Rockies Series Starts Tomorrow - Scheduled Autograph Sessions, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts this evening against the Colorado Rockies, and several former Dodgers are scheduled for an photograph session with fans.  Below are the scheduled autograph opportunities and other odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

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Friday, April 17th at 7:10 PM
RHP Kyle Kendrick (1-1, 6.00) vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 5.84) 
SNLA/AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Tonight's game starts at 7:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 4:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 5:00 PM.  It is Friday Night Fireworks, so fans will be able to go down onto the field after the game to watch the spectacle.  The evenings theme is Coachella 2015 and DJ Earworm is the producer of the show.

The cast of Super Troopers will be coming in character as Thorny (Jay Chandrasekhar), Mac (Steve Lemme), Farva (Kevin Heffernan), Foster (Paul Soter), and Rabbit (Erik Stolhanske) to throw the ceremonial first pitch and announce the Dodgers’ starting lineup. Singer and former “American Idol” contestant Elliott Yamin will perform the national anthem.  There will be a stilt walker in the left-field plaza and a DJ ADM in the right-field plaza from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Dodger alumnus Mickey Hatcher will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 5:00 PM. to 7:00 PM. 

• The Military Heroes of the Game are U.S. Army Sergeant Marco Garcia of San Fernando and U.S. Army Specialist Michael Rodriguez of Delano. Garica earned his Airborne Wings at Fort Benning and has served in Iraq, Afghanistan and in a humanitarian mission to Haiti, receiving numerous awards for his various missions. He is currently stationed at Fort Irwin. Rodriguez served one year overseas at Camp Humphrey in South Korea and a four-month deployment to Turkey. He is currently stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring more than 25 signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions will take place behind the Vin Scully press box on the club level. The items up for auction on Friday include a Yasiel Puig autographed photo, Joc Pederson autographed baseball and Clayton Kershaw autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 8:45 PM.

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Saturday, April 18th at 6:10 PM
RHP Jordan Lyles (1-0, 2.25) vs. RHP Zack Greinke (1-0, 0.69)  
SNLA/AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Saturday's game starts at 6:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 3:30 PM, and stadium gates open at 4:00 PM.

Jimmy Kimmel heroes Tom Artiaga, Moses Gonzalez and Arturo Meza will throw the ceremonial first pitch. Country music singer and former “The Voice” contestant Michael Austin will perform the national anthem.  DJ ADM will perform in the right-field plaza, DJ Lady Sha in the left-field reserve plaza and acoustic guitar duo Everett Coast will be in right-field reserve plaza.

Tommy Lasorda and author Colin Gunderson will hold a book signing from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM at the New Era Store in the Right Field plaza.  Dodger alumnus Al Ferrara will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 4:00 PM. to 6:00 PM.

• The Military Heroes of the Game are U.S. Army Sergeant Juan Segura Jr. of Wilmington and U.S. Navy Petty Officer Ronald Paniagua of Monrovia, who are brothers-in-law. Segura has participated in Combined Resolve with NATO forces in Europe and Stony Run exercises with British forces. Paniagua has served in three deployments including Operation Unified Protection and Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Sunday, April 19th at 1:10 PM
RHP Eddie Butler (1-0, 1.64) vs. RHP Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 6.75)
SNLA/AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Sunday's game starts at 1:10 PM.  Auto gates open at 10:30 AM, and stadium gates open at 11:00 AM.

This is the first Viva Los Dodgers event of the season.  It is at the historic 76 station and begins at 11:00 AM.  Fans are encouraged to arrive early as a special Dodger guest  Adrian Gonzalez will make a special appearance from 11:00 AM. to 11:30 AM. Dodger alumnus and broadcaster Manny Mota will sign autographs from 11:00 AM. to 12:50 PM. Musical entertainment will be provided by Latin Grammy-nominated Trio Ellas and Mexican regional artist Jesus Mendoza.

Grammy-nominated producer and DJ Steve Aoki will throw the ceremonial first pitch. Aoki, a longtime Dodger fan, will also present a DJ set on top of the Dodger dugout prior to the game.  RedOne recording artist Ericka Guitron will perform the national anthem.

Dodger alumnus Lee Lacy will sign autographs in the left-field pavilion from 11:00 AM. to 1:00 PM.

• The Military Hero of the Game is U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Sahagun of Santa Clarita. Sahagun joined the Army as an emergency department physician and commissioned officer. He was deployed multiple times serving in Bosnia and twice to Iraq.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) conducts silent auctions throughout the season featuring more than 25 signed pieces of memorabilia from Dodger players, coaches and alumni. Auctions will take place behind the Vin Scully press box on the club level. The items up for auction on Friday include an Adrian Gonzalez autographed photo, Zack Greinke autographed baseball and Howie Kendrick autographed Dodger jersey. The auction will end at 2:45 p.m.

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The Complete Jackie Robinson Deluxe Doll Set from 1950

With Major League Baseball celebrating the career of Jackie Robinson this week I thought this recent find was timely.  It's also incredible!

While rummaging through eBay I came across a listing that had my eyes glowing. Featured is a complete and practically mint 1950 deluxe Jackie Robinson doll display package; complete with every original item enclosed.

You can see the original doll in fantastic condition, the hanging tag, original cap and shoes, jacket (which you never see in this condition), bat, pocket baseball game, cardboard infield display and the original box.

It had a huge price tag on it, so it went unsold - $5,500.00.  It's far pricier than other Robinson dolls I've run across, but it also happens to be one of the best representations of the collectible I've ever seen.

