To follow up on my previous post from last week featuring a wonderful personalized Christmas card from Jackie Robinson to Gil Hodges, here are some more great Dodger related memorabilia items found at Legendary Auctions.
With Spring Training in its opening days this below photo comes to us in the nick of time. It features Sandy Koufax with as big a grin as you can imagine. It is from March 18, 1964 during a Spring Training game against the Mets. Sandy was having a great Spring that year. He had just fanned 7 batters in a row, and obviously was elated with how things were going.
Brooklyn had its charm. From the loudest mouth (Hilda Chester) to the most raucous band (The Sym-Phony Band), Brooklyn was like a carnival without the big top. To prove that point, the team had a mascot, played by Emmett Kelly, who was literally a "Bum." He was a clownish version of a homeless person who would roam around Ebbets Field to entertain the masses. Below is a 1957 photo of Emmett Kelly at the stadium. By this time the Dodgers were well on their way out of New York, so I imagine the frown on his face was truly heartfelt by the fans in Brooklyn.
This is just a real nice example of daybill movie poster from Australia of the 1950 movie "The Jackie Robinson Story."
I'm sure I've highlighted one of these in the past, but I figure one more time can't hurt. This is a Los Angeles Examiner award given to Yankee Elston Howard for his participation in the May 7, 1959 exhibition game at the Coliseum in honor of Roy Campanella.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Day 1 Spring Training Report
I just got this update from the Dodgers reporting on "Day 1" of Spring Training. Much of this is already old news.
SPRING FLING: Pitchers and catchers took the field for their first official workout this morning as the Dodgers opened their third Spring Training at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. All but one of the 30 pitchers (10 non-roster) and all six catchers (two non-roster) reported yesterday with Ronald Belisario as the lone pitcher yet to report.
IT’S TIME FOR DONNIE BASEBALL: Don Mattingly addressed the club’s pitchers and catchers this morning and then supervised his first workout as manager of the Dodgers. The 49-year-old will become the 27th manager in franchise history (ninth in Los Angeles) after coaching for seven seasons under Joe Torre. As a player, Mattingly batted .307 with 222 homers and 1,099 RBI in 14 seasons with the Yankees, earning nine Rawlings Gold Gloves, six All-Star selections, a batting title (1984, AL) and a selection as the 1985 American League Most Valuable Player.
LET’S PLAY CATCH: In addition to their fielding drills, four of the five members of the Dodgers’ starting rotation threw bullpens today with Jon Garland, Clayton Kershaw, Hiroki Kuroda and Ted Lilly taking the hill. Newcomer Blake Hawksworth introduced himself to the Camelback Ranch mounds along with bullpen ‘mates Kenley Jansen, Vicente Padilla and Ramon Troncoso. Rookies no more, John Ely and Carlos Monasterios began their quest to make the Major League roster along with 2010 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Rubby De La Rosa and non-roster hurlers Wilkin De La Rosa, Mike MacDougal and Tim Redding. Dana Eveland was scheduled to pitch, but was injured during running drills.
AT THE POLLS: Online voting to determine which Brooklyn Dodgers throwback uniform the team will wear in 2011 concludes tonight with the results being announced on February 25, the day before single-game tickets go on sale. Over 40,000 votes have been cast at Dodgers.com/throwback and the polling will continue until midnight to choose between the three different uniform options that the team will wear for six half-price food and drink afternoon ballgames during the season.
DROP THE KER-TAIN: Yesterday, Dodger Manager Don Mattingly announced his plans to have soon-to-be 23-year-old Clayton Kershaw take the hill on Opening Day, March 31, against the Giants. At an age 23 years, 18 days, Kershaw would become the youngest Dodger Opening Day starter since Fernando Valenzuela in 1983, who took the hill at 22 years, 5 months, 4 days. Kershaw would also become the first lefty to make an Opening Day start for the Dodgers since Valenzuela’s final season-opening start in 1988, which opened the club’s march to a World Series title.
ON THE BASES: Matt Kemp reported early to camp and wasted no time acquainting himself with First Base Coach Davey Lopes for some baserunning pointers. Lopes joins the Dodger coaching staff after four seasons with the Phillies and will serve as the club’s baserunning and outfield instructor in addition to his on-field responsibilities. From 2007-10, Lopes coached the Phillies to a Major League-best 84.3 cumulative stolen base percentage (501 SB/93 CS) with the club leading the Majors in that category in each of his four seasons, including a big league single-season record of 87.9% (138 SB/19 CS) in 2007.
JAM SHOT: This Saturday at 7:00 p.m., Dodger Stadium will host Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam for the first time in stadium history with tickets available online at Ticketmaster.com. The transition from mounds of dirt to a pristine field of green will begin on February 24 and the grounds will be ready to host the Giants and Dodgers on Opening Day.
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