Some Vintage Dodger Snapshots Found on eBay - 1971 Dodgers Photo Day

The best part about eBay is finding unique, one-of-a-kind memorabilia items.  The best of which are often fan-taken photographic snapshots of your favorite team.  Recently, while perusing eBay I came across a set of 10 photos that fit this description.  See the auction here.

Check out some photos that appear to be from a Photo Day at Dodger Stadium.  According to the seller, they are from the 1971 season.

I'm amazed at how sparse the crowd is.  Nowadays, Photo Day is crowded and often mind-numbing experience.  These pics make it seem like a walk in the park.

(Auction Link)

Below is Pete Mikkelsen.  He was a relief pitcher for the Dodgers.

(Auction Link)

Below is Jose Pena.  He also pitched out of the pen.

(Auction Link)

Below is coach Carroll Beringer.  Carroll spent nearly his entire professional career within the Dodger organization.  He played in the minors from 1946 to 1960 (never getting a cup of coffee), then became a batting practice pitcher from 1961 to 1966, and finally a coach for Walter Alston from 1967 to 1972.  In 1973 he moved to the Philadelphia Phillies.

(Auction Link)

Below is Dodgers pitching coach Red Adams.  He served in that capacity from 1969 to 1980.

(Auction Link)

Al Downing is featured below.  He was the Comeback Player of the Year in 1971.

(Auction Link)

Who else could #11 be but Manny Mota.

(Auction Link)

Here is another photo of Pete Mikkelsen.

(Auction Link)

Rookie pitcher Bob O'Brien is below.  This would be the only year he would pitch in the "Bigs".  He would be traded by the Dodgers at the end of the season to the Baltimore Orioles in a deal that brought Frank Robinson to LA.

(Auction Link)

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Collection: A Mike Scioscia Sports Stars Collectors Coin

Adding to the my recent bounty, I also received the featured coin in the lot of Dodger memorabilia that I recently purchased on eBay.  This item was included with the Don Drysdale Club 53 mug, Jackie Robinson comic and Mondesi figurine that I recently wrote about.

I've never pursued an item like this for my own collection.  I guess I'm just not much of a coin collector.  Nevertheless, it's a nice little item that will find a good home in one of my binders.

It is about the size of a half-dollar and is from a 1992 set called Sports Stars Collector Coins that was produced by a San Juan Capistrano, CA company called Diamond Promotion.  There are 50 coins in the set, and 5 Dodgers are represented.  The other Dodgers are Orel Hershiser, Ramon Martinez, Eddie Murray and Darryl Strawberry.  I won't be actively seeking out the rest of the set, but if I stumble across one I wouldn't be disappointed.  Check out a complete checklist here.

BTW, these coins are fairly inexpensive.  They should only cost a few dollars a piece.

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Blog Kiosk: 8/9/2013 - Dodgers Links - RIP, Joshua Jones

The August edition of Dodgers Magazine features Clayton Kershaw wearing his All-Star jersey and the cover story is highlighted by his fellow All-Stars talking about Kershaw’s dominant pitching.

• RIP, Joshua Jones. I have to tell ya, this really pulled at my heartstrings.  I'm thankful that Kemp and the rest of the Dodgers were able to ease his pain and provide to him a lasting joy.  Joshua really seemed like a good kid with a big heart.  I hope all of Dodger nation takes a moment to remember him. 

• Here's a nice story about Hyun-Jin Ryu's interpreter, Martin Kim at Chosun Media.
• Check out photos from Ryu's game last night via Naver.com.
• The 10th issue of Dodgers Playbill features Dodger outfielder Andre Ethier sporting the Dodger Knit Cap giveaway (August 13 vs. NYM).  See it on the right.
• "Gordon repays Mattingly's confidence," via Chad Thornburg at MLB.com.
• BTW, during this coming Sunday's Viva los Dodgers celebration before the game, Ricky Nolasco will be signing free autographs - starting at 3:05 PM for about 1/2 an hour.
• "Dodgers finally fulfilling the formula," via Arash Markazi at ESPN.

"I think we always knew we were capable of doing something big," Mattingly said. "When we left spring training, we talked about 100 wins. That was our goal. I don't even know what our record is right now. I don't know if that's possible." 

• This is really awesome.  Via Open Culture, "The 10-Minute, Never-Released, Experimental Demo of The Beatles’ “Revolution” (1968)"

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