Tagged: Dodgers
Yasiel Puig and George Genovese
I am reading the book about George Genovese titled “A Scout’s Report. My 70 Years in Baseball”. It is written with Dan Taylor. I had a chance to hear Mr. Genovese at a SABR event a few years back, then a couple a few weeks ago I went to his talk/book signing event at South Pasadena. It was an honor to hear him and his author. Mark Langill presented him. In attendance were Fred Claire who was a member of the Dodgers’ front office for 30 years And John Young who played for the Tigers in 1971 and founded RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities). These two men along with some other people in the audience were there to pay tribute to Mr. Genovese based on what they had to say when they put their hand up. They did not ask a question, they praised Mr. Genovese.
I am fascinated with the book. What a trajectory! What a life! From his playing days in the minor league to playing with the Senators to managing in the minor league under the wings of Branch Rickey when Mr. Rickey was with the Cardinals and the Pirates, to when Mr. Rickey sent him to Mexico to managing in the Texas league for the Giants to being asked to scout in California because his eye for talent was unmatched, to working for the Dodgers.
From Peter Mancuso, Chairman of the Nineteen Century Committee, Society for American Research:
“this book is not just a biography, it is a Masters Degree in Baseball, from how to play, manage, coach, inspire, understand, evaluate and enjoy our great National Pastime..”
I ran into an article from the LA Times When George Genovese was at Dodger Stadium. This part caught my attention:
” The ball soars into center field and Puig, flashing his speed, makes the catch. It reminds Genovese of a young Jose Cardenal or maybe Roberto Clemente starting out in Puerto Rico.
“The kid is so gifted” he says of Puig.”
I value the opinion of a man that has played, managed and still coaches, inspires, understands, evaluates and enjoys our great National Pastime.
LA Times Book Club “Boys of Summer” Event at UCLA
This weekend I will be in San Diego but if I was not, I would definitely go to this event. From the back of the sport section of the LA Times:
LA Times Book Club names ‘Boys of Summer’ as its next selection
To celebrate this book, the joy of baseball, and our own Dodgers, we will be hosting an event at Jackie Robinson’s alma mater, UCLA, in their prestigious Hall of Fame on Sunday, April 26. Author Roger Kahn, Dodger great Maury Wills, LA Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke and Dodger alumni will be there in person for a great conversation about baseball in our community. Mickey Kantor, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and avid baseball fan, will moderate the conversation.
It looks to be a great event. Roger Kahn’s book about the Brooklyn Dodgers back when he covered the team was the second baseball book I read. It is one of my favorites
Twas The Night Before Dodgers Opening Day 2015
Twas the Night before Opening Day and all through Dodger town
Dodger fans anxiously waited for the final countdown
At the stadium the awnings were hung with much care
in hope that in October they will again be there
The fans all sleepy snuggled in their bed
while visions of World Series danced in their heads
after finishing blogging and loading the MLB at Bat
I went upstairs to take a long nap
when my alarm kept making such a clatter
I sprang out my bed to see what was the matter
Away to Dodger Stadium we left in a dash
drove up I-10 but had to stop for some cash
On the mound, Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw,
Goes against James Shield for the Opening Day show
On Kershaw, on Adrian, On Uribe, on Puig, on Rollins, on Ellis
Give us a win fellas!
Giddiness! Opening Day is the reason
Good luck to my Dodgers and to all fans a good season!
Dodgers with Presidential Names
Happy Presidents Day!
This was fun looking up all the Dodger players who have “Presidential” names. In the list, there are three Hall of Famers.
Gary Carter
Jackie Roosevelt Robinson
Hack Wilson.
