Weekend Autograph Opportunities: LLLUUUUUUCCCC!!!

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.

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I wanted to first note that auditions are being held this Saturday for aspiring singers at Dodger Stadium for National Anthem duties.
Here are the details:

WHAT: The Dodgers will hold Red, White and Dodger Blue National Anthem Auditions this Saturday and performers will be chosen to sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” at home games this season. One participant will be selected to sing the national anthem at the Dodgers’ first home game in Los Angeles, as they take on the Angels next Tuesday, April 3. Entry and parking for the Red, White and Dodger Blue National Anthem Auditions will be free.

• Stadium gates open at 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., with auditions occurring until 6 p.m. on a first come, first serve basis
• All performers are encouraged to bring a DVD with their rendition of the National Anthem and a resume
• Please note that based upon attendance, not all performers will have the chance to audition before 5 p.m. in which case, singers will be considered based upon their DVD submission. We'll draw three people from those submissions to perform at Dodger Stadium during the season
• Performers will be asked to sing a cappella and will begin at "rockets' red glare"
• The auditions are free to all ages. Performers under the age of 18 are required to be accompanied by a legal guardian
• Each performer is allowed to bring one friend or family member with them inside of the stadium gates

** Performers are encouraged to bring in-ears or headphones to help with the acoustic delay**

Go here for more details. And GOOD LUCK!

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If you can't carry a tune then why not get an autograph of former Laker Robert Horry at Frank & Sons in the City of Industry on Saturday. See the flyer below, and a link here.

Horry will be signing from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

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Can you ever beat free autographs from a Southern Californian legend and Hall of Famer. Former Kings left winger and current Kings President of Business Operations, Luc Robitaille, will be in La Mirada for a free autograph session. See the flyer below and a link can be found here.

Details:

Sunday, April 1st; 10 am - 12 pm
Living Spaces
14501 Artesia Blvd
La Mirada, CA 90638
(714) 228-1164
Only one autograph per person.
Autographs available as time permits.
Line will be limited to 300 guests.
Hat Tip: LA Inspiration

Mears Auction: A Couple of Vintage Dodgers Photos

Here are a couple of great photos from Mears monthly auction featuring some old-time Dodgers.

This is a first generation press photo from the archives of The Sporting News. Below is Don Drysdale, from 1964, doing some running during Spring Training.

(Auction Link)

Here is another Sporting News press photo featuring a couple of current and a future Dodger first baseman.

Los Angeles Dodgers first basemen Frank Howard and Gil Hodges share repetitions with young prospect Gil Hodges Junior at the Dodgers spring training camp in 1960.

I don't think Junior could have better tutors than these two guys.

(Auction Link)

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training- Game 29

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.

Milwaukee Brewers (11-14-2) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (12-11-4)

Friday, March 30, 2012 – 1:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch - Glendale

LHP Chris Capuano vs. Francisco Rodriguez

Spring Game 29/Home Game 14

Split squad games today.

Todays Starting Lineup for the game at Camelback Ranch:

Dodgers: Hairston LF, Sellers SS, Kemp CF, Ethier RF, Rivera 1B, Fields 3B, A.J. Ellis C, Joe Becker 2B, Capuano P.
Brewers: Weeks 4, Gomez 8, Braun 7, Conrad 5, Lucroy 2, Gamel 3, Izturis 6, Aoki 9, Rodriguez 1.

Todays Starting Lineup for the other game in Mesa:

Dodgers: Gordon SS, M. Ellis 2B, Loney 1B, Uribe 3B, Gwynn LF, Angle CF, Cruz RF, Treanor C, Nieve P.
Cubs: DeJesus RF, Barney 2B, Castro SS, LaHair 1B, Soriano LF, Stewart 3B, Byrd CF, Soto C, Dempster P

Upcoming Spring Training Schedule:

(Eddie Vedder and Johnny Ramone visit Dodger Dugout, pic via twitter @PearlJamOnline)

• SPLITSVILLE: The Dodgers will play two games this afternoon with split-squads battling the Brewers at Camelback Ranch and the Cubs on the road in Mesa. Los Angeles and Milwaukee split their previous two meetings this spring with the Dodgers winning 7-6 on March 20 in Glendale and losing 7-1 on Sunday in Maryvale. The Dodgers lost the season series 2-4 to Milwaukee last season and the clubs will get their matchups underway early in the 2012 campaign with meetings from April 17-19 at Miller Park and May 29-31 at Dodger Stadium.

