Another story idea from SpokaneBob. The game had its start at Dodger Stadium in 1967. It was a softball game between celebrities and MLB baseball players. The Managers were Leo Durocher for the Stars and Milton Berle for the big league players. The MLB players included Wills, who was with the Pirates, Brooks Robinson, Clemente, Mays, Frank Howard, Killebrew, McCovey. Jim Garner started for the celebs and after giving up…
Players are sitting, Furillo, Koufax, Pafko, Gilliam, Neal, Erskine, Carey and Babe Herman Second row. Campy, umpire Al Passarella, Ump, Jocko Conlon, Ump, Beans Reardon, Shuba, Wills, Larker, Tracewski, Roseboro, Stengel, Moon, Craig, Demeter, Skowron, Dixie Walker, Roebuck. Back row. Pignatano, Hodges, Ump Pat Orr, Lavagetto, Maglie, Podres, Newcombe, Hermanski, Sherry, Reese, Drysdale, Burright, Essegian, Black, Snider, Branca. Those were the first oldtimers to get together and play a game…
Earlier this year there was a ceremony in Georgia at the birthplace of Jackie Robinson. The plaque showing where his birthplace was had been vandalized. MLB felt it should be replaced and donated 40,000 dollars for a new plaque to be placed there, and in another location near the center of Cairo, Georgia, where he was born. I watched the ceremony on MLB.TV. But that also got me thinking about…
Some might ask what I mean by that. Simply said, either financially or emotionally, the fans always pay the price for their love of sports. Be it baseball, basketball, football, hockey, or any of the major sports, fans pay for it no matter how high or ridiculous the cost. A team builds a new stadium, fans pay for it whether they know it or not. Bonds, increased taxes, the city…
No, that is not the year I graduated from high school. I was already in the Army in June of 1968. Just turning 20 years old and recently returned from a trip to Virginia and North Carolina testing new Hawk Missile systems equipment by doing load tests on trains, planes, and ships. No, this is about the Dodgers draft class in June of 1968. Some say it is the best…
When the old-timer’s committee announced the results of their meeting and Gil Hodges became the latest Dodger to be enshrined at Cooperstown, I was elated. I had always felt Gil belonged. He was the best first baseman of his era. Although he did not garner enough writer support I felt they had made a mistake. The Veteran’s committee finally got it right. He is not entering alone, but he is…
Well for the first time in six weeks, the MLBPA and MLB met in a zoom type meeting where MLB brought its latest proposals to the table. The MLBPA was not impressed according to Jeff Passan and the chances spring training is delayed just escalated. Of course, we do not know at this point what proposal’s the players will submit. These were just base financial issues brought up today. The…
MLB hands out more awards than one might think. We all know about player of the week, month, and so on. They also award one for the rookie of the month. So I am checking out the Dodger media guide to see how the Dodgers have fared. The Dodgers have had 7 NL Rookies of the Month. Bellinger won the award twice, in May and June of 2017. Seager earned…
With little real news, I return to writing about what I love most about the Dodgers. Their history. Everyone knows the story, 1955 was a magical year for Brooklyn. And the Boys of Summer finally full filled all of the promise they had shown for years. For the record, the Dodgers went 98-55-1 finishing first in the 8 team National League. Managed by second-year manager, Walter Alston. Alston had replaced…
Back in Colorado after my holiday trip. Colder than a you know what. But baseball has not been off of my mind. My brother gifted me with 12 new bobbleheads…well not new, but new to me. Four Dodgers and a bunch of other guys! But I still followed all of the stories I could on my computer while there. I did get to watch a few of the season’s highlights…