Out of this World - Actually, Out of Dodger Stadium (videos)

As I'm sure you know by now, Gaincarlo Stanton accomplished something last night that only a handful of others had done.  In his first at-bat of the evening he belted a waist-high fastball that went up and over the outfield bleachers at Dodger Stadium.  This feat had only happened four times in the past by three different players since the stadium's opening, and I thought it would be fun to seek out videos of each one to share here.

First, below is a listing of the "out of the park" homers (including Stanton's drive from last night) at Dodger Stadium, via Dodgers.com:

• Giancarlo Stanton / Miami / 475 feet / Against Mike Bolsinger to Left field / May 12, 2015
• Mark McGwire / St. Louis / 483 feet / Against Jamie Arnold to Left-center / May 22, 1999
• Mike Piazza / Dodgers / 478 feet / Against Frank Castillo (Col) to Left field / Sept. 21, 1997
• Willie Stargell / Pittsburgh  / 470 feet / Against Andy Messersmith to Right field / May 8, 1973
• Willie Stargell / Pittsburgh / 506 ft., 6 in. / Agsinst Alan Foster to Right field / Aug. 5, 1969

As you can see, Pittsburgh great Willie Stargell did it twice during his career.  Below are the videos I was able to track down.  Unfortunately, I just could not find Mark McGwire's home run from 1999. (Strange, eh?)  If you know where it is please pass that along.  Also, there doesn't appear to be footage of Stargell's two home runs, but there is a video the Dodgers put together celebrating the feat.

Stanton' home run from last night:

Video Link:

Mike Piazza home run from 1997:

Video Link:

A tribute video to Willie Stargell's round-trippers:

Video Link:

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Juan Uribe and Yimi Garcia

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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Juan Uribe!  He'll be signing autographs at a public event for the first time this coming Saturday at Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe in the City of Industry  The signing will be from 10AM to 12PM.  Go here for more information.

• $60 for small items: balls,8x10-11x17 and mini helmets
• $80 for large items: bats, bases, f/s helmets,jerseys and game used
• $10 inscriptions
• $20 Giants/Whitesox WS inscriptions

Manuel's Original El Tepeyac Cafe
13131 Crossroads Parkway South
City of Industry, CA 91746

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Dodger reliever Yimi Garcia will also be signing autographs on Saturday.  He will be at Valley Sports Cards in Tarzana.  Go here for more information.

Valley Sports Cards
19640 Ventura Blvd
Tarzana, CA 91356

UPDATE!!!: There is an important change to this signing.  They have moved the time to 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM Noon.   Go here for more info.

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Blog Kiosk: 5/13/2015 - Dodger Links - Justin Turner, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Yasiel Puig

Goodness gracious!  There are so many story lines from last night's game.  I could rattle off about the fantastic start by Mike Bolsinger; who went 5.2 innings, gave up five hits, a lone home run and struck out three.  Via an AP story at ESPN:

"I just tried to put myself in a good position to stay up here," Bolsinger said. "I didn't have my fastball command that I wanted so I just threw a lot of curveballs and sliders and was able to get some groundouts."

Or, how about that home run Bolsinger gave up to Mike Stanton that cleared Dodger Stadium - only the fifth time that's ever been done.  Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com:

"That's the hardest ball I've ever seen hit against me … well, I take that back. His last ball he hit against me was probably the hardest ball," Bolsinger said. "You've got to just look back and go, ‘That's awesome,' and just go on with the game."

Then there's the offensive explosion that saw the team record 21 hits to earn the Dodgers 22nd win of the season.  Via Joe Frisaro and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"We did a good job forcing [Haren] to throw the ball in the strike zone and kept the pressure on him," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We did a good job of passing the baton."

But I am really enjoying the recent resurgence of the once-maligned outfielder Andre Either.  He is proving his naysayers wrong by showing that he still has something left in the tank.  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

Ethier pushed his 2015 OPS to 1.021 and has six consecutive hits dating back to Monday. Ethier holds the Los Angeles Dodger record (and is tied for the all-time franchise mark) with 10 consecutive hits in August 2012.

“It’s a good feeling,” Ethier said. “You’re doing what you want to do — every at-bat, you want to get a hit. But more importantly, it’s just keeping this thing going and building off that momentum from last night.”

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more photos of yesterday's game from Jon.  Below are some links to check out:

• What's better than a Dodger story told by Vin Scully?  How about a story told by Vin about the great Satchel Paige.  Watch it here via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider.
• Via Eno Sarris at FanGraphs, "Justin Turner, Marlon Byrd, and an Education in Hitting." 

After years of hearing about letting the ball travel deep in the zone, and giving the ball time, and staying back, Turner didn’t quite take to the advice right away. He challenged Byrd, but Byrd got him right back. “Pull up your film from all the balls that you’ve driven, and look where your contact point was,” the outfielder told the infielder. “Even though I thought I was backing the ball up, when I looked at the balls I was driving, they were out in front of the plate,” Turner admitted. “It really started making sense.”

• Yeoman's work.  Redditor r/siber222000 translated a recent Korean article that includes an interview with Hyun-Jin Ryu regarding his recent shutdown.  Check it out here.

Q. Was it because of the pain? or was it because of the decline in fastball speed?

-It was more of an extended stiffness that lasted couple of days rather than pain which caused a bit of decline in my fastball. The second bullpen session was more uncomfortable than the first bullpen session (which he threw 25 fastballs).

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Puig's rehab stopped after setback."  Oy Vey!

"I don't know about it starting all the way over," Mattingly said. "It wasn't necessarily good news, but I don't feel we're starting all the way over. The MRI shows a strain and we know there is one."

• Wow!  This is fantastic.  John Thorn, MLB's official historian, is sharing photos from an 1880 book about the Worcester Base Ball Club's season that includes cartoon-like engravings.  It is from the only copy known to exist, and has never been reproduced or shared with the public before.  Check it out here.  Below is my favorite.

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