Here the complete list:
Adams, Terry 2000-01
Carter, Gary 1991
Carter, Lance 2006
Ford, Hod 1925
Grant, Jim 1968
Jackson, Edwin 2003-05
Jackson, Randy 1956-58
Johnson, Brian 2001
Johnson, Charles 1998
Johnson, Jason 2008
Johnson, Lou 1965-67
Johnson, Reed 2010
Johnson, Fred Ivy 1924
Johnson, Jimmy 1916-25
Kennedy, Adam 2012
Kennedy, Bob 1957
Kennedy, Brick Yard 1892-1901
Kennedy, John 1965-66
Nixon, Al 1915-16,18
Nixon, Otis 1997
Jackie Roosevelt Robinson 1947-1956
Theodore Roosevelt Lilly 2010-13
Taylor, Danny 1932-36
Taylor, Harry 1946-48
Taylor, Zack 1920-25, 35
Washington, Ron 1977
Wilson, Eddie 1936-37
Wilson, Hack 1932-34
Wilson, Robert 1958
Wilson, Steve 1991-93
Wilson, Tex 1924
Wilson, Tom 2004
Honoring the Brooklyn Dodgers Alive as of January 3, 2015
An annual tradition in this blog is to update the list of Brooklyn Dodger players alive.
In 2014, we lost the following Brooklyn Dodgers: Charlie Osgood, Charlie kress, Don Zimmer, Dick Teed, George Shuba, Pat McGlothin and John Pierre Roy.
We now have 31 surviving Broklyn Dodger players. Mike Sandlock is the oldest one. He will turn 100 on October 17. The youngest one is now Bob Aspromonte who will turn 76 on June 19. I had the pleasure of meeting Bob Aspromonte at the SABR convention in Houston in 2014.
Here is the list of the 31 surviving Brooklyn Dodger players:
| Name | Birthplace. | Born | Uni# |
| Mike Sandlock | Old Greenwich, CT | 10/17/1915 | 1, 4 |
| Ray Hathaway | Grinville, OH | 10/13/1916 | 22 |
| Lee Pfund | Oakpark, IL | 10/10/1919 | 14 |
| Luis Olmo | Puerto Rico | 10/11/1919 | 21 |
| Marv Rackley | Seneca, SC | 7/25/1921 | 35 |
| Eddie Basinksi | Buffalo, NY | 11/4/1922 | 3 |
| Tim Thompson | Coalport, PA | 3/1/1924 | 21 |
| Johnny Rutherford | Ontario, CN. | 5/5/1925 | 15 |
| Wayne Terwilliger | Clare, Mi. | 6/27/1925 | 34 |
| Chris Haughey | Astoria, NY. | 10/3/1925 | 14 |
| Ralph Branca | Mount Vernon, NY | 1/6/1926 | 13,20,28 |
| Bob Borkowski | Dayton, OH | 1/27/1926 | 27 |
| Randy Jackson | Little Rock, AR | 2/10/1926 | 2 |
| Don Newcombe | Madison, NJ | 6/14/1926 | 36 |
| Bobby Morgan | Oklahoma city. OK | 6/29/1926 | 2 |
| Carl Erskine | Anderson, IN | 12/13/1926 | 17 |
| Rocky Bridges | Refugio, TX | 8/7/1927 | 9 |
| Tommy Lasorda | Norristown, PA | 9/22/1927 | 2,27,29 |
| Tommy Brown | Brooklyn, NY | 12/6/1927 | 9 |
| Joe Landrum | Columbia, SC | 12/13/1928 | 19 |
| Joe Pignatano | Brooklyn, NY | 8/4/1929 | 58 |
| Roger Craig | Durham, NC | 2/17/1930 | 38 |
| Ron Negray | Akron, OH | 2/26/1930 | 38 |
| Glenn Mickens | Wilman, CA | 7/26/1930 | 46 |
| Ed Roebuck | East Millboro, PA. | 7/3/1931 | 37 |
| Fred Kipp | Iqua, KS | 10/1/1931 | 26 |
| Chico Fernandez | Cuba | 3/2/1932 | 3 |
| Jim Gentile | San Francisco, CA | 6/3/1934 | 38 |
| Don Demeter | Oklahoma City. OK | 6/25/1935 | 2 |
| Sandy Koufax | Brooklyn, NY | 12/30/1935 | 32 |
| Bob Aspromonte | Brooklyn, NY | 6/19/1938 | 28. 34 |
Gentlemen: May you have a healthy 2015!
