Tagged: Don Newcombe
Congratulations to Clayton Kershaw: 2013 Cy Young Award Winner
Remember back in March of this year when Clayton Kershaw was on the cover of Sports illustrated this year?
some fans thought it would be bad luck. I remember back in March hunting down for the magazine. Some had a different cover but I found copies in Northridge for myself, Lorena and Rosie. Well it was not bad luck for Kershaw to be on the cover. With a record of 16-9, and an ERA of 1.83, he won the National League Cy Young Award. Congratulations Mr. Sunshine.
When Kershaw won the award in 2011, he had a record of 21-5 with an ERA of 2.28. After the announcement in 2011, the Dodgers invited Season Ticket holders to join in the celebration on the field. I had taken the train to work but when I got the email, I borrowed the work company car and I went to the event. What a fun day at the stadium that was! Don Newcombe & Fernando Valenzuela were also there.
Only Sandy Koufax and Kershaw have won more than one Cy Young award with the Dodgers. Sandy did it in 1963, 1965 & 1966.
The first recipient of the Cy Young award was Don Newcombe in 1956. For the first eleven years (1956 – 1966) only one winner from Major League Baseball was selected.
Don Newcombe went 27-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 1956 to capture the Cy Young
Ref: MLB, Dodgers, LA Times, ESPN, SABR
I have been very busy that I have not updated my blog lately. I hope to get back on track. I may not be posting as often but I am always thinking Blue and following any baseball news. I am currently reading the book “It Pays to Steal” by Mauy Wills.
I drove to work Monday because the traffic was going to be lighter on Veterans Day and because I had made an appointment to cut my hair and color it. Since I was going to be there a little longer than just getting a haircut, I took the book with me. Well, I forgot the book there. I had rented the book from the Los Angeles Central library. I had to drive the following day (I usually take the train to work) to go pick up the book.
On my way home I was thinking… They don’t know I am a big Dodger fan and a baseball fan. I don’t think they follow the game. What did they think when they read the book title “It Pays to Steal.” I know I had the bookmark on chapter 9 “Formula for success”…. Maybe when I go back I will ask Carmen what they thought when they read the title.
Happy birthday Roberto Clemente and Lorena. Civil Rights Game. Not Exactly Cooperstown film
Happy birthday Roberto Clemente! Roberto would have been 78 today August 18, 2012. In addition to heck of a player, he was a great humanitarian.
Today is also my friend Lorena’s birthday. Happy birthday kid! That is nice that you share a birthday with the great one, Roberto Clemente.
Dodgers in Atlanta. Civil Right Game. Don NewCombe
Dodgers at Atlanta. They have lost two in a row. Don Mattingly will start serving his two day suspension today. It does not look like Matt Kemp will be suspended. Angel Campos should not have ejected him for cheering for Andre Ethier. Today is the Civil Right game.
Today Don Newcombe received the Beacon of Hope Award. Congratulations Mr. Newcombe!
Not Exactly Cooperstown
Tomorrow at the Pasadena Library is premier of the documentary “Not Exactly Cooperstown” by Jon Leonoudakis.
World Premiere:Sunday, August 19, 2012, 2:00 p.m.
Pasadena Central Library
285 East Walnut Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 744-4066
Fans are encouraged to go dressed in their favorite baseball attire for a chance of a prize. I am looking forward to it. For more information go to http://notexactlycooperstown.com
ref: Pittsburgmagazine, Jon SooHoo, Baseball Reliquary, Jon Leonoudakis
Dodgers series with the Giants
Dodgers had to wait a month to face the Giants. Dodgers won the first game on Monday. It was such an electric day there with the new owners and Magic Johnson there.
Here are the new owners:
Lots of media there. Here is Rachel Robinson at the game:
Don Newcombe threw out the first pitch.
Short post. Heading to the stadium. Will meet R.J. Breisasher. If you see him at the stadium say hi to him. Here is a picture of at Citi Field with Tommy Lasorda:
Dodgers sent Billingsley (2-2) against Lincecum (2-2) Go Dodgers!
2011 Cy Young Award Winner: Dodgers Clayton Kershaw
I have not created a new post since November 2nd when I posted about our three Dodgers -Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw winning Gold gloves.
