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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

WooHoo! Reports Now Indicate that a Deal is Done - Kershaw Signs for 7 Years


It is now being reported, originally by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, that the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw have agreed on a new 7-year contract for $215,000,000.00. 

That comes out to a bit over $30.7 Million per season.  Based on his typical 33 starts a year, that's $930,736 per start.

Per Ramona's story at ESPN:
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw have agreed on a seven-year, $215 million deal, sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com.

Kershaw has an out clause after five years.

It is the richest deal in Major League Baseball history for a pitcher, eclipsing the seven-year, $180 million deal Detroit gave Justin Verlander last winter.
So, what does his battery-mate have to say about it.  Via Bill Shaikin on twitter:


Strangely, I kinda agree.  Kershaw  (knock on wood) may very well be one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game. 

AJ Ellis had even more to say about Clayton on his twitter:


So, when will this become official.  Well, Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider has some news straight from the horses mouth.
Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten on negotiations with Clayton Kershaw: “I am hopeful that by Friday morning we will have an announcement.”
I can't wait!

BTW, in celebration I made the above fantasy Baseball card of Clayton.  WOOHOO!

UPDATE: Jon Heyman of CBS breaks down the contract details on twitter:
2014: $22m ($18m signing bonus, $4m salary)
2015: $30m
2016: $32m
2017: $33m
2018: $33m
2019: $32m
2020: $33m
And, after the 2018 season, Clayton can opt-out of the contract (a 5-year opt-out clause).  So, if he does so, then the Dodgers would have effectively signed him to a 5-year, $150 million contract.  That averages out to $30 million per year.

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A Kershaw Contract Around the Corner?


I know I shouldn't jump the gun here, but I am feeling increasingly confident that an extension for Clayton Kershaw is about to come down the pike.

After all, we had heard numerous complaints from Kershaw's side last year about keeping a lid on public leaks.  They wanted to keep negotiations private, and it had appeared that undesirable leaks several months back put a damper on those discussions.

Now, word is filtering through well known Dodgers personnel that, I have to think, received approval from Kershaw.  Per a tweet from Bill Shaikin of the LA Times on twitter:


Heck, this acknowledgement from Kasten has to portent to a soon to be disclosed contract.  I do not believe for a second that Kasten would allow his name to be directly connected to a comment like this unless a deal is basically done.  A framework for a new contract must have already been agreed to, and all they are doing now is cross their 't's" and dot their "i's".

Per recent media reports, an extension may be as long as 10-years and as much as $30 Million per.  It has also been reported that there will be some sort of opt-out clause. 

Zack Greinke's Dodger contract signed last winter allows him to opt-out after three years.

I predict that we'll get word of a new deal on Friday, if not sooner.  Hopefully, I;m not putting a jinx on things, eh.

UPDATE:  Ramona Shelburne os ESPN has just tweeted the following:


Wow!!!!  And here is Ramona's story at ESPN.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw have agreed on a seven-year, $215 million deal, sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com.

Kershaw has an out clause after five years.

It is the richest deal in Major League Baseball history for a pitcher, eclipsing the seven-year, $180 million deal Detroit gave Justin Verlander last winter.
Above pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.

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Baseball in the Philippines - A Vintage Baseball Postcard of a Filipino Team for my Collection


As some of you may know, I am of Filipino descent.  So, I naturally have a strong interest in learning anything I can about Baseball in the Philippines.

Unfortunately, the game is barely on the radar today.  Basketball and boxing has taken over the islands as its most popular sports.  Although, there is a league called Baseball Philippines that started up in 2007, and they did field a team for the WBC last year (but didn't get to the qualifying rounds).

The lack of Baseballs popularity in the Philippines has not always been the case, however.  In fact, the little research I've been able to do points to the islands as once being an Asian powerhouse for much of the early part of the 20th century.  Their national team had won the inaugural Asian Baseball Championship in 1954 against Japan.

In celebration of my heritage, I often search eBay in hopes of finding vintage Baseball memorabilia from the Philippines.  This is often a fruitless endeavor, but I am happy to declare that I recently won something that I want to share with you today.

Featured here is an early 20th Century (likely the late 1910's) postcard of the Cebu Island Baseball Team.  The caption at the bottom indicates that this team was the Champion Native Team of the Philippines.

I love seeing the old Baseball equipment; including the vintage gloves and uniforms.  I especially love the ties these lads are wearing.  It's so old school!

On the reverse, it shows that it was mailed from a Russell in the Philippines to a Ralph Fuller in Indiana.  The postage used is a circa 1917 Jose Rizal (a National hero of the Philippines) Philippines Islands/USA issued stamp.  The cancellation on the reverse is a bit confusing to me.  It appears to indicate a cancel date of 1913, but that can't be right.  Can it?  It's a bit smudged, so maybe my eyes are deceiving me.  All my research shows that the Rizal stamp was issues in 1917, not 1913.

Anyway, I wanted to share this with all of you.  If anyone happens to know anything about Baseball in the Philippines or have any sources I can peruse, please let me know.  My thirst for knowledge is rather insatiable.

