Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Jay Johnstone in Anaheim and Some Dodgers at SoCal Fair in Perris

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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On Saturday, October 1st from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm former Angels and Dodger outfielder Jay Johnstone will be signing autographs at The OC Dugout in Anaheim.  Instead of charging for his autograph, all the OC Dugout ask is for anyone who attends the signing to make a donation to Make-A-Wish at the event.  (The amount of money you donate is completely up to you.)  All funds taken in will go to granting the Wish of an Orange County/Inland Empire child with a life-threatening medical condition.

The OC Dugout
1515 S. Sunkist St. Ste. G
Anaheim, CA 92806

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Tommy Davis, Darrel Thomas, Bill Russell and Kenny Landreaux will be signing autographs at the Southern California Fair in Perris, CA on Wednesday, October 5th from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the The Press-Enterprise Stage. The 2016 Southern California Fair is a 9-day event that runs October 1st through October 9th at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds. The annual event will feature concerts, motorized events, exhibits, entertainment, carnival rides and games and of course, delicious fair food!  Go here or here for information.

Southern California Fair
18700 Lake Perris Drive
Perris, CA 92571

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2016 Topps Triple Threads - The Dodgers Autographed Rookie and Combos Cards

Now that you've seen the base cards here are some of the autograph and relic cards below.  Featured are the Base Rookies & Future Phenom Autographed Relics, Autographed Rookies, Relic Combos and Autographed Relic Combos cards. 

On a side note, the Corey Seager autographed relic card directly below is available as a redemption card, as well.  It appears they ran out of "sticker autographs" to make them all.

Base Rookies & Future Phenoms Autographed Relics

#RFP-CS Corey Seager               #RFP-JP Joc Pederson

Blog Kiosk: 9/30/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw, Reddick, Toles, Puig and Vin Scully

Before the start of yesterdays game a nice little moment happened between a young fan and Yasiel Puig.  As you can see in the pic above, the Dodger fan held up a sign offering to do push-ups in exchange for a bat.  Obviously, Puig couldn't help but take the bait.  So, he negotiated an exchange.  For 50 push-ups he would get one of his bats.  You can go here to watch the kid complete the task -- all the while, Puig provided all the encouragement he could muster.

BTW, the Dodgers defeated the Padres, 9-4, to remain just a couple games behind the Nationals for home field advantage during the upcoming NLDS.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out a more pics of yesterdays game taken by Jon SooHoo.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1923 Ebbets Field in Brooklyn held Zach Wheat Day in honor of the retiring Hall of Fame outfielder.  In 1956 Don Newcombe won his 27th game of the season.  He defeated the Pirates, 8-6, at Forbes Field.  In 1999 the Dodgers Giants play the very last Baseball game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.  The Dodgers defeated the Gnats, 9-4.
• Happy Birthday. Johnny Podres, José Lima, Kenley Jansen and Nap Rucker!

2016 Topps Triple Threads - The Dodgers Base Cards

Finally, after a short delay related to shrink wrap packing issues, Topps has released their highly anticipated 2016 Triple Threads Baseball card brand.  Go here for a complete checklist.  Below are all of the Dodgers base cards in the set.  I hope to have pics of all, if not most, of the various relic and autograph cards that exist soon.  So, stay tuned.

#20 Yasiel Puig

#32 Kenta Maeda

Blog Kiosk: 9/29/2016 - Dodgers Links - Urias, Kershaw and an Congressional Resolution for Vin Scully

Check out an fantastic candid press photo found in the current RMY auction above.  It features an obviously dejected Dodger manager Burt Shotton (left) being consoled by team president Branch Rickey (right) after being defeated by the New York Yankees in the 1947 World Series.  It was taken by local New York photographer Bill Meurer.  Go here to check it out.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1966 Sandy Koufax struck out 13 Cardinals' batters to become the first pitcher to record three 300-strike out seasons since Amos Rusie in 1892.  In 1976 Tommy Lasorda is named the new manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.  In 1979 Manny Mota set a Major League record with his 146th career pinch hit at Dodger Stadium against the Chicago Cubs.  In 2000 Gary Sheffield tied the Dodgers franchise mark for home runs in a season at 43.  He hit is against the Padres in San Diego. 