What a happy day in Los Angeles yesterday when it was announced that Clayton Kershaw had won the NL Cy Young Award! I was anxiously waiting for the results on Thursday. I was busy with a Webinar at work with phone and computer busy but I was keeping an eye on my droid. Sure enough it started beeping with the good news. But in addition to the good news there was an email from the Dodgers inviting us season ticket holders to attend the conference on the field of Dodger Stadium. What was I to do when I had taken the train to work and I was still in the middle of the webinar? Good thing it ended promptly at noon and there were no further questions.
the email said the conference was to start promptly at 1:30 p.m and that fans could start arriving at 12:30 p.m. I called to see if the company car was available. I was lucky! It was available! I then headed to see my boss and told him I had an emergency and had to leave but would be back later on.
What a great day being back at Dodger Stadium! Clayton Kershaw was there with his wife Ellen. Matt Kemp and James Loney were also there. Maury Wills was also there. Prior CY Young award winners Don Newcombe & Fernando Valenzuela were also there. Dodgers who have won the Cy Young: Don Newcombe (1986) Don Drysdale (1962), Sandy Koufax (1963, ’65. ’66), Mike Marshall (1974), Fernando Valenzuel (1981), Orel Hershiser (1988), Eric Gagne (2003) and Clayton Kershaw (2011).
Congratulations Clayton Kershaw!
More pictures:
Honoring the Brooklyn Dodger Players Alive as of January 10th, 2011
Here is a fun video of Duke Snider in “What is my Line”
I started this list of Brooklyn Dodger players Alive. We had ten Brooklyn Dodger players that passed away in 2010, so here is the updated list.
no Player Birthdate Born in and other notes
- Tony Malinosky 10/5/1909 Illinois. Lives in Oxnard, CA
- Mike Sandlock 10/17/1915 Old Greenwich, CT. Golfer
- Ray Hathaway 10/13/1916 Grinville, OH. Minor league manager
- Cy Buker 2/5/1919 Greenwood, WI. Cyril was a pitcher
- Lee Pfund 10/10/1919 ILL. His son was MGR of Miami Heats
- Luis Olmo 10/11/1919 PR. Played for Mexico and Cuba.
- Cliff Dapper 1/2/1920 Los Angeles Traded for Ernie Harwell.
- Boyd Bartley 2/11/1920 Chicago. Played in nine games in 1949
- Jean-Pierre Roy 6/26/1920 Canada. Commentator for the Expos
- Pat McGlothin 10/20/1920 Coalfield, TN. Ezra Mac was a pitcher
- Johnny Schmitz 11/27/1920 Wasau, WI. Lefty pitcher.
- Andy Pafko 2/25/1921 Boiceville, IL. Lives in Mount Prospect, IL
- Marv Rackley 7/25/1921 Seneca, SC. Left fielder
- Chuck Kress 12/9/1921 Philadelphia. Lefty first baseman.
- Eddie Masinksi 11/4/1922 Buffalo, NY. Nickname: The Fiddler, Bazzoka
- Don Lund 1 5/8/1923 Detroit. Also drafted by the Chicago Bears
- Tim Thompson 3/1/1924 Coalport, PA. Lives in Lewinston, PA
- George Shuba 12/13/1924 Youngston, OH http://www.georgeshuba.com/
- Ed Stevens 1/12/1925 Gavelston, TX. Coach for the Padres in 1981
- Johnny Rutherford 5/5/1925 Ontario, CN. Pitcher. Nickname: Doc
- Wayne Terwilliger 6/27/1925 Clare, Mi. Coach under Ted Williams
- Chris Haughey 10/3/1925 Astoria, NY. Pitcher. Appeared in one game at 18
- Ralph Branca 1/6/1926 Mount Vernon, NY.
- Bob Borkowski 1/27/1926 Dayton, OH. Traded for Joe Black
- Randy Jackson 2/10/1926 Little Rock, AR. Nickname: “Handsome Ransom”
- Dick Teed 3/8/1926 Springfield, MA. One at in 1953
- Elmer Sexauer 5/21/1926 St Louis County, MO. Pitcher
- Don Newcombe 6/14/1926 Madison, NJ. Still working for the Dodgers
- Bobby Morgan 6/29/1926 Oaklahoma City, OK. Infielder
- Duke Snider 9/19/1926 Los Angeles, CA HOF. The Duke of Flatbush!
