Upcoming Dodger Appearance - Tommy Lasorda

Saturday September 28, 2013

Tommy Lasorda

2x NL Manager of the Year - 1983 & 1988 

2x World Series Champion - 1981 & 1988

Hall of Fame - 1997

$89 - any item

$39 - inscriptions

Stage Time: 10am - 12pm

This signing will take place at:
Long Beach Coin, Stamp, & Collectibles Expo.100 South Pine Ave.Long Beach, CA 90802(888) 743-9316 

Also signing will be Darryl Strawberry, Kenley Jansen and A.J. Ellis
For more info on Darryl Strawberry click here
For more info on A.J. Ellis click here     
For more info on Kenley Jansen click here

True to the Blue!

Meet Tommy Lasorda, Jay Johnstone & Bob Boone and Ride the Metro Link to Union Station

For Orange County Dodger fans who must navigate traffic on Southern California freeways to enjoy a game at Chavez Ravine, Monday May 27th is your kind of day!  The Dodgers will host the Angels at 5:10 pm on Memorial Day and MetroLink is partnering with Metro to provide special train service to Union Station.  A round trip ticket will only cost $7. Once at Union Station, fans can board the Dodger Stadium Express to the stadium.  As part of th festivities, Jay Johnstone, Tommy Lasorda, and Bob Boone will be making appearances at select MetroLink stations. 

Jay Johnstone
Monday May 27th - 1:30pm
MetroLink Irvine Station
15215 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine

Tommy Lasorda
Monday May 27th - 2:00pm
Fullerton Station
120 E. Santa Fe Avenue, Fullerton

Bob Boone
Monday May 27th - 3:15pm
MetroLink Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station
28200 Forbes Road, Laguna Niguel

For more information go to Dodgers Express

True to the Blue!

3 More Dodgers Named to L.A. Times Top 20 Sports Figures List

Last week I had post about Walter O'malley being named the L.A. Times #13 Greatest Sports Figure in L.A. history.  Over the last few days a few more Dodgers have been named to the list.

#11 Greatest Sports Figure in L.A. History - Tommy Lasorda

There have been few figures in L.A. sports history who have been as larger-than-life as former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. You either love him or love to hate him, but it's almost guaranteed that everyone has some sort of opinion.

After serving four seasons as third-base coach, Lasorda became the Dodgers manager on Sept. 29, 1976, upon the retirement of the legendary Walter Alston. All Lasorda did in his 20 years as manager was win 1,599 games, two World Series championships (1981 and 1988), four National League pennants (1977, 78, 81 and 88)  and seven division titles (1977, 78, 81, 83, 85, 88, 95). The Dodgers also led the division when the rest of the 1994 season was canceled because of a labor dispute.

His final game was a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros on June 23, 1996. The following day he drove himself to the hospital complaining of abdominal pains, and in fact he was having a heart attack. He officially retired on July 29, 1996. His 1,599 career wins rank 16th in MLB history.

He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 in his first year of eligibility and the Dodgers retired his uniform number, 2, on Aug. 15, 1997.

#10 Greatest Sports Figure in L.A. History - Jackie Robinson

It was interesting to watch the votes come in for Jackie Robinson, particularly through the comments on our original blog post asking for votes. As soon as someone would vote for Robinson, it seemed someone else would chime in, chastising the person for not realizing Robinson never played with the Dodgers in L.A. Which just goes to show how a man can be remembered for one thing almost to the exclusion of everything else. When you think Jackie Robinson, you think "broke the color barrier in baseball" and have to be reminded of his outstanding legacy as one of the greatest athletes in UCLA history.

Robinson was UCLA's first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. He was one of four black players on the 1939 UCLA Bruins football team (Woody Strode, Kenny Washington and Ray Bartlett were the others). 

In track and field, Robinson won the long jump at the 1940 NCAA men's outdoor track and field championship, jumping 24 feet, 10 1/2 inches. 

In basketball, Robinson won two consecutive conference scoring titles.