2016 Topps Heritage Minor Leagues - All the Dodgers Cards

The newest Topps product to come down the pike is the 2016 Heritage Minor League Baseball card set.  It features most of the up-'n-coming ballplayers within the Dodgers farm system, and also happens to include a couple of prospects who have since been traded.  As you will recall, both Grant Holmes and Jharel Cotton were sent to the Oakland A's as a part of the Rich Hill and Josh Reddick trade on August 1st.  Go here for a complete checklist on this set.

Please note that I will update the photo for the Grant Holmes sticker card when I come across a better pic.  Also, there is a Mike Trout autographed card available with him in a Rancho Cucamonga Quakes uniform.  It is in the Looming Legacy insert set.  For obvious reason, I have not included this card in the below listings (#LLA-MT Mike Trout) even though that team is now a Dodgers affiliate.

Base Cards

#41 Andrew Sopko                             #47 Cody Bellinger

Blog Kiosk: 9/28/2016 - Dodgers Links - Culberson, Puig, Urias, the Nationals and Vin Scully

Hey... We scored a run.

Last night the Dodgers played their first game after clinching their fourth consecutive division championship and lost... Not that I'm fretting, or anything. 

The Dodgers are in the midst of preparing for the division series against the Nationals, so the outcome of the last five games of the regular season are less important than setting up the club for success in October.  Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

Manager Dave Roberts did start nearly all of his regulars in the first game after clinching the National League West on Sunday, but starter Kenta Maeda only went four innings, as did left fielder Andrew Toles and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
...
"As you saw tonight, I normally wouldn't have taken Toles out as early as I did, but I want to get Andre [Ethier] some at-bats, and it was nice to see him get that last at-bat and get a walk and have a competitive three at-bats," Roberts said. "Toles will start tomorrow, and we'll see how the game plays out. And Adrian had a sinus infection, so that's why he came out of the game."

It's not as if the Dodgers do not care about playing host to the Nationals for the opening two games of the NLDS, plus a potential deciding Game 5. But post-clinch baseball is usually different from the version that preceded it.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers Baseball:  In 1988 Orel Hershiser broke Don Drysdale Major League record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched at 59.  He threw ten scoreless innings against the Padres in San Diego.  In 1997 Mike Piazza set the Los Angeles Dodgers record for home runs at 40. 
• Happy Birthday, Todd Worrell and Jerry Sands!

A Vin Scully Memorabilia Checklist - Records, Magazine Covers and Stadium Giveaways

I decided to spend a little bit of time trying to catalog all the different Vin Scully memorabilia items that exist out there.

As you may know, a few years back I attempted to do this with his various Baseball cards, postcards and Union 76 giveaways (see that original post here), but always felt is was incomplete.  After all, there is a bunch of other stuff I neglected to include; such as his records, magazines and Dodger Stadium giveaways.  Hopefully, the below listing takes care of that.  Unfortunately, I doubt this is entirely complete.  For instance, there's got to be more magazine covers featuring the Hall of Fame broadcaster than what I have shown here.  If you happen to know of other items please let me know. 

Furthermore, I am planning an additional post focused solely on the 1966 Union 76 twelve-record 33 1/3 RPM set featuring Vin Scully interviews with 24 different players and team executives.  I made mention of it in my post a few years back. but didn't provide a lot of details back then.

So, without further adieu, here is a listing of Vin Scully related records, magazine covers and stadium giveaways.  I will, of course, updated this post when new items come to my attention.

1959

Dodgers '59 Record
The Season's Most Thrilling Moments as Reported on KMPC by Vin Scully

1963

Jackie Barnett Presents the Sound of the Dodgers Record

Blog Kiosk: 9/27/2016 - Dodgers Links - AGon Won his Bet and More Vin Scully

I just love this photo of our rookie shortstop and MVP candidate Corey Seager taking batting practice within the bowels of Dodger Stadium. 

"It's Time For October Baseball," indeed.

