Dodgers retired numbers. 1, 2, 4, 19, 20, 24, 32, 39, 42 and 53. I need a better Drysdale card. via bengoetting
In a year that has been so improbable, the incredible has happened.
Not Magic. Not Hanley Ramirez. Not Adrian Gonzalez. Better than all of that.
Vin Scully is coming back. The Dodgers are expected to announce Sunday that Scully will return to the Dodgers’ broadcast booth next season.
Vin’s back, you guys. Everything else is gravy.
Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad / Malcom In The Middle. Celebrity Dodger fan. Could I love him any more than I already do? I guess so.
I felt, my gosh, they’re opening up a season and here they are saluting an announcer. I was overwhelmed. I had all kinds of emotions, many of which were humility, thinking I’m just another guy. I’m the most ordinary person you ever met. And here’s this big deal, and I’m sick. It was a very humbling opening day for me.
“
| — | Vin Scully, definitely not just another guy. |
1958 Topps Don Newcombe
I don’t know what’s going on with Don’s arm and leg on this card. Some sketchy 50’s production value. The back is pretty amazing though, even with the missing piece of cardboard.
Anyone who’s been to more than a few Dodger games has probably seen Newk around the stadium, sharply dressed in a suit and hat. One of my favorite Dodgers of all time, he’s apparently been a huge influence on Matt Kemp, who is one of my other favorites.
Babe as coach of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Like the Boston Braves, the Dodgers had no intention of letting Babe take over as manager; they simply wanted to use him to boost their attendance - 1938.
1953 Topps Roy Campanella
I was going to save this, to space out my “Dodgers Retired Numbers” posts. Instead I’m posting it in honor of Matt Kemp winning the Roy Campanella award.
Campy came up to play for the Dodgers the year after Jackie Robinson in 1948. He went to the All Star game every season except for his first and his last. He won the NL MVP award three times, the last time he won was the Dodgers first World Series Championship. A tragic auto accident cut his career short, leaving him paralyzed from the shoulders down. His number, 39, was retired by the Dodgers in 1972.
In 1953 Topps released their second baseball card set, and this year the entire set was hand painted, no photographs. Ever since I saw Campy’s card, I knew I had to have it. It’s absolutely beautiful. Recently I saw this one, in decent condition, mislabeled as “1959 Roy Campanella” and ended up winning the auction for less than half of what this card would normally fetch in this condition. Awesome right?
