I just can't wait for Spring, so when I come across a press photo showing some Dodgers' preparing for the upcoming season I have to share it here. Featured above is Brooklyn catcher Bruce Edwards with youngster Tom Tatum, dated 2/24/1947 (eBay auction link). Per the descriptor on the reverse:
Bat Selection. Bruce Edwards (left), Brooklyn Dodger catcher, looks over some bats with rookie Tom Tatum at the Dodger training area at Havana, Cuba, Feb. 21. Tatum came to the Dodgers from Montreal in the International League where he hit .319 in the 1946 season. Edwards' home is in Sacramento, Calif, and Tatum lives in Nashville, Tenn.
BTW, Tom Tatum had a short career in Brooklyn, but made an impact nonetheless -- and it wasn't for his play on the diamond. Instead, he (like George Shuba the year before in Montreal) is recognized for extending a handshake to Jackie Robinson as he crossed home plate following his first career home run on April 18, 1947. You can see a photo of it on the right. Obviously, this kind of action shouldn't seen as unusual or surprising, but such was the times. On another note, both Tatum and Robinson were teammates on the 1946 Montreal Royals, so this wasn't a big deal for either of them.Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 1919 the National League officially banned the spitball. The American league would follow the next season. Current spitballers would be grandfathered and be allowed to continue throwing the pitch -- including future Dodger Hall of Famer Burleigh Grimes, who would eventually be the last legal spitballer in the game. In 1986 the Dodgers trade first baseman Greg Brock to Milwaukee for reliever Tim Crews and starter Tim Leary -- both of whom would play important roles during their 1988 World Championship run two years later. In 2012 the Dodgers signed free agent starter Zack Greinke to a six-year $147 million contract that includes an opt-out clause after its third season.
- Happy Birthday, Jimmy Johnston, Jake Hehl, Ted Martinez, Gil Reyes & Mel Rojas!
- The numbers being bandied about for Gerrit Cole is crazy. Heck, I think the Dodgers would be better off signing both Hyun-Jin Ryu and Madison Bumgarner for the same price.
- Via Caleb Parke at Fox News -- "Manny Ramirez 'found God,' takes a swing at seminary: 'You got to hit it every day'"
The 47-year-old said he "found God," enrolled in seminary five years ago, and has apologized to Boston fans for his selfish actions. For example, taking performance-enhancing drugs, pushing Jack McCormick, the Sox' traveling secretary, to the ground, and forcing the Sox to trade him to the Dodgers just before the trade deadline in 2008.“I’m growing. It takes time,” Ramirez told the Boston Globe ahead of being honored by The Sports Museum in Boston. “It’s like playing baseball. If you want to be the best, you got to hit it every day. If you want to get to know God, you have to have a relationship with Him.”
- There'll be a minor uniform change for the Dodgers, and it has everything to do with Nike. As you may know, Nike is now the official supplier for MLB, and as a result you will now see the Nike swoosh on the chest of everyone's uniform. Go here to check them all out at Nike's website. To the right is a look at the Dodgers uni. BTW, Paul Lukas at UniWatch writes a full FAQ column answering any question you could possibly have about all of this.
- Contrats, not only to the very deserving Ted Simmons, but especially to Marvin Miller. He should have been put in the Hall a long time ago. Per Tim Bown at Yahoo Sports -- "Marvin Miller's bigger than life impact on fellow Hall of Famer Ted Simmons."
“I can't begin to tell you, anybody in this room, the impact that Marvin Miller has had on me and my family,” he said. “I came from a little place just outside of Detroit. Well, I'll put it to you like this: First contract I played for at the Major League level was for $7,500, OK?“And Marvin, that summer, raised it to 10. And then the following spring training, the minimum salary went from 10 to 14. I turned to my wife and I said, ‘I think we can buy a car!’ Then you could buy one for $800 brand new.
- From the Winter Meetings, via a tweet by Pedro Moura:
Andrew Friedman said the Dodgers have zeroed in on roughly 12 potential acquisitions, between free agents and trades, primarily elite players. He described the current pool of possibilities as a “much more narrow group than it has been in other years in my career.”— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) December 10, 2019
- In case you had any doubt, the Dodgers will employ Mark Prior as their pitching coach and Josh Bard will return to the franchise as their bullpen coach, via a tweet from Ken Gurnick. This is no surprise. With Honeycutt's retirement, it had been long speculated that Mark Prior would advance to the dugout.
Mark Prior will be the pitching coach, Friedman said. Josh Bard returns as the bullpen coach after two years on the Yankees staff.— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) December 10, 2019
- Via Yousef Baig at The Press Democrat -- "Bryan Stow, beaten 8 years ago at Dodgers Stadium, delivers anti-bullying message in Santa Rosa."
- Via Security Magazine -- "LA Dodgers Fan Sues Team for Alleged Lack of Security."
Milton Flores was beaten by two other men inside Dodger Stadium during an extra-inning playoff game in 2018, says a news report. He is suing his assailants, in addition to Los Angeles Dodgers LLC, Guggenheim Baseball Management LP, and Guggenheim Baseball Management GP LLC.The suit states that the team previously staffed security with off-duty uniformed Los Angeles police officers and both sworn and non-sworn security guards, but eventually began relying solely on security guards in polo shirts, diminishing safety by making police intervention seem less likely to troublemakers, according to the news report.
- Check out this Alanna Rizzo bobblehead, via a tweet from Alanna herself:
Win a signed @AlannaRizzo bobblehead. Make a donation to #GuidrysGuardian (no min.) to enter! Thanks to @ultimatepastime for donation. Winner announced 12/20! pic.twitter.com/4NU16xvoQC— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) December 10, 2019
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