Blog Kiosk: 12/20/2011

Pic via @Dodgers twitter. From their recent dedication of their 19th Dodger Dream Foundation Dreamfield.

• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy announces that the Dodgers will be having a Fan Fest on May 19, 2012. This is great, but I don't think the Dodgers understand what a team fan fest is all about. Typically, most fan fest events are held during the off-season. (Check out info about the annual Giants Fan Fest from Feb. 2011) Current and former players attend, there are Baseball clinics, and fun games are available for fans to participate in. This proposed fan fest will be during the season on a day the Dodgers play a game at home. So, having current players on-hand will likely be limited. Also, I don't see how you can have clinics. Access to the field will be limited due to the home game, and you can't take up too much space in the parking lot. So, what gives? Of course, if they hold it somewhere else, then that is a different story.
• Happy Birthday, Branch Rickey!
  
• Chris Jaffe at Hardball Times has a nice story celebrating the 25,000 day anniversary of the conspiracy by Dodgers players to oust Leo Durocher in 1943.
  
• TMZ has a 911 call from the James Loney accident.
  
• Forbes reports on the Dodgers Bid Marketing Package.

  The banker said the sale book is “a piece of crap,” because of some information typically given in such matters was missing, such as net income.

• Ronald Belisario finally receives a visa and is expected to join the Dodgers, via Dylan Hernandez at LA Times.

  “He understand he has issues in the past, but he’s ready to go and get back to the major leagues.”

• A word of warning for any vintage card collectors. All vintage Christmas Rack Packs are fake. Topps never produced them. Likely, they were produced by a third party and sold in stores in the 60's and 70's. They should never be valued like vintage unopened material. Via The Topps Archives.
  
• Agate Type shares a great vintage pic of Hall of Fame Negro Leaguer Jose Mendez.
  
• The Rangers win the Yu Darvish sweepstakes and MLB Trade Rumors has a bunch of reactions.
  
• Cooperstown Chatter has a report on the Hall of Fame's recent tour to Puerto Rico.

  Understanding that baseball has the power to connect cultures, families and memories unlike anything else has never appeared more genuine than what transpired over the last four days. The people of Puerto Rico were so honored and moved by this celebration that is impossible not to be realize that for so many we encountered, this was truly a dream come true that we were able to facilitate.

• The Eephus League points to some great Baseball photos from LIFE Magazine.
  
• Here is the Dodgers video from Andre Ethier's recent buying spree for 10 disadvantaged youths.

Video Link:

1949 Brooklyn Dodgers All-Star Game Press Lighter

I didn't think this would be worth very much, but eBay proved me wrong. This is an original 1949 All-Star Game Ritepoint lighter that was given to the press. It is unused and in great shape. Heck, it even has its original box. As you can see, this game was played at old Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. It sold for a price of $202.50.

This particular game is notable since it was the first time black ballplayers participated in the event. Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe represented the National League, while Larry Doby played for the American League. On top of that, Jackie was the first black player to start the game.

(Auction Link)

Here is some vintage video from the All-Star Game below. There is no sound, but the view is wonderful

Video Link:

Kings Hire New Coach: Darryl Sutter

What a rough and tumble year this has been for my Kings. They came out of the gate as potential division favorites and possible Stanley Cup contenders only to stumble as scoring became nonexistent. Soon, they did the only thing they could do. They fired their coach. Now, it has been announced that the official replacement has been chosen and it is Darryl Sutter.

Sutter is a part of a hockey family that saw 6 brothers skate in the NHL. He is known as a tough coach with a propensity to scream and expect the most from his players. The Kings will not be getting the patient teacher they had in Murray, but will instead get a coach who will demand excellence at all times. It appears the Kings front office thinks a little bit of butt kicking is in order, and I couldn't agree more. They are too good to be playing this bad.

Here is a announcement I came across from their minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs.

The 53-year-old Sutter has a career head coaching record of 409-320-131 in 860 regular season games. He’s tied for 27th among all-time NHL head coaches in games (seventh among active coaches) and is tied for 24th all-time among NHL head coaches in wins (seventh among active coaches). Sutter’s teams have eclipsed the 40-win mark four times, 100 points twice and his clubs have finished in first place three times. He is also only one of nine head coaches in NHL history to lead three different teams to 100 wins. Only Scotty Bowman and Ron Wilson have coached four different teams to 100 wins.

Sutter’s teams have qualified for the postseason 10 of his 11 seasons. He led Calgary to Game 7 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals and Chicago to the 1995 Western Conference Finals. Overall he has a 47-54 record in 101 career postseason games. He’s tied for 19th all-time among NHL head coaches in playoff games (fifth among active coaches) and is tied for 24th all-time among NHL head coaches in playoff wins (tied for sixth among active coaches).