Blog Kiosk: 12/4/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Weekend Odds and Ends

Justin Turner came out over the weekend to support the Chargers.

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1940 the Brooklyn Dodgers traded John Pintar (minors), Gus Mancuso and $65,000 to the St. Louis Cardinals for soon-to-be All-Star catcher Mickey Owen. In 1941 the Dodgers traded Tony Giuliani and Van Lingle Mungo to the Minneapolis Minors of the American Association for pitcher Joe Hatten. In 1958 the Dodgers traded Gino Cimoli to the St. Louis Cardinals for former "Rookie of the Year" winner Wally Moon and Phil Paine. In 1979 the Dodgers signed outfield free agent Jay Johnstone to a two-year $300,000 contract.. In 1988 the Dodgers traded Juan Bell, Brian Holton and Ken Howell to the Baltimore Orioles for Eddie Murray. In 2002 the Dodgers traded  Mark Grudzielanek and Eric Karros to the Chicago Cubs for Chad Hermansen and Todd Hundley.
• Happy Birthday, Chuck Corgan!
• We are still in the sweepstakes. Per Andy McCullough at the LA Times; "After ruling out several teams, Japanese star Shohei Ohtani expected to meet with Dodgers." Also, Kiké Hernández recently made his pitch to Ohtani on twitter:

Dear Shohei Ohtani,

I’m willing to switch positions if you sign with us! Also, I could catch your bullpens if you’d like!

Ohhh and before I forget.... Yu, Kenta and I are like bffs! Just saying, in case you need one!

Sincerely,
Kike 😁

— Enrique Hernández (@kikehndez) December 4, 2017

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA; "Yimi Garcia signs 2018 contract with Dodgers to avoid salary arbitration: LA also tendered contracts to all 8 remaining players eligible for salary arbitration."
• Via Adrian Garro at Cut4; "Justin Turner and his fiancee met up with Ed Sheeran backstage and have the photo to prove it."
• Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Dodgers promote Gomes to replace Kapler: LA also adds longtime Rays trainer as director of player health."

The Dodgers began filling staff openings on Friday by promoting Brandon Gomes to director of player development and confirming the addition of longtime Rays trainer Ron Porterfield as director of player health.

• Blowout Buzz shares some preview pics from Topps super-premium card brand 2018 Topps Definitive Collection; including a look at a Sandy Koufax card seen on the right. Go here to check out more cards. This set will arrive in stores on April 18th.
• He was a 16-year old Brooklyn Dodger signee. Via David Jerome at the OC Register; "He’s Made The List! Fullerton native Bob Ross is No. 94 on the oldest living baseball players list and is climbing."

At the end of the 1949 season, Ross said, “the Dodgers had had enough of me.”  He was taken by the Washington Senators in the minor league draft and assigned to Double-A Chattanooga.

In mid-June 1950, Ross was in New Orleans pitching against the Pelicans when he got the news every minor-leaguer dreams of hearing: “You’re going to the big leagues.”

• An old friend alert. Per the Japan Times; "Alex Guerrero leaves Dragons after failing to reach agreement with team on new contract."
• Tracy Hackler at Panini's The Knights Lance shares preview pics of their upcoming 2017 Elite Extra Edition Baseball set. This brand focuses on prospects and will be hitting stores on Wednesday. Below are previews of a Carlos Rincon, Yadier Alvarez and Tim Locastro cards.
  
• Via John Prince at the Village News; "Villager treasures baseball glove given to him by legendary Ted Williams."

“I got to know the baseball players pretty well because they would come in and stay for two or three days at a time. They would ask me to practice with them and give me tips. The football teams, on the other hand, arrived the morning of the game and would be gone that night. There wasn’t time.”

Jack’s favorite player and mentor during his batboy days was the great Ted Williams. “One day he said he’d give me some batting tips. I expected tips on holding the bat or getting ready.” Instead Williams coached him on how to watch opposing pitchers during warmups to detect little mannerisms they used that would signal the type of pitch they were going to throw.

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