Apparently, the Dodgers Tried to Trade for Warren Spahn

I usually refrain from writing about trade rumors. After all, we all know that a vast majority of the 'Hot Stove' is bunk. That said, this one vintage, circa 1950's, rumor has my imagination flowing, so I thought I'd share it here. According to a newspaper cutout attached to a letter written by Walter O'Malley -- that's currently available at REA (Auction Link) -- the Dodgers were charging hard to trade for future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn from the Braves prior to the start of the 1953 season.

Blog Kiosk: 3/13/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Here's another one of those photos that used to reside within the collection of famed sports broadcaster George Michael. Featured above is a live view of Pistol Pete Reiser stealing home (eBay auction link). Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Brooklyn, May 16, 1946... The Dodgers great Base stealer Pete Reiser shows his style in this sequence of photos ar Ebbets Field today. With Stan Rojak at bat, Reiser makes his dash for home. He leads the league in steals and stealing home has become his specialty.

In 1946 Reiser stole home seven times. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1917 Dodger skipper Wilbert Robinson performed some spring antics on the field. After hearing that Gabby Street caught a Baseball thrown from the Washington Monument, Robinson bragged that he could catch a ball dropped from an airplane. So, the stunt was set up, but as legend has it young outfielder Casey Stengel had something else in mind. He substituted a grapefruit for the Baseball. Said fruit was then gloved by Robinson as it fell, but it exploded on his chest. Having seen the fruits red innards splashed all over himself Wilbert exclaimed, "Help me, Lads, I'm covered with my own blood!" Then, he tasted it. On a side note, it has since been revealed that Stengel was not the genius behind this prank. Ruth Law, the pilot, substituted part of her lunch when she realized she forgot to bring a baseball.
• Happy Birthday, Chappie McFarland, Tom Flood, Mal Eason, Lew Malone, Don Bessent, Don Miles & Mariano Duncan!