This Park is Not Bombproof

Although I can't absolutely verify that this came out of an Brooklyn Dodgers scorecard, I nevertheless found it fascinating.  Featured above is said to be a circa 1942 pamphlet that was originally inserted into scorecards for patrons at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, as seen in an eBay listing.

It reads:

Mayor La Guardia has provided a system of safety for patrons attending ball games.

This park is not bombproof but as safe as elsewhere.

If opposite you seat you find the label

"SIT TIGHT"

You will be expected to do just that during an air raid. 

If the label should read

"FOLLOW GREEN ARROW" or

"FOLLOW RED ARROW"

you will be expected to comply with these instructions.

If an alert is sounded walk to place of safety.  Don't run or shout.  Obey the air raid wardens.

PLAY YOUR PART IN THE DEFENSE GAME.

Please comply with these instructions.  They are intended for your protection.

As you surely know, 1942 was during the initial stages of WWII for America, and fear among the populace of a German bombing raid was real.  After all, the British isles were subject to their "Blitzkrieg's" the year prior, and with America's recent entrance into the war folks wouldn't be blamed for being concerned.  Heck, transport ships heading through the Atlantic were under constant attack from German U-Boats; including the sinking of the "Norness" tanker just 60 miles off the coast of Long Island in January of 1942.  So, for folks along the eastern seaboard the war was very close.

Fortunately, no air raid ever occurred in the states, but it's nice to know that they had plans should it happen.

On another note, one thing that is written in the pamphlet is a bit disconcerting.  For instance, how easy would it be to just sit in your seat, as described in the first part of the pamphlet, if you heard air raid sirens going off?  That would be really difficult to do; especially knowing that, "this park is not bombproof."

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2016 Topps Wacky Packages - All the Dodgers Cards

Topps puts the "Wacky" into Baseball cards.

Initially created in 1967 and reprised numerous times since that time, Wacky Packages has proved to be a popular and iconic product.  For those who don't know, these cards are actually stickers featuring cartoonish parodies of various American consumer products.  Usually focused on retail corporate brands, this years Wacky Packages set, released just last week, aims their special brand of humor at Major League Baseball.  Go here for a complete checklist.

This set is called 2016 Topps MLB Wacky Packages Trading Cards, and every team has two different "Wacky" stickers to call their own.  There are also stickers for fifteen minor league clubs, various other events and ballpark food.  BTW, there are Dodgers' inserts to chase after; including an autographed Yasmani Grandal card, a ticket relic card, "1 of 1" sketch cards and various other artist autograph cards.  Check them out below.

#19 Dodgers Blue Paint

Dodgers Notes from Spring Training: Spring Game 13/Home Game 6

Throughout Spring Training the Dodgers PR department sends out helpful daily notes from Camelback Ranch, and I am happy to pass them along.  See what they've written below.

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Milwaukee Brewers (6-5-1) at LOS ANGELES DODGERS (8-2-2)
Monday, March 14, 2016 – 1:05 p.m. MT | Camelback Ranch
RHP Mike Bolsinger (0-0, 3.60) vs. RHP Wily Peralta (1-0, 7.36)
TV: None Radio: None

Today's Dodger lineup:
Johnson 2B
Puig RF
Turner 3B
Gonzalez 1B
Barnes C
Guerrero DH
Thompson CF
Culberson SS
Noel LF
(Bolsinger P)

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 14, 2016

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(Clayton Kershaw, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

ON A ROLL: The Dodgers (8-2-2) return to Camelback Ranch today to face the Brewers after beating the Rockies, 6-4, yesterday at Salt River Field. Los Angeles took an early lead in yesterday’s contest, scoring all six of their runs in the first three innings. Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw recorded his second victory of the spring, allowing just two hits in five scoreless innings along with three strikeouts. Relievers Yimi Garcia (1.0 IP) and Adam Liberatore (1.0) each tossed scoreless innings, while Matt West (1.0) collected his first save of Spring Training. At the plate, Scott Van Slyke blasted a solo shot in the second inning to record his third Cactus League home run. Cody Bellinger went 2-for-2 with two doubles and two RBI, while Joc Pederson also drove in two runs, going 1-for-4.

• The Dodgers took the 2015 season series from Milwaukee, 4-3.

GETTING OFFENSIVE: The Dodger offense has been clicking on all cylinders this spring, leading the National League with a .372 on-base percentage, while ranking second among NL clubs with both a .302 batting average and a .501 slugging percentage. Individually, Scott Van Slyke has put up a .409/.500/.909 slashline, while his three Cactus League home runs are tied for second with teammates Austin Barnes and Rob Segedin along with Colorado’s Trevor Story. Charlie Culberson is tied for third in the Cactus League with eight RBI.

(Cody Bellinger, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

WELCOME BACK, JUSTIN!: Dodger third baseman Justin Turner will make his first appearance of the spring in today’s game, batting third and making the start at the hot corner. Turner, who had offseason knee surgery, will likely play four or five innings. 

• The Dodgers would also like to welcome Eric Karros, who arrived in Camelback Ranch this morning and will serve as a guest coach. The 1992 NL Rookie of the Year played 12 seasons for the Dodgers (1991-2002) and is the all-time home run leader in Los Angeles Dodger history with 270 bombs.

1“B” GAME: The Dodgers and White Sox played a “B” game today at 10:00 a.m. on the White Sox’s Field 1. Left-hander Scott Kazmir made the start for the Dodgers, while Yasmani Grandal, Kyle Farmer and Cody Bellinger participated in the game.  