The photo was shared yesterday afternoon by NikeLA on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1951 future baketball Hall of Famer Bill Sharman was a prospect for the Dodgers.  On this day he was thrown out of the game, along with 14 other teammates, for "bench-jockeying" after a close play at home.  He would never get a chance to play a Major League game, and thus became the only player to be ejected from a game without ever appearing in one.  In 1961 Sandy Koufax struck out seven Phillies batters to pass Christy Mathewson's National League record for strike outs at 269.  Mathewson struck out 267 batters in 1903.  In 1993 Mike Piazza broke the Los Angeles Dodgers record for home runs at 34.  In 2000 the Team USA Baseball team, skippered by Tommy Lasorda, beat the overwhelming favorites Cubans ballclub to win the gold medal in the Olympics.
• Happy Birthday, Vicente Padilla and Jon Garland!

Two More 2016 Dodgers Topps Now Cards Available - #505 & #506

In addition to the postseason 15-card Dodger team set currently available (originally written about here), Topps Now has just release two more cards to add to their running set.  Both cards capture the excitement and joy of yesterdays big day.  Unfortunately, Vin Scully isn't featured on either. 

The card on the top left celebrates both Corey Seager's game-tying home run in the 9th inning and Charlie Culberson's walk-off homer in the 10th inning. It is card number #505.  Go here to check it out and order.  Hilariously, it describes the events wrongly on the reverse (as seen on below left).  It says:

2016 SportsNet LA Vin Scully Poster Set

I thought I would finally take some time to officially catalog a Vin Scully collectible that has been available all season at Dodger Stadium this year.  As you may know, SportsNet LA has been passing out special commemorate posters to fans for free that features Vin Scully, and if you haven't seen them before then you can now get a look at them all below.  They measure 18"x24". Click on any pic to embiggen.

They all borrow designs from vintage Topps Baseball cards.  The posters have been selling briskly on eBay for a wide range of values -- from as low as $10 to as high as $60 a piece.  Frankly, these values seems way too high.  I suspect that the emotion of his upcoming retirement has pushed values to those levels.  Given enough time I think prices should fall to more reasonable prices.  On the other hand, I could be entirely wrong.  There is an significant lack of memorabilia featuring Vin Scully for fans to chase after, so we could be seeing a new normal for Scully collectibles.

BTW, three years ago I put together a listing of all the various Vin Scully cards and other cardboard-styled collectibles that I was aware of.  You can check that out here.  Also, I am planning on putting up a new post featuring the various memorabilia items that exist; including the various stadium giveaways and magazine covers.

Poster #1                                Poster #2

Dodgers 2016 Postseason 15-Card Topps Now Team Set

In honor of the Dodgers recent western division championship Topps has issued a limited edition 15-card postseason team set.  It is available for order until Thursday, October 6th at $49.99, and is limited in number based upon the number of orders received during that time period.  Go here to check it out and order.  At the very bottom is a checklist.

A special catch to the set is that the size will expand depending on how far they get in the playoffs.  Each set will receive one extra exclusive bonus card for each playoff series they win.  Hopefully, we'll see three more cards added to this set.

• Corey Seager (RC) (Card Number: LAD-1)
• Adrian Gonzalez (Card Number: LAD-2)
• Justin Turner (Card Number: LAD-3)
• Yasmani Grandal (Card Number: LAD-4)
• Joc Pederson (Card Number: LAD-5)
• Chase Utley (Card Number: LAD-6)
• Howie Kendrick (Card Number: LAD-7)
• Yasiel Puig (Card Number: LAD-8)
• Josh Reddick (Card Number: LAD-9)
• Clayton Kershaw (Card Number: LAD-10)
• Kenta Maeda (Card Number: LAD-11)
• Julio Urias (Card Number: LAD-12)
• Scott Kazmir (Card Number: LAD-13)
• Joe Blanton (Card Number: LAD-14)
• Kenley Jansen (Card Number: LAD-15)

UPDATE: The print run for this set of Dodgers cards is 383.

UPDATE II:  Below are pics of all the cards in this set; including the one bonuc card featuring Clayton Kershaw.  The bonus card is numbered BON-4.

Bonus Card #BON-4

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A Brief Vin Scully Weekend Wrap-Up

Here are various links and stories related to Vin Scully Weekend.  As you can imagine it would be impossible to link to them all; nevertheless, I hope this allows us all to relive the most dramatic, if not most emotional Dodger weekend over the past twenty years.

The photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out a bunch of great pics from yesterdays event from Jon, Jill Weisleder and Patrick Gee. 