He hit less than .200 with the Bruins baseball team, making baseball his worst sport at UCLA.

Robinson was also a standout athlete at Pasadena Muir High and Pasadena junior college.

Robinson's life after UCLA could fill several books. He is a more-than-worthy addition to this list. As former UCLA chancellor Norm Abrams once said: "He was the first athlete in UCLA history to letter in four sports in the same year, but it is his abiding dignity and unshakable conviction that we most appreciate and that made him a true champion. The entire Bruin family treasures his legacy."

#9 Greatest Sports Figure in L.A. History - Fernando Valenzuela

Fernandomania. That's all you have to say to Dodgers fans to bring a smile to their face as they remember the glory days of Fernando Valenzuela.

Fernandomania was born in 1981, when Valenzuela started the season 8-0 with five shutouts and an earned-run average of 0.50. He became a sensation with the fans, drawing sellout crowds at Dodger Stadium, with ticket sales increasing whenever he pitched in other stadiums too, as fans wanted a glimpse of his unusual delivery, with his eyes looking skyward before delivering the ball to the plate. Valenzuela finished 1981 with a 13-7 record and a 2.48 ERA, leading all pitchers in complete games (11), shutouts (eight), innings pitched (192.1) and strikeouts (180). Valenzuela pitched a complete Game 3 of the World Series against the New York Yankees and helped the Dodgers win their first World Series title since 1965. After the season, he was named rookie of the year and won the Cy Young Award, still the only person to accomplish win both in the same year.

Valenzuela was the ace of the Dodgers staff from 1981 to 1987, with his best season coming in 1986, when he finished 21-11 with a 3.14 ERA and led the league in wins, complete games and innings pitched, finishing second in Cy Young Award voting to Mike Scott of the Houston Astros.

At the 1986 All-Star Game, Valenzuela made history by striking out five consecutive American League batters, tying a record set by Carl Hubbell in 1934.

In 1988, Valenzuela won just five games and missed much of the season. He went 10-13 in 1989 and 13-13 in 1990, which was the season of his last great moment, when on June 29, 1990, he threw a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Valenzuela was released by the Dodgers just before the 1991 season. He played part of that season with the Angels and bounced around baseball until retiring after the 1997 season with a career mark of 173-153.

He is currently a member of the Dodgers' Spanish-language broadcast team.

Interesting how Jackie Robinson made the list for the great career he had at UCLA since he never played for the L.A. Dodgers.  Nice to see Fernando crack the Top 10.  You gotta think Sandy Koufax will be Top 5.

True to the Blue!

Mike Piazza, Tommy Lasorda & Jackie Robinson Jerseys

Last night I had to go to the mall and shop for a birthday gift.  I headed over to the Main Place Mall in Santa Ana, CA and was taking a look around.  Whenever I'm at Main Place, I stop in at the MLB Clubhouse Shop and check out their gear.  The MLB Clubhouse Shop is run by Sports Avenue and Sports Avenue also runs the Dodgers Clubhouse Shop at Universal City Walk and the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park. 

While in the MLB Clubhouse Shop, up on the wall I noticed three Dodger jerseys.  A #31 Mike Piazza jersey, a #42 Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodger jersey and a #27 Tommy Lasorda Brooklyn Dodger jersey.  I thought it was really cool to see a Piazza jersey and even better to see a Lasorda Brooklyn Dodger jersey with the #27.  You usually see Lasorda jerseys with the #2 he used as manager of the Dodgers not the number he had as a player.

The jerseys were all $99.99.  Take a look at the picture below.

True to the Blue!

Tommy Lasorda Debacle Has a Happy Ending

Last Sunday August 28, 2011, Tommy Lasorda was scheduled to make an appearance before the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes game.  He was scheduled to sign from 5:00pm - 6:00pm but instead signed from 4:30pm - 5:30pm.  It's been documented in other blogs that Tommy wasn't in the best of moods and was full of expletives that day.  Although it's not cool, Tommy is hit & miss with his attitude sometimes.  There are times when he is the energetic joke telling Tommy we all know and love and there are other times when he is just a grumpy old man.

