32 at 75: Art On The Mound

The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Commack,NY recently opened an exhibit which pays tribute to Sandy Koufax. The exhibit,  titled 32 at 75: Art on the Mound, features artwork, photos, news clips and letters from those who saw him pitch.

The museum asked 32 different artists to create works showcasing Koufax. All 32 artist representations of the left-handed legend are on display.


The exhibit is open now and will run through December 30th, Koufax's 75th birthday, hence the name "32 at 75".  You can check out the museum's website here.

Here are some of the pieces on display:

Lilly Staying In LA

According to the LA Times, the  Dodgers have signed pitcher Ted Lilly to a three-year deal. The dollar amount on the contract hasn't been announced yet. The deal is expected to be finalized once Lilly passes a physical next week.

Lilly went 7-4 in 12 starts for the Dodgers and had a 3.52 ERA. He also had the lowest run support in the majors.

The Dodgers now have three of the five rotation spots filled, with Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw holding down the other two spots. The team is still expected to have interest in re-signing Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla.


I'm curious to see what the Dodgers are gonna pay Lilly over the next three seasons. I wouldn't be surprised if Ned Colletti overpayed for the 34 year old. Well, maybe Frank McCourt is willing to spend some money this offseason.

Remembering '88: Orel Hershiser's Game 2 Performance

Today is the 22nd anniversary of Kirk Gibson's famous walk-off homerun in game 1 of the 1988 World Series . It may be the greatest moment in Dodger history, if not baseball history. The Dodgers would go on to win the World Series in five games.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of game 2. Orel Hershiser started that game. It was an amazing outing by the Bulldog, one that was, in my opinion, overshadowed by Gibby's homerun the night before. But it shouldn't be forgotten.

From the 1988 World Series Wiki:

With a rested Orel Hershiser on the mound, the Dodgers took a 2–0 lead. Hershiser got all the runs he needed in the third, with Mike Marshall providing the big blow with a three-run homer. Hershiser went the distance, allowing only three singles, all three hit by Dave Parker.

Hershiser also contributed offensively, with three hits, including an RBI double in the fourth inning. In the five-run third inning, he singled, went to third on an opposite-field single by Steve Sax and later scored. He was the first pitcher to get three hits in a World Series game since 1924.

That's what you want to see from your "Ace", a gem.

With that in mind, I wanted to show one of my favorite Orel Hershiser cards. It's a 2005 Donruss Diamond Kings autograph game-used jersey card, #'d 16/25. This was Orel's third Diamond Kings appearance, with the previous two coming in 1986 and 1993.

I love this card, it always reminds me of '88 and Orel's Game 2 performance.

Bobblehead News

Anyone like the Forever Collectibles bobbleheads? Right now they're buy one get one free at the MLB.com Shop. The deal is for all 30 teams. The Dodgers have three available, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez. Yes, there are still Manny Ramirez Dodger bobbleheads available.

Back in August, I attended my first minor league baseball game. I went to see the Lancaster JetHawks play the Inland Empire 66ers. The JetHawks gave away bobbleheads of former astronaut Hoot Gibson. Well, that bobblehead was voted minor league baseball's best giveaway in 2010, narrowly beating out the Ike Davis bobblelegs given away by the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Looking at the picture of the Hoot Gibson bobble on MiLB.com, I noticed they used MY bobblehead. Cool. C'mon MiLB, can I get a photo credit please!

Ken Ellinger, a Dalton State political science professor, has a collection of 880 bobbleheads in his 90-square-foot office. Ellinger began collecting primarily sports and political figures about six years ago and has never paid more than $20. Hopefully my collection will look like that one day. Click here to watch video of his collection.

And finally, with the Dodgers announcing that they would be giving away SIX bobbleheads in 2011, everyone is guessing which players, coaches or legends would get one of the six honors. I think long-time Dodgers organist Nancy Bea Hefley deserves one. Mike over at the LFP.com gives us an idea of what it would look like.