• Video:  Vin Scully sings 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' and gets a nice ovation from the crowd at Dodger Stadium on Friday. (Link Here) 

Blog Kiosk: 9/26/2016 - Dodgers Links - Division Champions!

Wow!

The Dodgers sure do have a flare for the dramatic.

On an afternoon that would mark Vin Scully's last home broadcast and Fan Appreciation Day the Dodgers did the unthinkable.  Not only did they capture their fourth straight National League Division Championship, a first in franchise history, they also did it with a 10th inning walk-off home run by a journeyman infielder.

Unbelievable.

In some ways, the way in which the team took the title yesterday is reminiscent of who this team is.  They are a group of men all moving together in the right direction.  Some of them are superstars, while others are the gritty pieces necessary to last an entire 162-game schedule, but they all know that they need to play their part in order to take home the grandest prize in the league.  Considering how tough it is for a team to compete when experiencing a high number of injuries like the Dodgers have had, it should shock the system that the team has gotten this far.  By rights, this season should have been a wash.  We should not be where we are.

Alas, though, here we are.  The Dodgers are the Western Division Champions, and I couldn't be more elated.

The photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to see a whole bunch of great photos from both yesterday's game and the ensuing celebration.  BTW, I am planning an encompassing post featuring a rundown of Vin Scully Weekend related links, so stay tuned.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1908 Cubs right-hander Ed Reulbach pitches two shutouts on the same day against the Brooklyn Superbas (Dodgers), 5-0, 3-0.  The entire doubleheader is played in under three hours.  In 1981 Nolan Ryan of the Astros no-hit the Dodgers at the Astrodome, 5-0.  In 1988 the Dodgers clinched the NL Western Division title in their 3-2 victory over the Padres.  As you surely know, they would go on to win the World Series several weeks later.

2016 Topps Heritage High Numbers - The Dodgers Autograph & Relic Cards

Below are is a listing of all the Dodgers autograph and relic cards found in packs of Topps 2016 Heritage High Numbers packs.

Real One Autographs 

• #ROA-JU Julio Urias - redemption card

#ROA-FM Frankie Montas               #ROA-KMAE Kenta Maeda

Blog Kiosk: 9/23/2016 - Dodgers Links - Utley, Vin Scully and Yasmani's Stellar Day

Guess who got to wear the Dodgers "Player of the Game" belt last night?

Yasmani Grandal was a beast.  No... He was a monster... A big Blue switch-hitting behemoth bent on carrying the club the best way he could.  Grandal took out his mighty bat and launched not one, but two home runs (from each side of the plate) to lead the surging and obviously confident Dodgers to a 7-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies.  Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“Now that we’re good and healthy and ready to go, we’ve got to turn it up,” Grandal said. “We have, what, nine games left? Let’s get this thing over. Let’s close this. Let’s win the division and keep on playing.”

In other news, comic book legend Stan Lee was at the game to throw out the first pitch.  The photo on the right, tweeted by the Dodgers, features Stan with Josh Reddick

Photo at the very top via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1901 the Brooklyn Superbas (Dodgers) set the franchise record for runs scored in a game at 25 against the Cincinnati Reds.  In 1947 the Dodgers held Jackie Robinson Day at Ebbets Field during his rookie season.  Jackie was noticeably moved when his teammates stood besides him at home plate.  In 1962 Maury Wills stole his 96th and 97th bases of the season to break Ty Cobb's Major League record for steals.  In 1978 Lee Lacy hit a pinch-hit home run on the first pitch of his at-bat in the seventh inning -- just moments before Dodgers thirdbase coach Preston Gomez came up to Lacy, shook his hand and whispered, "hit this one over the wall for Junior."  Dodgers coach Junior Gilliam was in the hospital fighting for his life from a brain hemorrhage.  He would pass away a couple of weeks later.
• Happy Birthday, Matt Kemp!

2016 Topps Heritage High Numbers - The Dodgers Insert Cards

Now that you've seen the base and variation cards, below are the Dodgers insert cards available in packs of 2016 Heritage High Numbers.

1967 Bazooka

#67B-KM Kenta Maeda

Combo Cards

#CC-6 Adrian Gonzalez & Joc Pederson

Blog Kiosk: 9/22/2016 - Dodgers Links - Claire, Kazmir, Maeda and Yasiel Puig's Fantastic Day

All Hail Puig!