Well, check out reader Alan D's e-mail below.  He was at the Quakes game to get a Lasorda autograph.  He missed out on the auto but his story still has a happy ending.

I happened to be there for the Tommy Lasorda signing , been cooking in the sun & still wasn't able to get an auto from him.  He was supposed to sign from 5-6 but instead he came early & signed at 4:30 to 5:30 pm and he was in a bad mood.  He was yelling at the quakes staff because he did not want to be signing while the game had started.  I was so disappoint​ed with rest of 50 to 60 people on line, so I decided to just watch the game with my family.  By the 6th inning we decided to call it a day because my kids had school the next day.  As we were about to exit we noticed about 3 guys surroundin​g this person who looked familiar.  It was Dee Gordon, wow!  So I walked towards him and he was kind enough to sign my Stitches Dodgers Jersey, my official MLB baseball & also took a picture with him.  It all turned out to be a good day after that Tommy debacle.  Hopefully I catch him next time.

Check out Alan's picture with Dee -

Glad Alan's day had a happy ending. 
The day before Dee's rehab assignment, he had a signing at the OC Dugout linked here

True to the Blue!

1981 World Series Champion 30 Year Reunion Signing - UPDATE

During the last month, I've been posting info on the 1981 World Series Champion 30 Year Reunion signing Hall of Fame Sports is putting together on November 5th.

Tommy Lasorda linked here

The Infield - Garvey, Lopes, Russell & Cey linked here

Pedro Guerrero & Steve Yeager linked here

Kenny Landreaux linked here

Dusty Baker linked here

Hall of Fame Sports has set some of the prices.  They are as follows:

Tommy Lasorda

2 time World Series Champion

2 Time NL Manager of the Year

2000 Olympic Gold Medal Manager

Hall of Fame 1997

$99 - balls & flats up to 11x14$119 - large flats, minis, caps & equipment
$139 - helmets, bats, jerseys & artwork
$20 - inscriptions$8 - PSA/DNA
stage time TBA

Steve Garvey 

1974 - MVP

1974 - All Star Game MVP

1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 - Gold Glove

1978 - All Star Game MVP

1978 - NLCS MVP

1984 - NLCS MVP

10x All Star

$35 - balls & flats up to 11x14.
$40 - large flats, minis, caps, figurines & equipment

$50 - bats, jerseys & artwork
$10 - inscriptions

Davey Lopes

1978 - Gold Glove

4x All Star

$30 - balls & flats up to 11x14
  $35 - large flats, minis, caps, figurines & equipment
$40 - bats, jerseys & artwork
$10 - inscriptions

Bill Russell

3x All Star

$25 - balls & flats up to 11x14
  $30 - large flats, minis, caps, figurines & equipment
 $35 - bats, jerseys & artwork
$10 - inscriptions

Ron Cey

6x All Star

1981 World Series Co-MVP

$30 - balls & flats up to 11x14
$35 - large flats, minis, caps, figurines & equipment
$40 - bats, jerseys & artwork
$10 - inscriptions

Pedro Guerrero

1981 World Series Co-MVP

1982 Silver Slugger

$35 - balls & flats up to 11x14
$40 - large flats, minis, caps, figurines & equipment
$50 - bats, jerseys & artwork
$10 - inscriptions

Steve Yeager

1981 World Series Co-MVP

$20 - balls & flats up to 11x14
$25 - large flats, minis, caps, figurines & equipment
$35 - bats, jerseys & artwork
$10 - inscriptions

Kenny Landreaux

All Star - 1980

World Series Champion - 1981

Dusty Baker

NLCS MVP - 1977

2x All Star - 1981 & 1982

2x Silver Slugger - 1980 & 1981

Gold Glove - 1981

$59 - balls & flats up to and including 11x14

$69 - large flasts, minis, caps, figurines & equipment

$89 - bats, jerseys & artwork

$20 - inscriptions

stage time tba

There will also be "Super Tickets" available. 

