Sixth Annual ThinkCure! Weekend to Take Place August 9th to 11th

For the 6th straight year, the Dodgers main charity takes center stage the weekend of August 9 to 11 during the home series against the Tampa Bay Rays.  Get more information about the festivities here. 

“The Los Angeles Dodgers are committed to making a difference in our community,” said Dodger President Stan Kasten. “As part of our Health and Wellness focus, the Dodgers are continuing our partnership with ThinkCure! as we all work to fund research to find a cure for cancer.”

This year’s ThinkCure! Weekend events will include programming on the Dodgers’ broadcast partner stations throughout the weekend, Dodger player, coach and alumni participation, celebrity involvement,  in-stadium auctions, stories from cancer patients, survivors and their families, in-stadium recognitions and the ThinkCure! logo will be painted on the field. Also during ThinkCure! Weekend, Dodger ushers will be wearing ThinkCure shirts. The ThinkCure! auctions will include Dodger experiences, autographed Dodger memorabilia, gift certificates to Los Angeles area attractions and unique destination experiences.

And you can help from Dodger Stadium or from home by making a $10.00 donation to ThinkCure! by texting CURE to 50555.  Doing this will make a $10.00 donation through your mobile phone bill or you by making contributions online at www.thinkcure.org.

(pic via True Blue LA)

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 7/21/2013 - Dodgers - Newk Up to Bat, Kemp is Back and Dodgers in Lead for Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez

Check out this great vintage pic of Don Newcombe up to bat during the first game of the 1955 World Series.  Photo via Michael Beschloss on twitter.

• Welcome back, Matt Kemp.   He is back from the DL today.  Per a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today reinstated outfielder Matt Kemp from the 15-day disabled list and optioned outfielder/first baseman Scott Van Slyke to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Kemp is hitting .254 with four homers and 24 RBI in 61 games for the club this season and missed just nine games on the current DL stint with left AC joint inflammation . Earlier this year, the 28-year-old missed 24 games on the 15-day disabled list from May 30-June 25 with a right hamstring strain.

Van Slyke was hitting .241 with six home runs and 14 RBI in 33 games this season with the Dodgers. 

• "Zack Greinke: Professional hitter," via Matt Snyder at CBS Sports.

Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke went 2-for-2 with a double Saturday night against the Nationals, meaning he's now hitting a robust .406/.486/.469 on the season.

• "Simple approach suits improving Ethier," via Andrew Simon at MLB.com.

"Let's just work on, every day go out there and get one hit and build from that one hit and keep building from there," (says) Ethier.

• While in Washington DC, brothers Scott and Jerry Hairston Jr. talk about growing up together, their annoying habits and more in a video provided by FoxSports West. 
• It's always good to know what the opposition is saying.  Troy Renck at the Denver Post writes, "Having top talent doesn't guarantee division title".

The defining moment will be how the Dodgers respond when Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig and Andre Ethier struggle. Ramirez never has won a teammate of the year award, Puig gave a curtain call before the game last Sunday illuminating that his assimilation needs work and Ethier has a volcanic temper unsuitable for umpires and Hallmark cards. Even if Matt Kemp walks through the Dodgers' clubhouse doors, he can't shoulder the burden with his aching shoulder.

• Peter Gammons believes that the Dodgers are in the lead for the services of Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez.

GM:"Word is Dodgers will go five years, close to $50M on (Cuban) Miguel Gonzalez. If so, he'll be a Dodger.:
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) July 21, 2013

• Eric Becker at Eric's Dodger Blog shares more videos from his trip to watch the Dodgers in San Fracisco.
• Sports Collectors Daily updates us on the Goldin Auction featuring a game-used Jackie Robinson bat.  It sold for $159,867.  Wow!
• Dan at Cards by Sooz tells us a bit about the cards made for the Senior Professional Baseball League over 20 years ago.
• Call me a little smitten.

@ernestreyes :)
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) July 21, 2013

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Sunday Dodger Videos: Kershaw, McGlothin Talks About Jackie and a 1979 Vintage Full Game Video Against the Giants

Here are this Sunday's Dodger Videos.

Clayton Kershaw joined the Dan Patrick Show to talk about the All-Star Game and the Dodgers’ season.

Video Link:

This is just awesome.  From KnoxNews.com we hear from Pat McGlothin who recalls his playing days with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson in 1949-50.

Video Link:

Darren Dreifort discusses playing baseball in Alaska with his brother and in Wichita.  Via the Anchorage Glacier Pilots Legacy Project.

Video Link:

Wow!  Photo Day was a mad house!  Stadium Bound captures Matt Kemp meeting with the fans in the video below. Here is a video he got of Hyun-Jin Ryu with fans.

Video Link:

Wow!  Check this out.  Here is a complete game vintage video of the Dodgers playing against the Giants from August 10, 1979.  Don Sutton started against Bob Knepper.  BTW, Don went all the way.

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *