Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 2/7/2013

During the building of Dodger Stadium a heavy rainfall in 1962 prompted the Dodgers to use KMPC's radio traffic helicopters to dry the mud.  Pic via @Dodgers on twitter.

• Check out Dodger Talk with Jorge Jarrin as he speaks with Chris Capuano.
• Mike Petriello at MSTI notes that Capuano might be our best option for the bullpen.
• Check out Clayton Kershaw's Arise Africa! blog for some newly posted photographs from his recent visit to the orphanage he sponsors.
• SCP Auctions will be selling items from Steve Garvey's personnal collection in April, via Sports Collectors Daily.  Wow!
• The Brooklyn Atlantic CDV that received some headlines last month just sold at auction for $92,000, via Mike Oz at Big League Stew.  Strangely, the Buyer is an unknown person in the hobby and claims to be buying it as a investment for a sick son, which I find truly shocking.
• Wow!  Check this out.  At Slate, they feature a Baseball that was initially found in 1862 at Shiloh during the Civil War.  The article also speaks of a new online Baseball Museum called 'The National Pastime' that will be unveiling some Baseball memorabilia on Opening Day.
• Arguably the most attractive ladies in sports, watch the 2013 LA Kings Ice Crew Calendar Shoot.

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: The Long Beach Expo, Compton Cummunity Day, and RaiderFest

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.

-------------------------

Starting tonight til Saturday, the Long Beach Convention Center will be hosting the Long Beach Expo.  This is one of the longest running collector conventions in the southland.  Historically, they have always focused on coins and stamps, but of late they have been trying to bring sports collectibles into the fold.  Last year, there were only a handful of Baseball card dealers, and I suspect there will be the same number -if not a little more.  Still, there are some notable guest signers; such as Magic Johnson and Jerry West.  Go here for details.  BTW, admission is $8, but is free to Collectors Universe Collectors Club members, Set Registry participants, and PCGS CoinFacts subscribers.  Go here for that information.

Location

Long Beach Convention Center
100 South Pine Ave
Long Beach, CA 90802

Show Hours  

Thur. and Fri.: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sat.: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed Sunday

Magic Johnson, Jerry West and Laffit Pincay, Jr. will be there on Saturday to sign autographs.

Session Times: (Saturday, February 9)
12 p.m.	Laffit Pincay, Jr.
12 p.m.	Jerry West
1 p.m.	Magic Johnson

Session Prices:
$29	Laffit Pincay, Jr. signature
$99	Magic Johnson signature
$99	Jerry West signature
$179	Magic Johnson and Jerry West combination rate
$25	Inscriptions

-------------------------

In celebration of Black History Month, Compton Community Day will be held at the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton.  On top of that, numerous Baseball greats and dignitaries will be there.  Below are the particulars.  I do not know if any autographs will be available, but with Frank Robinson in the house, how can you not give it a try?

Where:

Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy
El Camino College, Compton Center
901 East Artesia Blvd.
Compton , California 90221
310-763-3479

When:

Sunday, Feb. 10
11:00 a.m. – Welcome and introduction of VIPs and sponsors
11:30 a.m. – Youth Baseball Skills events – Hosted by Compton College baseball team
Girls Softball games – Hosted by MLB UYA coaching staff
Baseball Basics – Hosted by area high schools
2:00 p.m. – MLB UYA ceremonies
2:30 p.m. – Negro Leagues Tribute Game

Who:

MLB Executive Vice President of Baseball Development and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson; three-time World Series Champion Manager Tony La Russa; MLB Urban Youth Academy Manager and former MLB All-Star Don Buford; former MLB All-Star Jim “Mudcat” Grant; MLB UYA coach and former MLB All-Star Ken Landreaux; MLB Vice President Youth and Facility Development and former Angels catcher Darrell Miller; former Negro Leagues player Simon “Pops” Peters; Compton Mayor Eric J. Perrodin; NAACP President-Compton Chapter Paulette Simpson Gipson; NAACP Vice President-Compton Chapter LaTanya Ganter; Compton College President Dr. Keith Curry; L.A. Southwest College President Dr. Jack Daniels; L.A. Southwest College Vice President Ferris Trimble; and Compton Unified School District school board members. Performing the national anthem at the 11 a.m. ceremony will be China Anne McClain from the Disney Channel original series A.N.T. Farm and the McClain sisters.  

 -------------------------

This Saturday is also RaiderFest at Frank & Sons.  Check out the below flyer's for information, or go here for details about autograph prices.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

A Bunch of Oddball Dodger Items from eBay

Lately, I've found myself window shopping on eBay.  Most of the time, I look for vintage Dodger cards to add to my collection, but lately I've been looking out for the weird and unusual.  I guess you can say that I love the oddball stuff.  It's great to find value in something that isn't likely to be worth a lot, but would sure look great in my collection.  Below are some items that I think would qualify.

(eBay link)

Featured here is a circa 1970's cardboard mobile.  I love the cartoon caricatures of the Dodger players, and the thought that this kind of item might have been used to indoctrinate a young child into the Dodger family.  I say, start the kids young! 

(eBay link)

Below is another item from the same seller.  It's a circa 1970's Dodgers notepad.  Inside are various cartoons sure to provide a smile.  Check them out below.

(eBay link)

(eBay link)

(eBay link)

(eBay link)

And finally, check out the greeting card below.  The seller claims it is from the 1950's, and was made by Klever Cards.  I've never seen this item before, so I know nothing about it.  Nevertheless, I found it hilarious- even as it seeks to make fun of Dodger fans.

(eBay link)

(eBay link)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

MLB FanCave Contestant Interview with Jeremy Dorn

This is my second post focused on the 2013 MLB FanCave.  As many of you already know, the MLB FanCave is back for a second season.  Currently, there are 52 Baseball fan contestants remaining, and out of that number there are 3 verified Dodger fans vying for a chance to immerse themselves into the game.  They will eventually whittle it down to a final 9 with the help of fans like you.  Go here to see them all.  Voting ends next week.

Since I am fanatically pro-Dodger, I thought it would be interesting to hear directly from those folks who want to represent us.  Yesterday, I shared an interview with FanCave contestant Thomas Aaron Roberts.  Check out that interview here.  Tomorrow, I'll have up Mark Fabrick.  But, todays special feature interview is with Dodger fan Jeremy Dorn.  See his FanCave voting here.

Twitter: @Jamblinman
Facebook: JeremyDornMLBFanCave
Featured columnist at Bleacher Report: profile
Blog/Podcast: Three Up, Three Down

Above are his particulars, and below is my informal email interview provided in full.  I asked the same question to all three contestants; with exception of the last one (which was meant to be a little fun).  BTW, Jeremy has been extremely active on Reddit.  In fact, later this evening he will be doing a AMA 'Ask Me Anything'.  Go here to check that out.  Anyway, on to the questions.

So, Jeremy why should this Dodger fan trust you to represent the Dodger faithful at MLB's FanCave?  What would you say are your Dodger fan bona fides?

I have a unique back story as a Dodgers fan. My parents were both raised in Southern California and moved up to the San Francisco Bay Area before I was born. But my dad, being a diehard Dodgers fan, was not going to let his firstborn root for the rival Giants he had despised his whole life. So I've been born, raised, and am still living in the enemy's den -- Giants country. Because of that, I have a great perspective on the rivalry itself and have spent most of my baseball fan life explaining why the Dodgers trump the Giants, all while in a hostile environment. If I can survive 24 years here wearing Dodger Blue, I think I can be a great representative in the Fan Cave for this team. Despite the distance, I make multiple road trips down to L.A. to catch game