Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Dodgers FanFest this Saturday! Vouchers Still Available!

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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There is only one event to care about in Los Angeles this weekend.  This coming Saturday is the Dodgers FanFest at Dodger Stadium and if you plan on attending you need to get a free admission ticket here.

There are all kinds of events planned; including autograph sessions with players, coaches and personalities.  Festivities will be from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.and it'll happen "rain or shine."  Parking gates open at 9:30 AM and it is free, as well.  You will enter the event either through the left or right field plaza gates at 10:00 AM.

Earlier this week the Dodgers started selling their $25.00 voucher tickets for autographs, and most of the top players are already sold out.  There are tickets available though.  Go here to see who's available.  Below is a current listing.

Session 1

10:10am-11:00am
Line 4: Jerry Hairston Jr. and Brandon Beachy

Session 2

11:10am-12:00pm
Line 3: Zach Lee and Chris Hatcher

Session 3

12:10pm-1:00pm

Line 2: Kenny Landreaux and Pedro Baez
Line 3: Brandon McCarthy and Mickey Hatcher

Session 5

2:10pm-3:00pm
Line 3: Brandon McCarthy and Bill Russell

BTW, I've attended the past three FanFest's and shared a bunch of photos from those days (these post also include numerous links of post from other bloggers and writers).  Check out the below links to check them out.

• 2015 Fan Fest
• 2014 Fan Fest
• 2013 Fan Fest

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The Don Drysdale Estate Collection is Coming to Auction in April

Several months back I was told by the folks at SCP Auctions that Dodgers collectors should expect to see something fantastic soon.  When I queried excitedly, they said the Don Drysdale Collection is coming.

I was shocked.

"Really?"

"Holy Moly," I exclaimed.

Next to the Kirk Gibson collection SCP sold several years back, this might be the greatest hoard of player memorabilia from a former Dodger player to come to the market in well over a decade.  Based on a handful of preview images provided so far, it looks like it'll include many of his best items.  Below is a small dose of what you should expect to see in a couple of months.

• Don Drysdale's 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers Game Worn Home Uniform from His Rookie Season

Blog Kiosk: 1/27/2016 - Dodger Links - Smokeless Tobacco, New Trainers and Dave Roberts

Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts had quite a busy day yesterday.  As a part of the clubs continuing "Love L.A." Community Tour Roberts visited the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors as an honoree.  He was recognized as the Dodgers first minority manager.  Then, he skipped over to Muir High School in Pasadena to preview a screening of portions of Ken Burns’ upcoming “Jackie Robinson” documentary and to speak with students.  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“Twenty-eight years ago, I was in your shoes,” Roberts said. “I just want to challenge you all to really have the vision to be great and be leaders. … Find something you love to do, and be great.”

So far, Roberts is hitting all the right buttons.  He's proving to be a leader in the community, and hopefully this translates well into the Dodgers clubhouse.

The photo at the very top via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics from Jon of yesterdays events.  Below are more links to check out:

• It's now official.  Smokeless tobacco, affectionately called "chew," is now banned at Dodger Stadium (for both players and fans).  Via Hector Bacerra at the LA Times, "Smokeless tobacco at Dodger Stadium? You're out of here!"
• The Dodgers officially announced their 2016 training staff yesterday.  Via a press release: 

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced their training staff for the 2016 season, with the additions of Neil Rampe as head athletic trainer and Nathan Lucero and Thomas Albert as assistant athletic trainers. Brandon McDaniel (strength & conditioning coach, fourth season), Steve Smith (physical therapist, fifth season) and Yosuke “Possum” Nakajima (massage therapist, second season) will return to the club in their same roles as 2015.

For the past eight seasons Rampe had been the Diamondbacks manual and performance therapist.  Lucero spent the past seven seasons as the Astros head athletic trainer.  He worked within Houston system the past 23 years.  Albert was the rehab coordinator for the Indians the past four seasons.

• Card Collectors Universe shares a bunch of preview pics from Panini's 2016 Donruss Baseball card set; including the Zacl Greinke card on the right.  Go here to check out more pics.  This set will be coming out in early March.
• Via Hillary Jackson at MyNewsLA, "Will Dodger Stadium street be named after longtime announcer?"

Los Angeles City Councilman Gil Cedillo introduced a motion Tuesday to rename a street near Dodger Stadium after longtime Los Angeles Dodgers announcer Vin Scully.

The motion would begin the process of renaming Elysian Park Avenue between Sunset Boulevard and Stadium Way as “Vin Scully Avenue.”

• Via Evan Bladh at Think Blue LA, "Dodgers sign 17-year-old Nicaraguan shortstop Mike Loaisiga."
• Saturday, February 6th is slated to be National Hockey Card Day, and several southland stores are slated to participate.  As you may know, this is an promotion by Upper Deck and they have made limited edition packs available to local card shops.  Go here for a listing of stores throughout the country. BTW, there are two different sets available (one American and the other Canadian).  Unfortunately, no Kings player is represented.  Boo!!!

The council voted Tuesday morning to approve an ordinance banning the use of smokeless tobacco products at all baseball fields and other sports venues in the city. The L.A. council vote, in sports vernacular, was a blowout: The motion won 14-0. In a statement, the council said the ordinance was passed “both to set the right example for America’s youth and for the health of the players.”

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