2012 Dodgers Promotional Schedule Announced

The promotional schedule for the 2012 Dodgers home season has just been announced (see it here online), and its a doozy. Wow! Here are the highlights:

• 10 Bobbleheads! 10!!!! Only one player has been announced, and its Sandy Koufax (Aug. 7 vs ATL).

  The unprecedented Dodger Stadium Greats Bobblehead Series, which includes 10 total items scheduled throughout the 2012 season, will feature some of the most unforgettable Dodgers in Los Angeles history. The Dodger legends that will be featured will be unveiled leading up to Opening Day at Dodger Stadium, which is Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 1:10 p.m. versus Pittsburgh.

• A Matt Kemp replica jersey.
• Oh Boy! Another Hello Kitty giveaway.
• A replica Dodger Stadium statue.
• A Jackie Robinson sweatband- for kids only.
• 2- $1 Dodger Dogs Nights.

There is also a notation for a Clayton Kershaw giveaway on April 11th, but specifics are not provided. I would be willing to bet this is a CY Young Award related giveaway since its presentation will happen then. Maybe it will be a mini- CY Young plaque or a mini statue of Kershaw's hand holding a Baseball. I dunno. I'm merely speculating.

One thing is for sure, the Dodgers appear to be going all out this coming season.

Blue Heaven in Transition

You may notice some difficulty with the blog. I recently just purchased a dedicated website domain and, unfortunately, it will take a day or so (hopefully not much longer) for everything to transition over.

The new website domain will be at: http://www.dodgersblueheaven.com/ So, please change your bookmarks. Of course, you probably don't need to since I've been told that the old site address should automatically redirect to the new address.

Anyway, some timing on my part, eh? Kemp is likely to be announced the MVP and this transition mucks up my writing of that just a bit. Oh well, who said change was easy?

Thanks for your patience.

Blog Kiosk: 11/21/2011

James Loney hanging out with Charlie Sheen at a charity poker tournament. (pic via Twitter: @JamesLoney_7)

• Check out some childhood photos of Clayton Kershaw and Matthew Stafford, here . (Hat Tip: Dodger Thoughts)
  
• Dodger Bobble took a trek down to El Cajon for Tony Gwynn's signature.
  
• Feelin' Kinda Blue puts up his list of 50 top Dodgers prospects.
  
• ESPN asks their Dodgers writing staff, 'What's Next for Matt Kemp.'
  
• Dodger Media Hearing Canceled, via ESPN.

  The judge was to hear arguments Tuesday on whether to postpone a Nov. 30 hearing on approval of the Dodgers' proposed sale process. But the hearing was canceled Monday without explanation.

• Summer Anne Burton of Every Hall of Famer has a gallery of Dodger players up on ESPN.
  
• Matt Kemp speaks with Beats TV about his new contract and the importance of music in his life.
  
• Tommy Lasorda will be speaking at Davidson College in North Carolina on November 30th in benefit of the Davidson Athletic Foundation. Details here at Cornelius News.net.

  Tickets for “An Evening with Tommy Lasorda” are $30. A limited number of seats are available for Davidson students at $20.

• You must watch this series on Vimeo called Ikea Heights. It was filmed entirely at the Burbank Ikea without the stores knowledge. Awesome, just awesome! Go here.
  
• Lily just shreds.

Video Link:

Panini Black Friday Update

As I had written about last week, Panini is stepping into the Black Friday madness by sponsoring their own promotion at local stores/ hobby shops throughout the country. This is the first time a card manufacturer has been involved in this kind of effort for collectors. So, hobbyist should find this pretty exciting. Just to provide a refresher, here is some background on how it will work:

The program will operate just like our show-exclusive wrapper-redemptions do, but in your local shop. We’ll send special Black Friday-only redemption packs to all participating hobby shops. Those collectors who go into their shops on Black Friday and purchase designated products will receive an equivalent number of Black Friday packs in return.

Packs may include everything from exclusive cards from the Black Friday set to relic/autograph cards of athletes from all 4 major sports. Now, you are probably wondering, where can I go to get in on the fun? Well, Panini just released a preliminary list of stores. Below are shops in California you can visit. For a complete list go to Panini's website here. More stores could possibly be added over the next few days. As always, be sure to call your closest shop to confirm.

California
A Card Connection, Newhall 9132
Alameda Cards & Comics, Alameda 94501
Baseball Card Company, Granada Hills 91344
Baseball Cards & Memorabilia, Rohnert Park 94928
Bases Loaded, Fresno 93711
Best Variety, Glendora 91741
BJ’s Cards & Collectibles, Sonora 95370
California Card Co., Elk Grove 95624
DJ’s Collectibles Shoppe, Hanford 93230
Games & Cards, Eagle Rock 90041
Golden State Coins, Eureka 95501
Heroes Sprotscards, Sacramento 95822
Illusive Comics & Games, Santa Clara 95051
J & R Sportscards, Chico 95926
Lefty’s Sports Card Store, Burlingame 94010
Legacy, Glendale 91203
MVP Pleasant Hill, Pleasant Hill 94523
Orange County Sportscards, Anaheim 92804
PJ Sports Center, Chula Vista 91911
Press Boxx, Visalia 93277
Rancho Bernardo Sports, San Diego 92128
RJ’s Sports Cards, Daly City 94015
Sharp Corners Cards, Monterey 93940
South Bay Baseball Cards, Lomita 90717
Sports Source, Burbank 91503
Sports Source 2, Studio City 91604
Talkin Baseball, Danville 94526
Teammates Cards, Carmichael 95608
Valley Baseball Card Shop, Tarzana 91356
Websters Sportscards, Fresno 93702

Gilliam Pitches RC Cola

Here is a unique advertising tear sheet featuring a relaxed and debonaire Jim Gilliam found on eBay. He looks well rested with a bottle of RC Cola. He says, "RC is the cola I drink because RC taste so good." I don't doubt him. RC is one of my favorites, also. This sheet was created in 1955, so I wonder if he was hired after his World Series saving catch. Certainly, it made him a more recognizable player to fans. Anyway, it is a great collectible and may be one of a kind. How many of these could possibly exist?

(Auction Link)