True Blue LA: FanPosts

Overseas Opening Day

2013-05-21T10:29:22Z

Hey everyone!

I am a huge LA dodgers fan and surprisingly I am Australian. One morning I woke up to discover an article that was titled Dodgers to open 2014 in Sydney. I had just woken up and I thought it wasn't real, that I was dreaming it! But it was real alright. I was soo excited to have opening day in my hometown and especially with my favorite team!

This all occurred about a year ago now and it was recently brought to attention again. I was just wondering if anyone had anymore news or their own thoughts on this idea. I know it may not be the dodgers who play or if it even is in Australia, but I'd just like to know other peoples thoughts and that.

Thanx fellow dodger fans!

Hey everyone!

Thanx fellow dodger fans!

Poll

Opening Day Australia

Whether or not you agree with firing Mattingly, there's nothing "knee-jerk" about it.

2013-05-20T21:59:05Z

Dilbeck weighed in on the "scandal" a couple hours ago and while he does have some good points, his overall theme, which is outlined in the title - "Not time for Dodgers to have knee-jerk reaction on Don Mattingly".

This is not a new sentiment, just the momentum is. Personally, the devil on my shoulder started bringing this up last summer. After a painful month, it was getting hard to watch. But we all said the same thing "Not yet, let's give him the chance to bounce out of it". Compared to that streak of torment, he most definitely pulled it off. But compared to the season as a whole, he only slowed the bleeding. Then came the blockbuster trade, which was supposed to be the prosthetic for the gaping hole in our confidence. Which again, was better than the previous month or so, but not enough.

It's hard to say what would/could have happened last year. Did we come back just a day late and a game short? Was the damage already done and we just wanted to go out with a bang? Or was the opposite true? Was the beginning of the season the anomaly, and the middle to end the reality we had been shielding ourselves from? I was willing to wait for this season to find out. And personally gave no weight to the hype about our nose bleed salary equating to a us crashing the October party, as SI claimed. But I'm pretty sure the vast majority of Dodger fans, regardless of their level of confidence, felt the same.

Cut to Spring Training, and things are mediocre at best. No worries though, it's Spring Training, everyone knows you can't really project much from it. Hell, the Mariners were in 1st place overall at one point. But it didn't help repair the hurt from last season. So needless to day, my season started out with bloody stubs where my finger nails were supposed to be, and a well worn track in my carpet from pacing. Sadly, I'm not even nervous anymore. Slightly jaded, partly hurt, with a side of amusement, is probably the best way to summarize it.

I don't know whether or not Mattingly *should* be fired. I don't know that it will really help. I know personally I struggle to think of a time a mid-season management change made the team do a complete 180. Which to a lot of us would be the only thing that we would consider to be "Mission Accomplished". Kasten has just as much responsibility (and it baffles me that is just a footnote in the discussion, when it's even brought up) the players definitely take a lot of the blame. But so does Mattingly. And he's the monkey in the middle. And has been for some time. So, defend him, vilify him, decide to make biased Op Eds based on a few games you've watched. All of these I could care less about. But don't call it a knee-jerk reaction. Right or wrong, the sentiment has been brewing for some time.

Expectations of the Back-end of the Rotation on a Playoff Spot

2013-05-17T18:23:49Z

Zach Greinke’s return to the rotation on Wednesday coming off the heels of Clayton Kershaw’s 132-pitch masterpiece provided me with the thinking that, “this could work out!” This team has holes, we know that, but Hyun-Jin Ryu has shown to be a reliable thus far and with elite starters in Kershaw and Greinke the playoffs may hinge on the ability of the Dodgers fourth and fifth starters (Ted Lilly, Josh Beckett, Matt Magill, Chris Capuano, Jonathan Sanchez?!) to be mediocre.

Given what we have seen so far, mediocre is hopeful. The Lilly-Beckett-Magill-Capuano-Stephen Fife-Chad Billingsley six-pack have combined for 19 starts in 2013. The team is a dreadful 4-15 (21% win percentage) in those games. And, while the offense has obviously struggled, the results would hardly be different if they weren’t. The back-end of the rotation (anyone other than Kershaw/Ryu/Greinke) have collectively pitched 92 2/3 IP (4.87 innings per start), 5.73 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 7.9 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, 11.1 H/9.

Meanwhile, Kershaw-Ryu-Greinke have been every bit as good as their fellow starters have been bad. The Dodgers have won 13 of the 20 games (65% win percentage) they have started, with a combined 131 IP (6.55 innings per start), 2.20 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 6.7 H/9. To put that into perspective, in Clayton Kershaw’s Cy Young award winning 2011 season he posted numbers of 7.1 innings per start, 2.28 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, 6.7 H/9. Pretty good. They have held their opponents to two or less runs in 75% of their starts. And only twice have they given up more than three runs, both Ryu starts (4/20 @ Baltimore & 5/5 @ San Francisco).

What does that mean for the rest of the season? Let’s have some fun with numbers and make a few assumptions.

1) The Kershaw-Ryu-Greinke trio make the rest of their starts

2) The team regresses a bit in starts by the front line winning 62% of those games.

3) To get that last playoff spot a team needs to win 87 games. Going back over the last five seasons, the second NL wild card would have qualified with 87 wins four times and 88 wins once.

With 123 games remaining and Kershaw-Ryu-Greinke scheduled to start 60% of those, that means 74 starts from the front line of the rotation and 46 more wins. That leaves the fourth and fifth starters with 49 more starts, the team would need to go 24-25 in those games to reach 87 wins. If winning the NL West is the goal, and we assume that it will take 91 wins for that to happen, the team will need to go 28-21 in those remaining starts.

What does that mean for the rest of the season? Let’s have some fun with numbers and make a few assumptions.

1) The Kershaw-Ryu-Greinke trio make the rest of their starts

2) The team regresses a bit in starts by the front line winning 62% of those games.

3) To get that last playoff spot a team needs to win 87 games. Going back over the last five seasons, the second NL wild card would have qualified with 87 wins four times and 88 wins once.