• HURLERS: LHP Chris Capuano will make his fifth Cactus League start this afternoon after allowing two runs in 5.0 innings in his last outing on Saturday against the Indians. The 33-year-old spent seven seasons in the Milwaukee organization from 2004-10, going 44-48 with a 4.34 ERA in 139 games (120 starts) with the Brew Crew. Capuano is 1-1 with a 3.29 ERA this spring and has limited opposing hitters to a .231 batting average (12-for-52) with 15 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. He will be followed to the hill by:

  ● RHP Jamey Wright will tie Josh Lindblom for the team lead with his ninth appearance of the spring today after allowing one run in 1.0 inning on Tuesday against the Padres in a spot start. That same day, the 37-year-old had his contract selected by the Dodgers and was added to the club’s 40-man roster, essentially making the club as a non-roster invitee.

  ● RHP Todd Coffey has seen his ERA balloon to 8.53 after allowing a two-run homer in his 1.0 inning of work on Wednesday against the Giants and has allowed runs in three of his last four appearances. Coffey pitched three seasons in Milwaukee from 2008-10 before spending last season in Washington and went 7-8 with a 3.52 ERA in 156 games with the Brewers.

  ● RHP Matt Guerrier will make his third appearance of the spring after a back injury kept him off the mound since his last appearance on March 11 against the Cubs.

  

(pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• ROSTER UPDATE: Following yesterday’s game, the Dodgers released non-roster invitees OF Cory Sullivan (.289 batting average in 22 games) and C Josh Bard (.111 average in 14 games) from their minor league contracts. There are currently 37 players remaining in Major League camp, including Rubby De La Rosa and Blake Hawksworth, who are on the 60-day disabled list.

• THREE DOWN: The Dodgers lost their third consecutive game yesterday, falling 3-1 to the White Sox. Juan Uribe posted his second multi-hit game of the spring, going 2-for-3, and A.J. Ellis drove in Los Angeles’ only run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Aaron Harang continued to impress in his fifth Cactus League start, allowing just one run and striking out six in 6.0 solid innings.

• FOLLOW THE LEADERS: Dee Gordon (six games) and Andre Ethier (eight games) both had their hitting streaks snapped yesterday, but have been two of Los Angeles’ hottest hitters this spring. Gordon ranks among the NL leaders in batting average (.385, 5^th), steals (10, 2^nd), runs (13, T-3^rd) and on-base percentage (.458, 6^th). Ethier is tied for the league lead with eight doubles and three triples, is tied for fifth with 36 totals bases and leads the Dodgers in average (.390) and slugging percentage (.878).

  

(pic via Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012)

• SING FOR THE FENCES: The Dodgers will hold Red, White and Dodger Blue National Anthem Auditions tomorrow starting at 9:00 a.m. at Dodger Stadium to select performers to sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” at home games this season. One participant will be selected to sing the national anthem at the Dodgers’ first home game in Los Angeles, as they take on the Angels next Tuesday, April 3. Interested performers can find more information and download the participant waiver at Dodgers.com/Anthem.

• LEAVE THE LIGHT ON: The Dodgers will pack up and leave Arizona for Southern California following Sunday’s game against the Diamondbacks at Camelback Ranch – Glendale. The Freeway Series against the Angels gets underway on Monday night in Anaheim (7:05 p.m.) with games on Tuesday night (7:10 p.m.) and Wednesday afternoon (12:10 p.m.) at Dodger Stadium. Fans can get their first in-person look at the 2012 Dodgers by visiting Dodgers.com or calling 866-DODGERS.