Dodgers Blue Heaven: Sep 23, 2015

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Wes Parker and Andy McCue to Discuss LA Dodger History

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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This isn't quite an autograph appearance, but promises to be so much more. The Institute for Baseball Studies at Whittier College is presenting a discussion session featuring author Andy McCue and former Dodger first Baseman Wes Parker titled, "The Dodgers Come to Los Angeles: Politics and Pennants in Paradise."

No doubt this should be an interesting evening. The event starts at 7:00PM. Also the Institute for Baseball Studies will open their doors from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Check out the flyer below for more information, or go to this link. Admission is free.

BTW, McCue's book titled "Mover & Shaker" is an absolutely fantastic book. It's one of the more detailed studies on Walter O'Malley and the Dodgers I've ever read. I consider it a must read for fans who want to have a better understanding of Dodger history.

Whittier College, Villalobos Hall
13507 Earlham Dr.
Whittier, California

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2015 Topps Triple Threads - The Dodgers' Unity Cards

Below are all of the Dodger Unity insert cards found in 2015 Topps Triple Threads. They feature jumbo sized game-used uniform pieces, and a couple are signed. Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

Unity Single Jumbo Relics (#/36)

#UJR-AGN Adrian Gonzalez #UJR-AGO Adrian Gonzalez

Blog Kiosk: 9/23/2015 - Dodger Links - RIP, Yogi Berra

RIP, Yogi Berra.

He was an incredible opponent and an even better person. Roundly beloved by just about everyone, Yogi Berra will be sorely missed. For sure, his "Yogism's" will live on forever in folklore - told by one generation to another for the next thousand years or more.

In honor of him I dug up the above press photo from the 1951 All-Star Game. It originally comes from eBay. As you can see, Yogi is sliding home as the ball sails past the bewildered Dodger legend Roy Campanella.

You should also check out Mark Langill's story at Dodger Insider about the famous steal of home by Jackie Robinson on Berra during the 1955 World Series, here. Below are more links to check out:

Dodger writer Howard Cole shares his fantastic story. Via Howard Cole at CNN iReport, "A 25-year Transplant Survivor Shares His Story, and His Gratitude for the Gift of Life."
Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers hopeful for return to full health."

"I definitely would like to play with a full boat, a full complement of players healthy with some type of rhythm and swinging the bat well," (Mattingly) said. "Unfortunately, we've got a few guys banged up, and we're not a lot different than a lot of other teams. We're heading toward 180, 190 games including Spring Training. That's a lot of baseball, and everybody is a little banged up right now."

This is good news. Via Vincent Samperio at Dodgers Nation, "Justin Turner Calls MRI Results The ‘Best Case’

After sitting out two games, the 30-year-old underwent an MRI and discussed the results. The MRI showed tendinitis and a bone bruise in his knee. Based on that, Turner believes he will be back in the starting lineup in a couple days. He was happy with what the examination showed. “This was pretty much the best case we could’ve had,” he said. “But, there’s not really a whole lot medicine-wise to speed it up. So, it’s kind of a good-case, bad-case thing.”

I would prefer they not use him in Colorado - if it can be helped. After all, I see no reason to risk anything now. Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen expects to be available to pitch at Coors Field."

Jansen's history of health scares in Colorado could be a problem considering he is far and away their most effective reliever and the Dodgers are hoping to clinch the NL West title there this weekend to make next week's four-game series in San Francisco an afterthought. Jansen said he will be ready if called upon at Coors.

"I'm good to go," Jansen said. "It's not an issue for me there any more."

ICYMI: The Dodgers have added Adam Liberatore to the active roster. Per a Dodger press release:

Liberatore has gone 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 35 games with the Dodgers this year, last appearing on July 20 at Atlanta. After making his big league debut on April 17, Liberatore opened his career with nine consecutive scoreless appearances and, overall, he has limited opposing hitters to a .222 batting average with 26 strikeouts in 26.0 innings in the Majors this year. He did not allow a run in his last five appearances with Oklahoma City, last pitching in a postseason game against Round Rock on Sept. 11, and went 0-1 with three saves and a 3.74 ERA in 19 Triple-A games.

I thought I would pass this link on. For a bunch of great memorabilia photographs from the recent National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago go to the Sports Antique website, here. There are hundred of great pics to go through.
Here is something fun. Check out a custom made Lego build of Dodger Stadium available for sale at Stadium Brick.com, here. It consist of over 2,500 bricks.