The Pacific Coast League promotes its big league potential (1946)

2013-05-17T01:36:54Z

Today we're going to talk about baseball! It's always fun to talk about baseball, and history, so once again I'm combining them as we break down a 1946 promotional film for the old Pacific Coast League [embedding is disabled for some reason]. Now, the PCL has never suspended operations (so far as I know) so the league that we currently send Dodger prospects to is the continuity for the league that was once the pride of the West Coast. Oh and the promotional film would like me to remind you the PCL uses the Wilson baseball exclusively.

via farm8.staticflickr.com

Here's a map of the PCL's territory in 1946. The video brags about how much further San Diego is from Seattle than Boston is from Chicago (some 900 miles). Certainly it was a bigger challenge (read cost) to keep the PCL afloat in the days before plane travel was ubiquitous. It also meant more time spent on road trips. Luckily things did break down into groups somewhat.

1946 PCL

San Diego Padres

Los Angeles Angels

Hollywood Stars

San Francisco Seals

Oakland Oaks

Sacramento Solons

Portland Beavers

Seattle Rainier

This iteration of the Portland Beavers lasted until 1972, the Sacramento Solons were sold in 1960 when they were moved to Hawaii to become the Islanders. The Oaks were sold to a Vancouver group in 1955 to become the Vancouver Mounties.

However the rest of those cities stayed active up until the day major league baseball arrived. The Rainiers lasted until 1968 when the Seattle Pilots were added to the American League. San Diego was also a part of that expansion year, gaining a major league version of the San Diego Padres. The San Francisco Seal, Hollywood Stars, and Los Angeles Angels all played their last games when the Dodgers and Giants moved west from New York. The Angels moved to Spokane while the Stars moved to Salt Lake.

This is just given as backdrop as in 1946 these towns did not know that they would be home to both of New York's National League franchises, or that the ends of the PCL territory would be involved in 1968 expansion. Nor did they know that the move West would also cause expansion in 1962, or that a team from Kansas City would move to Oakland just before 1968 expansion.

No, in 1946 the PCL thought it was good enough and viable enough to petition as a major league in its own right. The major leagues recognized this, but thought colonization would be much more fun.

Indeed, the reason this promotional film was create in 1946 was because in 1946 the PCL declared their intent to become a major league. They would be granted an "open" status from 1952-57 placing them above Triple A but not as a full major league.

At the time, the territory the PCL claimed had 15 million people. The first of these people introduced in the film is San Francisco Seals manager Lefty O'Doul and yes the DiMaggio boys (all three of them) are name dropped right away. Next Robert Owen of Portland. Casey Stengel manager of Oakland after stints with the Boston Braves and the Brooklyn Bums (hehe) back east.

Bill Sweeney is manager of Los Angeles. The Angels are wearing the interlocking LA on the jersey, but a side by side LA on the caps.

via farm8.staticflickr.com

Peper Martin is managing for San Diego, with a Cardinals '31 World Series on his resume. Buck Fawcet is managing Hollywood, with an H inside a star on the jersey and an H on the caps. Bill Skiff in managing at Seattle, a former New York Yankees catcher. Earl Shelley is managing at Sacramento, strange caps there with white piping along the stitching of a dark blue cap.

The footage is taken from Spring Training, as this was a promo video before the 1946 season. The video gives us all the Spring Training homes of the PCL: Hollywood training in Ontario; Portland training in San Jose; Sacramento training in Richardson Springs (Butte County near Chico); Los Angels in Fullerton; San Diego in El Centro; Seattle in San Fernando; Oakland in Boyes Springs. Having all the teams train in California certainly brought down travel costs....

Excpet for goodness knows what reason, San Francisco trained in Honolulu. They got there by clipper (the new plane travel technology where large boats could land on water). For the life of me I can't figure out the executive decision there. The players were greeted with a parade into the city and a ceremony in front of city hall with leis and the key to the city. These were admired ballplayers. The stadium they played in was quite spacious.

One of the striking things about all this spring training footage is that the teams all had stadiums in the spring training site. The small ballpark in Ontario where Hollywood trained in nestled in between two power line towers. We're taken through a number of exercises run by all the different clubs, sprints and ball drills and the like. When we get to see LA's facility in Fullerton, there's a busy neighborhood street on one side and small woods on the other

Pitchers are showing throwing a ball through a cloth rectangle, representing the strike zone. We've got the height of technology in the PCL.

"Spring training is not easy on veterans, who find it tough to take off weight". That's just a gem right there. The leagues attendance the previous year (just over three million) in saying why the PCL has to work so hard in spring training. The league needs great teams so attendance can stay up. With a stated population of 15 million in the territory, that's about one in five on the west coast who went to a PCL game at some point in 1945.

The next segment is dedicated to getting to know the players in the league. Some of them are former major leaguers, some are rookies looking for their first break. A lot of these players are returning from serving in World War II, and their branch of the armed forces is mentioned.

We get some great footage of Seals players taking canoes into the ocean in Waikiki, with Diamondhead in the background.

The film wraps by mentioning the stadiums which have expanded for the upcoming season. Oakland, Sacramento, and LA had all added seats to meet demand. This was a league on the verge of something big. Indeed the territory would become something big, but it would be a different league that would get to fully till the land.

via farm8.staticflickr.com

1946 PCL

San Diego Padres

Los Angeles Angels

Hollywood Stars

San Francisco Seals

Oakland Oaks

Sacramento Solons

Portland Beavers

Seattle Rainier

No, in 1946 the PCL thought it was good enough and viable enough to petition as a major league in its own right. The major leagues recognized this, but thought colonization would be much more fun.

Bill Sweeney is manager of Los Angeles. The Angels are wearing the interlocking LA on the jersey, but a side by side LA on the caps.

via farm8.staticflickr.com

Pitchers are showing throwing a ball through a cloth rectangle, representing the strike zone. We've got the height of technology in the PCL.

We get some great footage of Seals players taking canoes into the ocean in Waikiki, with Diamondhead in the background.

Greetings from a newly joined member!

2013-05-11T16:44:05Z

Hi i just joined dodger's fan page. I never really followed baseball; be it the korean scene or the mlb.

But i do love the sport and know it very well.

I only started watching baseball because of Hyun Jin Ryu. He's been pitching well i think. He will only continue to improve as the season goes on.

