Heroes Night Tonight

Following up on yesterdays solemn day the Dodger come home to begin their last homestand of the season by commemorating the heroes that serve to make this country and your community as great as it is.

Monday is Heroes Night at Dodger Stadium and members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Corrections Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles City Fire Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department will all be honored during pregame ceremonies. Representatives of each department will also throw out a simultaneous ceremonial first pitch and Los Angeles City and County Fire Department helicopters will fly over the stadium at the start of the game. The LAPD will present the colors and members of the United States Marine Corps will collect toys and donations for Toys for Tots at all Dodger Stadium entrances. The Veteran of the Game will be retired Army Sergeant First Class Robert Lowe and the kids who take the field with the players at the start of the game will all be the children of servicemen and women.

Also, the Dodgers will be honoring fallen Hawthorne Police Officer Andrew Garton.

From the American Heroes Benefit Group Website:

Andrew Garton, a seven year veteran of the Hawthorne Police Department died on May 26, 2011 from injuries sustained when his motorcycle crashed during the funeral procession of another fallen officer. He was the first Hawthorne Police Officer to ever die in the line of duty.

Andrew was born in San Fernando, California, and was a graduate of Antelope Valley High School. Inspired by Sergeant Shawn Shimono, a close friend for over twenty years, Andrew applied and was hired by the Hawthorne Police Department in 2003, and graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in early 2004. Andrew’s many accomplishments include his leadership as Vice President of the Hawthorne Police Officers Association, Treasurer of the Hawthorne Political Action Committee, a long time member of the Hawthorne SWAT Team, an accomplished Motor Traffic Investigator, and a member of the Department’s Honor Guard.

On top of that, Dodger Scout John Green will be on-hand during pre-game ceremonies in honor of his daughter Christina-Taylor Green.

Also as part of Heroes Night and to recognize the 10^th anniversary of September 11^th, Dodger scout John Green, whose daughter Christina-Taylor Green would’ve been 10 this September 11, will be at the game as Christina-Taylor is remembered during pre-game ceremonies. Fans wishing to support the Christina-Taylor Green Foundation or learn more about it can visit www.christina-taylorgreen.org

A Kershaw... Fake or Real... You Tell Me

I ran into something very interesting over the weekend on eBay. I've been wanting to add some cards with a Clayton Kershaw's autograph and came across this strange concoction. It is a 2009 Topps Tribute auto/ memorabilia card that just does not look right. Check it out below.

As many of you collectors know, there has been a little controversy brewing concerning cards that appear to have had their original jersey pieces removed and replaced with a much more desirable looking patch. Gellman at Sportscards Uncensored has been doing yeoman's work in helping collectors navigate through the swamp. Check out his SCU Scam School to learn more.

Anyway, the card below looks like one of those fakes. The autograph is obviously real (I don't have a problem with that), but the memorabilia piece has a jersey tag that I am very certain is not original. Of the hundreds of Tribute cards I've seen, not one has a uniform tag in it. Heck, not one has a actual patch in it. They have all included only a plain jersey swatch. So, what do you think? Is it an original or a poorly done Frankenstein piece?

(eBay Auction Link)

Daily Conlon: 298 through 306

Here are todays Daily Conlon cards numbered 298 through 306, and it features former Brooklyn Dodger Ed Brandt.

"Big Ed" Brandt spent only one season in Blue- 1936. He was traded to Brooklyn with utility player Randy Moore for future Hall of Famer Al Lopez and 3 other Brooklynites. He was decent on the mound for us, going 11-13 with a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts, but would be better known for a trade a season later to Pittsburgh. He was sent to the Pirates for Cookie Lavagetto. As you may know, Cookie became an All-Star for the Dodgers and a popular member of the team.

Collection: Steve Garvey WS Patch Collection Auto

I thought I would quickly share something from my collection. This is an over sized, 5x7 inch, World Series Patch Collection card featuring an example of the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers World Series patch and Steve Garvey signature. I'm not exactly sure what Upper Deck product this came in. All I know is that when I saw it on eBay several years ago I had to have it.