It's not often you see something like this on the ballfield today. Featured above is a vintage ACME press photo of a pregame ceremony at Ebbets Field in 1946. On this day the Dodger players presented their GM with a gift, and it wasn't a Timex.
Dodgers Give Present to Branch Rickey 9/25/46 -- Dodger Manager Leo Durocher, General Manager Branch Rickey and Dixie Walker (left to right). Dodgers presented a $5,100 boat cruiser to Rickey before the game with the Phillies at Ebbets Field Sept. 25. Walker, spokesman for the team, said "The Boys wanted to do something for the boss in appreciation for what he has done for us."BTW, that $5,100 present would be worth $61,630 in today's dollars. The press photo above was on auction at RMY, but did not sell (auction link). Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 2014 the Dodgers signed a free agent minor league contract with third baseman Justin Turner. He had just been released by the Mets, and was only given an invitation to spring training by the Dodgers. To the surprise of many, Turner would have a breakout season and become an important leader in the clubhouse.
- Happy Birthday, Andy Sommerville, Rube Ward, Red Downey & Glenn Wright!
- Per Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA; "(Kevin) Kennedy to return to Dodgers broadcast booth in 2018."
- Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA; "Baseball Prospectus top 101 prospects includes 7 Dodgers."
- Kiké comments thusly during the Supper Bowl, via his twitter:
This is way better than 2017 WS game 7! #SBLII— Enrique Hernández (@kikehndez) February 5, 2018
- This is the first "MUST HAVE" of the 2018 Baseball season. Jon Weisman, of Dodger Thoughts and Dodger Insider fame, is releasing his second book on the team this year. Go here to find out more. It is titled; "Brothers in Arms: Koufax, Kershaw, and the Dodgers’ Extraordinary Pitching Tradition." Check out the book cover on the right.
To paraphrase a famous saying, everybody talks about the Dodger pitching tradition, but nobody’s ever written anything about it — not a book, anyway. So beginning while I was still working for the Dodgers, I did the interviews and research that ultimately led to this fascinating and comprehensive journey through the formation and flowering of that tradition, from its birth to its current heights in the form of a certain left-hander wearing No. 22 in Los Angeles.
- Per Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs; "I Should Explain This Wilmer Font Thing."
Even then, KATOH liked him enough. And then the 2017 season got underway, with Font starting for the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate. In early May, KATOH identified Font as the most improved pitching prospect around. Shortly thereafter, Font made his debut in Carson’s running Fringe Five series. He would reappear multiple times. By the end, Font had made 25 starts for Oklahoma City, exceeding 130 innings. He topped out at 107 pitches, and Font had five different starts with double-digit strikeouts, once reaching 15. The numbers make up the bulk of the case. Plain and simple, you can’t ignore what Font just pulled off.
- Meet Joseph Beltran -- hero and Dodger fan. Per Ruby Gonzalez at San Gabriel Valley Tribune; "Azusa man helps rescue teen attempting to jump from overpass on to 210 Freeway."
- Will, how could you not have known about this? Kenta Maeda got Will Ireton again, via Kenta's Instagram:
2018 Part 2: Surprising Will! Got heeeem! ウィリー驚かすシリーズ第2弾！ かなり警戒されているので今回は少し方法を変えて。笑 コインをペットボトルの中に入れるマジック✨ #surprise#2018 #will#通訳 #ウィリーを脅かすシリーズ #第２弾 #マジック #と見せかけて #最近 #警戒心がすごいから #ちょっと変えてみた
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