- Charlie Osgood 11/23/1926 Sommerville, MA appeared in one game at 17
- Carl Erskine 12/13/ 1926 Anderson, IN. http://www.carlerskine.com/
- Preston Ward 7/24/1927 Columbia, MO. APF Cubs, Indians, Pirates & A.
- Rocky Bridges 8/7/1927 Refugio, TX. Infielder, coach & minor league mgr
- Tommy Lasorda 9/22/1927 Norristown, PA. HOF. 61 years working for the Dodgers
- Tommy Brown 12/6/1927 Brooklyn, NY. Also played for Phillies & Cubs
- Dick Williams 5/7/1928 St Louis, Mo. Lf, 3B, coach & Manager
- Joe Landrum 12/13/1928 Columbia, SC. Pitcher
- Joe Pignatano 8/4/1929 Brooklyn, NY. Catcher and coach
- Gino Cimoli 12/18/1929 San Francisco, CA. Worked 21 years for UPS
- Roger Craig 2/17/1930 Durham, NC. Pitcher, coach and manager
- Ron Negray 2/26/1930 Akron, OH. Also played for the Phillies
- Glenn Mickens 7/26/1930 Wilman, CA Afterwards became coach for UCLA
- Don Zimmer 1/17/1931 Cincinnati, OH. Currently working for the Rays
- Ed Roebuck 7/3/1931 East Millboro, PA. relief pitcher and scout
- Fred Kipp 10/1/1931 Piqua, KS. Also pitched for the Yankees
- Bill Harris 12/3/1931 Canada. Pitched one game for Brooklyn & LA
- Chico Fernandez 3/2/1932 Cuba. SS. APF Phillies, Tigers and Mets
- Jim Gentile 6/3/1934 San Francisco, CA. Hitting coach for Flyers
- Don Demeter 6/25/1935 Oaklahoma City. CF. Now a Baptist minister
- Sandy Koufax 12/30/1935 Brooklyn, NY. Greatest Lefhander Pitcher!
- Bob Aspromonte 6/19/1938 Brooklyn, NY. Resides in Houston, TX
- Rod Miller 1/16/1940 Portland, OR. He played in one game in 1957.
ref: Baseball references, wikipedia, updated from my 2010 post in January.
My thoughts and prayers go to the people killed in Tucson, Arizona and to their family. Among the six killed was third-grader Christina-Taylor Green, daughter of Dodgers scout John Greene, and granddaughter of former Phillies pitcher and manager Dallas Greene.
55 since ’55 Poster Night Featuring Vin Scully!
Two shutout by Dodger pitchers in the last two nights! and tonight is the 55 since ’55 Poster Night featuring Vin Scully! I am very excited about getting this poster and about the festivities tonight!
Here is what is in stored as reported in the Daily News at http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_15585735
The first 20,000 fans entering Dodger Stadium will receive a poster featuring the team’s celebration and a picture of a young Vin Scully and the words of his call of the final out. Scully will also utter his familiar, “It’s time for Dodger baseball,” live from the broadcast booth to the crowd, a role usually filled by a celebrity or child.
Don Newcombe, who won a team-high 20 games for the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch, with a home plate from Ebbets Field, the Dodgers’ home from 1913-57, used for the ceremony.
In another nod to the past, organ music performed by Nancy Bea Hefley will be played almost exclusively for the entire game, according to Josh Rawitch, the team’s vice president of communications.
Ralph Mauriello, a Brooklyn-born pitcher on the 1958 Dodgers, will sing the national anthem and “God Bless America.”
Fans sitting in the My Town section will receive Dodgertown Brooklyn T- shirts, with the “55 after 55” patch the Dodgers have worn on their uniforms this season, and eat from an all-you-can-eat menu including Polish sausage sandwiches and soft pretzels.
the matchup: Santana against Padilla. Don’t you love that 50’s miles an hour curveball that Padilla throws! You can hear the stadium crowds when he throws it.
Let’s Go Dodgers!
The 55 since ’55 also reminded me of this wonderful post from Mike:
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/03/thank-you-crzblues-dodger-blue-world.html Thank again Mike!
