Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 1/16/2013

Matt Kemp recently chose to honor his grandparents with a large chest tattoo, and it is awesome.  The artwork was done by Jun Cha.  His website is here, and it includes more pics.  (Hat Tip: Lauren Lloyd of LAist)

• Dustin Nosler at Feelin' Kinda Blue puts together an exhaustive list of his 50 top Dodger prospects.  It's very informative.
• GCRL makes a bunch of 1982 Topps fantasy cards that should have been.  They are postseason championship cards featuring the 1981 Dodgers World Series champs, and they are awesome.
• Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA, writes a great biography on the other Dodgers lefty ace- Karl Spooner.
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, both Ronald Belisario and AJ Ellis have filed for salary arbitration.
• This sounds like another BS rumor.  Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times, we hear that the Dodgers have been thinking about adding Scott Rolen- which is strange since he is believed to be in retirement mode.  The money quotes is this:

 The team has not reached out to Rolen to gauge his interest, the person said.

Sounds like just another baseless rumor that is based upon speculative brainstorming rather than actual discussions with said player. 

• Angels announcer Victor Rojas shares a recent chat he had with Vin Scully.
• Don Mattingly recently spoke with Jay Mohr on AM570, and endorsed Jack Morris for the Hall of Fame.
• Check out a bunch of vintage photographs of Los Angeles here.
• Today is the 43rd Anniversary of Curt Flood's lawsuit challenging Baseball's reserve clause. Check out a video below.

Video Link:

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Meet Former Clipper Olden Polynice

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events 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.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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This appears to be the only sports related autograph signing for this coming weekend.  Former Clippers centerman Olden Polynice will be singing free autographs in Rowland Heights on Saturday, January 19th from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.  More information can be found here.

Optometry Practice of Dr. Alex Liu
19735 E. Colima Road, Suite 4
Rowland Heights, CA 91748

Hat Tip: Edgar at My Autograph Signings

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UPDATE:
This just came in.  If you are heading out to downtown LA on Saturday morning then you might consider this.  Via a tweet from the LA Kings.  Prior to opening game of the season at Staples Center both Marcel Dionne and Darryl Evans will be signing autographs.

(twitter link)

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A Panini Cooperstown Blaster Box Break

You know what's great about getting gift certificates for Christmas?  Being able to use them to buy some Baseball cards.  And this past weekend, I did just that.

I walked down the card collector aisle at my local Target and stumbled upon a blaster box of Panini's Cooperstown Baseball cards.  I knew right then what I wanted to buy.  I've been fascinated with the set ever since I wrote about it back in November (here & here).  Now, I have an opportunity to actually open some packs.  So, check out my booty in the pics above and below.

The best part about the set is the large number of Dodgers within it.  I pulled out a Jackie, a Walter, a Burleigh and a Campy.  Scans of both the front and reverse are shown in this post.  Click any pic to embiggen.

I had initially disliked the design of the base cards, but now that I held some in my hands, I have to say it is growing on me.  Below are some other non-Dodgers I pulled. 

I loved that they included a Hall of Fame umpire in the set, and I think it would be great if current umpires were included in future Baseball card sets - just so I can burn them when they make a bad call against the Dodgers. 

Below are some of the inserts I pulled.  Unfortunately, I didn't get any more Dodger players, but I did get a interesting wooden card of Reggie Jackson (bottom row, far left).

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