New Commercial Featuring Clayton Kershaw for ESPN SportsCenter

ESPN has always had a knack for creating clever and funny commercials.  This new one features our very own Clayton Kershaw.  Watch it below.

When Clayton Kershaw is bored at work, everyone is in danger.

Video Link:

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Rollie Fingers Could've Been a Dodger?

I learn new things everyday.  For instance, while looking through the SCP catalog I came across a vintage Dodgers uniform connected to a future Hall of Famer who I was not aware had a Dodger connection.

Well, let me clarify that.  This man never played for the Dodgers, but he did give up one of the most dramatic home runs to a Dodger in team history.

Rollie Fingers was a highly sought after pitching prospect out of Southern California in the mid-60's.  He had attended high school in Upland and spent a semester at Chaffey Junior College in Rancho Cucamonga. 

As you can imagine, with Fingers right in the Dodgers backyard they naturally chased after him.  So, in 1964, at the age of 17, he was invited to the Dodgers rookie training camp and impressed the brass.  So much so, that they offered him a contract with a $20,000 signing bonus.  In addition, Rollie took home the vintage Dodgers jersey featured in this post - although it's unclear if it was actually given to him, or if he decided to take a five finger discount. 

At that point, Rollie Fingers weighed his options and did the unthinkable- especially at the time.  He decided to pass on the Dodgers, instead opting to take a lower bonus to play somewhere else.  Why would he do that, you ask?

Well, the Dodgers were well stocked with premium starting pitching already (Koufax and Drysdale) and had a good stockpile of talent ready to come up (Sutton and Bill Singer were in the wings), so he reasoned that his path the the Majors would be slowed if he signed with the Dodgers.  I don't know if that rationale is necessarily true - after all, talent trumps all.  Nevertheless, on Christmas Eve in 1964 Rollie Fingers signed a contract with the Kansas City Athletics for $13,000. 

At this time, the uniform is on auction at SCP with a current bid of $2,144. 

(auction link)

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Blog Kiosk: 4/24/2013

Check out the winning photo for the MLB FanCave Dodgers photo contest taken by Despina Kritiko above.  She got a free trip to NYC to the MLBFanCave.  Here is a pic with her there.  Pic provided by twitter @Dodgers.

• Jon Heyman at CBS Sports sits down with Stan Kasten.

 “If we hang on,'' he declared at one point, “we can still have a good season.''

• Via Paul Casella at MLB.com, "(Charley) Steiner living a dream as Dodgers voice."

"This is all I ever wanted to be when I grew up. I grew up in New York, the first game I ever went to was at Ebbets Field, the first voice I listened to and wanted to emulate was Vin Scully," said Steiner, who stopped by the MLB.com headquarters to field questions from fans via social media and a live video stream inside the Edward Jones Chatting Cage. "I always wanted to be the Dodgers' announcer, but then they moved when I was 8 years old and my childhood dreams were dashed.

• It nice to get two wins in a row.  One more and we got a streak!  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Mark Ellis Powers Dodgers to 7-2 Win over Mets."
• "Carl Crawford: 'I don't think I smiled' in two years in Boston," via Paul White at USA Today.

"It's been awhile since I had this feeling, no doubt," he says. "Since 2010 with the Rays. It feels good just to feel like my old self again. I'm enjoying every day of it, I'll tell you that."

• Via Phil Wallace at LA Observed,

"With nearly three weeks of the season gone by, I'm convinced that the Dodgers should trade manager Don Mattingly to the Angels for manager Mike Scioscia."

• Via Kim Tong-hyung at the Korea Times, "It's Up to Ryu." 

So the once-mighty Dodgers rotation is suddenly reduced to Kershaw and a number of unproven options. It’s critical for the team that Ryu steps up to the occasion because Boston Red Sox wash-up Josh Beckett and ailing veteran Ted Lilly can’t be described as reliable.

• How rough has our pitching woes been?  Well, Ken Gurnick at MLB.com writes, "Dodgers to Us Eight Starting Pitchers in First 20 Games."

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Kings Announcer Bob Miller

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.

It appear to be a slow weekend for autograph hounds.  The below Bob Miller signing is the only event I am aware of.  If you know of any others please let me know.

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Kings Hall of Fame announcer Bob Miller is doing a book signing tomorrow, Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 7:00 PM.  Get more information here. 

In Tales from the Los Angeles Kings Locker Room, Bob Miller, the voice of the Los Angeles Kings, shares 40 years of Hollywood hockey with fans, reminding them of the highs and lows of Los Angeles hockey. This is a must for hockey fans.

Barnes & Noble Bookstore
The Grove at Farmers Market
189 The Grove Drive Suite K 30
Los Angeles, CA 90036

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