A Tribute to the Dodgers that Passed Away in 2014
A tradition in my blog on December 31 is to pay tribute to the Dodgers that passed away in 2014.
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- Charlie Osgood (11/23/1926 – 1/23/2014)
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- Charlie Kress (12/9/1921 – 3/4/2014)
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- Dr. Frank Jobe (7/16/1925 – 3/6/2014)
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- Don Zimmer(1/17/1931 – 6/4/2014)
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- Dick Teed (3/8/1926 – 8/17/2014)
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- Bobby Welch (11/3/1956 – 6/9/2014)
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- Bobby Castillo (4/8/1955 – 6/30/2014)
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- George Shuba (12/13/1924 – 9/29/2014)
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- Pat McGlothin (10/20/1920 – 10/24/2014)
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- Jean Pierre Roy (6/26/1920 – 11/1/2014)
Charlie Osgood
Chuck Kress
Frank Jobe
Don Zimmer
Bobby Welch
Bobby Castillo
Dick Teed
Geoge Shuba
Pat McGlothin
John Pierre Roy
When Did You Fall in Love?
One of my favorite Dodger slogans was “When did you fall in love?” Anyone remember it? It was in 2008 when the Dodgers were celebrating 50 years of Major League baseball in Los Angeles.
When you went to Los Angeles Union Station , you could see the walls of the long hallways lined with pictures of Dodger players and the words “When did you fall in love?”
I felt more in love with baseball in the last three games of the 1980 season when Dodgers had to play the last three games of the regular season with the Houston Astros. Dodgers had to win all three games to force a playoff game. They won all three games but felt way short on the extra playoff game that Monday. They broke my heart that Monday but that offseason I went to Dodger Stadium and purchased one season ticket for the 1981 season.
I wonder what the Dodger slogan will be for 2015.
When did you fall in love?
Good Luck Dee Gordon
Good luck Dee Gordon! I will miss you with the Dodgers. I will miss seeing you running the bases, your defense and hitting. I will miss your smiling face, seeing you in San Diego.
I will never forget the time I saw you in the lobby of the hotel and told you “Dee! I am so happy for you today! You did great!” You hugged me and said “Thank you ma’man!” Your mom raised you well. I will miss you kid! The last time I spoke with you I said “I can’t call you skinny Dee any more” You showed me your arm muscles then. Thank you for the memories. I wish you the best with the Marlins.
Gordon is coming off an All-Star year in which he stole 64 bases and hit 12 triples
In the trade: Dee Gordon and Dan Haren to the Marlins for Andrew Heaney, Kike Hernandez, Chris Hatcher and Austin Barnes. Didn’t Haren say that he would retire if he was not a Dodger?
Welcome to the Dodgers Jimmy Rollins
Welcome to the Dodgers Jimmy rollins!!
Rollins, 36, had 2,306 hits in 15 seasons with the Phillies. He has been a member of the organization since June 4, 1996, the day the Phillies selected him with the 46th overall pick
Jimmy Rollins will return to Philadelphia on August 4, when the Dodgers visit Cititzen Bank Park.
Details of the trade are not in yet.
