Here's an awfully awkward looking photograph that appears to feature newest Dodger Ray Sanders meeting Jackie Robinson, with Pee Wee Reese in tow. It is dated to March 12, 1948 and is available through REA (auction link).
As you may know, less than a week back the Dodgers traded Eddie Stanky to the Braves for Sanders, but eventually sent him back to Boston since he had not fully recovered from injuries suffered the previous year.
Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 1969 Dodger reliever Bill Singer is the first Major Leaguer to officially be credited with a new fangled stat called the 'save.' It was on Opening Day in Cincinnati, and Singer pitched three scoreless innings to maintain a 3-2 victory over the Reds. Eric Stephen at True Blue LA wrote a story about it here. In 1977, on Opening Day, Don Sutton was directed to throw a gopher ball on the first pitch of the game to the Giants lead-off hitter Gary Thomasson. That ball would then be given to the home plate umpire to be sent to Cooperstown. As you might expect, the Giant batter instead hit the pitch for a home run. He claims he had no idea about the plan (yhea, right!).
"They told him that the first ball he threw would be sent to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown," Lasorda said. "Well, the first ball he threw was hit by Gary Thomasson halfway up the bleachers. I said to him, ‘They wanted to send the ball to Cooperstown; they didn’t want someone to hit it there.’"This is the same game Frank Sinatra kept his promise to Tommy Lasorda by performing the national anthem at Dodger Stadium. In 1979 the Dodgers traded pitcher Rick Rhoden to the Pirates for pitcher Jerry Reuss.
- Happy Birthday, Bobby Mitchell, Brett Tomko, Ronnie Belliard & Adrian Beltre!