I cant wait for the next match! In sydney currently it's 2:36am so ill be heading off the sleep and waking up later.

Sometimes Ryu pitches around 3am Sydney time.. =(

I'll be rooting for Ryu and the dodgers and hopefully his pitching can end the miserable losing streak.

He's well known in korea for his unshakable mental strength. He used to be in a horrible horrible team when he was in korea so he's used to a lot worse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGulrMu_hFE

Please do watch it haha i cant stop laughing..

You have gained one more lifetime dodgers fan and i pray Ryu will bring us good news.

PS: Do the dodgers make the playoffs consistently? Or are they a bad team?..

Hi i just joined dodger's fan page. I never really followed baseball; be it the korean scene or the mlb.

But i do love the sport and know it very well.

I only started watching baseball because of Hyun Jin Ryu. He's been pitching well i think. He will only continue to improve as the season goes on.

I cant wait for the next match! In sydney currently it's 2:36am so ill be heading off the sleep and waking up later.

Sometimes Ryu pitches around 3am Sydney time.. =(

I'll be rooting for Ryu and the dodgers and hopefully his pitching can end the miserable losing streak.

He's well known in korea for his unshakable mental strength. He used to be in a horrible horrible team when he was in korea so he's used to a lot worse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGulrMu_hFE

Please do watch it haha i cant stop laughing..

You have gained one more lifetime dodgers fan and i pray Ryu will bring us good news.

PS: Do the dodgers make the playoffs consistently? Or are they a bad team?..

Rosalind Wyman, a Dodger hero fans should know

2013-05-10T00:30:40Z

via jpg1.lapl.org

Rosalind Wyman was elected to Los Angeles City Council in 1953. Born in 1930 as Rosalind Weiner, at the age of 22 she was the youngest person ever elected to the City Council, the second female, and the first Jewish councilmember in 53 years. She had graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1948, then in 1952 graduated from the University of Southern California.

One year after her elected she was married, two years after that she was a mother. A year after that baby was born, the above picture was taken where she's standing behind Walter O'Malley wearing a Los Angeles Angels (PCL) cap. The 1957 season had just ended, and the Dodgers were going to play at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum next year.

This is the story of how Rosalind Wyman and Kenneth Hahn got the Brooklyn Dodgers to move to Los Angeles. It's been told before by people better informed, I'm sure. But I'm discovering it for the first time and want y'all to come with me.

In the 1953 Los Angeles municipal primary election, Rosalind Wyman managed to secure the majority of votes in the fifth district running against nine other people. At that time, the fifth district had a northern boundary of Wilshire blvd, east to Western, south to Exposition, and west encompassing Westwood and West LA. It was close enough to USC that several of her classmates helped in the campaign.

In the final election she defeated her opponent Elmer Marshrey by some 2,000 votes. She had only defeated him by 500 in the primary. It was the closest of any of the final elections, but Wyman didn't waste any time promoting the sport she loved: baseball. Wyman got her love of baseball from her mother. They'd go to Hollywood Stars games together, her mother's side of the family was nuts about baseball.

Wyman nee Weiner represented a shift in ideologies and culture in West LA. She was the rec director of a Jewish youth group, a mother's group organized to back her candidacy; she handed out balloons to young people coming out of matinees during her campaign. The future councilwoman went through 13 pairs of shoes knocking on doors.

She was trying to join a council whose chambers didn't have a women's bathroom. Where official meetings were held at the Jonathan Club, which didn't allow Jewish people or women. Wyman was not the candidate of choice for The Los Angeles Times. They pegged her as a school girl and an ultra radical. She combated these attacks by rejecting endorsements from extreme left wing groups. She also used major league baseball as part of her platform.

In her eyes, major league baseball would make Los Angeles a world class city and give a place for young people to go for recreation. LA had the PCL Angels, but at best that ballpark could hold 17,000 people and didn't have the prestige to attract all the new people immigrating to Los Angeles or the space for a growing suburban population.

With her election came a seat as the Recreation and Parks chairwoman. Yes, Rosalind Wyman was Leslie Knope before Knope existed. Her first resolution was to urge the Coliseum Commission to allow the American Legion to hold a test baseball game at the Coliseum July 18th.

In 1957, when Walter O'Malley was fighting with the city of New York over Ebbets Field (he wanted a new stadium in Brooklyn, the powers that be in New York wanted the team in Queens), Wyman saw an opportunity. She and fellow councilmember Edward Roybal met with O'Malley about moving the team to Los Angeles. O'Malley rejected their first offer to meet, but later warmed to the idea.

The plan developed was for the City to sell Chavez Ravine. Wyman wasn't the only one in LA politics that had to fight accusations of communism. With the tide of the red scare rising, Norris Paulson defeated incumbent Fletcher Bowron in the race for mayor of Los Angeles. Both candidates were Republican, but Bowron had purchased Chavez Ravine using Eminent Domain with funds from the Federal Housing Act of 1949 under the guise of building public housing. That was a bit too much communist type activity for voters at the time. Paulson eliminated the project and bought back the land.

Paulson was on board along with Wyman, Roybal, and the famous Kenneth Hahn to trade Chavez Ravine to the Dodgers for Wrigley Field and cash. On October 7, 1957 the LA City Council met to vote on a resolution to invite the Dodgers, to promise road improvements and all. Wyamn talked to O'Malley that night, asking him if they vote the deal through, will the Dodgers come? LA after all wasn't the first city to resolve to invite the Dodgers, Oakland had put its hat in the ring as well. O'Malley said he didn't know.

The measure was passed hinging on one vote (it needed ten and passed 10-4), and the next day O'Malley announced the Dodgers had drafted the Los Angeles territory. Now the voters had to pass Proposition B to give the Dodgers the permanent home they wanted. Wyman was one of the sponsors of the bill.

A slim majority of voters put Prop B through. It was the largest turnout ever for a non-presidential election (62.3%). The Dodgers had played a day game in Chicago two days before, and later that day a five hour Dodgerthon had aired on KTTV urging voters to vote yes on Prop B. Vin Scully didn't tell voters how to vote, but he urged them to turn out. The Dodgers won 1-0.

