Blog Kiosk: 6/18/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a couple of old Dodgers' shaking hands after witnessing the Brooklyn clubs first World Series Championship in 1955. Featured is Dodger skipper Walter Alston and current Yankees/former Dodger manager Casey Stengel (eBay auction link). Per the descriptor on the reverse:

The Victor and The Loser -- New York: Yankees Manager Casey Stengel (right) congratulates a smiling Dodger Manager Walt Alston in the Brooklyn dressing room after the Dodgers won the rubber game of the World Series to win their first championship. The Dodgers whipped the Yankees, 2-0, to take the 7th and final game of the series at the Yankee Stadium Oct. 4th. 

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1938 the Dodgers sign their newest coach, Babe Ruth, to a contract. He hopes that he'll be installed as manager of the club the following season. As you know, that would not occur. Instead, it becomes clear that he is signed for publicity reasons -- he takes batting practice before the start of each game to guarantee high attendance. In 1988 the Dodgers signed amateur free agent Pedro Martínez. In 2014 Clayton Kershaw no-hit the Rockies at Dodger Stadium, 8-0. He recorded a career high 15 strike outs, no walks and missed a perfect game when Hanley Ramirez committed an error in the 7th inning. Watch Vin Scully's call here. 
• Happy Birthday, Sandy Alomar!
• I hate it already... Yeah, I'm one of those Baseball purist who does not want to see uniforms looking like NASCAR. Per Chris Creamer at SportsLogos.net -- "Report: MLB Owners Want Ads on Uniforms Right Now."

Earlier reports suggested Major League Baseball would begin allowing commercial ads on jerseys in 2022. It appears the current situation — which includes playing the entirety of the 2020 season and playoffs at empty ballparks — is forcing some owners to think about how they’ll recoup that lost gate revenue. Whether we like it or not, this is certainly one quick and easy way to do that.

• Via Tracy Hackler at Panini America's Blog -- "The Panini America Quality Control Gallery: 2020 Prizm Baseball (90+ Images)." Check out a bunch of preview photos from Panini's newest set. Featured below are cads for Dustin May and Cody Bellinger.

• Via Randy White at SF Gate -- "Dodgers Pitcher David Price Lists Massachusetts Mansion for $6.5M." Apparently, it's already under contract.
• Is the 2020 Baseball season slipping away? Via a tweet from Jeff Passan:

Following a four-hour negotiation in Phoenix between the leaders Tuesday, MLB emerged believing the framework of a deal had been agreed upon, sources said. The union disagreed with that accounting, and players Wednesday said they view the proposed 60-game schedule as too short.

It left baseball in a similar position to where it has spent most of the past two months: deviating views leading to a standoff instead of a start date for the season.

From overnight: MLB believed it had an agreement in place. The players do not believe the same. News at @espn on another agreement that wasn't: https://t.co/OO8lT5lFgQ

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 18, 2020

• Check this out. Via Bob D'Angelo at Sports Collectors Daily -- "New Book Traces Colorful History Of Japanese Baseball Cards." There are very few books/guides covering Japanese Baseball cards, so if this interest you then you gotta get it.
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA -- "Tulsa Drillers are fielding a collegiate baseball summer league team."
• Via Matthew Moreno at Dodger Blue -- "Dodgers’ SportsNet LA Nominated For 5 Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards."
• Via John Hickey at Sports Illustrated -- "From Juan Marichal to Mike Norris to Fernandomania; the Rise & Fall of the Screwball."

By 1981, when Dodgers' rookie Fernando Valenzuela was making Fernandomania a national passion, suddenly there was a battle for whose screwball was best.

It’s been four decades, and there hasn’t been a battle over the screwball like that since. The screwball has morphed into that back-of-the-closet pitch that gets pulled out mostly when a pitcher is desperate and willing to do anything to stay in the Major Leagues. Even then, most pitchers won’t touch it.
...
“It’s a great pitch to get a ground ball or a swing and a miss,” Norris said of the screwball, which he threw at three different speeds. “And while I was having my great year, here comes Fernando Valenzuela. Look at the effect that he had with that pitch. He had one of the best ever.

• Here's the newest episode of Off Air with Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser is available, via a tweet from Joe:

Here’s Ross Stripling with a player’s perspective on the negotiations and lots of other more fun stuff, too. https://t.co/pXqALWLvhT

— Joe Davis (@Joe_Davis) June 18, 2020

• One Team. One Dream. Via a tweet from Dodger prospect Errol Robinson:

One Team. One Dream. #Players4BLM pic.twitter.com/73wQGWpIc9

— Errol A. Robinson (@therealerob_6) June 16, 2020

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