Dodgers 2015 Promo Schedule
The Dodgers promotional schedule for 2015 is out! WOO-HOO!! I like the 1965 Replica ring with the Old-Timers game on Saturday May 16. Here is the rest of the promo schedule:
APRIL
Wed, Apr 8 vs the Padres
Adult Replica Pullover Jacket
Mon, Apr 13 vs the Mariners
Cy Young Collectors’ Pin Series: Don Newcombe
Wed, Apr 15 vs The Mariners
Adult Jackie Robinson Replica Jersey
Fri, Apr 17 vs The Rockies
Friday Night Fireworks
Sun, Apr 19 vs The Rockies
Viva Los Dodgers
Mon, Apr 27 vs The Giants
Cy Young Collectors’ Pin Series: Don Drysdale
Wed, Apr 29 vs The Giants
Fleece Blanket
MAY
Fri, May 1 vs D-backs
Friday Night Fireworks
Sat, May 2 vs D-backs
Dodgers Reusable Tote Bag
Sun, May 3 vs D-backs
Kids’ Replica Jersey. Viva Los Dodgers
Tue, May 12 vs Marlins
Bobblehead #1
Thu, May 14 vs Rockies
Cy Young Collectors’ Pin Series: Sandy Koufax
Fri, May 15 vs Rockies
Friday Night Fireworks
Sat, May 16 vs Rockies
1965 World Series Replica Ring. Old-Timers Game
Sun, May 17 vs Rockies
Viva Los Dodgers
Sat, May 23 vs Padres
Bobblehead #2
Sun, May 24 vs Padres
Viva Los Dodgers
Mon, May 25 vs Braves
Garden Gnome
Wed, May 27 vs Braves
Coaster Set
JUNE
Thu, Jun 4 vs Cardinals
Bobblehead #3
Fri, Jun 5 vs Cardinals
Friday Night Fireworks
Sat, Jun 6 vs Cardinals
Hollywood Stars Game
Sun, Jun 7 vs Cardinals
Kids’ Cereal Bowl. Viva Los Dodgers
Tue, Jun 9 vs D-backs
T-Shirt
Wed, Jun 17 vs Rangers
Beach Bag
Thu, Jun 18 vs Rangers
Cy Young Collectors’ Pin Series: Mike Marshall
Fri, Jun 19 vs Giants
Friday Night Fireworks
Sun, Jun 21 vs Giants
Father’s Day BBQ Set. Viva Los Dodgers
JULY
Fri, Jul 3 vs Mets
Friday Night Fireworks
Sat, Jul 4 vs Mets
4th of July Fireworks
Sun, Jul 5 vs Mets
Photo Day. Viva Los Dodgers
Mon, Jul 6 vs Phillies
Bobblehead #4
Wed, Jul 8 vs Phillies
Hello Kitty Plush
Fri, Jul 10 vs Brewers
Friday Night Fireworks
Sat, Jul 11 vs Brewers
Bobblehead #5
Sun, Jul 12 vs Brewers
Kids’ Hamper. Viva Los Dodgers
Wed, Jul 29 vs Athletics
Bobblehead #6
Fri, Jul 31 vs Angels
Friday Night Fireworks
AUGUST
Sun, Aug 2 vs Angels
Cap. Viva Los Dodgers
Mon, Aug 10 vs Nationals
Cy Young Collectors’ Pin Series: Fernando Valenzuela
Thu, Aug 13 vs Reds
Bobblehead #7
Fri, Aug 14 vs Reds
Friday Night Fireworks
Sun, Aug 16 vs Reds
Spray Bottle with Fan. Viva Los Dodgers
Fri, Aug 28 vs Cubs
Friday Night Fireworks
Sat, Aug 29 vs Cubs
Cy Young Collectors’ Pin Series: Orel Hershiser
Sun, Aug 30 vs Cubs
Headphones
SEPTEMBER
Tue, Sep 1 vs Giants
Bobblehead #8
Mon, Sep 14 vs Rockies
Cy Young Collectors’ Pin Series: Eric Gagne
Wed, Sep 16 vs Rockies
Bobblehead #9
Fri, Sep 18 vs Pirates
Friday Night Fireworks
Sun, Sep 20 vs Pirates
Cy Young Collectors’ Pin Series: Clayton Kershaw. Viva Los Dodgers
Mon, Sep 21 vs D-backs
Sleeved Blanket
Wed, Sep 23 vs D-backs
Bobblehead #10
OCT
Fri, Oct 2 vs Padres
Friday Night Fireworks
Sat, Oct 3 vs Padres
La Gran Fiesta Viva Los Dodgers
Sun, Oct 4 vs Padres
Fan Appreciation Day
Dodger Blue World 