Check out this vintage photograph I ran into while perusing eBay. It is a Barney Stein photo of the 1956 Brooklyn Dodger team at the Atomic Memorial in Hiroshima during their Tour of Japan series that fall (eBay link). I suspect it was originally found in one of those presentation photo albums the team made for the players and staff that headed for the Far East. You can also see this exact image at the Walter O'Malley.com website, where it says:
A bronze plaque from the Dodgers was presented at the Hiroshima stadium with the following legend: “We dedicate this visit in memory of those baseball fans and others who died by atomic action on August 6, 1945. May their souls rest in peace and with God’s help and man’s resolution peace will prevail, forever, amen.” Among those attending the presentation were Dodger President Walter O’Malley, manager Walter Alston, and Dodger players as Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, and Duke Snider.Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 1953 the very first spring game is played at the newly built Holman Stadium at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida. The Dodgers faced off against the A's and defeated then, 4-2. In 1972 Dodgers Hall of Fame legend Zach Wheat dies at the age of 83. He was a Brooklyn Dodgers for 18 seasons -- slashing .317/.367/.452/.819 with 131 home runs, 2,804 hits and a batting title in 1918.
- Happy Birthday, Bill Pounds, Joe Dunn, Bobby Abreu, Rich Hill & Pedro Baez!
- I am very curious to know what this is. Topps has been putting out advertisements for something called MMXX Project 2020. It is being billed as a 20 card Baseball set created by 20 "culture defining artist", and the artist on the roster is absolutely fascinating. It includes high-end jeweler Ben Baller, post-pop artist Fucci, portrait artist Blake Jamieson, streetwear designer Don C, famed tattoo artist JK5, music business matriarch Sophia Chang and streetwear tastemaker Oldmanalan, among others. It's such an eclectic group I have the feeling this is something that would appeal to more than just Baseball collectors... Oh, did I mention that Joshua Vides is also involved -- he's a mural artist best known for his artwork on sneakers. Wow!
- Video: Steven Douglas at Sports Illustrated has a Conversation with Dodgers' Prospect Jeren Kendall (video link).
- Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest -- "2020 Dodgers Top 100 Prospects: No. 5, 3B Miguel Vargas."
- Via David Laurila at FanGraphs -- "Gavin Lux Talks Hitting." This is a great read.
Laurila: What is your approach when you’re standing in the box?Lux: “It depends on the pitcher. Sinker-slider guys, it’s like, ‘scoop the ball to center field.’ For four-seam guys, it’s like, ‘get on top and hit it off the pitcher’s shoe.’ You kind of formulate different plans against certain kind of pitchers. But I always hunt fastballs, so my timing is always for fastballs.”
- Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily shares some preview pics from Topps 2020 Diamond Icons brand. Check out the Jackie Robinson cad on the right. Go here to see more pics. This product is scheduled to hit stores on July 8th.
- Per Bob Nightengale at USA Today -- "Diamondbacks pitching coach Matt Herges divulges dark past of steroid use and crossing the picket line." For those who don't know, Herges was a Dodger prospect who crossed the picket line and received a lifetime ban from joining the players union.
“I don’t know if I would have made the big leagues without being a replacement player,’’ Herges tells USA TODAY Sports. “If there’s a regret, it’s that I did nothing to educate myself. I made a decision to do it, and I stand by it, but I should have educated myself and known what happened previously.“It was so hard. I get a chance to play for Tommy Lasorda. And if I don’t do this, I don’t have a chance to be a Dodger in the future? Why wouldn’t I do this?
“I remember the next spring sitting with (Dodgers teammate) Brett Butler on the bus, and he broke it down for me. He said, 'Look, this is what Curt Flood did. Here’s the work stoppage history. This is why we struck.’
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