1978 NLCS Dodgers' Full Ticket!

My amigo Mike recently gave me this fantastically awesome full ticket from Game 4 of the 1978 National League Championship Series. Check out the price for a Field Box seat 37 years ago at Dodger Stadium: $12! The five-game series pitted the Blue Crew against the Philadelphia Phillies and Game 4 saw the Dodgers prevail 4-3. Bill Russell knocked in Ron Cey in the 10th to clinch the series.

Thanks Mike, much appreciated!

"The Dodgers and Los Angeles After 50 Years: The Economics of How a Sports Icon and a City Grew Together" -- A Recap From UCLA.

I attended a sports and economics event centered around the Dodgers and Los Angeles back in November. The event was held at my Alma mater of UCLA and included such speakers as Peter Guber, Ron Cey, Gary Beban, and Dodgers' Team Historian Mark Langill. Apparently UCLA is going to begin offering a Sports Business Program to its students. I may very well find myself back at UCLA as a student in the near future.

After listening to a very interesting and informative panel, I waited around in the hopes of snagging a couple of autographs. After taking a few pictures of him with fellow fans, Ron Cey was kind enough to sign the above 8x10, bringing me to 50% completion on my Great Infield Project. I asked The Penguin to inscribe the accomplishment he is most proud of, and he chose "1981 World Series MVP."

I missed out on Guber but was fortunate to get two fantastic John Hancocks on the event program. Gary Beban is the only Heisman winner in the history of UCLA Football, taking home the award as the Bruins' QB in 1967. He kindly inscribed "UCLA '67 Heisman" without me even asking. The second signature belongs to the aforementioned Langill. I was actually most nervous to meet him, as he basically has my dream job and gets to do the type of work I would love to one day do in any capacity. I spoke with Mark for a few moments about being History majors and working in the sports industry.

Langill, Cey, and Beban were all exceptionally nice gentlemen and I greatly appreciate them taking the time to sign for me and speak at what was a truly fantastic and thought-provoking event.

"Recent" In-Person Dodgers' Autographs.

I've got a few in-person autographs to post, and I'll lump them together, considering they happened ages ago. First up, a new project I've begun and am 25% done with.

Steve Garvey was doing one of his many free signings, and I had some time to swing by. I asked him to sign an 8x10 that will eventually include the rest of The Great Infield. Steve was kind enough to inscribe "'74 NL MVP" and was a great and nice guy, as he always is. Shout-out to Paul for letting me borrow a pen and giving me pointers on what pen to use for a project such as this, as well as George for saying hi. Great seeing you gentlemen!

Next up, a pair of John Hancocks I picked up at Dodger Stadium before a Friday Night Fireworks game. I hit up Aisle 27 and got Kenley Jansen on my "2012 Team Ball," and had I not had my cast on, I'm not sure he would have stopped, as he was wrapping up a quick signing session. After coming off of the field, I ran into Harry, who runs Eye On LA Sports. Harry spotted Ron Cey signing and helped me get his signature on my "team" ball, as doing these things one-handed is rather difficult. Good luck in El Paso buddy, and come back and visit!

Jonathan Broxton Bobblehead Game Recap

I attended the Broxton Bobblehead game this past Tuesday. My buddies and I had infield reserve seats, third base side. We planned to get to the game around 6, and I wanted to go check out Autograph Alley in center field, having never been before.

Of course, my camera ran out of juice about 5 minutes after I entered the stadium, and try as I might, I couldn't take a picture after about 7:00. Remember kids, always charge the batteries for something you plan on using. Lesson learned.

This first response van was next to us at a light driving to the game. I imagine it was on its way to the stadium to pick up Garret Anderson's corpse.

On the way to the game, we passed by this huge billboard for Mannywood. Of course a huge bus got in my way, but you get the idea.

As we entered Dodger Stadium, we were given this nice booklet with Chad Billingsley on the cover.

We were parked right around 6:00, and made our way to center. I had no idea who would be at Autograph Alley, as the Dodgers hadn't announced it, and lo and behold I find Matt Luke there. Honestly, I have no recollection of Matt Luke as a Dodger, and had only heard his name maybe once before. I stand in a line of about 5 people, and Luke signs the card you see below for me. He was also nice enough to take a picture with me. Nice guy.

Loved seeing former Dodgers images immortalized on the pillars at the stadium. Though I unfortunately didn't run into any of the sons of the Sons Of Steve Garvey while at the game. Davey Lopes can be seen behind Garvey; I also saw Ron Cey, Bill Russell, and the amazingly awesome and exciting Mike Piazza.

The game was fantastic, a pitcher's duel from start to finish. There was a proposal (it seems there's one at every game I go to), and I thought it actually looked fairly fake, with the potential bride-to-be running away from her kneeling and ring-bearing boyfriend. She later returned and said yes, and we saw them walking in the parking lot after the game, having parked about two rows over from us. I clapped and said congrats, and they nodded and said thank you, then got in the same car and sat next to each other. So who knows, maybe it was real, maybe it wasn't. I hope it was real and they are getting married, but it did remind me of this other "marriage proposal" which was as fake as can be.



After Manny Ramirez's double to right to drive in the lone Dodger run (and the crowd was electric that whole inning), in walked the man of the day, Jonathan Broxton. As Iron Man blared throughout Dodger Stadium, the fans were going crazy, and Brox's first batter just so happened to be the best player in all of baseball, Albert Pujols. An epic at-bat followed, with Broxton finally striking out Pujols. Broxton closed the inning out, and the Dodgers went home with a 1-0 victory.

And I went home happy as well, having seen a great game and come away with an autograph and a sweet Broxton Bobblehead.