Blog Kiosk: 8/9/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Check out this fantastic, dated April 12, 1932, original type I International News Photo from Opening Day featuring three new Dodgers -- all of whom would eventually be inducted in the Hall of Fame -- that is currently on auction at RMY Auctions (link here). Per the description on the reverse:

A Trio of Newcomers at Brooklyn Opening
Three notables who came in for a large share of the attention at the game between Brooklyn and the Boston Braves which rang up the curtain on the new season at Ebbets Field this afternoon (Tuesday.) The new Brooklyn Men are, left to right: Hack Wilson, late of the Chicago Cubs; Max Carey, new manager; and George Kelly, another new recruit to the Brooklyn aggregation.

Unfortunately, the new faces did little to change Brooklyn's fortunes. After all, this team was still trying to shake off nearly two decades of futility experienced under Robbie Robinson's "Daffiness Boys".

On a side note, it was around this time that famed sports cartoonist Willard Mullin created the famous "Brooklyn Bum" caricature for the Dodgers.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1975 Davey Lopes stole his 32nd consecutive base without being caught, breaking Max Carey's 1922 record. He would steal six more bases before getting caught. His record would eventually be broken by Cardinal's speedster Vince Coleman in 1989.  In 1976 Pirates hurler John Candelaria no-hit the Dodgers at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. In 1979 longtime Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley died of congestive heart failure at the age of 75.
• Happy Birthday, John Grim, Leo Callahan, Johnny Mitchell, Tom Sunkel, Chuck Essegian, Claude Osteen, Matt Young & Drew Butera!
• Here's a great little contest worth checking out. Kershaw's Challenge and the HollyRod Foundation have teamed up on Omaze.com for a drawing that can yield a lucky fan and their guest a special Dodger prize. You will be flown to LA, will hang out with Clayton Kershaw, take batting practice at Dodger Stadium, and sit in VIP seats for a game. All you have to do is go here to enter the drawing, for a donation.
• Video: SNLA's Backstage Dodgers gives you a behind-the-scenes look at Kyle Farmer's amazing callup to the big leagues. (video link)
• Video: On MLB Central, Mark DeRosa breaks down the swings of Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner, which have led to huge offensive seasons. (video link)
• Video: Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts talks about Kenta Maeda and the teams' performance after dropping series-opener to Arizona on Tuesday. (video link)
• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA shares the 2017 postseason schedule.
• Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Kershaw ready to put back injury behind him."

"Obviously, understanding where we're at, timeline and stuff, but at the same time trying to build back," he said. "I don't feel I've lost much. Still, it's going to take a little time. I've been throwing the whole time, but if you're not sitting down and getting up, you lose a little stamina-wise and endurance."

• Per Javier Morales at All Sports Tucson; "Maturing Verdugo handling physical and mental demands of long season in stride."

“I’ve definitely grown up a lot even from when I got drafted,” he added. “I started knowing more about the game, knowing how to act. Just being around older guys and them looking out for me, really helping me through everything and learning from my mistakes, it’s been really good.

“They come up to me. If I do something they don’t see as me doing well — they don’t think it is a good look — they’ll come up to me and have a conversation. I’ll be like, ‘Oh, I see.’ That gives me a different perspective. It’s definitely huge to have and it’s helped me a lot this year.”

• Owen McCue and Shawn McFarland at Baseball America share their list for; "2017 Pacific Coast League Best Tools." The list includes two Dodgers -- Alex Verdugo and Trevor Oaks.
• Via Tanner Walters at Sports Illustrated; "2017 MLB Ballpark Food Safety Rankings." The Dodgers did not fare well in this list. They are ranked number 25. Yuck!

Almost 250 total violations were tallied at Dodger Stadium, nearly one-fourth of which were critical. The LA County health department doesn’t list inspector observations, instead noting only the general health code violated. The most common violations dealt with food holding temperatures, equipment in ill repair and unclean nonfood contact surfaces. 

• Per Jacob Unruh at NewsOK; "Collected Wisdom of knuckleballer Charlie Hough."

I pitched two more years in Double A and then a minor league coach named Goldie Holt said to me, “Have you ever tried to throw a knuckleball?” I said, “No, show me how.” I played catch with him and in about 10 minutes I could throw it. Now, I spent the next 25 years trying to get it over the plate.

It was a fluke. My whole career was based on one guy going, “Have you ever tried to throw a knuckleball?”

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