Blog Kiosk: 10/4/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

You hard working lucky duckies!

Thirty students got a big surprise earlier this week. They were presented with tickets to Game 1 of the NLDS this coming Friday, via the Dodgers, for demonstrating academic improvement and athletic excellence. Dodger alumnus Dennis Powell and Ken Landreaux were on-hand. Per Joshua Thornton at MLB.com:

"It's just great to see," Powell said. "It's also great to let them know that someone is watching them." 

The Dodgers will also provide transportation to and from Dodger Stadium. 

"This is exciting," senior Mario Robinson said. "We don't really get stuff like this at school. For me, to be nominated for something educational and people noticing me about everything I do helping out with Mr. Corley is just amazing."

With all the bad stuff happening around us I thought that something cheery was in order. Photo above via Jill Weisleder/Los Angeles Dodgers. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1955 the day Dodger fans have been waiting finally happened. On this day the Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the World Series to win a championship for the very first time in its franchise. In 1959 the Dodgers won the teams very first playoff game in Los Angeles when they defeated the Chicago White Sox, 3-1.  92,234 fans attended the game at the LA Coliseum, setting a new record for attendance for a World Series game. This win put them up two games to one in the series.  They would win the World Series in the sixth game four days later.  In 2006 the worst play in Dodgers playoff history happened (in my opinion) when two runners are thrown out at home plate on the same throw during Game 1 of the NLDS against the Mets.  You can relive the horror here.
• Happy Birthday, Rip Ripulski, John Duffie, Mike Sharperson, Dennis Cook, Adam Riggs, Tony Gwynn, Jr. & Stephen Fife!
• Apparently, we're a popular bunch. Via Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider; "Three Dodgers in top 20 of most popular MLB jerseys of 2017."
• I support Kiké! Per Chris Cwik at Big League Stew; "Dodgers player criticizes President Donald Trump for actions in Puerto Rico."
• The rotation looks set for the playoffs. Per Eric Stephen at True Blue LA; "Dodgers set NLDS rotation, officially: Rich Hill starts Game 2, Yu Darvish Game 3."
• Per Ashawnta Jackson at Atlas Obscura; "1,400 Baby Chicks and the Integration of Professional Baseball: In 1946 in Nashua, New Hampshire, catcher Roy Campanella made history in more ways than one."
• I had no idea. Per Aaron R. Katz at Tablet Magazine; "Dodger Stadium, an Ancient Jewish Burial Ground: Remembering the old Jewish cemetery that once occupied the baseball shrine’s current parking lot."

The story begins in 1855, when the newly established Hebrew Benevolent Society petitioned the city for the donation of land to serve as a cemetery. On April 9, title was granted to the Society in consideration of the sum of one dollar for a parcel of land to serve, as described in the Los Angeles County Book of Deeds, “as a burying ground for the Israelites forever.” The cemetery was in Chavez Ravine on land that had once belonged to Jose Andres Sepulveda and used as a reservoir.

• Here's a great interview with Kyle Farmer about his faith. Via Trent Beattie at the National Catholic Register; "Los Angeles Dodgers’ Catcher Hopes to Plow Through the Playoff Field: MLB Rookie Kyle Farmer’s Attitude Makes Him Part of Record-Setting Team."

You were able to associate being Catholic with playing baseball.

Not in the sense that I would pray for a hit in a close game or try to use God as a tool for success, but I did — and still do — see baseball as one of the many areas of life that God has dominion over. He’s everywhere, and baseball fields are not exceptions. 

Something that helped me carry faith to college was what my dad did when I got a scholarship to the University of Georgia. He had played in college and gotten to the Atlanta Braves’ AAA team, so when it was my turn to leave home and start playing at Georgia, he wanted to pass along something faith-related that he had carried with him in college and professionally — his crucifix on a chain. I’ve been wearing it ever since.

• In case you were wondering, via a tweet from Dylan Hernandez:

Shohei Ohtani pitched 2-hit shutout in what could be last start in Japan. 10 Ks. Batted 4th, 1 for 4, run. Dodgers VP Anthopoulos was there.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) October 4, 2017

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