Weekend Autograph Opportunities: AC Green & CJ Wilcox

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.

---------------------------

A couple of professional basketball players will be signing autographs at the Grand Opening of a Dick's Sporting Goods store at the Antelope Valley Mall in Palmdale.  Go here for information.

• On Saturday, October 3 from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM former Laker great AC Green will be meeting with fans.
• On Sunday, October 4 from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM current LA Clipper CJ Wilcox will be meeting with fans.

Dick's Sporting Goods - Antelope Valley Mall
1301 W Rancho Vista Blvd
Palmdale, CA, 93551
(661)225-8019

Hat Tip: Crave the Auto

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

The 1958-60 LA Dodgers Premium Pictures by Volpe

I am very happy to have these photos to share.  As I had written in the past, this is one of the scarcer team issued memorabilia items ever produced by the Dodgers. So scarce, in fact, I've never actually seen the complete set, and I'm willing to bet that neither have many of you. Featured in this post are photos of the entire 1958-1960 LA Dodgers Premium Pictures set.

These photos were provided by a vintage Dodger collector named Eric from Santa Maria, and he promises more pics of other rarities.  So, stay tuned for that.  In the meantime, I wanted to send a quick note of thanks to Eric for passing these along. 

As you maybe can tell, these pencil-styled portraits were originally drawn by famed artist Nicholas Volpe.  He is well known to sports memorabilia collectors for his prints and thermal tumblers used as promotional items at various gas stations throughout the country.  Check out the other Dodger Volpe print sets here: 1962, 1969 and 1982.

The portraits measure 8" x 10" and were sold as a complete sets at souvenir stands at the Coliseum.  BTW, from what I understand the makeup of those sets sold in games varied with the comings and goings of the players.  So, a set sold in 1958 likely had a different checklist than the one sold in 1960.  Overall, there are 16 different Dodger portraits available.  Also, all of the portraits are blanked back; with exception of the Roy Campanella.

As for a value for a complete set, I really don't know.  They very rarely show up for sale, and I just can't fairly provide a value for them.  My trusted 2002 SCD Standard Catalog of Cards indicates that a Near-Mint set is valued at $750.00 and can drop to $225.00 in Very-Good condition.  From time to time, individual copies show up on eBay so if you run across one I would check it out.

BTW, the cream of the crop of these portraits is clearly the Vin Scully/Jerry Doggett drawing.  You can see that one at the very bottom.  My catalog considers it a common (priced at $30 in Mint condition), but I would be willing to bet a Mint example would sell for a huge premium today. At the very top of this post is the Roy Campanella portrait and its reverse.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

Check out pics of the rest of the set below the fold:

Blog Kiosk: 10/1/2014 - Dodger Links - Dodgers and Kings in SI

Guess who'll be on the cover of this coming weeks Sports Illustrated?

My two favorite players from my two favorite franchises will be featured in next weeks west regional issue of Sports Illustrated - Clayton Kershaw and Anze Kopitar.  BTW, you shouldn't worry about the SI curse.  Per JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, Adam Wainwright, our opponent in the NLDS and the Cardinals ace, is featured in the central regional issue cover.

Go Dodgers!

Go Kings Go!

OK, now that I got that out of my system check out some links below:

• Via Chad Thornburg at MLB.com, "Gordon cleared for Game 1 after right hip irritation."

"I think people are making more out of it [than it is]," Gordon said. "It's just really close to the playoffs, and I need to be at the top of the lineup for us. It is what it is. You guys will see, I'll be out there Friday night."

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "The top myths about the 2014 Dodgers."  Jon does his best to knock these down.
• The Guggenheim empire just keeps growing.  The Dodgers have renewed their relationship with KLAC for radio broadcast and also acquired an equity position (an ownership stake) in the network.  A few weeks back they purchased a piece of their AAA club - Oklahoma City RedHawks.  That's what I call vertical integration.

“We are looking forward to expanding KLAC’s content in this new partnership for our passionate and loyal fan base,” said Dodgers President & CEO Stan Kasten.  “We will be teaming up with the fantastic creative team at iHeartMedia on a number of projects and initiatives, to enhance our fans engagement.  And what better team to tell the story than from broadcast talent of Vin, Rick and Charley.”

• GCRL let me know that a Marcus Thames (remember him?) 2011 Topps Diamond embedded card is up on eBay, here.  The seller is asking $5k; which is obviously unrealistic.  If I remember correctly the Kershaw All-Star diamond card sold for under $300.00.  See a photo of the Thames card on the right.
• It looks like Dodger Penguin had a great year.  Check out his 2014 season with the Dodger in Pictures, here.
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Dodgers not holding grudge over hit batters."

“We’ve had all year long if we wanted revenge or anything like that,” Mattingly said. “We’re trying to win games. It’s really not a concern if somebody gets hit. You can’t go to the plate worrying about getting hit. You can’t go to the mound thinking, ‘I’ve got to hit somebody and establish.’ We all come to play.” 

• Matt Kemp has been named the National Leagues Player of the Month for September.  Via a Dodger press release:

Kemp led the Majors with nine home runs and tied his Dodger teammate Adrian Gonzalez for the Major League lead in RBI with 25, while leading the NL with 63 total bases and 21 runs scored. The 30-year-old slugger posted a .322 batting average (29-for-90) down the stretch, clubbing seven doubles and slugging .700 - the Senior Circuit's second-highest mark.

The photo of Kemp below was taken by Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014 yesterday afternoon during the teams first workout of the postseason.  Go here to check out more pics from the day here.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *