I Choose the Satin Uniforms

I think this is pretty exciting news. The Dodgers will be wearing "throwback" uniforms from the Brooklyn days for 6 home games this coming season. Better yet, the uniforms will be made of the same material as the vintage counterparts, and the fans get to decide which of 3 different uniform style the team will wear.

Dodger fans are invited to vote online for which uniform the players will wear beginning Monday, February 7 at 12:01 a.m. through Thursday, Feb. 17. Fans can visit dodgers.com/throwback to vote for one of three historic Dodger uniforms.

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The winning uniform will be announced on Feb. 25, the day before individual tickets go on sale to the public. The first date that the Dodgers will wear the throwback uniforms and offer half-price food and drink is on April 21 vs. the Braves, the anniversary of the franchise’s first victory, which also came against the Braves in 1890.

Half-price food and drink, including alcoholic beverages, will also be offered on May 4, June 15, June 22, August 10 and August 31. The Dodgers will wear the throwback uniforms in each of those games.

You all must choose the satin uniform from the 1940's- 1944 to be more exact. The original uniforms are so goofy they are great. See an example of an original below. Yes, they were meant to reflect under the lighted night sky. Here is the link that goes live in a couple of days.Below are the 3 different styles provided by the Dodgers.

1911 Brooklyn Uniform

The first of the three uniform options was worn by the Dodgers exactly 100 years ago. The 1911 road uniform features fine narrow pinstripes and the BROOKLYN name displayed vertically in small capital letters down the button panel. Known as the “Superbas,” the Brooklyn team wearing this uniform played its second-to-last season in 1911 at Washington Park .

1931 Brooklyn Uniform

The second option is the 1931 road uniform, which was the only variety of the 1930s uniform designs to sport a block capital “B” on the front of the jersey.

1940's Brooklyn Uniform

The third option is the 1940s “Satin” road uniform, which is blue and features the trim and DODGERS script in white. With the advent of night baseball at Ebbets Field in the 1940s, the original uniform used a highly reflective satin fabric to be more visible under the lights.

Some Campanella History from the Infinite Baseball Card Set

If you've been a regular reader of my blog then you know how much I love The Infinite Baseball Card Set blog. Not only does Gary create beautiful looking pieces of cardboard art, but he also has the gift of a storytelling historian. Even if you could care less about cards and collectibles, you will enjoy his stories. Check out today's post called: "Roy Campanella: The Goat of the '42 Pennant Race."

Since the beginning of America's entry in World War II, various factions, both black and white, had been clamouring for the majors to integrate. While most owners were vehemently against it, a few made hesitant overtures that they might be interested. The miserable Pittsburgh Pirates were one team that led some of the black sports writers on, seeming to agree to give a few black players a tryout. Campanella was one of those players chosen and although the Pirates backed out at the last minute, Campy began to understand his worth not only to a black baseball team, but to a white one as well. On the eve of the East-West Game the Cleveland Buckeyes were scheduled to play against a team made up of white all-stars who were serving in the Army and Navy. This was a great opportunity to show the country what kind of talent existed in the negro leagues and prove once and for all that blacks could play ball just as good as white professionals. The Cleveland management invited two Baltimore players, Roy Campanella and Sammy Hughes to join their team for the special game.

2011 Topps: The Lost Cards

Before I get to the Dodger base cards in the newly released 2011 Topps Baseball set I thought I would point out a couple of my favorite, so far, cards in it. It features a couple of throwback Cinderella insert cards of a couple of vintage Brooklyn Dodgers.

Both Duke Snider and Roy Campanella have cards in a limited insert set called "60 Years of Topps: The Lost Cards." It is a small set of just 10 cards of which two are Dodgers. All of these cards are fantasy productions of these players on a vintage Topps design that for one reason or another did not include the featured player. Also, each card has a parallel variation. There are two different backs- one with a original reproduction of the vintage back and a modern back describing the card.

Below is Duke Snider on a 1953 Topps design. As you vintage collectors know, there is no Snider in the 1953 Topps set.
One of the variation backs explains why below.

"Because of litigation between Topps and competitor Bowman, six '53 cards were never printed... There is no record of whom they were reserved for; Snider, perhaps, could have been one."

Here is Campanella on a Cinderella 1954 Topps design. He too never got a card from Topps this year. Presumably because of litigation with Bowman- there is a 1954 Bowman Campanella card.
Below are the two different Campanella "The Lost Cards" backs.

Blog Kiosk: 2/4/2011

The winter doldrums is about to end as the glory of Spring approaches. Of course, if you happen to be stuck in the snow then this might not apply to you.

Also, anyone know of a case break happening for 2011 Topps? I'd love to participate if I can get the Dodgers.

• I'm loving Tom Hoffarth's series called "The Tao of Vin Scully." He simply ask some well seasoned broadcasters what they can learn by simply listening to Vin. Here, he ask Bob Miller (the Kings broadcaster) that question.
  
• John Tudor, Baby! Check out GCRL recently received auto'd cards.
  
• ESPN writer Scott Turken shares his most prized childhood sports card. I've always wanted that card, but have never got around to tracking one down.
  
• With the Super Bowl comes the NFL Experience. Check on some pics and video here from Beckett and Panini, here, here and here.
• You've got to read Tom Owens story at Baseball By The Letters about sitting next to Johnny Mize during a card show.

  When a child in a wheelchair approached the table, having just an index card, Mize said, "Just a minute." He slowly, gently lowered himself (on two new surgically-repaired knees) to be at eye level with the young fan. "I want you to have this." Out came a 1952 Topps card. The real thing from the real "Big Cat."