Black History Month: Sweet Lou Johnson
Sweet Lou still has that infectious smile. He is an integral part to the Dodger Community Relation department.
Back in 2008, a friend from the InsidetheDodgers blog asked me if I knew if Sweet Lou Johnson had recovered his World Series Ring.
I’ll tell you all about the ring, but first let me give you a little history on Sweet Lou.
Sweet Lou Johnson was born September 22, 1935 in Lexington, Kentucky.
He played in the Negro Leagues in 1955 with the Indianapolis Clowns and The Kansas City Monarchs.
Sweet Lou was a journeyman outfielder, promoted from the Dodgers triple-A Spokane at the age of 30, only when Tommy Davis broke his ankle early in the 1965 season.
1965 Sweet Lou and Koufax.
- He hit the decisive home run in Game 7 of the World Series against the Minnesota Twins with Koufax on the mound.
- he collected the only hit in the 1-0 perfect game thrown by Dodger ace Sandy Koufax on September 9, 1965.
- He hit only 12 home runs that year–but that was enough to tie for the team lead!
He played three more seasons but never equaled the magic of 1965.
Losing and Recovering his World Series Ring.
Two years after he retired in 1969, desperate for a cocaine fix, Johnson gave his World Series ring to a Seattle drug dealer as collateral.
He drove across town for the money
When he returned two hours later, the drug dealer and the ring were gone.
One day in 1980, Johnson had two phone numbers written on a piece of paper. One belonged to Don Newcombe.
Johnson intended to dial the other number but, under the influence, mistakenly called Newcombe, who had kicked his own alcohol problems and was working for the Dodgers as a counselor.
Newcombe arranged for Johnson to attend, at the Dodgers’ expense, a treatment center. Johnson became clean on Nov. 9, 1980, and after he completed the program, Newcombe arranged for him a job in the organization.
For the past 30 years, Johnson has worked in community relations, speaking to schoolchildren about his experiences and acting as a goodwill ambassador for the team.
And he hasn’t slipped once.
Here is Sweet Lou working with kids from Sober College in Woodland Hills, CA.
“Don Newcombe told me, ‘If you ever take another drink, I’ll break your legs,’ and they ain’t broke yet,” Johnson said with a laugh. “What the Dodgers did was they put some pride back in my life.”
They also got his ring back. It was discovered in an unclaimed safety deposit box and was being auctioned on the Internet. Johnson didn’t have the $3,500 to buy it, so the Dodgers bought it for him.
The ring made Johnson complete again when it was returned in 2001, 30 years after he lost it, an act that further indebted Johnson to a Dodgers organization he credits for saving his life.
Sweet Lou: You are very dear to us Dodger Fans!
Ref: Daily News (los Angeles), Bill Plaschke of the LA Times.
Dodger Pitchers and Catchers and then some have reported!
Happy New Season everyone! Pitchers and Catchers have reported!! Woohoo!!!
Now is a new count! 11 day and 20 hours before the first Spring Training game!
Yesterday I was going to go to MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton but I got sick :-(. Southern University (Baton Rouge, La) was playing against my sister college Cal State Northridge. And in the second game Bethune-Cookman University was playing against UCLA. Anyone catch the games on MLB Network?
Rod Carew, Don Newcombe and Frank Robinson threw out the first pitches.
Today it will be
1 p.m.: Cal State Northridge vs. UCLA
2 p.m.: Southern University vs. Bethune-Cookman
Yesterday it was a beautiful day and today is still a beautiful day after rains last night and this morning.
Here is a picture from Jon Soo Hoo. His caption: What awaits the Dodgers at the end of the rainbow this season? 
Here is another pic: “Catchers and Catchers reporting” Russell Martin and Brad Ausmus are looking good!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!
Thank you Jon! You are the best!!
So this transplanted Red Sox fan at work wanted to bet me that Manny will show up late to Spring Training. Guess what? He is already reported so come Monday I will collect on the bet!!
The pitcher that is late reporting is Ron Belisario as he again has trouble with his visa.
Happy P&C Day! Happy Sunday!
Black History Month: Don Newcombe, Roy Campanella
This is part from my post last June when I went to Nashua, NH.