The MVP Super Ticket including Cey, Guerrero & Yeager

Only 100 Available ($20 savings)

$65 - balls & flats up to 11x14
$80 - large flats, minis, caps, figurines & equipment
$95 - bats, jerseys & artwork

The Infield Super Ticket including Garvey, Lopes, Russell & Cey

Only 100 Available ($20 savings)

$99 - balls & flats up to 11x14
$119 - large flats, minis, caps, figurines & equipment
$139 - bats, jerseys & artwork

A "Super-Ticket" will be sold which will include most guest.  This ticket will go on sale on or about 9/1/11.

Keep checking the blog for more players to be announced.

True to the Blue!



$12 - balls and flats up to & including 11x14

$20 - large flats, minis, caps, figurines & equipment

$25 - bats, jerseys & artwork

$10 - inscriptions

stage time tba

Upcoming Dodger Appearance - Tommy Lasorda & 1981 World Series Champion Signing

Tommy did a signing through Hall of Fame Sports on June 18th, 2011.  You can read my recap and see my photos by clicking here .  Hall of Fame Sports is bringing Tommy back on November 5th as part of their 1981 World Series Champion 30th Anniversary Signing.  HOF Sports has around 20 names already confirmed and are working on more.  Keep checking back to see which other players will be signing.

November 5, 2011

Tommy Lasorda

2 time World Series Champion

2 Time NL Manager of the Year

2000 Olympic Gold Medal Manager

Hall of Fame 1997

$99 - balls & flats up to 11x14
$119 - large flats, minis, caps & equipment
$139 - helmets, bats, jerseys & artwork
$20 - inscriptions
$8 - PSA/DNA
stage time TBA

True to the Blue!

Tommy Lasorda Signing - Recap & Photos

Along with Ramon Martinez & Andre Ethier, Tommy Lasorda was at Frank & Son on Saturday June 18th for an autograph signing.  You can read my recap and see photos of Ramon Martinez here  As expensive as a ticket was to get Tommy's autograph, I couldn't pass up the opportunity because i've always had bad luck when it comes to getting Tommy's autograph at the Stadium or spring training.  My ticket was within the first 65 so I got my autograph pretty quickly.  There were alot of people there to see Tommy.  He would talk some but pretty much signed quick and kept the line moving.  As always, was really friendly with kids.  My 18 year old nephew got a ball signed by Tommy and commented to me afterward that Tommy kept picking his teeth and wiping his finger on the tablecloth.  I could only laugh.

Here are pics of my ball and boblehead I got signed by Tommy -

Tommy getting ready to sit down

My ball signed by Tommy with the Hall of Fame inscription

Tommy's SGA bobblehead from 2001

Tommy's signature on the bill of the cap.

Check back later for my pictures & recap of Andre Ethier's autograph session.

True to the Blue!

This Saturday's Autograph Signings @ Frank & Son - Ethier, Lasorda & Martinez

Back on May 18th, I posted the most current information on the June 18, 2011 signings at Frank & Son.  You can see that post here

There have been a couple updates since then.  Here is the current info:

June 18, 2011

Tommy Lasorda

2 time World Series Champion

2 Time NL Manager of the Year

2000 Olympic Gold Medal Manager

Hall of Fame 1997

$99 - small flats up to 11x14 & balls

$119 - large flats, minis, caps & equipment

$139 - bats, jerseys & art

$20 personalizations & inscriptions

12:30pm-2:00pm 

June 18, 2011

Ramon Martinez

1990 All-Star

1990 20-game winner

July 14, 1995 No Hitter

$29 -  flats, minis & balls

$39 - bats, jerseys & equipment

$10 - inscriptions

10:30am - 12:00pm

June 18, 2011

Andre Ethier

2009 - Silver Slugger

2010 - All-Star

$79 - balls & flats

$89 - figurines, minis, caps & equipment

$109 - bats, jerseys & artwork

$20 - inscriptions

11:00am - 12:30pm

True to the Blue!