Recent Pick Up: 2010 Topps Tribute Duke Snider Auto

One of my latest ebay pick ups is this 2010 Topps Tribute autographed Duke Snider card. This bat relic is numbered 95/99.

Duke Snider, the Duke of Flatbush, is one of my favorite Dodgers of all time. This is now one of my favorite cards in the collection.

I love the Brooklyn logo and Duke's no.4 flanking the piece of bat.

The autograph part is pretty nice too.

Dodgers To Give Away Six Bobbleheads In 2011

According to Dodgers.com, the team will be giving away six bobbleheads in 2011. That's right, SIX bobbleheads will be given away next year(hat tip to reader Asc7500) . Other promotions include six half-price concessions days, four specialty caps and three fleece items.

One week ago I made my 2011 Dodger bobblehead predictions. I thought there would be four bobbleheads given away next year. I predicted the four would be Don Mattingly, Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw and Hong Chih Kuo. The news today changes everything.

I got an email from reader Edward today:

I read you article about the 2011 Bobblehead predictions. I agree with you predictions for the most part but think they should go retro and honor the 1981 World Series team. Fernando, Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, Steve Yeager.

Maybe Edward is on to something. Maybe the Dodgers honor two or three players from the '81 team and honor a few of the current players. Based on the news today, I will make new predictions later in the offseason.

The Dodgers also announced it will play at home on Opening Day (April 1), Independence Day (July 4), Father's Day (June 19) and Jackie Robinson Day (April 15).

All this comes with the announcement of 2011 season ticket pricing.

Following what the club explained as "an extensive review of ticketing prices and fans' use of season tickets," 60 percent of the stadium's season-ticket prices will stay the same, with approximately 20 percent declining and 20 percent increasing. The club held season-ticket prices flat following the 2007, '08 and '09 seasons.


Parking prices will remain the same for the fifth consecutive year, with a new $10 General Admission parking option available to season-ticket holders.


The average season-ticket price at Dodger Stadium will go down, from $28.90 in 2010 to $27.70 in '11, and fans will be able to purchase tickets on the Field Level for as little as $20 per ticket, a $5 decrease from last season. Season tickets on the Loge Level start as low as $12.50 per ticket, while Reserve Level season seats are as little as $8 per game.

The primary areas that will see an increase in season-ticket prices are the front row of each deck and the first four rows of the Left Field Pavilion, which have become the most coveted seating areas in their respective sections. In all instances where prices increase, season-ticket holders will be offered additional benefits, including free tickets to games on lower levels, Stadium Club passes and complimentary Spring Training tickets.


In the top deck, season tickets will return to 1992 pricing of $6, rather than the $4 per seat at which they have been offered recently. Officials said the approach to Top Deck pricing was driven by a no-show rate of more than twice the other areas in the ballpark.

Last season, the Dodgers introduced a five-month payment plan that skipped the month of December. That offer will be back again for 2011, with incentives for early renewal. Fans choosing to utilize the five-month payment plan will have their first payment due on Oct. 29, while those who choose to renew at one time have until Jan. 14 to do so.


Individual-ticket prices will remain flat or go down in 63 percent of the stadium.

Tim Wallach Joins Dodgers Coaching Staff?

According to Dylan Hernandez of  the Los Angeles Times, Tim Wallach has signed a contract to be on the Dodgers coaching staff in 2011. Although Ken Gurnick at MLB.com is reporting that he was only verbally promised a role on the Dodgers' coaching staff, and will join the team if he doesn't land a Major League managing job.

Wallach's role on the staff has not been determined, but he's likely to be third base coach or batting coach. Wallach was the Dodgers batting coach in 2004 and 2005, and became the Albuquerque Isotopes manager in 2009.

OK, so they don't hire Wallach to manage the team, but they give him a job coaching. Fine. I, like a lot of Dodger fans, wanted Wallach to be the next manager. He has the managerial experience and would have been the right hire for the position. I guess this is the next best thing.

This seems like a consolation prize for the man who deserved to win the gig. And it feels like an insurance move for the Dodgers. If Don Mattingly fails, at least they have the right guy sitting on the bench to take his place.