Dodgers Blue Heaven: Blog Kiosk: 3/24/2020 - Dodgers Links & News

Check out these two old men above at Dodgertown, Vero Beach, FL in the press pic from Wide World Photo. As you can see, Duke Snider is having his knee checked out by Dodger skipper Walter Alston. It is dated 2/23/1959 (eBay auction link). Snider had experienced knee troubles last season that resulted in Duke playing in only 106 games.

Below are more links to check out:

This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 Leo Durocher had a four-hour hearing with Commissioner Happy Chandler, related to gambling. In this meeting he would admit to playing cards for money with Kirby Higbe. Durocher would soon be given a one-season suspension for "association with known gamblers." In 1959 an infamous photo is taken of Reds outfielder Pete Whisenant during an exhibition game in Cuba against the Brooklyn Dodgers. He is seen holding Fidel Castor's machine gun. See it on the right. In 1982 Dodgers star hurler Fernando Valenzuela ends his contract holdout and reports to the Dodgers spring training. After winning the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards he sought a raise from $42,500 to $1 million. Instead, the Dodgers unilaterally renewed his contract for a reported $350,000. In 1984 the International Olympic Committee agreed to hold a six-team exhibition baseball tournament as part of the 1984 Summer Olympics to be held at Dodger Stadium.
Happy Birthday, Jim McCauley, Mike Mowrey, Jim Bucher, Dick Egan, Wilson Alvarez & Jamie Arnold!
Via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors -- "2020 Olympics Postponed; Latest On Baseball In Korea & Japan." Baseball will begin in Asia in a month.
Per Matthew Moreno at Dodger Blue -- "Justin Turner Signs With Easton Diamond Sports."
Per Connor Byrne at MLB Trade Rumors -- "Rebound Candidate: Alex Wood."

The 2019 season was undoubtedly a disaster for Wood, though he nonetheless entered the free-agent market as one of the most accomplished hurlers available. He does, after all, rank 28th among starters in ERA and 32nd in FIP dating back to the beginning of his career. New teammate and fellow southpaw David Price is among several prominent names grouped with Wood in those regards.

Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily shares a bunch of preview pics from the 2020 Topps Gold Label Baseball card brand -- slated for release a week before Labor Day. Check out the Dodgers Mookie Betts card on the right. Go here to check out more photos.
I think boredom is starting to set in. Via Matthew Moreno at Dodger Blue -- "Dodgers Video: Kiké Hernandez Does Pushups In Full Uniform, Issues Social Media Challenge To Justin Turner & Joc Pederson."
Via Dodger Chatter at LA Dodger Talk -- "Carl Furillo – the Reading Rifle."

Nicknamed “The Reading Rifle” after his home town of Reading, PA, Furillo came to play. His claim to fame was his incredibly strong throwing arm (hence the ‘Rifle’ part of his nickname). During his career, he recorded 151 outfield assists with a high of 24 in 1951 and nine seasons with ten or more assists. He participated in 34 double plays while throwing out seven runners at first base who most likely made a turn too wide. He once fielded a clean line drive hit by pitcher Mel Queen of the Pirates and threw him out at first base in the eighth inning to preserve a no-hitter on which Ralph Branca was working.

The 2020 Topps On-Demand MLB Rookie Progression - Wave 2 is now available for order and it will include Dodger youngster Gavin Lux. Go here to check it out and order.