1981 World Series Reunion - pics & recap

On Saturday November 5, 2011, at Frank & Son Collectible Show, Hall of Fame Sports presented a signing involving several members of the 1981 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.  There were 23 Dodgers scheduled to appear throughout the day signing autographs.  Due to a family commitment, I promised my nephew/Godson, I would go to his football game on Saturday morning. He plays on the freshman team for Servite High School located in Anaheim, CA.  Anyhow, I was unable to make the signing but for the first time ever, arranged for the promoter, in this case Hall of Fame Sports to get my items signed.

While there were 23 Dodgers appearing, I wanted Dave Stewart, Bob Welch, Pedro Guerrero, and Dusty Baker.  I figured these were some of the tougher autos to get, I had several other autos from the other starters on the team and some of the others sign often in the area, sometimes for free.  So I paid for my autos in advance and picked out a sweet looking 16x20 photo of the 1981 World Series trophy.  I was able to make it out to the signing later in the day just to snap some photos.

 Pedro Guerrero

 Steve Garvey

Tommy Lasorda & Reliever Dave Goltz

Today, I stopped by Frank & Son to pick up my item but was given some bad news.  For some reason, they forgot to have Dusty Baker sign my photo!  Chris from Hall of Fame Sports was extremely apologetic and wanted to make it right. He offered me a refund, a Dusty Baker signed baseball, an autograph ticket to the upcoming Fernando Valenzuela signing or a Tommy Lasorda signed baseball.  I accepted his apology and chose the signed Lasorda ball.  While i'm still bummed out and a little upset, it was cool for Hall of Fame Sports to give me something of more value and it looks like a have a new project to finish!

Check out my Lasorda ball and my 16x20 signed by Dave Stewart, Bob Welch & Pedro Guerrero.  I also attached my purchase order/invoice that clearly states, Dusty Baker!

True to the Blue!

Upcoming Dodger Appearance - Manny Mota

Saturday November 5, 2011

Manny Mota

All Star - 1973

2x World Series Champsion - 1981 & 1988

Longest Tenured Dodger Coach - 32 Years

$29 - balls & flats up to and including 11x14

$39 - large flats, minis, caps figurines & equipment

$49 - bats, jerseys & artwork

$10 - inscriptions

stage time - tba

Manny Mota has been added to the 1981 World Series Champion 30th Reunion signing being put on by Hall of Fame Sports at Frank & Son.

Here are links to my posts on the other attendees:

 Rick Monday               Steve Sax               Dave Stewart

Kenny Landreaux          Pedro Guerrero & Steve Yeager

Terry Forster                 Bob Welch             Dusty Baker

Tom Niedenfuer, Bobby Castillo, Jerry Reuss & Candy Maldonado

Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Ron Cey & Bill Russell

Tommy Lasorda

True to the Blue!

Upcoming Dodger Appearance - Rick Monday

Saturday November 5, 2011

Rick Monday

2x All Star - 1968 & 1978

World Series Champion - 1981

$35 - balls & flats up to and including 11x14

$40 - large flats, minis, caps, figurines, & equipment

$50 - bats, jerseys & artwork

$15 - inscriptions

stage time - tba

Rick Monday has been added to the Hall of Fame Sports Dodgers 1981 World Series Champion 30 Year Reunion signing at Frank & Son.  Click on the links below for the info i've posted on the other scheduled attendees.

Steve Sax                    Dave Stewart

Kenny Landreaux        Pedro Guerrero & Steve Yeager

Terry Forster               Bob Welch

Dusty Baker                Tom Niedenfuer, Bobby Castillo, Jerry Reuss & Candy Maldonado

Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Ron Cey & Bill Russell

Tommy Lasorda

True to the Blue!

Upcoming Dodger Appearance - Dave Stewart

November 5, 2011

Dave Stewart

Los Angeles Dodgers 1978, 1981-1983

3x World Series Champion 1981, 1989 &1993

1989 World Series MVP

2x ALCS MVP - 1990 & 1993

All Star - 1989

No Hitter 6/29/90

$39 - balls & flats up to and including 11x14

$49 - large flats, minis, caps, figurines & equipment

$59 - bats, jerseys & artwork

$20 - inscriptions

stage time tba

Stewart is the 15th player i've posted information on for the 1981 World Series Reunion that Hall of Fame Sports is putting on @ Frank & Son on November 5, 2011.  There are a few more announced.  I will post the info soon.

For information on the other 14, click here

True to the Blue!

Upcoming Dodger Appearance - Bob Welch

November 5, 2011

Bob Welch

Los Angeles Dodgers 1978-1987

Oakland A's 1988-1994

2x All Star - 1980 & 1990

3x World Series Champion - 1981, 1989 & 2001 (DBacks Pitching Coach) 

AL Cy Young Award - 1990

$39 - balls & flats up to and including 11x14

$49 - large flats, minis, caps, figurings & equipment

$59 - bats, jerseys & artwork

$20 - inscriptions

stage time tba

With the addition of Welch, this brings the total number of Dodgers signing on November 5, 2011, to 14.  Hall of Fame Sports is putting together quite the line up!

For info on the other 13 click here

True to the Blue!

The Beginning

My earliest Dodger memory is from Game 3 of the 1981 World Series.  According to my dad, we went to a few games during the 1981 season but I truly don't have any recollection.  I was 7 years old ready to turn 8 in October of that year.  That season, I remember seeing Fernando Valenzuela on T.V. and I remember Steve Garvey being someone I liked watching.  My dad was able to purchase two tickets to the World Series and he was hoping the Dodgers could beat the hated Yankees.  Luckily our tickets turned out to be for Game 3, which happened to be the Dodgers first home game of the Series and the way the rotation was set up, it was Fernando Valenzuela's turn in the rotation.  Here is where the story gets interesting.  Once the tickets arrived in the mail, my dad gave the tickets to my mom for safe keeping.  The day before the game, my dad asks my mom for the tickets and after a few minutes she can't remember where she hid them!  All night they both frantically tore apart the house looking for the tickets but come time for us to head to Chavez Ravine, the tickets were still nowhere to be found.  Luckily, or so he hoped, my dad still had the invoice for the tickets.  So we made the trek to Dodger Stadium walked up to one of the ticket windows and my dad explained our situation.  After what seemed like forever to an 8-year old, we were finally escorted into the stadium and to our seats.  By this time, it was the top of the 3rd inning.  We were told they had to verify that nobody was actually sitting in our seats.  All these years later, I personallly remember listening and watching my dad explain the situation at the ticket window and I remember the energy that was running through the stadium. We all know the Dodgers won Game 3 and went on to win the 1981 World Series in six games.  To make the story complete, a few days after Game 3 my mom was cleaning and found the book she had put the tickets in!! This story has been repeated many times at family parties and during the holidays and I always point to this day as the day I fell in love with the Dodgers.

There were 56,236 people in attendance for Game 3 but besides me, I wonder how many of them have two unused game tickets?!?  As much grief as my mom has received over the years I'm grateful to her that I have these two great pieces of memorabilia!!

I'm sure you all have that moment when you fell in love with the Dodgers.  Thanks for checking out my blog and reading about my moment.

truetotheblue!