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Scans of the 1950 Jackie Robinson Comic #3

I'm far from done with sharing scans of my vintage Jackie Robinson comic collection.  After all, there's still four more to go.  Featured here are scans of book #3 released in September of 1950.  Directly below are links to the other comics I've scanned and shared so far:

UPDATE:  Directly below are links to the other Jackie Robinson vintage comics I've scanned and shared:

• 1950 JR Comic #1 (the first half) - Link
• 1950 JR Comic #1 (the second half) - Link
• 1950 JR Comic #2 (complete scans) - Link
• 1950 JR Comic #3 (complete scans) - Link 
• 1950 JR Comic #4 (complete scans) -Link
• 1951 JR Comic #5 (complete scans) - Link 
• 1951 JR Comic #6 (complete scans) - Link

Click on any pic to embiggen.

Ice Cube Means Business - He Can't Watch the Dodgers Either

Don't get him mad 'cause he'll go crazy on ya.

As many of you know, Ice Cube is a huge Dodger fan.  He's been a frequent guest at games and even put together a Dodger anthem in 2013, so he's no fair-weather follower.  So, when word recently leaked out that he too could not watch his beloved team on television you knew he'd be out for blood.  Heck, he said as much in a recent sit-down interview with Conan O'Brien.

 "Ya, I'm about to kick somebodies ass."

Watch it below.

Video Link:

Pic above via Tommy Lasorda on twitter:

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2015 Topps Museum Baseball - Dodger Autograph and other Scarce Cards

Here is a final look at the Dodger cards found in packs of 2015 Topps Museum.  Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.  Featured below are the autograph and various other scarcities available in the set.

Archival Autographs

#AA-AG Adrian Gonzalez               #AA-CK Clayton Kershaw

Blog Kiosk: 4/16/2015 - Dodger Links - Rachel Robinson, Jimmie Rollins and other News

Last night was, indeed, a special evening at Dodger Stadium.  All of the pomp and circumstance you'd expect from the host of the Civil Rights Game on Jackie Robinson Day was there, but amplified.  After all, it was like a homecoming, of sorts.

Rachel Robinson was there and she was glowing like a beacon of light sprung from the Blue heavens above.  She brought with her a legacy that was born out of an desire to break down the walls that separated us all, and in the process helped change the country in ways unimaginable at the time.

This evening was an sforzando to a coda that is far from ending.  She came to Los Angeles with the reverence of all who attended, and we watched to remember the sacrifices that were made.

The best and possibly most surprising news of the evening was the announcement that a Jackie Robinson statue will soon be erected at Dodger Stadium.  Via Barry Bloom at MLB.com, Rachel said this:

"How do I feel? I've been waiting, waiting for years and years."

It's about time, eh?

The photo above is of Rachel Robinson with Dodger shortstop Jimmie Rollins, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out even more pics from him from last night.  They are fantastic.  Below are some more links to check out:

• Jimmie Rollins wrote a special piece for Sports Illustrated fror Jackie Robinson Day.  Check it out here.  It's titled, "A special day to be a Dodger: What Jackie Robinson Day means to me."

I always thought it was special to be a black player on the Dodgers. I was even a little envious of those guys, especially on Jackie Robinson Day. I used to think how awesome it was not only to wear his number 42 on your back but also his team’s name across your chest, and how that was something I would love to do one day. Being in Philadelphia for so long—14 full seasons—I didn’t think it would ever happen, but it will on April 15. Putting on Jackie’s uniform, in my first season with Los Angeles, will be a powerful moment for me.

He also expressed his excitement at meeting Rachel Robinson, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"The real cool thing for me was that I got to meet Rachel Robinson," Rollins said of Robinson's widow, an active participant in the pregame ceremonies at age 92. "I talked to her and thanked her for everything. It was a real honor."

• Via Chris Lamb at ESPN, "Two who tried out before Jackie Robinson."
• Night Owl Cards proves once again why he is one of the best sportscard... No, strike that... One of the best bloggers in the business.  Check out his fantastic post titled, "'A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives'" here.
• Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew, "Jackie Robinson remembered in outer space by astronaut Terry Virts."
• Awesome!  In the Belly of the Beast profiles a stereotypical Giants fan known as "The Hipster."
• Via Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports, "Diamondbacks had nothing to do with fan covering up Dodgers blue."  

• Panini released preview pics of the 2015 Elite Baseball set; including the Joc Pederson card on the right.  Go here to check out the other preview photos.
• The Dodgers made a move yesterday to bolster their relief depth, via a recent press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today claimed left-handed pitcher Ryan Dennick from the Reds and designated left-handed pitcher David Huff for assignment. Dennick, who is on the 40-man roster, has been optioned to Double-A Tulsa.

Dennick, 28, has gone 27-31 with 18 saves and a 3.88 ERA in 210 career minor league games (26 starts) in seven seasons and saw his first big league action last season with Cincinnati, appearing in eight games. Dennick has made two relief appearances for Triple-A Louisville this year, allowing three runs (two earned) in 2.2 innings, and was selected by Kansas City in the 22nd round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Tennessee Technological University. 

 BTW, reliever Carlos Frias was recalled to join the Dodgers on the 25-man roster.

Frias, 25, last pitched on Friday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, picking up the win and allowing three runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings against Round Rock. The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder made four Cactus League appearances (one start) for the Dodgers this spring, allowing six runs in 8.0 innings, and appeared in 15 games (two starts) for the club last year in his first big league action.

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