The fight wasn't pretty, and it may have cost Wyman political points by the end of it. However a grateful Walter O'Malley took her out to the dirt site where Dodger Stadium was being built and told her to chose any seat she wanted. Not wanting to look like she was getting kickbacks, she paid for eight season tickets right by the Dodger dugout. When LA was winning World Series titles, Wyman could turn to Tommy Lasorda and make suggestions.

Her husband's law firm paid for the seats, and would often use them to entertain clients. When her husband tragically passed in 1974, she had to sue to get the seats back. The firm couldn't understand why a woman with her background would place so much significance on baseball tickets.

Just look at the young woman on the steps of an airplane wearing an LA Angels cap, blinking as a group of men pose for a photo op. She wanted more than anything to bring major league baseball to Los Angeles. Lucky for us, she succeeded.

via jpg1.lapl.org

LA Galaxy night at Dodger Stadium, Rosalind Wyman

2013-05-08T20:25:26Z

Hello True Blue LA,

Tonight is LA Galaxy night at Dodger Stadium, which means some things are going to happen that you might not understand.

First off, there will be a group of Galaxy fans sitting in the outfield. I imagine they might drum a bit, chant. Don't worry about it, they're just excited. It's how they express said excitement. They're really great folk.

If you are sitting in the outfield, you may notice as you walk in two silver trophies designed by Tiffany's. Don't worry, they give those out for championships.

The following players expected to be on hand played in the 2012 MLS Cup: Todd Dunivant, Sean Franklin. Stars Landon Donovan (did you hear that Don Mattingly? His name is Landon not Brandon), Robbie Keane, and manager Bruce Arena are not listed as being available for signatures. There will also be several rookies and reserve team players there. Gyasi Zardes is a name it'd be good to know out of that bunch. He'll stand out with his blonde mohawk.

One of the Galaxy players there will be throwing out the first pitch.

By the by, last night Roz Wyman threw out the first pitch and was honored for her contributions in getting the Brooklyn Dodgers to move to Los Angeles. She was the youngest person ever elected to LA City council, the second woman, and she got the Dodgers to move from Brooklyn. That's pretty cool. The Dodgers had a great picture of her with an LA Angeles (PCL) cap on, I might write about her later.

Hello True Blue LA,

Tonight is LA Galaxy night at Dodger Stadium, which means some things are going to happen that you might not understand.

If you are sitting in the outfield, you may notice as you walk in two silver trophies designed by Tiffany's. Don't worry, they give those out for championships.

One of the Galaxy players there will be throwing out the first pitch.

100 Films: A List For the Baseball Documentary Fan (Features, Shorts, Interviews, Lectures...)

2013-05-02T13:09:26Z

NOTE: The Majority of these videos are available on YouTube

100 Years of Japanese American Baseball: Kerry Yo Nakagawa(2012)

While the story of the Negro Leagues has been well documented, few baseball fans know about the Japanese American Nisei Leagues, or of their most influential figure, Kenichi Zenimura (1900-1968).

30 ballpark, 30 day tour compilation (2012)

A blind baseball fan who in 2012, took a 30 ballpark, 30 day tour. This video is a compilation, one clip shot from each ballpark.

4192: The Crowning of the Hit King (2010)

The film focuses strictly on Rose's accomplishments on the field, making no mention of various controversies that dogged Rose later on.

Adam Carolla and Ken Burns: The Tenth Inning (2010)

Corolla and Ken Burns discuss The Tenth Inning - A new chapter in Burns's landmark 1994 series; Baseball.

American Experience: Clementé (2008)

PBS 'American Experience' TV Series.

American Experience: Forever Baseball (1989)

PBS 'American Experience' TV Series.

American Experience: Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life (2008)

PBS 'American Experience' TV Series.

Ball Game, The (1898)

The Ball Game is an 1898 American short black-and-white silent documentary sports film produced and distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company.

Ballhawks (2010)

The story of the men who have been chasing baseballs and dreams just outside the ivy-covered walls of Wrigley Field, for the last ninety years.

Ballplayer; Pelotero (2011)

By Bobby Valentine,examines the lives of two 15-year-old Dominican baseball prospects and details how Major League squads find raw talent in that rich baseball culture.

Barry Bonds (2013)

Barry Bonds talks about his career.

Baseball (1994)

Comprehensive history of the game, 18 hours-plus, as chronicled by Ken Burns.

Baseball Bunch, The: Fielding (1986)

The Baseball Bunch. Johnny Bench teaches fielding with the help of Ozzie Smith, Graig Nettles and Gary Carter.

Baseball History and Literature (2013)

No description available.

Baseball in The Dominican Republic (2012)

Charles Farrell, co-founder of the Dominican Republic Sports & Education Academy, Inc. was invited to speak about baseball in the Dominican Republic at Champlain College in Canada in 2012.

Baseball in The Time of Cholera (2012)

A powerful insight into the tragedy and scandal of Haiti's Cholera epidemic through the eyes of a young baseball player.

Baseball: Minor League Baseball (2009)

Professor of Law Diane Sullivan and Associate Dean Michael Coyne delve into aspects of the minor league baseball experience.

Baseball: There's No Place Like Home (2011)

Nebraska State Historical Society Brown Bag Lecture by Jon Hamilton filmed on June 16, 2011 at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln, NE

Baseball's Greatest Legends: Diamond Memories (2007)

Rare footage of the biggest moments in baseball combine to create a comprehensive look at the history, heritage, and folklore of America's favorite national pastime.

Baseball's Last Hero: 21 Clementé Stories (2013)

'Baseball's Last Hero: 21 Clementé Stories' blends baseball with a redemptive story of sacrifice.

Baseball's Most Unbreakable Feats (2007)

Hall of Famers, baseball historians and managers assess 10 so-called unbreakable records and the likelihood that the names associated with them will hold up over time.

Blue Revolution (2012)

A documentary short film about the Los Angeles Dodgers fans efforts to remove Frank McCourt as owner of the team through protest and boycott in the 2011 season.

Boys of Summer (2011)

On the tiny island of Curaçao, Little League All-Stars go to the World Series for seven consecutive years, routinely defeating such baseball powerhouses as Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to win a spot in Williamsport.

