Upcoming Dodger Appearance - Paul Lo Duca

April 21, 2012

Paul Lo Duca

4x All Star - 2003, 2004 (Dodgers) 2005 (Marlins) & 2006 (Mets)

$25 - balls and small flats up to and including 11x14

$30 - large flats, minis, caps & equipment
$35 - bats, jerseys & artwork
$10 - inscriptions
stage time: tba

This signing is promoted by Hall of Fame Sports and will take place at Frank & Sons

True to the Blue!

Trinity Bat Co. Home Run Challenge - Danny Espinoza, Hank Conger, Mark Trumbo

This Saturday January 21, 2012 @ El Dorado High School, Trinity Bat Co. will host their First Annual Trinity Bat Co. Home Run Challenge.  There is a $10 admission and proceeds will benefit the Cory Hahn Fund.  Cory is a former High School All-America outfielder and pitcher from Mater Dei High School.  On February 20, 2011, Cory sustained a paralyzing spinal cord injury while playing for Arizona State.

Major League Baseball players Mark Trumbo (Angels), Hank Conger (Angels), Mike Carp (Mariners) and Danny Espinoza (Mater Dei & Washington Nationals) are scheduled to attend and participate in the Home Run Challenge.  They are also scheduled to participate in an autograph session.

Here is the schedule:

HR participant check in.....11:30 - 12:00pm
HR challenge prelims.........12:00 - 2:30pm
HR challenge finals.............2:30 - 3:30pm
MLB HR Competition.......3:30 - 4:30pm
MLB HR Champion..........4:30 - 4:35pm
Cory Hahn........................4:35 - 5:00pm

Player Autographs............3:00 - 5:00pm
Raffle Prizes.....................2:00 - 4:30pm
Auction Items...................2:00 - 4:30pm
Chik-Fil-A Sandwiches....2:00 - 5:00pm

El Dorado High Schoo is located at 1651 N. Valencia Ave., Placentia, CA 92870
For more information go to trinitybats.com

True to the Blue!

Dodgers Avoid Arbitration with Ethier & Loney; Kershaw Wants $10 Million

Andre Ethier and the Dodgers reached an agreement on a 1-year contract for $10.95 million.  The contract includes an additional $25,000 if he reaches 600 plate appearances and another $25,000 if he reaches 625 plate appearances.  Ethier earned $9.25 million dollars in 2011.

First baseman James Loney and the Dodgers reached an agreement on a 1-year contract for $6.375 million dollars with a $25,000 bonus if he reaches 585 plate appearances, a $50,000 bonus if he reaches 625 plate appearances and a final $50,000 if he reaches 650 plate appearances.  Loney earned $4.875 million dollars in 2011.

Clayton Kershaw is also eligible for salary arbitration and submitted a request for a $10 million dollar salary in 2012.  The Dodgers countered his offer with an offer of $6.5 million.  Kershaw, the 2011 NL Cy Young Award winner, earned $500,000 in 2011.

For more information you can read Tony Jackson's article from ESPNLos Angeles by clicking here

True to the Blue!

Clayton Kershaw Book Tour

Clayton Kershaw and his wife Ellen will be making appearances all over Southern California this week to sign copies of their book Arise.

Here is the full schedule of their appearances:

Sunday, January 15, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Ralphs, 19781 Rinaldi St., Porter Ranch, CA 91326

Monday, January 16, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Costco, 1220 W. Foothill Blvd., Azusa, CA 91702

Monday, January 16, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Barnes and Noble, The Grove, 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Tuesday, January 17, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Costco, 2901 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

True to the Blue!

 



Hiroki Kuroda Signs with the Yankees for $10 million

Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com is reporting former Dodger pitcher Hiroki Kuroda has signed a one year $10 million dollar contract with the New York Yankees.  According to Marchand, the 36-year old Kuroda's new deal is contigent on him passing his physical.  You can view the full article by clicking here .

Kuroda spent four seasons withs the Boys in Blue posting a 41-46 record with a 3.45 ERA.

I'll miss seeing Kuroda in a Dodger uniform.  His record may not reflect it but he was a good pitcher in his four years with the team.

True to the Blue!

Upcoming Dodger Appearance - Matt Kemp

Saturday April 28, 2012

Matt Kemp

$49 - flats 8x10 & smaller and baseball cards

$59 - flats larger than 8x10 up to 20x24, balls, minis, hats & toys

$69 - flats larger than 20x24,  bats, jerseys, full size helmets, artwork & game used items

$25 - inscriptions (up to 5 words)

stage time - 10am - 11:30am

This signing will take place at Frank & Sons and is being put on by Honabach and Sons.

True to the Blue!

Eric Dickerson Signing - Photos & Recap

On Saturday December 3, 2011, OC Sports Cards put on a signing at their shop with NFL Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson.  OC Sports Cards is the sister store of The OC Dugout which put on the Dee Gordon signing back on August 27th.  For my recap & photos of that signing click here .  The Dickerson signing was scheduled to run from 11:00 am to 1:00pm.

I had purchased my tickets in advance but decided to shop up at 10:00am just in case there was a long line.  When I arrived at 10:00am, the shop was open but since I didn't see a line forming outside, I walked a few shops down to Starbucks and got a snack.  When I came back out there was one person starting a line, so I figured I'd be the second person.  Within a few minutes a steady stream of people began lining up.  Just a few minutes before 11:00am, Dickerson showed up and headed into the shop.

It was looks like is becoming an OC Dugout & OC Sports Cards tradition, they provided free pizza to everyone in line.  After about 15-20 minutes of signing these for the shop & promoters, the line was moved into the shop.  They allowed about 5 people in at a time.  Dickerson was very friendly and was posing for photos with anyone who asked.  When I entered the shop, my estimate was there was about 40 people in line.

As I approached Dickerson, he was really chatty and signed two mini-helmets for me.  One I am keeping for myself and the other I gave as a Christmas gift to my nephew.  I also had Dickerson sign a 1984 Los Angeles Rams Yearbook i've been saving since I bought it as a kid in 1984.  The yearbook has Rams Hall of Famers, Eric Dickerson, Jack Youngblood and Jackie Slater on the cover along with former Rams, Johnnie Johnson, Nolan Cromwell and Vince Ferragamo.  I had Jack Youngblood sign the yearbook at a previous appearance linked here .  When I handed Dickerson the yearbook he started laughing and commenting on his old hair style from 1984!

Once Dickerson, signed my items, I  took a picture with him, grabbed a couple slices of pizza and headed to another signing.

Take a look at my pics from the signing below:

Eric Dickerson sitting behind the counter at OC Sports Cards.

My mini helmet w/HOF 99 inscription

1984 Rams Yearbook w/2,105 Yards Dec. 9, 1984 inscription

Overall it was another good signing put on by OC Sports Cards.  Don't forget they have another Dee Gordon signing coming up at Frank & Sons.  For more info on that signing check out my post here

True to the Blue!