Blog Kiosk: 4/10/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

There's nothing like a father teach his son the game.

As you can see, featured above is Jackie Robinson teaching Jackie Robinson Jr. the finer points of the game in a March 1, 1953 Associated Press photo. It is currently available at auction at RMY Auctions (link here).

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 the Dodgers officially announced, during the sixth inning of an exhibition against the Royals, that they had purchased the contract of Montreal Royals infielder Jackie Robinson.  He would be the first African-American to be on the roster of a modern Major League club. In 1962 the Dodgers played their very first home game at the newly built Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine. There were 52,564 fans on-hand to watch Johnny Podres throw the first pitch to infielder Eddie Kasko -- who promptly doubled in the at-bat. Duke Snider would record the first Dodger hit with a single in the second inning.  Unfortunately, the Dodgers would lose the game to the Reds, 6-3. Reds outfielder Wally Post hit the first homer in the stadium during the seventh inning to lead Cincinnati.
• Happy Birthday, Bob McGraw, Chuck Connors, Lee Lacy, Mike Devereaux, Alberto Reyes, Andre Ethier & Charlie Culberson!
• Awesome! Per Rachelle Ledbetter at Kaweah Commonwealth; "A Dodger Wish comes true."

(Pic via Jon SooHoo/Dodgers)

Dodger Blue Wishes is a program designed to inspire and create an unforgettable experience for Dodgers fans who have a serious health condition. Last year, I definitely fit into this category. On the waiting list for a double lung transplant, I began a “Wish” letter campaign to nominate myself. In addition to my six appeal letters over a four-month period, I solicited help from my family and friends. I had a mission: Dodgers or bust.

...
Upon entering the field, we watched the end of Dodger batting practice and the beginning of the Giants’ practice. I became a person I didn’t recognize: a “fangirl.” From  each player and manager I met (both teams), I requested a hug, kissed their necks (creepy), and asked them to autograph my baseball. As my daughters Meaghan and Sierra shot me looks of horror at the audacity of my requests for hugs, I ignored them and lost all sense of protocol and became the stereotypical I’m-in-a-wheelchair-with-a-cannula-coming-out-of-my-nose-how-could-you-say-no-to-this-disabled-woman? woman. 

• Out Triple-A ballclub in Oklanoma City just held their fanfest. Go here to check out a bunch of pics.
• Per Eric Stephen at True Blue LA; "Kyle Farmer recalls cameo appearance in ‘The Blind Side’"

“We were in the middle of filming and all of a sudden this woman comes running toward the field, saying they needed to stop production,” Farmer recalled.

• It sure has been a tough early going. Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Rotation, routine tweaks 'difficult' for Dodgers: Off-days, illnesses, extra innings contributing to adjustments on staff."

"This has been extremely difficult," said Honeycutt. "You get everybody in a routine and then everything gets changed, and some accept change better than others. It's early in the season, and everybody still has some apprehensions about where they're at."

Take Kenta Maeda, who accepted a request from management to move to the bullpen for a week, even though his incentive-laden contract rewards starts and innings pitched. Talk about taking one for the team. 

"The contractual issue is just for myself, and it exactly can't dictate what the team needs to do and it shouldn't be affecting other starting pitchers," said Maeda, comfortable with such a move after his great success as a postseason reliever. "I'm looking at this as just getting some work before my next start because of the off-days. Definitely, I want to start as many times as I can."

• Per Tommy Birch at the Des Moines Register; "Mason City native Jake Peter knocking on the door of the big leagues."

“I think there’s a little bit more opportunity for me here,” Peter said of his new home in the Dodgers' system. “Being a versatile player, I think that bodes well for me in this organization because you look at pretty much every guy they have in the big leagues can play multiple positions.”

• Mark Timmons at LA Dodgers Talk tells us a bit about; "Alex Freedman – Voice of the OKC Dodgers."
• Via Dan Chalk at the Midland Daily News; "John Shoemaker excited to return to Great Lakes Loons after five years with other Dodgers affiliates."

"The overall togetherness between the fans and the team (is what I like about the Loons)," he said. "The fans really respect and support the team well."

• Stupid rumors. Apparently, Jon Heyman at FanRag thinks the Dodgers are in the odds on favorite in the Bryce Harper sweepstakes, which will surely begin in earnest once the season concludes.
• Panini's The Knight's Lance shares a bunch of preview pics from their upcoming 2018 Diamond Kings Baseball card set; including cards of Adrian Gonzalez and Cody Bellinger seen below. Go here to check out more. This brand hit stores tomorrow.

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