Braves New World (2010)

In 1953, the Boston Braves became the first major league team in 50 years to relocate.

Break it Down: Yankee Stadium (2011)

National Geographic: Mega Structures

Brick by Brick: Stories of Fenway Park (2013)

The film chronicles the history of Fenway Park through personal narratives with members Red Sox Nation from throughout the world.

Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush (2007)

The Brooklyn Dodgers, from Jackie Robinson's breaking baseball's color barrier to their move to Los Angeles, a dozen years later.

Catching Hell (2011)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores the relationship between Steve Bartman and Chicago Cubs fans since Bartman's famous incident in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS.

Cooperstowm Dreams (2011)

The #1 Tournament in America for youth baseball. This documentary film follows the North Valley Vipers as they compete at Cooperstown Dreams Park in New York.

Curious Case of Curt Flood, The (2011)

HBO takes a look at Curt Flood- the man who challenged baseball’s Reserve Clause, effectively sacrificing his career and (eventually) bringing about free agency.

Dem Bums: The History of the Brooklyn Dodgers (2000)

Charts the history of the perennially struggling baseball outfit that Brooklyn took to its hearts in the days when the cross town Yankees were the gold standard in excellence on the diamond.

Emerald Diamond, The: The True Story of Ireland's Nat'l Team (2006)

About the Irish National Baseball Team. With no fields, equipment or game experience, Ireland began play in the 1996 European Championships.

Fernando Nation (2010)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Chronicles the impact of Fernando Valenzuela's 1981 rookie season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Four Days in October (2010)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Chronicles the Boston Red Sox' comeback from a 3–0 series deficit against the New York Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.

Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream (1995)

Aaron's pursuit of Babe Ruth's all-time homer record, directed by Michael Tollin.

Harvard Park (2012)

A look at former Major League Baseball stars Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis, and how they honed their athletic skills as youths on a small field in crime-riddled 1980s South Central Los Angeles.

Harvey's Wallbangers: The 1982 Milwaukee Brewers (2007)

Harvey's Wallbangers documents the 1982 Brewers who, led by manager Harvey Kuenn after he took over the job mid-season, won the American League pennant.

Here Now (2012)

ESPN's 30 for 30 short - Everyday Pete Rose wakes up, and goes to work. But instead of a dugout, he's seated in a folding chair in a memorabilia store in Las Vegas.

Holy Grail: The T206 Honus Wagner (2013)

ESPN's 30 for 30 short - The T206 Honus Wagner is the most infamous baseball card in the world, but does its value really lie in the eye of the beholder?

Holy Land Hardball (2012)

When Boston bagel maker Larry Baras wanted to create a professional baseball league in Israel, his idea was met with incredulity, dismissal and even hostility.

Home Base: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (2009)

The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York is a wonderful place to explore America's favorite pastime and the great players who make it so popular.

House of Steinbrenner, The (2010)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores the legacy of George Steinbrenner's ownership of the New York Yankees.

Jean Shepherd's America: Chicago White Sox (1985)

Shep visits his home town of Chicago and Comisky park. He tells the story of his old man and Lou Gehrig

Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story (2010)

Academy Award-winner Dustin Hoffman narrates filmmaker Peter Miller's documentary tracing Jewish involvement in the development of American baseball.

Jordan Rides the Bus (2010)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores Michael Jordan's brief career in minor league baseball after his first retirement from basketball.

Knuckleball! (2012)

Follows 37 year-old R.A. Dickey and 17-year veteran Tim Wakefield, the oldest player in the major leagues and an icon of the Boston Red Sox.

Kokoyakyu: High School Baseball (2006)

PBS series POV. Explores the phenomenon of high school baseball in Japan.

Life and Times of Hank Greenberg, The (1998)

The life and career of a former Detroit Tigers star and war hero.

Little Big Men (2010)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Chronicles the Kirkland National Little League team that scored a stunning victory in the 1982 Little League World Series.

Lost Son of Havana, The (2009)

Baseball in Cuba, due to the secretive nature of the government, has remained an enigma for over half a century.

Mantle (2005)

Documentary profiling the life and career of Mickey Mantle. Includes interviews with former teammates, family, and celebrities.

Mantle vs Mays: 1959 Home Run Derby (1960)

Home Run Derby is a 1960 television show that was held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles pitting the top sluggers of Major League Baseball against each other in nine-inning home run contests.

Mantle: The Definitive Story (2006)

HBO Sports documentary special. Over 18 seasons with the Bronx Bombers, despite constant nagging injuries, Mantle managed to hit 536 home runs, twice hitting more than 50 in a season.

Mickey, Whitey and Me: Mantle-Ford Fantasy Camp (1986)

Imagine spending a week at the New York Yankees spring training facility in Florida, playing baseball alongside Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford.

MLB Ballpark Slide Show, 35 Minutes from a 30 Ballparks (2012)

This movie is a photo slide show, so no sound. The photos were taken at all 30 MLB ballparks as part of a 30 day, 30 ballpark tour.

Modern Marvels: Doomed Stadiums (1998)

History Channel

Mr. Kansas City: The Life of Buck O’Neill (2001)

Buck O’Neill was the patron saint of baseball’s past, a saint of sorts to the game and a saint in his personal life.

Negro Baseball Leagues (2012)

Lecture: UNC Asheville.

Nine Innings From Ground Zero (2004)

Short, showing how the NY Yankees vs. AZ Diamondbacks world series games, just a month after 9-11, provided welcome relief from the uncertainty New Yorkers, and the nation, felt about how to proceed with their lives.

Old Pacific Coast League, The (1946)

This old film lay dormant on a shelf in the closet of a television studio for several decades until recently rediscovered by Alan O'Connor and Bill Shubb.

Play Ball (2011)

The most competitive AAU youth baseball tournament in America. This documentary follows the "Mid Valley Yellow Jackets" one of the most elite 12 year old teams across the nation. Burnsville,

Player to Be Named Later, A (2005)

This inspiring true story of four minor league baseball players charts the course of one season with the Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Playing for Peanuts (2008)

10-episode documentary television series about minor league baseball. The ten episode series follows the South Georgia Peanuts of the independent South Coast League during the 2007 season.

