Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Former Clipper James "Hollywood" Robinson

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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Former Clippers Guard James "Hollywood" Robinson will be at the offices of Alex C. Liu OD in Rowland Heights this coming Saturday from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM for free autographs with fans.  Go here for more information.

Alex C. Liu OD 
19735 E. Colima Rd. 
Rowland Heights, CA 91748

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2nd Round Pick Josh Sborz has a Handful of Baseball Cards

In stark contrast to fellow 2nd Round Draft Pick Mitchell Hansen, Josh Sborz (chosen 74th overall by the Dodgers) hardly has any Baseball cards available.  There are no major manufacturer cards, and the cards that can be found are of the college/university made variety.

Take a look at them below.  As member of the University of Virginia Cavaliers ballclub he has been included into three of their teamsets sold at the school - from 2013 to 2015.  In the photo below (pic grabbed from an eBay auction featuring Sborz cards for sale, here) the card years are shown from left to right; 2013, 2014 & 2015.

And here is a more detailed look at Sborz's 2015 Baseball card.

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2nd Round Pick Mitchell Hansen has a Whole Bunch of Cards Already!

Our 2nd Round Pick (67th overall) in the recent draft, Mitchell Hansen, is no stranger to Baseball cards.  In fact, based on how many cards that include his image he's already a professional.  Heck, as I write this I'm a bit shocked at how many cards he has. I count at least 29 different cards in nine different sets.  And that doesn't include the various parallel cards that are available.

Wowzers!  You'd think with that much cardboard he would only be steps away from playing on a Major League field.  Obviously we know that is not the case.  He's got long road ahead of him, and given enough work and perseverance he'll find himself in Dodger Blue before you know it.

One thing is certain, though, with that much of a spotlight he must be a good prospect.  Check out my report on him here.

I've done my best to capture pics of all the different Hansen cards that are available.  Check them out below.

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2014 Bowman Under Armour Baseball Factory All America

2014 Bowman Under Armour Baseball Factory All America card of Mitchell Hansen was only given out to attendees at a spotlight game played on August 16, 2014 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The card is numbered UAA-8. These cards were not for sale to the general public.  

#UAA-8 Mitchell Hansen

The Will Ferrell Cards are Now Available - A Look at all the Cards

Topps 2015 Archives set is out at stores, so fans of Baseball and comedy finally have an opportunity to gaze upon the cardboard goodness of Will Ferrell.

During this past Spring the comedian extraordinaire delighted fans with an spectacle that is sure to be remembered for a long time.  He got onto the field and played nine different positions and batted as a DH for the ten different Cactus League clubs on a single day - reminiscent of a similar feat accomplished by Bert Campaneris on September 8, 1965.  On that day Campaneris became the first person to ever play all nine fielding positions in a single game.  BTW, Ferrell wore #19 (Bert's number) in honor of him.

In celebration of this happening Topps has created a 10-card Baseball card set featuring Ferrell in each uniform and inserted them into their Archives set.  Below are pics of every card in the subset.

Also, a limited number of cards have been autographed by Ferrell - numbered to only ten copies for each team card.  So far, only two of the autographed cards have turned up on eBay and they sold for huge dollars.  A Diamondbacks autographed card sold for $899.99 (see auction here) and a Reds autographed card sold for $699.99 (see auction here).

Directly below are pics of both the front and back of the Will Ferrell Dodger card.  The reverse includes the following description:

Will faced one batter for the Dodgers, retiring San Diego's Rico Noel on a bunt -- 1-3, if you're scoring at home.  Ferrell thus tied the all-time record for lowest career Spring Training ERA at 0.00.

Awesome!

Will Ferrell Set

#WFA-9 Will Ferrell - Los Angeles Dodgers

And if you're curious, here's the rest of the set.

#1 A's                                                #2 Mariners

#3 Angels                                                   #4 Cubs

#5 Diamondbacks                                            #6 Reds

#7 White Sox                                                #8 Giants

#9 Dodgers                                                 #10 Padres

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Blog Kiosk: 6/10/2015 - Dodger Links - Buehler, Turner and Bob Baffert

Bob Baffert, seen above shaking hands with coach Tim Wallach, was at Dodgers Stadium last night to throw out the first pitch.  His horse, American Pharaoh, recently won the Triple Crown - the first to do so in 37 years.  When asked who he'd compare his horse to on the Dodgers he said (via an AP story on ESPN):

"I guess he'd be like [Yasiel] Puig," Baffert joked. "When he gets out there, he dominates."

The pic above is via Dodger photographer Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Go here to check out more photos taken by Jon from yesterday's game.  Below are some links to check out:

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Walker Buehler no stranger to Dodger Stadium, looks up to Zack Greinke."

"I have always looked up to Zack Greinke," Buehler said. "We have similar body type, and are similar-type pitchers, I hope I can say."

"I hate to get into comparisons because it sets expectations too high, but it's not far off," Gasparino said. "We didn't really have a Zack comp for him, but Zack would be in his mold of pitchers. He's lean-built,  athletic, really smart, and a guy who can really pitch."

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "There’s never been a Dodger quite like Justin Turner."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Los Angeles Dodgers getting healther, looking more dangerous."

"The main thing is, when you're getting guys banged up everywhere, it's not your team," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Howie is a middle-of-the-order guy who has gotten big hits for us all year. Yasiel hasn't been around all that much, but now that he's back he gives us a different lineup, allows us to do a lot of different things. Just getting your pieces back allows your lineup to flow."

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers scout Lamb having historic Draft."

"Part of it is luck," said Lamb, in his 17th Draft for the Dodgers. "They've got to fall to the right places, and we've got to like them. As an organization, our cross-checkers and Billy [Gasparino, scouting director] did a great job. And Buehler and Funkhouser, they had to fall so we'd get a shot at them. So, it's a team deal.

• WTF NBC!!!  Via Ed Sherman at the Chicago Tribune, "NBC Sports boss: Shave the hockey playoff beards."

Lazarus said he has lobbied the NHL and its players to end the tradition of the playoff beards. He says the excess facial hair hurts player recognition for fans, perhaps hindering the development of new stars during the highest-rated games of the season.

“The players won't like this, but I wish they all would stop growing beards in the postseason,” Lazarus said. “Let's get their faces out there. Let's talk about how young and attractive they are. What model citizens they are. (Hockey players) truly are one of a kind among professional athletes.

 “I know it's a tradition and superstition, but I think (the beards do) hurt recognition. They have a great opportunity with more endorsements. Or simply more recognition with fans saying, 'That guy looks like the kid next store,' which many of these guys do. I think that would be a nice thing."

FU, Lazarus!

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