Mike Piazza and Tommy Lasorda in Santa Monica

Last week on May 19, 2011, at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, Tommy Lasorda was honored by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF).  Lasorda was presented with the NIAF Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports Management.  Lasorda was presented with this award by none other than 12-time MLB All-Star and former Dodger Mike Piazza.  To read more about the even and read about the other prominent Italian Americans honored, visit the NIAF website linked here

Here are two photos of Piazza & Lasorda from the event:

The former Strongest Man in SoCal & Tommy

Piazza presenting Tommy with his award

True to the Blue!

Replica Dodger Sports Illustrated Covers

As a baseball fan and more specifically a Dodger fan, I have over the years collected signed 8x10 photos, baseball, mini-helmets and other memoribilia.  Over the last twenty years, my interest level has ebbed and flowed in synch with the money in my bank account.  I've gotten back into the hobby in the last five years and have attended many free autograph appearances as well as many autograph appearances where I was charged for autographs.  I will save my "list" for another post but wanted to share a small tip for those that enjoy getting photos signed.  Two years ago, I attended a Kevin Love autograph signing at the Upper Deck store in Huntington Beach, CA.  I'm a huge UCLA fan and wanted a UCLA item signed.  While searching on line I came across the Sports Illustrated Covers website.  It's a Sports Illustrated site where they sell replica's of some of their past covers. 

Since Tommy Lasorda, Ramon Martinez and Steve Garvey have upcoming signings scheduled I thought it would be a good time to share this info with those looking for a different type of item to get signed.  There are several Dodgers who have graced the cover of Sports Illustrated and the website has most of them for sale.  Here are some pictures of the replica covers.

The replica covers are 11x14 and sell for $19.95. Here is the link

Upcoming Dodger Appearance - Andre Ethier

  On April 5th, I posted about the upcoming appearance of Tommy Lasorda at Frank & Son on June 18th and on May 10th, I posted Ramon Martinez had been added to the show.  Well, one of my buddies from work just text me from Frank & Son and informed me that Andre Ethier has been added to the show on June 18th as well.  I need to ask for a raise at work if i'm going to get autographs from Ethier & Tommy.  The info on all three Dodgers is below.

June 18, 2011

Tommy Lasorda

2 time World Series Champion

2 Time NL Manager of the Year

2000 Olympic Gold Medal Manager

Hall of Fame 1997

$99 - small flats up to 11x14 & balls

$119 - large flats, minis, caps & equipment

$139 - bats, jerseys & art

$20 personalizations & inscriptions

11:30am-1:00pm 

June 18, 2011

Ramon Martinez

1990 All-Star

1990 20-game winner

July 14, 1995 No Hitter

$29 -  flats, minis & balls

$39 - bats, jerseys & equipment

stage time to be announced

June 18, 2011

Andre Ethier

2009 - Silver Slugger

2010 - All-Star

$79 - balls & flats

$89 - figurines, minis, caps & equipment

$109 - bats, jerseys & artwork

$20 - inscriptions

True to the Blue!

Upcoming Dodger Appearances - Ramon Martinez, Lasorda & Newcombe Updates

On April 5th, I originally posted information about Tommy Lasorda's upcoming appearance linked here

At the time of my posting, his appearance time had not been set.  However, his stage time has now been set for 11:30 am - 1:00pm.

On April 30th, I posted the new date of Don Newcombe's appearance at Frank & Son linked here

At the time his appearance time was not set either.  It has now been set for 12:00pm - 1:30pm

Also just announced, appearing the same day as Tommy, is former Dodger pitcher Ramon Martinez. 

Here is all the info:

June 18, 2011

Ramon Martinez

1990 All-Star

1990 20-game winner

July 14, 1995 No Hitter

$29 -  flats, minis & balls

$39 - bats, jerseys & equipment

stage time to be announced

True to the Blue!