Primetime Thursday: Pete Rose (2004)

Interview: Pete Rose admits betting on baseball for the 1st time.

Rice Field of Dreams (2011)

22 Cambodian Baseball players are assembled to compete for their country as the first Cambodian National Team.

Road to the Big Leagues (2008)

The film takes a look at 10 year-olds hoping to make it to the Major Leagues, a 16 or 17 year old who keeps getting tryouts with MLB scouts.

Rocky Colavito (2012)

Rocky Colavito talks about his career with host David Spada on Sports & Torts.

Ron Santo: This Old Cub (2004)

Chronicles life of Ron Santo, focusing on baseball career and struggle with type 1 diabetes.

Rounding Third: Watt Powell Once More (2004)

Bob Wilkinson produced this documentary about the history of Watt Powell Park and minor league baseball in Charleston, West Virginia.

Sign Here (2005)

Sign Here is an intimate look at Canadian pre-game baseball featuring the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Expos.

Signs of the Time (2008)

Signs of the Time is a 60-minute documentary on the origin of hand signals in baseball.

Silly Little Game (2010)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A look back at the group of New York writers and academics who created Rotisserie fantasy baseball, and how their creation eventually left them behind.

Someone To Cheer For (2011)

Although, this is a production from the Woodbridge Channels from 2000, it is an interesting perspective on Baseball History that's worth a look.

Soul of the Game (1996)

Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson are the greatest players in the Colored leagues, and everyone expects that one of them will make the leap to the Major Leagues, now that there is talk of integration.

Spaceman: A Baseball Odyssey (2006)

Bill "Spaceman" Lee was a fairly successful left-handed pitcher with the Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos from 1969-1982. Known for his eccentricities (including requesting his uniform number be changed to '337' because it spelled 'Lee' upside down)

Spectrum Presents: An Evening of Baseball History and Music (2012)

In celebration of the exhibition Breaking the Color Barrier in MLB and the Museum's renowned permanent baseball card collection, Spectrum organized a panel discussion about baseball history.

Sports Century: Barry Bonds (2001)

Sports Century profiles baseball great Barry Bonds and his enormous accomplishments as a 13-time all-star who launched 73 homers in one season.

Sports Century: Clementé (2002)

Roberto Clementé was a Puerto Rican baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 through 1972.

Sports Century: Sandy Koufax (2000)

ESPN documentary on Sandy Koufax, one of the greatest baseball players of all time

Steroids in Major League Baseball and the Mitchell Report (2007)

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform - 2008-01-15 - The full Committee held a hearing entitled "The Mitchell Report: The Illegal Use of Steroids in Major League Baseball.

Story of America's Classic Ballparks, The (1991)

This home run hit recalls an earlier America that fell in love with baseball and an era when owners built bigger arenas to house our fast-growing national pastime.

Subway Series: The Golden Era (2008)

In the late forties and through the fifties, New York was the baseball capital of the country. Teams from that city competed every year for the World Series, often against each other.

Take a Tour of Fenway Park! 100 Years of History (2012)

Come with ACISN and take a tour of one of baseball's most historic ballparks! Video footage was taken on location in April of 2011.

Ted Williams (2009)

HBO: Explores the life and career of Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams.

Ted Williams and the Atlantic Salmon (1975)

Baseball legend, Ted Williams, is documented in his quest for perhaps the greatest game fish of all, the Atlantic Salmon set in Canada, Norway and Scotland.

Ted Williams: A Tip of the Cap (2013)

North Coast Repertory Theatre - 2011. Written by Matt Thompson. Directed by Tina Polzin and Matt Thompson. Starring Johnny Clark.

Tenth Inning, The: Top of the Tenth (2004)

This latest entry covers the period from the early 1990's onward. Labor relations deteriorated badly in the early part of that decade leading to the players strike in August 1994.

The "Frostbite League:" Major League Spring During WW II (2013)

This is a beta version of a "mini-documentary" for a PhD project. In this video it discusses the unique challenges that Major League baseball encountered while they had spring training in Indiana during WW II.

The Science of Hitting by Ted Williams (1974)

Baseball legend, Ted Williams, demonstrates his hitting methods joined by Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Harmon Killebrew, Al Kaline, Frank Robinson and many others.

Touching the Game: The Story of the Cape Cod Baseball League (2004)

The Cape Cod Baseball League is the most prestigious summer amateur league in the country. Takes you inside the league for one summer and also tells the history of the league through interviews with some very familiar names.

Up for Grabs (2004)

A battle over who owns ball hit in 2001 by Barry Bonds for his 73rd home run.

ViewFinder: The Golden Game - Baseball in Sacramento (2008)

We interview former players and historians to re-trace some of Sacramento's rich baseball history. From the early teams and ballparks, to the Sacramento Solons dramatic 1942 PCL title run, to the success of the Sacramento River Cats.

Welcome to Brooklyn, Jackie Robinson 1947 (2007)

This 2007 docudrama highlights Mr. Robinson's thoughts and feeling of becoming the 1st African-American to play in the modern baseball era.

What Jackie Robinson did for America: Blacks Entering MLB (2009)

Join Dr. David Bezayiff, a history professor from Porterville College, for a lecture about Jackie Robinson's role in history.

When It Was a Game (1991)

This film consists solely of 8mm and 16mm film taken by players and fans from 1934 and 1957. All but a few minutes of the film are in color.

When it Was a Game 2 (1992)

Film consists solely of 8mm and 16mm film taken by players and fans from 1925 to 1961. All but approximately 6 minutes of the film is in color.

When It Was a Game 3 (2000)

The third installment of the HBO series When It Was a Game focuses on the 1960s, an era of great change for the game of professional baseball.

When the Red Sox Ruled: Baseball's First Dynasty, 1912-1918 (2011)

Thomas J. Whalen, Associate Professor of Social Science at Boston University, explores this fascinating topic in his newest book. In a talk delivered at the Massachusetts Historical Society on September 28, 2011.

Yankee Stadium: Baseball's Cathedral (2008)

Yankee Stadium: Baseball's Cathedral will celebrate the entire spectrum that makes this ballpark the most talked about sports structure in the entire world.

