banker said the sale book is “a piece of crap,” because of some information typically given in such matters was missing, such as net income.

• Ronald Belisario finally receives a visa and is expected to join the Dodgers, via Dylan Hernandez at LA Times.

  “He understand he has issues in the past, but he’s ready to go and get back to the major leagues.”

• A word of warning for any vintage card collectors. All vintage Christmas Rack Packs are fake. Topps never produced them. Likely, they were produced by a third party and sold in stores in the 60's and 70's. They should never be valued like vintage unopened material. Via The Topps Archives.
  
• Agate Type shares a great vintage pic of Hall of Fame Negro Leaguer Jose Mendez.
  
• The Rangers win the Yu Darvish sweepstakes and MLB Trade Rumors has a bunch of reactions.
  
• Cooperstown Chatter has a report on the Hall of Fame's recent tour to Puerto Rico.

  Understanding that baseball has the power to connect cultures, families and memories unlike anything else has never appeared more genuine than what transpired over the last four days. The people of Puerto Rico were so honored and moved by this celebration that is impossible not to be realize that for so many we encountered, this was truly a dream come true that we were able to facilitate.

• The Eephus League points to some great Baseball photos from LIFE Magazine.
  
• Here is the Dodgers video from Andre Ethier's recent buying spree for 10 disadvantaged youths.

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