MR. WORLDWIDE: Major League Baseball has announced details for the Panama City and Mexicali WBC qualifiers for the 2017 classic. Dodger first baseman Adrian Gonzalez will play for his brother, Edgar, on Team Mexico from March 17-20 in Mexicali. In addition, Dodger legend Eric Gagné will manage Team France as they try to advance in their qualifier against Spain, Colombia and Panama.

(pic via Miracle League LA on twitter)

FEATURED STORY: The Dodgers will be spotlighted on MLB Network’s “30 teams in 30 days” program today. In addition to interviews with Dodger manager Dave Roberts and President, Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, MLB hosts Sean Casey and Matt Vasgersian will talk to numerous Dodgers and conduct a fielding demonstration with Adrian Gonzalez.   Dodger CEO Stan Kasten will also call in for an interview with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo.

BUSINESS LEADERS: The Dodgers and leading global agency R/GA were named a finalist for the Sports Business Journal’s Sports Business Awards category for Sports Breakthrough of the Year. The nominees for all awards were announced this morning and the winners will be announced at the event to be held in New York on May 18.

TODAY’S PROBABLE PITCHERS:

• RHP Mike Bolsinger will make his first start of the spring against the Brewers, after allowing two runs in 5.0 innings of relief thus far. He went 6-6 with a 3.62 ERA in 21 starts in his first season with the Dodgers in 2015.
• RHP Louis Coleman will appear in his fourth Cactus League game, after throwing 3.0 scoreless frames with five strikeouts in his first three appearances. Coleman enters his first season with the Dodgers after signing with the club on Feb. 19, 2016.
• RHP Pedro Baez will make his fourth appearance of the spring, after most recently throwing a scoreless inning against the Angels. Baez went 4-2 with a 3.35 ERA in 52 relief appearances last season.
• LHP J.P. Howell will come on in relief for the third time this spring, after striking out two batters in an inning of relief against the Angels. He finished the 2015 season with a 6-1 record with one save and tossed scoreless relief in 59 of 65 appearances.
• RHP Jamey Wright will make his fourth appearance of the spring, after allowing two runs in 1.0 inning of relief against the Cubs on Saturday. Wright, a 19-year MLB veteran, last pitched in the Majors in 2014, going 5-4 with a 4.35 ERA in 61 appearances with the Dodgers.RHP Kenley Jansen is expected to make his third Cactus League appearance following a scoreless outing against the Angels on Friday. He enters his seventh big league season after successfully converting 36 of 38 save opportunities last year, the third-highest single-season save percentage in team history (Gagne: 2003-100.0%, 2004-95.7%).

(The Victory Line, pic via @Dodgers on twitter)

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Blog Kiosk: 3/14/2016 - Dodgers Links - Thompson, Seager and Kenta Maeda

Just a little smooch.

Often in victory emotions can run run wild; as evidenced in the vintage International News press photo taken after Game 6 of the 1947 World Series.  Via the descriptor attached to the reverse:

CELEBRATING THEIR VICTORY THAT EVENED THE SERIES.  New York--This joyous scene in the Dodgers' dressing room at the Yankee Stadium, shows Al Gionfriddo, (left) whose spectacular catch of Joe DiMaggio's terrific smash into left field saved the game, being kissed Pee Wee Reese, as smiling teammates, Walker, Bragan and Stanky, gather around to congratulate their hero.  It was in the sixth inning of today's sixth series game, that Joe went to bat with two men on and blasted a hit the left field fence.  Gionfriddo raced right up against the boards to make the catch, and the Dodgers kept their 8 to 5 lead.  The Dodgers finally won the game 8-6, to even up the series three all."

Below are more links to check out:

• Via Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA, "What is the status of the Dodgers MLB scouting?"

So what is the status of the Dodgers MLB scouting? Although some of us fear that analytics are taking over in the Dodgers Front Office, that may not be the case. That is, analytics may not trump scouting but just be a tool to use to gather information on players to complement scouting reports. Certainly an expectation is that the current foray into international scouting will continue and intensify and that more importance may well be placed on advance scouting.

• ICYMI: Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Seager to miss 1-2 weeks with knee sprain."

"It's nothing long term," Friedman said. "As soon as he's asymptomatic, he'll be back. A week or two. There's no tear, there's no surgery, nothing more than treating and waiting until he's asymptomatic and getting him back on the field. He was still feeling sore, but after we checked and we're confident it's nothing that will linger long term."

• Via Barry M. Bloom at MLB.com, "Maeda to stake claim among Japanese arms."

"He's going to fit in very nicely," Roberts said. "For him to be in his prime, he's excited to be here and we're excited to have him. All we want is for him to be himself. He can't be Hideo or Kuroda and Kazuhisa. He has to be himself and that's all we want."

• Via Bill Plunkett at the OC Register, "Trayce Thompson striking out on his own with Dodgers."

“Ever since T-ball, I couldn’t get him to put a bat down,” says Trayce’s father, Mychal Thompson. “Like my other sons, he played all sports growing up. But even during football and basketball seasons, between those games he’d be outside pretending to be a major leaguer. He was always swinging a bat.

“Just like basketball was it for Klay and Mychel, baseball was his game.”

• Just an early reminder.  Ken Burns documentary on Jackie Robinson will premier on KOCE on April 11th and 12th.  Below is a preview video:

Video Link:

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