MORE NOTES:

If you have information on more Non-Fiction Baseball Videos, PLEASE comment, below.

I have this list in Microsoft Excel format; perhaps I can see about posting it here, somehow.

Enjoy! Noel in Seattle

NOTE: The Majority of these videos are available on YouTube

100 Years of Japanese American Baseball: Kerry Yo Nakagawa(2012)

While the story of the Negro Leagues has been well documented, few baseball fans know about the Japanese American Nisei Leagues, or of their most influential figure, Kenichi Zenimura (1900-1968).

30 ballpark, 30 day tour compilation (2012)

A blind baseball fan who in 2012, took a 30 ballpark, 30 day tour. This video is a compilation, one clip shot from each ballpark.

4192: The Crowning of the Hit King (2010)

The film focuses strictly on Rose's accomplishments on the field, making no mention of various controversies that dogged Rose later on.

Adam Carolla and Ken Burns: The Tenth Inning (2010)

Corolla and Ken Burns discuss The Tenth Inning - A new chapter in Burns's landmark 1994 series; Baseball.

American Experience: Clementé (2008)

PBS 'American Experience' TV Series.

American Experience: Forever Baseball (1989)

PBS 'American Experience' TV Series.

American Experience: Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life (2008)

PBS 'American Experience' TV Series.

Ball Game, The (1898)

The Ball Game is an 1898 American short black-and-white silent documentary sports film produced and distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company.

Ballhawks (2010)

The story of the men who have been chasing baseballs and dreams just outside the ivy-covered walls of Wrigley Field, for the last ninety years.

Ballplayer; Pelotero (2011)

By Bobby Valentine,examines the lives of two 15-year-old Dominican baseball prospects and details how Major League squads find raw talent in that rich baseball culture.

Barry Bonds (2013)

Barry Bonds talks about his career.

Baseball (1994)

Comprehensive history of the game, 18 hours-plus, as chronicled by Ken Burns.

Baseball Bunch, The: Fielding (1986)

The Baseball Bunch. Johnny Bench teaches fielding with the help of Ozzie Smith, Graig Nettles and Gary Carter.

Baseball History and Literature (2013)

No description available.

Baseball in The Dominican Republic (2012)

Charles Farrell, co-founder of the Dominican Republic Sports & Education Academy, Inc. was invited to speak about baseball in the Dominican Republic at Champlain College in Canada in 2012.

Baseball in The Time of Cholera (2012)

A powerful insight into the tragedy and scandal of Haiti's Cholera epidemic through the eyes of a young baseball player.

Baseball: Minor League Baseball (2009)

Professor of Law Diane Sullivan and Associate Dean Michael Coyne delve into aspects of the minor league baseball experience.

Baseball: There's No Place Like Home (2011)

Nebraska State Historical Society Brown Bag Lecture by Jon Hamilton filmed on June 16, 2011 at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln, NE

Baseball's Greatest Legends: Diamond Memories (2007)

Rare footage of the biggest moments in baseball combine to create a comprehensive look at the history, heritage, and folklore of America's favorite national pastime.

Baseball's Last Hero: 21 Clementé Stories (2013)

'Baseball's Last Hero: 21 Clementé Stories' blends baseball with a redemptive story of sacrifice.

Baseball's Most Unbreakable Feats (2007)

Hall of Famers, baseball historians and managers assess 10 so-called unbreakable records and the likelihood that the names associated with them will hold up over time.

Blue Revolution (2012)

A documentary short film about the Los Angeles Dodgers fans efforts to remove Frank McCourt as owner of the team through protest and boycott in the 2011 season.

Boys of Summer (2011)

Braves New World (2010)

In 1953, the Boston Braves became the first major league team in 50 years to relocate.

Break it Down: Yankee Stadium (2011)

National Geographic: Mega Structures

Brick by Brick: Stories of Fenway Park (2013)

The film chronicles the history of Fenway Park through personal narratives with members Red Sox Nation from throughout the world.

Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush (2007)

The Brooklyn Dodgers, from Jackie Robinson's breaking baseball's color barrier to their move to Los Angeles, a dozen years later.

Catching Hell (2011)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores the relationship between Steve Bartman and Chicago Cubs fans since Bartman's famous incident in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS.

Cooperstowm Dreams (2011)

The #1 Tournament in America for youth baseball. This documentary film follows the North Valley Vipers as they compete at Cooperstown Dreams Park in New York.

Curious Case of Curt Flood, The (2011)

HBO takes a look at Curt Flood- the man who challenged baseball’s Reserve Clause, effectively sacrificing his career and (eventually) bringing about free agency.

Dem Bums: The History of the Brooklyn Dodgers (2000)

Charts the history of the perennially struggling baseball outfit that Brooklyn took to its hearts in the days when the cross town Yankees were the gold standard in excellence on the diamond.

Emerald Diamond, The: The True Story of Ireland's Nat'l Team (2006)

About the Irish National Baseball Team. With no fields, equipment or game experience, Ireland began play in the 1996 European Championships.

Fernando Nation (2010)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Chronicles the impact of Fernando Valenzuela's 1981 rookie season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Four Days in October (2010)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Chronicles the Boston Red Sox' comeback from a 3–0 series deficit against the New York Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.

Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream (1995)

Aaron's pursuit of Babe Ruth's all-time homer record, directed by Michael Tollin.

Harvard Park (2012)

A look at former Major League Baseball stars Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis, and how they honed their athletic skills as youths on a small field in crime-riddled 1980s South Central Los Angeles.

Harvey's Wallbangers: The 1982 Milwaukee Brewers (2007)

Harvey's Wallbangers documents the 1982 Brewers who, led by manager Harvey Kuenn after he took over the job mid-season, won the American League pennant.

Here Now (2012)

ESPN's 30 for 30 short - Everyday Pete Rose wakes up, and goes to work. But instead of a dugout, he's seated in a folding chair in a memorabilia store in Las Vegas.

Holy Grail: The T206 Honus Wagner (2013)

ESPN's 30 for 30 short - The T206 Honus Wagner is the most infamous baseball card in the world, but does its value really lie in the eye of the beholder?

