Stephen Wayne Yeager was born in Huntington West Virginia on November 24th, 1948. His father was a businessman and his mother, a homemaker. He was 18 years old when he was drafted by the Dodgers out of Meadowdale High School in Dayton Ohio. Yeager has kept most of his early years private so not much is known. He was taken in the 4th round of the 1967 draft. What is…
The Dodgers Are Not Rushing Dalton
When the Dodgers chose to keep Dalton Rushing off the playoff roster instead of Ben Rortvedt, many Dodger fans (Being Olympic Champions at Jumping to Conclusions) assumed the Dodgers would trade him. Not so fast! Of course, anyone could be traded in the right deal, but the Dodgers know that catchers like Dalton do not grow in trees. They are taking their time with him and not rushing him. Rortvedt’s…
Mike Marshall: They Called Him Moose
He was one of the bigger players ever to put on a Dodger uniform. 6’5″, 215lbs, and his nickname was Moose. Mike Marshall was born in Libertyville, Illinois, on January 12th, 1960. His parents were Frank and Sandy Marshall, and he had a sister, Terri. His father was raised on a farm until he bought a printing business. Libertyville is located about 35-40 miles from downtown Chicago. When he was…
Iron Mike Marshall: Baseball Rebel
In the winter of 1973, the Dodgers sent longtime center fielder Willie Davis to the Montreal Expos for Mike Marshall, the Expos’ closer who led the league with 31 saves. The Dodgers’ closer at the time was Jim Brewer, a 36-year-old left-hander who had joined the team in a trade with the Cubs in 1964. He had been their primary closer since 1968. Marshall was born in Adrian, Michigan, in…
Before They Wore Dodger Blue
Last week, I was contracted by a gentleman named Eric Vickrey, who describes himself as an Author and Baseball Historian. Well, I’ll just tell you what he said: “I’m Eric Vickrey, a Washington state-based author and baseball historian. My third book, Before They Wore Dodger Blue: Tommy Lasorda and the Greatest Draft Class in Baseball History, will be published by August Publications on December 7th. In 1968, just three years after MLB…
What Will Dodger Bullpen Look Like in 26
There is definitely a need for the Dodgers to add at least one very good back-end of the pen arm. Some have suggested that they sign former Padre, Robert Suarez. Suarez has been estimated to get a contract for 3/36 million dollars. The Dodgers could use him in tandem with Tanner Scott as a lefty-righty close combo. Of course, there will be a lot of competition for his services. Lately,…
It All Starts With Kyle Tucker
I have never doubted that Kyle Tucker makes sense for the Dodgers. The only thing I have questioned is the price. I do not think that the Dodgers will be high bidders. Nor do I think they will sign him for more than 10 years. I believe that 10 Years/$360 Million is in their wheelhouse, but that could go up if he wants to defer some money. Mookie, Freddie, Shohei,…
I Am Baaack!
I am extremely grateful that Mark has asked me back. I always enjoyed writing here. This has been a great season for Dodger fans although the last 2 games of the World Series had a few cardiac moments. In the end, it was one of those moments you will remember forever. I am old enough to have seen all of the Dodgers World Series wins. In 1955 I was a…
Relievers are like Weed: The Best are Homegrown
I just made that up. For the record, I have no clue if that is true or not… the part about weed! I don’t partake, though this damn hand-and-elbow surgery is making me re-evaluate my position. It is, however, true about relievers. The best ones are homegrown… and come next year, the Dodgers will have a semi-load! Let’s look at what we might expect. Left-Handed Relievers: Right-Handed Relievers: The Starting…
Now We Know…
Dodger’s pitcher Alex Vesia revealed on social media that his infant daughter Sterling died in the final week of October. “Our little angel, we love you forever & you’re with us always. Our beautiful daughter went to heaven on Sunday, October 26th. There are no words to describe the pain we’re going through, but we hold her in our hearts and cherish every second we had with her,” Vesia wrote…