Thursday, April 05, 2012

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: 2012 Baseball EXPO- Card Show and Exposition

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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The biggest event of the weekend is the 2012 Baseball EXPO in Anaheim on Friday and Saturday. It is being held at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel and features everything from a card show, autograph guest, interactive fan zone, Baseball skills clinic, Silent Auction, Seminars and a live taping of the Sports Memorabilia Road Show. Heck, you can even get a chance to hold one of Babe Ruth's bats. Go here for more information. General admission is $10.00.

Leaf Trading Cards company will be giving out an exclusive 3-card trading card set commemorating the Angels World Series victory over the Giants in 2002. Garrett Anders, Tim Salmon and Scott Spezio will be featured, and only 2002 copies of each one are being produced. Attendees will receive only one of the cards.

Memory Lane Auctions will have a booth, and will feature a game-used bat once used by Babe Ruth. Fans will be able to pick it up and maybe take a swing. I also expect they will have many vintage Baseball cards on display; including a T206 Honus Wagner.

As for the autograph guest, below is a listing of those scheduled to appear:
Friday, April 6th
Rex Hudler
Friday 10:00am - 11:00am
Steve Garvey Friday 11:00am - 12:30pm
Bobby Grich Friday 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Scott Spiezio
Friday 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Saturday, April 7th
Tim Salmon Saturday 10:00am - 11:30am
Garret Anderson Saturday 12:30pm - 2:00pm
Dave Frost Saturday 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Ken Forsch TBD
Jay Johnstone TBD
Clyde Wright TBD
A complete schedule of events can be found here.
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If the Packers are your team then Frank & Sons Collectibles show on Saturday should be your destination. See the flyer below. They will be making their appearance from 11:30 Am to 2:30 PM. Also, Marv Fleming (of Super Bowls I, II, VI, VII, VIII, and a member of 1972's Dolphins "Perfect Season" team) has been added to the autograph list. I am uncertain what the cost will be. Some details can be found here and here.

Opening Day!

Welcome to the best day of the year.

The Dodgers face off against the Padres in San Diego this afternoon at 4:05 PM. If you're so inclined, there is a Dodgers viewing party at Dodger Stadium this afternoon. Go here for details. Ron Cey will be signing free autographs starting at 4:00 PM. Game is on FoxSports.

Here is the final 25-man roster to start the season.
Starting Pitchers (4): Clayton Kershaw (L), Chad Billingsley, Chris Capuano (L), Aaron Harang

Bullpen (8): Todd Coffey, Scott Elbert (L), Javy Guerra, Matt Guerrier, Kenley Jansen, Josh Lindblom, Mike MacDougal, Jamey Wright

Catchers (2): A.J. Ellis, Matt Treanor

Infielders (6): Mark Ellis, Dee Gordon (L), Adam Kennedy (L), James Loney (L), Justin Sellers, Juan Uribe

Outfielders (5): Andre Ethier (L), Tony Gwynn, Jr. (L), Jerry Hairston, Jr., Matt Kem, Juan River
Ted Lilly and Ivan DeJesus Jr. have been placed on the 15- day disabled list, and Ronald Belisario is on the restricted list.

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Tonights Opening day lineup, via @Dodgers on twitter is:
SS, Ellis 2B, CF, Ethier RF, Rivera LF, Loney 1B, Uribe 3B, Ellis C, Kershaw P
The Padres will be countering with the below lineup, via @FollowThePadres on twitter:
Maybin 8, Denorfia 9, Headley 5, Guzman 7, Hundley 2, Alonso 3, Hudson 4, Bartlett 6, Volquez 1.

After Game Watch Bloomberg Game Changers: Magic Johnson

The timing couldn't be more perfect. After todays Opening Season game between the Dodgers and Padres, be sure to head over to Bloomberg TV for a special 2-hour event focused on the Dodgers sale and its face- Magic Johnson.

It all starts at 8:00 PM PST tonight with the show "The Big Deal" hosted by Trish Regan.
Join Trish Regan, Bloomberg sports business writer Scott Soshnick and Bloomberg "Sportfolio" host Rick Horrow to learn about the successful $2 billion deal and hear from special guests including Miami Dolphins owner and Related Companies CEO Steve Ross, former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda and Chris Bevilacqua, former chairman & CEO of CAA Sports Media Ventures and co-founder of College Sports Television.
Then at 9:00 PM PST they will premier "Bloomberg Game Changers: Magic Johnson" which will look at his post basketball career as an entrepreneur.

Watch a preview, here.

Guest include:
*Magic Johnson
*Basketball legend Jerry West and Magic's Laker teammate and close friend Michael Cooper
*Legendary agent and CAA co-founder Michael Ovitz
*Peter Guber, CEO of Mandalay Entertainment and fellow Dodgers buyer
*NBA Commissioner David Stern
*Tim Leiweke of AEG, which owns part of the Lakers, along with the LA Kings & LA Galaxy
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BTW, you need to check out Jon SooHoo's blog post featuring photos taken by Dee Gordon. I think he might have found a second career after his time on the ballfield. Below, Juan Uribe smiles while wearing an ironic t-shirt.
(Pic via Dee Gordon/ LA Dodgers)

2012 Topps Museum- Dodger Base Cards

To much applause, Topps released their super high-end Baseball card set called Museum Collection yesterday. It's has a nice simple design. There is solid white everywhere with a ornate double-line frame around an action photograph.

Here are the Dodger base cards within the 100-card base set. Four Dodgers are featured.

Clayton Kershaw, #17

Matt Kemp, #23

Sandy Koufax, #78

Jackie Robinson, #82

This particular Robinson card is a parallel limited to only 199 copies. Notice how the Brooklyn medallion at the bottom center is green instead of the typical grey.

Topps also commissioned a 48 painting set and produced a insert set out of it called the Canvas Collection. As a added bonus, a group of 10 original paintings of each player are randomly inserted in packs.

Jackie Robinson, #CC-18

Duke Snider, #CC-35

A Starlet Curse? Kemp Is Rumored to Be Dating Eva Longoria


With plenty of folks wondering if we should be worried about Matt Kemp's high strike out rate this spring, I know it's only just a matter of time for the latest dating rumors to take a life of their own. It was reported by Larry Brown Sports that Matt Kemp and Eva Longoria left the game together after Tuesdays game.

How quickly will memories of Rihanna enter into every Dodgers fans mind if Kemp slumps early this season?

Frankly, I think Eva was there to say hello to her other favorite Dodger.