Vintage Spokesman: Dixie Walker Pitches Wheaties

Dixie Walker was "The People's Cherce" in the 40's. He was as popular as they come. They worshiped him on the field and sang his praises on the streets. Dixie was as loved as any ballplayer could be. On the other hand, his well deserved adoration was nothing compared to the nations number one breakfast meal, and Walker knew it. Check out this circa 1946 advertisement below.

"Talk about popularity," says Dixie Walker. "I'm voting all-time honors to Wheaties. They're the breakfast time favorites of many ballplayers I know- and they're my favorites, too. Wheaties solid nourishment and grand flavor make them my choice for starting breakfast about every morning of the year."

Daily Conlon: #170 Al Bridwell - The Reason McGraw was a Great Manager

Here is today's Daily Conlon card numbered #170 of Al Bridwell. He explains why John McGraw was such a great manager. As you may know, he was a longtime manager for the New York Giants. If you want to follow in McGraw’s inspirational footsteps as a team manager, check out Sports Management Colleges for related courses and training programs.

"The reason McGraw was a great manager- and he was the greatest- was because he knew how to handle men. Some players he rode, others he didn't. He got the most out of each man. It wasn't so much knowing baseball. All of them know that. What makes the difference is knowing each player and how to handle him."

The best part is when Bridwell describes punching out "Little Napoleon" (that was a knickname at the time) down the dugout steps.

eBay: Vintage Megaphone

Sometimes the best vintage collectibles are not the ones in the best of condition. Check out this vintage Los Angeles Dodgers cardboard megaphone, age unknown. It has been flattened as if sat upon by a happy fan, and I'm sure it has stories any fan would love to hear. Heck, I bet if you put your ear real close you can hear the roar of the crowd and Vin Scully in the background painting the story.

(Auction Link)

Blog Kiosk: 7/14/2011

This is purely a gratuitous pic. From TwitPic @miss_kateC87. Gotta love that she roots for the right team.

• Free agents wary of the the Dodgers, via Scoop Du Jour:

  Agent Scott Boras, who has a front-row seat at Dodger Stadium, agreed that the team could be a tough draw to prospective free agents this offseason: "What visiting players are saying to me is, 'It's different.' That spreads around the league," he said, the Times reports. "L.A. was always a place where there were 40,000 fans in the stands. The Dodgers were always one of the top-five teams in spending. In the player community, both of those dynamics have changed. Players are shocked by it."

• Dodgers television ratings are down, via Sports Business Journal.
  
• Listen to a SABR 41 convention talk between current and former Baseball GM's, here. Dodger GM's Fred Claire, Dan Evans and current Padres GM Jed Hoyer are included.
  
• Here is another SABR 41 talk with Former Dodgers Tommy Davis and Al Ferrara. Listen to a recording here.
  
• Here is Scott Boras's keynote speech from the SABR 41 convention, here.
  
• Ducksnorts writes about his experience at the SABR convention in Long Beach recently.
  
• Check out this great story about Dodgers peanut vendor Ronnie Nelson at the LA Times. He is 80 years old, and has been hawking peanuts for 53 years.
  
• Dodgers Nation puts together the top 5 Vin Scully moments.
  
• Check out this list of the Southland Baseball All-Star team put together at the SABR 41 convention, here. Something I did not realize- no other state in the union has produced more Major Leaguers than California.
  
• Former Dodger Wes Parker was at the SABR 41 convention. Check out this video below. (From the SABR website)

Video Link:

2011 Allen & Ginter Dodgers- Base Cards

The most anticipated Topps Baseball card set of the year is clearly Allen & Ginter. Collectors flock to the set because of its storied history as a knock-off of a late 19th Century tobacco set of the same name. Topps has incorporated the original design and concept with their own artistic flashes to make a annual set that everyone likes to collect to some degree. Like its vintage forbearer, it consist of stars from all walks of life, not just Baseball players. As proof of its popularity, even with the official released being today, numerous cards have already sold on eBay for huge bucks. Heck, a Manny Pacquiao autographed card just sold for $575 today, a wood "1 of 1" mini of Pacquiao sold for $400, a Josh Hamilton RIP card sold for $475, and a complete mini set sold for $379.99.

Anyway, there are 7 Dodger cards in the base set and 1 short printed high numbered card. Also, like in years past there are numerous parallel cards to chase after. All of the cards below are the normal base cards, with exception of the Furcal- which is a mini version.

#28, John Lindsey - RC
#77, Rafael Furcal

#106, Jonathan Broxton

#124, Chad Billingsley

#125, Clayton Kershaw

#127, James Loney

#226, Andre Ethier

The Matt Kemp card below is special and strange for a couple of different reasons. First, it is a short printed high number card. All cards numbered 301 to 350 are short printed. Secondly, it is a "Crack the Code" parallel card. What is that, you ask? Well, for several years, Allen & Ginter runs a "Crack the Code" contest where a special prize can be won by using certain cards in the set to decipher something. Since puzzles are not my forte (SOSG, you should be all over these), I never pay attention to this. Anyway, check out Kemp's card below. BTW, the code is the designs on the corners. What it means, I do not know.

#310, Matt Kemp, short print