Wednesday evening Yasiel Puig decided he was going to drive the Dodgers train, and instead of running off the rails he barrelled through the Giants like there weren't even there.  Last night he showcased his magnificent arm (watch it here), made a highlight sprawling catch on the warning track in right field (watch it here) and powered the Blue Crew by hitting an three-run home run in the first inning of the game (watch it here).  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"That's the guy we all know he can be," said third baseman Justin Turner. "He has the potential to be a game-changer. He's an exciting player on both sides of the ball. When he's confident, having fun, playing the game the right way, he makes a big difference. That's why we all wanted him back in September. He can be a key player for us."

He wasn't in the first half of the season, but Puig has responded to an August demotion to Triple-A like it was the wake-up call management intended. Teammates have noticed, and even Puig noticed how they came to his defense Monday night when Bumgarner told Puig not to look at him and the benches cleared.

"I really appreciate the way the team welcomed me since my return, and I try to show I'm grateful for the opportunity," said Puig. "It was nice for them to wait for me after the catch."

As a result of Puig's herculean efforts the Dodgers defeated the Giants 9-3 and increased their lead in the West to six games.  They also dropped their "magic number" to five games.  BTW, his play on the field earned him the teams WWE-styled "player of the game" belt, as evidenced by a photo tweeted by NBC reporter Michael Duarte.

Photo above via Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Juan and Jon SooHoo from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1926 Brooklyn Hall of Famer Zach Wheat hit his last home run as a Dodger.  While near second base he severly pulls a muscle and rest nearly five minutes before completing his obligatory run around the bases.  This marks the longest home run trot in history.  In 1986 Fernando Valenzuela became the first Mexican ballplayer to win twenty games in a season.
• Happy Birthday, Doug Camilli, "Sweet" Lou Johnson and Tommy Lasorda!

Rockies Series Starts on Thursday - Autograph Opportunities, Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The last homestand of the 2016 regular season starts on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies.   Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The twelfth 2016 issue of the new Dodger Insider magazine, featuring Vin Scully on the cover, will be available at Dodger Stadium.  (see it on the left).  The 96-page September 19-25 issue of Dodger Insider magazine is devoted entirely to Vin Scully, in honor of the Hall of Famer’s final homestand with the Dodgers after 67 seasons.  The Dodgers merged their previously separate Playbill and Dodger Insider magazines into one publication with a new edition available each homestand.  They are distributed at auto gates (one per vehicle) and via Fan Services for those who use alternate transportation.  

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Thursday, September 22nd at 7:10 PM
RHP Tyler Chatwood vs. LHP Brett Anderson
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Dodger Fans on Reddit are Trolling Bumgarner on Baseball Reference

The trolling never stops.

Yesterday I came across a Reddit post on /r/Dodgers and immediately busted out laughing.  (See it here)  Dodger fans on the site were working on pooling their resources together to officially sponsor Madison Bumgarner's Baseball Reference page, and apparently they gathered enough funds to do just that.  Check out a screen grab above.  Go to Bumgarner's page here.

As you can see, the DodgerBros put up:

DON'T LOOK AT HIM

Look at /r/Dodgers instead!

From what I understand the cost was a bit over $400 to sponsor this page.  Also, if memory serves correct the sponsorship will last for an entire year (I had personally sponsored a couple pages several years ago).  So, Giant fans will be reminded of #DontLookAtMe every time they go to that page.  Ha! Ha!

Just when I thought we wouldn't be able to get more play out of that ridiculous incident someone goes on and proves me wrong.

Well done, Reddit!

Well done.

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2016 Topps Heritage High Numbers - All the Dodgers Base, Variation and Parallel Cards

Officially out today is Topps 2016 Heritage High Numbers Baseball card set, and below is a listing of all the various Dodger base card available; including the known variations (I'll update this is any more are found).  Go here for a checklist.

Of note, Charlie Culberson, Joe Blanton and Bud Norris get their very first cards as a Dodger. 

#528 Scott Kazmir                                #529 Enrique Hernandez

#553 Joe Blanton

With Time Warner Gone -- It's Now Time to Hate Charter Communications

Ugh!