In 1946 when Branch Rickey signed Don Newcombe & Roy Campanella He had to send them to A Ball because of their history as Negro League stars.
When a Midwestern league made it clear that blacks were not welcome, Rickey contacted Buzzy Bavasi, then a young general manager with the Nashua Dodgers. Bavasi made it clear that his only interest was in a player’s ability.
Nashua holds another first in the history of the desegregation of major league baseball. When Nashua manager Walter Alston was ejected from a game that year, he left the team in the hands of Roy Campanella, who became the first African-American to manage an affiliated major league game. The Nashua Dodgers beat the Lawrence Millionaires 7-5. 3 That year the team won the New England League Championship.
There is another interesting note to the 1946 season. A local poultry farmer, Jack Fallgren, offered 100 baby chicks for every home run hit by a Nashua player. At the end of the season, Campanella shipped 1400 chicks to his father, who started a chicken farm outside of Philadelphia.
Holman Stadium has also been home to three other minor league teams, the 1980s Eastern League affiliates of the California Angels (1983) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1984-86), as well as the short-lived independent Nashua Hawks (1995-96).
Very nice plaque.
Notice the retired numbers of Newk, Campy and Jackie.
After Roy Campanella’s car accident he would require a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. He worked in Vero Beach mentoring and coaching young catchers for the Dodger organization.
In 1978 he moved to California and took a job as assitant to the Dodgers’ director of community relations and longtime friend Don Newcombe.
Don Newcombe was promoted to Special Advisor to the Chairman.
Brooklyn Dodger Players Alive
I’ve been working on a list of Brooklyn Dodger players alive. When I started the list, there were 63, but Thursday 1/21/10, Bobby Bragan passed away at the age of 92.
Below is the updated list.
It starts with Tony Malinosky, the oldest at 100 years old and Rod Miller who had a birthday on 1/16, the youngest at 70 years old. Sandy Koufax is the third youngest one.
Here is Duke Snider working with the young players at the Winter Workouts iat Dodger Stadium in 2009.
July 28, 2010: Sadly, the list is now down to 59 Brooklyn Dodger players.
November 7, 2010: Rest in peace Clyde King. He passed away November 2, 2010
|
Player name |
Birthdate |
Born in and other Notes |
|
Tony Malinosky |
10/5/1909 |
Illinois, lives in Oxnard, CA. |
|
George Cisar ** |
8/25/1910 |
Chicago, Il. **Died 2/19/10
|
|
Mike Sandlock |
10/17/1915 |
Old GreenwichCT, active Golfer. |
|
Ray Hathaway |
10/13/1916 |
Grinville, OH. Minor league manager |
|
Bobby Bragan ** |
10/30/1917 |
***Passed away Thursday 01/21/2010***
Cy Buker
2/5/1919
Greenwood, WI. Cyril was a pitcher.
Lee Pfund
10/10/1919
ILL. His son was MGR of Miami Heats.
Luis Olmo
10/11/1919
Puerto Rico. Played for Mexico, Cuba.
Cliff Dapper
1/2/1920
Los Angeles, CA. Traded for announcer Ernie Harwell
Boyd Bartley
2/11/1920
Chicago. . Played in nine games in 1943.
Gene Hermanski
5/11/1920
Pittsville, MA. Raised in New Jersey.
Jean-Pierre Roy
6/26/1920
Canada. Commentor for the Expos.
Pat McGlothin
10/20/1920
Coalfield, TN. Ezra Mac was a pitcher.
Johnny Schmitz
11/27/1920
Wasau, WI. Lefty pitcher. Still living there.
Andy Pafko
2/25/1921
Boiceville, ILL. lives in Mount Prospect, IL.
Johnny Van Cuyk
7/7/1921
Little Chute, WI. Pitcher. Passed away July 10,2010
Marv Rackley
7/25/1921
Seneca, SC. Left fielder.
Chuck Kress
12/9/1921
Philadelphia, PA. Lefty First Baseman.
**Morrie Martin
9/3/1922
Dixon, MO. LP. Lives in Washington, MO. Died 5/24/10
Eddie Basinski
11/4/1922
Buffalo, NY. Nickname: the Fiddler. Bazzoka.
Don Lund
5/18/1923
Detroit, MI. Also drafted by the Chicago Bears.
