The Dodgers are World Series Bound, so Let's See World Series Cardboard

Aloha, everybody, 

I'm sure you've all heard by now: The Dodgers are in the Fall Classic! The 29-year drought is over. The red, white and blue bunting will once again adorn Chavez Ravine, and the best team I've ever seen don the Dodgers uniform, is going to do battle with whomever wins that ALCS Game 7 tonight. 

The Dodgers have a long history of battling the Yankees in the WS, so I wouldn't mind one more chance to beat them. But I'm getting ahead of myself. The Dodgers' opponents might well be the Astros. 

While we're waiting for that outcome, let's check out some Dodgers World Series cards from my humble collection. Most of these are tribute cards from modern issues, but I've got some cool original vintage cards coming up as well. 

(Some of you may have seen some of these before, please indulge me. I'm quite excited to show these off one more time.) Here we go, in more or less chronological order...

In 1920, the Dodgers (also known as the Robins at the time) won the pennant, but they were defeated in the WS by the Cleveland Indians.

1941- Leo the Lip Durocher leads the Dodgers to win the pennant for the first time since 1920. The Yankees spoiled the Dodgers happiness and beat Brooklyn in five games. 

One more card from the '41 series. This is the first of my vintage cards. These Nu-Card Baseball Scoops come from 1961...

Here's the first of two beautiful die-cuts I received in trade. This first one harks back to the 1947 WS. The Dodgers lost to the Yanks again. This time it took seven games. 

BTW - 1947 was Jackie Robinson's first World Series. 

Two years later, it was Dodgers v Yanks yet again. Different year, same results. Yanks in five. (more vintage cardboard, from 1968)

Fast forward to 1952. This time the Yanks were defending three straight championships. The Dodgers lost the series in five. 

Here's the second of those pennant die-cuts. In the 1953 WS, the Yankees were now four-time champs, and the Dodgers were trying once again to take that world's championship for themselves. No dice. 

 Here's a great action shot from the '53 series. It features Campy tagging out Billy Martin to end Game 4. Alas, the Bums lost to NY again. This time, in six games. 

Stay tuned, because next time: The Dodgers finally get over the hump and win their first World Series. 

Aloha! 

A Night At Chavez Ravine Dodgers vs. Brewers

Earlier this week my man inside Dodger Stadium offered two tickets to me for last night's game. Because of his position at the stadium, he's eligible to receive two complimentary tickets for two games every homestand.  He says he's never used the seats, but after six years, it's time.  I was lucky enough to be first in line.

I was especially excited, as this would be my first trip out to the stadium this season.  Last night my seats (started out) in the Club section of the stadium, so why not show a few photos from there, as one or two of you may not have seen things from that perspective. 

Here we go...

It's a beautiful evening in LA.  On my way to pick up my tix at Club level.

Club level is cool for a few reasons.  It's the level with the large party suites. This is where LA politicians, Hollywood, and the riche watch the game in elegance and tubs of champagne.  That was not where I sat.

It's also home to the media and Vin Scully's broadcast booth.  Lots of fancy rooms with impressive names are here as well.  I couldn't find the Tommy Lasorda commissary.

Lots of Dodgers history on display around here.  Below you see a wall displaying press and media guides all the way back to Brooklyn...

Here's the 1956 guide, showing the Bums finally won. 

Our seats were on the third base wing, beyond the executive suites. To the right you can see the left field pavilions - bleachers on the east coast.  In the space between and down is the Dodger bullpen.

For you Kemp fans...

The walls were lined with these photo blowups of all the Dodger yearbooks through the years.  I took this pic for GCRL.  Sorry Jim, blogger insisted on adding this photo sideways. 

On the right side of the photo below you can see these yearbook blowups.  This Lopes photo was magnificent on that scale.

Here's the old bullpen pitcher's delivery cart from back in the day.  How cool would it have been to be that driver?

There was a charity auction for the Dodgers Foundation. 

Wall display of ticket stubs from past events gone by. 

After a few innings my buddy stopped by to check on us and he mentioned he had some empty seats lower and closer to the plate.  So we moved in time to catch this view of what an incoming home run pitch looks like to Carl Crawford...

A split second later - BLAMMO !  Home Run !

These new seats were in the section reserved for visitor's families, so there were a few Brewer fans around.  This guy was wearing a Yount jersey and wouldn't stop eating his mitt.

Carl Crawford got hit by a pitch...so Rolando Belisario unleashed some Dodger chin music.  Note the Brewer looking for his contacts in the dirt.

We returned to our original seats for the 9th.  The Dodgers won what was a good back-and-forth battle, 7-5.

We returned to the cushioned (and warmer) Club seats in order to have a good view of the postgame fireworks show.  Fans can go out on the field and watch. 

It's Fireworks!  What a great night out at the stadium.  Thanks for the tickets, Dave!

One last bit of good news - the giants lost! 

THANKS for reading, everybody!