Eric Vickrey

Looking forward to it!

“Do you even lift, bro?” 😆

The front covers of two books: on the left, "Before They Wore Dodger Blue," by Eric Vickrey, features a picture of Tommy Lasorda wearingthe jersey of the Spokane Indians; on the right, "Jim Gilliam: the Forgotten Dodger," by Steve Dittmore, shows a picture of the young Gilliam in a Brooklyn Dodger uniform.

Mail call from August Publications! Baseball books from @ericvickrey.bsky.social (his new tome, "Before They Wore Dodger Blue," covers the Dodgers' 1968 draft class, along with the man who managed them in AAA Spokane), along with a biography of Jim Gilliam by @stevedittmore.bsky.social.

You got a hard copy before me! Hope you enjoy it.

Before They Wore Dodger Blue cover

I have a whole chapter on the 1968 Ogden Dodgers in my new book, "Before They Wore Dodger Blue," coming out December 7!

Katie is one of the best in the business. This is great news for Dodgers fans but a big loss for those who follow the Cardinals.

new @fangraphs.com: a look at the top newcomer on the BBWAA ballot, Cole Hamels — the only first-year candidate with a real shot at sticking around, and one who has a case as the ballot's best starting pitcher.

Leon Day No-Hits on Opening Day Further Cuts from Our Team

For this week's newsletter, I salvaged a cut snippet of "Our Team" about the great Leon Day and his no-hitter for the Newark Eagles on Opening Day of the 1946 season. substack.com/home/post/p-...

Bill Buckner

In 1970, Spokane Indians OF Bill Buckner broke his jaw in a collision with Davey Lopes & Bobby Valentine on a Friday night in Phoenix. He played both days over the weekend, had his jaw wired shut in LA during the team's off day on Monday, and returned to the lineup in Tucson on Tuesday.

Before They Wore Dodger Blue: Tommy Lasorda and the Greatest Draft Cla Considered the greatest ever, the 1968 Los Angeles Dodgers class included Doyle Alexander, Bill Buckner, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, and Tom Paciorek.

So proud of this title. In 1968 the Dodgers drafted six future All-Stars—Doyle Alexander, Bill Buckner, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, and Tom Paciorek. They would form the core of outstanding teams led by Tommy Lasorda: Before They Wore Dodger Blue: www.augustpublications.com/products/bef...

Lou Boudreau

OTD in 1941, the Cleveland Indians named 24-year-old Lou Boudreau player-manager. A modern-day equivalent would be Julio Rodríguez managing the Mariners or Anthony Volpe piloting the Yankees.

I didn't write the reposted article, just an essay for SABR on the same topic. Paul Caputo wrote this for @sportslogos.net. Sorry for the confusion.

I wrote an essay about this respectful collaboration for SABR’s recently published book, Native American Major Leaguers.

1962 NL MVP Voting

OTD in 1962, Maury Wills won the NL MVP Award. His record-setting stolen base total clearly impressed voters.

Thanks, Tim!

My Fifteen Minutes With Bart Shirley | Eric Vickrey I had the pleasure of interviewing Bart Shirley for Before They Wore Dodger Blue, a book that is largely about 1970 Spokane Indians—one of the great minor-league teams of all time. Shirley was the clu...

I wrote about my interview with former Dodgers infielder Bart Shirley, who passed away on November 19 at the age of 85.

A group photograph of the Toledo Junior Dodgers baseball team with Los Angeles Dodgers ace pitcher Fernando Valenzuela at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium on 4 August 1984.

When it takes scanning negatives from 1984 to recall that you've photographed Fernando Valenzuela.

Amazing time capsule. And you captured some big names/personalities.

These photos are terrific! Thanks for sharing.

#OnThisDay in baseball history

So ... this is a thing. www.3point0labs.io/pbctour

Ocean is one of the most incredible songs ever written.

How Guardians Scandal Ranks Vs. Black Sox, Rose Society for American Baseball Research scholar Jacob Pomrenke puts the Emmanuel Clase, Luis L. Ortiz scandals in perspective.

www.ingame.com/sabr-clase-r...

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Historic 1968 Draft | Eric Vickrey In 1968—just the fourth year of MLB’s amateur draft—the Dodgers pulled off what is questionably the best draft in baseball history. That year, they selected 11 future major leaguers, including Bobby V...

In 1968, the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted 11 future major leaguers—including six All-Stars—who combined for 11,231 career hits and 1,139 home runs. It's the best prospect haul of all time by a long shot.

Carlitos Yamamoto stopped his home from being robbed this summer while the Dodgers were on the road and dad was away.

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www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/...

50 pages in, VERY good.

COVER DROP! Available in preorder for August Publications and Ballpark Digest readers: Before They Wore Dodger Blue: Tommy Lasorda and the Greatest Draft Class in Baseball History.

My ideal afternoon: favorite coffee shop and the latest book from @jeffpearlman.bsky.social. Twenty pages in and already blown away.

Nothing but suburban light pollution

Eye of aldhani

Me looking outside my home vs the photos I see online

Steve's book is excellent! Gilliam is finally getting his due. You won't be disappointed.