Tim Thompson
3/1/1924
Coalport, PA. Lives in Lewinston, PA.
Clyde King **
5/23/1924
Goldboro, NC. Was Pitcher, coach, manager, GM for the Yankees.
George Shuba
12/13/1924
Youngston, OH. http://www.georgeshuba.com/
Ed Stevens
1/12/1925
Gavelston, TX Coach for the Padres in 1981.
Johnny Rutherford
5/5/1925
Ontario, CN. Pitcher. Nickname: Doc.
Wayne Terwilliger
6/27/1925
Clare, MI. Coach under Ted Williams.
Chris Haughey
10/3/1925
Astoria, NY. Pitcher Appeared in one game @ 18.
Cal McLish
12/1/1925
Anadarco, OK. Pitcher and pitching coach. Died 8/26/10
Ralph Branca
1/6/1926
Mount Vernon, NY. Lives in Rye, NY.
Bob Borkowski
1/27/1926
Dayton, OH. Lives in Dayton. Traded for Joe Black
Randy Jackson
2/10/1926
Little Rock, AR. Nickname: “Hansome Ransom.”
Dick Teed
3/8/1926
Springfield, MA. One at-bat in 1953.
Elmer Sexauer
5/21/1926
St Louis County, MO. Pitcher. Lives in Florida.
Don Newcombe
6/14/1926
Madison, NJ. Currently works for the Dodgers!
Bobby Morgan
6/29/1926
Oaklahoma City, OK. Infielder.
Duke Snider
9/19/1926
Los Angeles, CA. HOF. The Duke of Flatbush!
Charlie Osgood
11/23/1926
Sommerville, MA. Appeared in one game at 17.
Carl Erskine
12/13/1926
Anderson, IN. http://www.carlerskine.com/
Preston Ward
7/24/1927
Columbia, MO. Played 4 Cubs,Indians, Pirates, A’s
Rocky Bridges
8/7/1927
Refugio, TX. Infielder, coach & minor league mgr.
Tommy Lasorda
9/22/1927
Norristown, PA. 60 years working for the Dodgers!
Tommy Brown
12/6/1927
Brooklyn, NY. Also played for Phillies & Cubs.
Dick Williams
5/7/1928
St Louis, MO. LF, 3B, coach, Manager.
Ken Lehman
6/10/1928
Seattle, WA. Afterwards coach of Uni of WA.
Joe Landrum
12/13/1928
Columbia, SC. Pitcher
Joe Pignatano
8/4/1929
Brooklyn, NY. Catcher and coach.
Billy Loes **
12/13/1929
Long Island, NY. **passed away 7/15/2010
Gino Cimoli
12/18/1929
San Francisco, CA. Worked 21 years for UPS.
Roger Craig
2/17/1930
Durham, NC Pitcher, coach and manager.
Ron Negray
2/26/1930
Akron, OH. Also played for the Phillies.
Glenn Mickens
7/26/1930
Wilman, CA Afterwards became coach for UCLA
Don Zimmer
1/17/1931
Cincinnati, OH. Currently working for the Rays.
Ed Roebuck
7/3/1931
East Millboro, PA. Relief Pitcher and scout.
Fred Kipp
10/1/1931
Piqua, KS. Also pitched for the Yankees.
Bill Harris
12/3/1931
Canada. Pitched one game for Brooklyn and L.A.
Chico Fernandez
3/2/1932
Cuba. SS. Also played for Phillies, Tigers & Mets.
Danny McDevitt
11/18/1932
NY, NY. Pitched last game at Brooklyn.
Jim Gentile
6/3/1934
San Francisco, CA. Hitting coach for Flyers.
Don Demeter
6/25/1935
Oaklahoma City, OK. CF. Now a Baptist minister.
Sandy Koufax
12/30/1935
Brooklyn, NY. Greatest Lefthander pitcher!
Bob Aspromonte
6/19/1938
Brooklyn, NY Resides in Houston, Tx.
Rod Miller
1/16/1940
Portland, OR. He played in one game in 1957.
I love you Boys of Summer!
What I have done after my baseball career and being able to help people with their lives and getting their lives back on track and they become human beings again — means more to me than all the things I did in baseball. — Don Newcombe
Dodger Blue World 