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An eBay Find of a Vintage Statue Associated with a Dodgers Farm Team - the Clinton Owls

I find this 9.5 inch chalkware statue fascinating.  As you can see below, it is of a owl sitting on top of a Baseball.  Engraved is "The Owls", and the town of Clinton, IA.

But, what does this have to do with the Dodgers?

For those who do not know, Clinton, Iowa was the former home of a minor league club associated with both the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers.  From 1937 to 1938, the Clinton Owls was a Class B farm team for Brooklyn, and from 1977 to 1979 the Clinton Dodgers was a Class A team for Los Angeles.  You can check out the history of minor league clubs in Clinton, IA at this link at Baseball-Reference.  I had also previously shared a 1978 Clinton Dodgers minor league set that you can check out here.

This particular memorabilia item likely dates from either 1937 to 1938.  The Clinton farm team was only called "The Owls" while the Dodgers were associated with them in the late '30's. So, this statue is old, and likely scarce.  Also, this is the first time I've seen this statue.

Unfortunately, the seller on eBay had a huge opening bid price, so I wouldn't be taking it home.  Still, I thought it was worthy of pointing out on this blog.

Notable Dodgers who were a member of the Clinton Owls include their player-manager Clyde Sukeforth (1937), George Cisar (who played for Brooklyn in 1937), John Gaddy (Brooklyn in 1938), Bert Haas (who had a 9-year Major League career) and Sam Nahem (4-year Major League career).

Over the years, the Clinton, IA has hosted numerous MLB teams; including the Giants, Cubs, Pirates, White Sox, Rangers and Tigers.  Since 2009, they have been affiliated with the Seattle Mariners.
(auction link)

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Cecil Fielder, Julio Cesar Chavez and James Worthy

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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The new year had started off fairly slow, but now it appears that the autograph opportunities are about to ramp up.  Check out this what's going on this weekend, below.
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Cecil Fielder, possibly the largest slugger to ever excel in the game, will be signing autographs at the OC Dugout in Anaheim on Saturday, January 18th from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM.  Check out the flyer below.  Information can be found here.
The OC Dugout (owners of OCSportsCards.com)
1238 S. Beach Blvd., Ste. K
Anaheim, California 92804
(714) 527-6319

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On the very next day, OC Dugout will host boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez.  He will be in Anaheim on Sunday, January 19th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.  As I'm sure you noticed, the time of his signing has recently been changed.
The OC Dugout (owners of OCSportsCards.com) 
1238 S. Beach Blvd., Ste. K 
Anaheim, California 92804 
(714) 527-6319
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Frank & Sons in the City of Industry also has a signing on Saturday.  Previously, former Laker Elgin Baylor was scheduled to appear, but he has been cancelled.  James Worthy, though, will be there.  He will appear on Saturday, January 18th from 11:00 AM to 12:00 P.  Go here for more information, or here.
Frank & Son Collectible Show 
19649 E. San Jose Ave. 
City of Industry, CA. 91748 
Phone: (909) 444-7955

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Blog Kiosk: 1/15/2014 - Dodgers Links - Kemp Meets Clinton, Dodgers Fleece Blanket and Signing Kershaw?


Matt Kemp met with former President Bill Clinton yesterday to discuss kids and sports at the Clinton Health Matters Conference at La Quinta.  The pic above via Kemp's twitter. Ramona Shelburne at ESPN has more background, "Kobe, Bill Clinton talk youth sports".  (Hat Tip: Jon Weisman at Dodgers Insider)
"This may be the least active generation of young people in history," Clinton said. "The problem is that this can have lasting, damaging effects on all of them and actually wind up shortening their life expectancy. So we're doing this because there are simple solutions to this problem that will pay massive dividends."
  • Here's an early look at the Dodgers Fleece Blanket the Dodgers will be giving away to fans on Tuesday, April 22nd. See it on the right.
  • Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Rachel Robinson nominated for Shrine of the Eternals".
  • Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Clayton Kershaw & the price of doing business".  IT's being reported that the Dodgers and Clayton are talking about a 10-year, $30Mil per deal.
  • BTW, Brian Wilson has been chosen by the fans as the 2014 Fan Vote Bobblehead, via @Dodgers on twitter.  This bobblehead will be given out Thursday, June 26th.  See the full Dodgers promotional schedule here.
  • Mark Saxon at ESPN writes, "Would Dodgers steal Tanaka from the desperate Yankees?"
“The Yankees have the greater need, and maybe a little more pressure to sign Tanaka after learning they won't have to pay A-Rod in 2014,” Olney writes. “The Dodgers are perceived by some rival officials to be more shameless in their bidding, untethered to market prices shaped by other teams, and more driven by what they want.” 


  • Via David Brown at Big League Stew, "Before A-Rod: Steve Garvey took union to Supreme Court — and lost".
  • Via Bob Lemke, "American ballplayers caught in 1950 Venezuela police riot".  Former Dodger Clem Labine and 14 other Americans got beat up and mistreated by Venezuelan police following the assassination of Provisional President Colonel Carlos Delgado Chalbaud.
  • Chris Olds at Beckett shares some preview images of Topps 2014 Pro Debut Minor League Baseball card set.  Check out the Julio Urias card on the left.
  • Here's the most recent artist's rendering of the ice at Dodger Stadium.

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