Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: A Couple of Kings and a Clipper

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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LA Clippers Guard Jamal Crawford will be at the Kia of Downtown to meet with fans and sign autographs this coming Saturday, March 16th from 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM.
Kia of Downtown 
1945 S Figueroa St. 
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Hat Tip: LA Inspiration

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LA Kings Stanley Cup Champions Matt Greene and Dwight King will be at the Wells Fargo in Hollywood on Sunday March 17th to meet with fans and sign autographs from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.  See more information here.
Wells Fargo - Hollywood
2035 Hillhurst Ave.
Los Angeles, CA. 90027


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Here's a Recent Look at the Progress at Dodger Stadium

Earlier today, the Dodgers on twitter shared a photo of the construction crews installing a foul pole at the Dodger Stadium.  With Opening Day less than 3 weeks away, they must be in the process of putting in the final touches.  At least, I hope that is the case.
(pic link: @Dodgers)

Since I, like I'm sure many of you, am wondering how things are coming along at Dodger Stadium, I had to search YouTube to see if there was anything recent to watch.  Thankfully, Stadium Bound put up a couple of videos from Friday, March 8th.  They are testing out the new right field video screen in the video below.

Video Link:

In this second video, work crews are seen cleaning up the mud and bailing out water after the rain and snow that hit the Los Angeles area day before.

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 3/13/2013


Check out this great photo of Sandy Koufax pitching to Stan "The Man" Musial that was posted up on reddit the other day, via carver1976.  As noted by another poster, LetsGetRamblin:
9/17/63. Musial singling in the 7th. I noticed that the hit actually broke up a no-hitter, so I searched it, and found a description of the at bat in the book "Koufax" on Google Books. (Bottom of page 159.) Photo by Neil Leifer.
  • Via Dodgers historian Mark Langill, we learn that today is the anniversary of the day former Dodgers skipper Wilbert "Uncle Robbie" Robinson attempted to catch a Baseball dropped from a plane.  As the story goes, instead of a ball a grapefruit was substituted, so when Uncle Robbie caught it, it exploded.
  • FanGraphs shares their list of Top 100 Baseball prospects, and 4 Dodgers make the cut:  #91 Zach Lee #96 Chris Reed #97 Corey Seager #99 Yasiel Puig.
  • Forbes wonders if the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffet, would have paid as much for the Dodgers.
Walter and company had the option of purchasing the Houston Astros, a lackluster franchise but one in the fourth-biggest market in America. But Kasten said he and Walter agreed, “If something comes up with the Dodgers, we have to look at that much more seriously.” They feared they might have to pay $900 million. They later realized if they could do the deal for $1.3 billion it would be a bargain. But the bidding passed $2 billion and they had not reached their choking point. Only time will tell if the price was a good one, but early results point in their favor.
“It seems like he’s even sharper now,” Manager Don Mattingly said after the Dodgers’ 6-2 defeat to the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday at Goodyear Ballpark.

Beckett had another solid outing, limiting the Reds to a run and two hits over 4 1/3 innings. Beckett has a 0.96 earned-run average in three starts.
  • Listen to Dodger Talk with Kevin Kennedy and David Vasseg, here.  It's the March 12th edition.
  • Don Mattingly speaks with Mike Lupica at ESPN radio to discuss the Dodgers.  Listen to it here.
  • Just because I happen to be listening to their album as I write this.  Below is live footage of Joy Division playing She's Lost Control.

Video Link:

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Some Dodgers Spring Training Pics from Christian


Christian Haupt might be the luckiest kid in the world.  He had been running around Dodgertown West at Camelback Ranch last week, and provided some photos to prove it.  Check them out below.  BTW, feel free to check my post from last year featuring Christian as a 3-year old prodigy Baseball stud acting in an Adam Sandler movie. 

You can now call me envious.  Not only did he get Matt Kemp to sign a photo for him, but is that a base, as well.  Wow!

Now, I'm sure the next photo will have you all green with envy.  Christian's Mom tells me that they had an opportunity to spend some time with Vin Scully.

Then, Rick Monday let him sit in his seat.

Finally, the radio duo of Petros and Money decided to got into the act.

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