Just when I thought things could get better with Time Warner out of the picture, I've come to recently realize that Charter might be just as bad -- if not worse.  Based upon several comments in an article released yesterday by LA Times reporter Meg James ("Charter introduces Spectrum brand in Southern California") we should NOT expect to see Dodger Baseball broadcasted widely throughout the Los Angeles area next season.  Instead, we will likely be experiencing a fourth straight season of the "Dodgers Blackout."

The SportsNet LA channel will be priced higher next season, returning to its initial rate of more than $4.50 a month per subscriber home. That is the amount that AT&T’s DirecTV, Cox Communications and Frontier Communications all have complained was too high. Time Warner Cable, which entered into a long-term deal to distribute the sports channel, in March had offered a reduced rate for one year to encourage other pay-TV providers to carry it — but the proposed discount has since been abandoned.

“That deal is no longer on the table -- it didn’t work,” Charter Chief Executive Thomas Rutledge said Tuesday in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “We would love to sell the channel to others, but no one has bought it — and we are not giving it away. So if consumers want the Dodger channel, they’ll need to subscribe to us to get it.”

Same sh*t, different company.

Keep this in mind, the deal the Dodgers initially signed with Time Warner was for 25 years, so assuming the above stance remains constant over that time we might not see wide coverage until 2039!

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Ron Cey and Lakers Draftee Ivica Zubac

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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Blog Kiosk: 9/21/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Newcombe and Vin Scully

I was planning on saying a few words about last nights game but got distracted when I came across a a particular news article came out featuring the words and comments from the friends and colleagues of Vin Scully.  Per Jayson Starks article at ESPN:  From AJ Ellis:

"You can catch him (in the clubhouse) on Sunday mornings on the way to Mass. He comes in and gets coffee. (One Sunday,) Brandon (McCarthy) and I are the only two guys in the clubhouse. And Vin comes in and starts chatting. ... And all of a sudden his phone rings, and he says, 'Sorry, boys, excuse me.' He's always so polite. So he says, 'Yes, dear. Oh thank you for reminding me. Yes, dear.' (Then he says,) 'Gentlemen, if you would excuse me, today is one of my grandchildren's birthdays. We have a tradition in our family that I have to sing to her.' And he steps into the players' bathroom and you can hear him singing 'Happy Birthday' over the phone to his grandchild. Me and Brandon are looking at each other like, OK, this is unbelievable. Here's Vin Scully in his great baritone voice, singing 'Happy Birthday' as it echoes through the bathroom of the clubhouse."

It's hard to remember, since I've heard countless Scully stories over the years, but the one above might be my favorite of all time.  Thanks for sharing that AJ.  BTW, you should definitely check out the rest of Stark's article.  There are several more great comments.  Oh... And the Dodgers lost a close on to the Giants last night, 2-0.  Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more great pics by Jon and Jill Weisleder from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1934 the Dodgers were no-hit by Paul "Daffy" Dean of the Cardinals, 3-0.  His brother, Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean, pitched the first game of that days doubleheader, and kept the Dodgers hitless for eight innings.  Overall, the two brothers threw an 18-inning two-hit shutout against Brooklyn that day.

Let the Mockery of Bumgarner Begin -- #DontLookAtMe

Yeah... They went there. 

After last night's unusual bench-clearing and subsequent walk-off victory several Dodger players decided to have some fun this afternoon at the expense of a certain Giants player who appears unable to "play the game the right way." 

What I mean is that this guy doesn't seem to have proper respect for his fellow ballplayers.   In fact, you can say that he freely "shows up" other players whenever he is looking for a way to pump himself up -- as he personally acknowledged earlier this year.

Worse yet, he has a long... and I mean LONG... history of starting similar scuffles.  Heck, you wouldn't be remiss for comparing him to a schoolyard bully. 

Naturally, the best way to diffuse someone like that is to poke fun at him... 'cause, ya know, life's too short to let a bully give you any emotion other than laughter.  And that's what the Dodgers and much of the Baseball world is doing.  We are all laughing AT Madison Bumgarner, and frankly he has no right to complain. 

He deserves it.  He knows it, Dodger and Giants fans know it, and the entire Baseball world knows it.

Now enjoy a couple of pics tweeted out by Adrian Gonzalez and Yasiel Puig with their brand new #DontLookAtMe t-shirts.  LOL!

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