Blog Kiosk: 7/24/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The Ultey retirement tour is in full swing. Per Todd Zolecki at MLB.com:

"I thought it was important to let the Philadelphia Phillies fans know that this is going to be the last time that I'm going to have the chance to play in this ballpark," Utley said Monday afternoon. "Whether I was going to continue to play another few years or not, this city was an experience that I'll never forget. Obviously, we had some great success here and the way this city supported this team over those years is pretty remarkable. I've said this a number of times over the years, but fans in this city really elevated our game and made us focus a little bit more. It added a little bit of intensity and adrenaline. In my opinion, those are things that can make a team better."

BTW, the Dodgers eked out a victory last night in Philadephia, 7-6, by smashing four homers and rallying in the ninth. Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1931 Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) outfielder Babe Herman hit for the cycle against the the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1939 the Brooklyn Dodgers selected Dixie Walker off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. He would go on to play nine season in Brooklyn; slashing .311/.386/.441/.827 for the Dodgers. In 1967 former Dodgers President Branch Rickey is posthumously inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1993 Mets outfielder Vince Coleman tossed a M-80 firecracker from his car as he was leaving the Dodger Stadium parking area. It is reported that three people are injured; including an 11-year old boy and a two-year old girl. Coleman eventually pleads guilty to one misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of an explosive device and is sentenced to 200 hours of community service. The incident, along with many others, leads the Mets to announced a month later that he would never play for the team again.
• Happy Birthday, Tommy McCarthy, Joe Wall, Joe Schultz, Preston Ward, Norihiro Nakamura & Scott Van Slyke!
• ICYMI: Justin Turner has been placed on the 10-day DL with a right groin strain. Outfield prospect Alex Verdugo has been called up in his place.
• Podcast: Dodgers Digest ‘Dugout Blues’ episode 240 – ASG, Machado, Muncy, Turner hurt (Podcast Link).
• The Louisville Bats, the Reds Triple-A club, are retiring a couple of Dodger numbers. Per Alex Mayer at MiLB; "Bats to retire Reese, Robinson jersey numbers: Louisville will retire #1, #42 as part of Throwback Weekend." (Hat Tip: Alex Hider at Uni-Watch) BTW, on July 28th the Bats are giving away a Pee Wee Reese Replica Statue. You can see the statue, here, at the front of their stadium.
• Matt Kemp has been named to the Dodgers MLBPAA 2018 Heart & Hustle Award, per MLB.com. This honors active ballplayers who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game.
• Via Bill Plaschke at The LA Times; "Dodgers' Fairly still treasures that magical pebble."

They felt like they were pushing a boulder, until Pee Wee Reese changed their fortunes with a pebble.

The franchise has benefited from plenty of magic in the 60 years since, but it may have started that summer when Reese walked up to rookie outfielder Ron Fairly in St. Louis and handed him a small stone. 

“Keep this,’’ the Dodger coach told the kid. “It will bring us good luck.’’

• I love these stories. Per Clint Evans at Dodgers Nation; "Your Los Angeles Dodgers Run-In’s and Fan Stories, Part Three."
• Via Evan Petzold at From the Nest; "Edwin Uceta completes journey from gas station attendant to Dodgers prospect list."

From the time he was 12 until 14 years old, Uceta worked at a gas station. It was a deal with the owner — in exchange for Uceta’s work, his boss paid for him to go to school.

As a boy who often did not have food on the table, Uceta effortlessly accepted the seven-hour-per-day job.

• I think this is worth your time to check out. Per Christian Wallace of Texas Monthly; "The Jackie Robinson of Rodeo." His name is Myrtis Dightman.

Pursuing a championship in the world’s most dangerous sport is a formidable task for any cowboy, but for a black cowboy in 1967 such an undertaking seemed, to most, downright impossible. Dightman refused to buy it. “A lot of folks thought rodeo was a white man’s game,” he said years later. “But those bulls don’t care if you’re white or black. You could be green, for all it matters. They just don’t want you on their backs.”

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