Padres Series Starts Thursday - Scheduled Autograph Sessions, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Thursday against the San Diego Padres, and several former Dodgers are scheduled for an autograph session with fans during Sundays Viva Los Dodgers event.  Below are the scheduled autograph opportunities and other odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The San Diego Dog will be available for this homestand only against the Padres at the Extreme Loaded Dog concession areas located on the field, loge and reserve levels. It features a bacon-wrapped dog with house-pickled red onion, cilantro and fresh jalapeño.

The seventh 2016 issue of the new Dodger Insider magazine, featuring a salute to the Old-Timers Game on the cover, will be available at Dodger Stadium.  (see it on the left).  The Dodgers merged their previously separate Playbill and Dodger Insider magazines into one publication (at least 80 pages per issue) 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, July 7th at 7:10 PM
LHP Drew Pomeranz vs. LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

2016 Topps Stadium Club - The Dodgers Insert Cards

Here is a final look at the Dodgers cards found in packs of 2016 Topps Stadium Club packs.  Go here to check out all of my previous post on this set.  Featured below are all the autograph and insert cards.

Autographs

#SCA-CK Clayton Kershaw                  #SCA-CSR Corey Seager 

A Baltimore MASN Interview with Vin Scully

Since he doesn't travel much anymore they all come to him.

Below are a couple of videos recently shared by the the Baltimore Orioles television channel MASN that features the retiring Hall of Famer Vin Scully with broadcaster Gary Thorne.  As you know, Baltimore is currently playing the Dodgers in Los Angeles as part of an interleague match-up, so this provided a perfect opportunity for the American League club to reach out to Scully for an interview.

It is broken up into two parts and covers everything from Red Barber to Jackie Robinson to Sandy Koufax.  Some of the things I didn't know (or failed to remember) was that Peter O'Malley and Vin were roommates.  He also chatted quite a bit about his mentor Red Barber.  Probably best of all, though, was his description of numerous ballplayers he had an opportunity to know.  Take a moment and watch it all below.

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: All-Star FanFest in San Diego and Several Baseball Veterans at Frank & Son

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: 7/6/2016 - Dodgers Links - Three Dodgers All Stars

Look at these All-Stars smiling wide.

As you likely know by know, the Dodgers will be represented by three players during this upcoming All-Star Game in San Diego.  They are shortstop Corey Seager, closer Kenley Jansen and ace Clayton Kershaw (not shown).  Selection was based on player balloting.  This will be a first All-Star appearance for both Seager and Jansen.  Kershaw is now a six time All-Star, but will not be playing due to a mildly herniated disc.  BTW, below are some additional facts:

• Jansen, 28, leads all relievers with a 0.66 WHIP and ranks among National League relievers in saves (25, 2nd), ERA (1.30, 3rd), opponents’ batting average (.153, 3rd) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.80, 2nd, 44 SO/5 BB) in 36 appearances this year.
• Jansen, who became the franchise’s all-time saves leader earlier this year, is the first Dodger reliever to be named to the All-Star team since 2010 (Jonathan Broxton & Hong-Chih Kuo) and is just the third All-Star ever from Curacao, joining Andruw Jones (2000, ’02-03, ’05-06) and Jair Jurrjens (2011). 
• Kershaw, 28, is the first Dodger to be named to six consecutive All-Star teams (2011-16) since Fernando Valenzuela (1981-86).
• Seager, at 22 years, 69 days, is the youngest position player to be honored as an All-Star in franchise history (previous: Pete Reiser: 22 years, 113 days) and the third-youngest Dodger All-Star overall (at the time of their first selection), behind only Fernando Valenzuela (20 years, 281 days in 1981) and Ralph Branca (21 years, 183 days in 1947). 
• Seager is just the second Dodger rookie shortstop to be selected, joining Bill Grabarkewitz in 1970, and the first Dodger shortstop to be named an All-Star since Rafael Furcal in 2010.

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

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1938 Leo Durocher hit a bunt home run as the Dodgers rep during the All-Star game in Cincinnati.  Per a description at Baseball Almanac:
  

  Frank McCormick had opened the seventh with a single and Leo Durocher, the next batter, was ordered to sacrifice. He followed the order as third baseman Jimmie Foxx charged in. Playing the ball, Foxx made the scoop and threw the ball into right field. Joe DiMaggio, in right in deference to Earl Averill, raced in, picked up the ball and fired it home. The throw was too high and sailed over catcher Bill Dickey's head, allowing McCormick to score. Meanwhile, Durocher never stopped running until he reached home.

  In 2000 Vin Scully is voted the #1 sportscaster of the 20th century by members of the American Sportscasters Association.
• Happy Birthday, Willie Randolph!