Holy Land Hardball (2012)

When Boston bagel maker Larry Baras wanted to create a professional baseball league in Israel, his idea was met with incredulity, dismissal and even hostility.

Home Base: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (2009)

The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York is a wonderful place to explore America's favorite pastime and the great players who make it so popular.

House of Steinbrenner, The (2010)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores the legacy of George Steinbrenner's ownership of the New York Yankees.

Jean Shepherd's America: Chicago White Sox (1985)

Shep visits his home town of Chicago and Comisky park. He tells the story of his old man and Lou Gehrig

Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story (2010)

Academy Award-winner Dustin Hoffman narrates filmmaker Peter Miller's documentary tracing Jewish involvement in the development of American baseball.

Jordan Rides the Bus (2010)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores Michael Jordan's brief career in minor league baseball after his first retirement from basketball.

Knuckleball! (2012)

Follows 37 year-old R.A. Dickey and 17-year veteran Tim Wakefield, the oldest player in the major leagues and an icon of the Boston Red Sox.

Kokoyakyu: High School Baseball (2006)

PBS series POV. Explores the phenomenon of high school baseball in Japan.

Life and Times of Hank Greenberg, The (1998)

The life and career of a former Detroit Tigers star and war hero.

Little Big Men (2010)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Chronicles the Kirkland National Little League team that scored a stunning victory in the 1982 Little League World Series.

Lost Son of Havana, The (2009)

Baseball in Cuba, due to the secretive nature of the government, has remained an enigma for over half a century.

Mantle (2005)

Documentary profiling the life and career of Mickey Mantle. Includes interviews with former teammates, family, and celebrities.

Mantle vs Mays: 1959 Home Run Derby (1960)

Home Run Derby is a 1960 television show that was held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles pitting the top sluggers of Major League Baseball against each other in nine-inning home run contests.

Mantle: The Definitive Story (2006)

HBO Sports documentary special. Over 18 seasons with the Bronx Bombers, despite constant nagging injuries, Mantle managed to hit 536 home runs, twice hitting more than 50 in a season.

Mickey, Whitey and Me: Mantle-Ford Fantasy Camp (1986)

Imagine spending a week at the New York Yankees spring training facility in Florida, playing baseball alongside Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford.

MLB Ballpark Slide Show, 35 Minutes from a 30 Ballparks (2012)

This movie is a photo slide show, so no sound. The photos were taken at all 30 MLB ballparks as part of a 30 day, 30 ballpark tour.

Modern Marvels: Doomed Stadiums (1998)

History Channel

Mr. Kansas City: The Life of Buck O’Neill (2001)

Buck O’Neill was the patron saint of baseball’s past, a saint of sorts to the game and a saint in his personal life.

Negro Baseball Leagues (2012)

Lecture: UNC Asheville.

Nine Innings From Ground Zero (2004)

Old Pacific Coast League, The (1946)

This old film lay dormant on a shelf in the closet of a television studio for several decades until recently rediscovered by Alan O'Connor and Bill Shubb.

Play Ball (2011)

The most competitive AAU youth baseball tournament in America. This documentary follows the "Mid Valley Yellow Jackets" one of the most elite 12 year old teams across the nation. Burnsville,

Player to Be Named Later, A (2005)

This inspiring true story of four minor league baseball players charts the course of one season with the Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Playing for Peanuts (2008)

10-episode documentary television series about minor league baseball. The ten episode series follows the South Georgia Peanuts of the independent South Coast League during the 2007 season.

Primetime Thursday: Pete Rose (2004)

Interview: Pete Rose admits betting on baseball for the 1st time.

Rice Field of Dreams (2011)

22 Cambodian Baseball players are assembled to compete for their country as the first Cambodian National Team.

Road to the Big Leagues (2008)

The film takes a look at 10 year-olds hoping to make it to the Major Leagues, a 16 or 17 year old who keeps getting tryouts with MLB scouts.

Rocky Colavito (2012)

Rocky Colavito talks about his career with host David Spada on Sports & Torts.

Ron Santo: This Old Cub (2004)

Chronicles life of Ron Santo, focusing on baseball career and struggle with type 1 diabetes.

Rounding Third: Watt Powell Once More (2004)

Bob Wilkinson produced this documentary about the history of Watt Powell Park and minor league baseball in Charleston, West Virginia.

Sign Here (2005)

Sign Here is an intimate look at Canadian pre-game baseball featuring the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Expos.

Signs of the Time (2008)

Signs of the Time is a 60-minute documentary on the origin of hand signals in baseball.

Silly Little Game (2010)

ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A look back at the group of New York writers and academics who created Rotisserie fantasy baseball, and how their creation eventually left them behind.

Someone To Cheer For (2011)

Although, this is a production from the Woodbridge Channels from 2000, it is an interesting perspective on Baseball History that's worth a look.

Soul of the Game (1996)

Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson are the greatest players in the Colored leagues, and everyone expects that one of them will make the leap to the Major Leagues, now that there is talk of integration.

Spaceman: A Baseball Odyssey (2006)

Spectrum Presents: An Evening of Baseball History and Music (2012)

In celebration of the exhibition Breaking the Color Barrier in MLB and the Museum's renowned permanent baseball card collection, Spectrum organized a panel discussion about baseball history.

Sports Century: Barry Bonds (2001)

Sports Century profiles baseball great Barry Bonds and his enormous accomplishments as a 13-time all-star who launched 73 homers in one season.

Sports Century: Clementé (2002)

Roberto Clementé was a Puerto Rican baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 through 1972.

Sports Century: Sandy Koufax (2000)

ESPN documentary on Sandy Koufax, one of the greatest baseball players of all time

Steroids in Major League Baseball and the Mitchell Report (2007)

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform - 2008-01-15 - The full Committee held a hearing entitled "The Mitchell Report: The Illegal Use of Steroids in Major League Baseball.

Story of America's Classic Ballparks, The (1991)

This home run hit recalls an earlier America that fell in love with baseball and an era when owners built bigger arenas to house our fast-growing national pastime.

Subway Series: The Golden Era (2008)

In the late forties and through the fifties, New York was the baseball capital of the country. Teams from that city competed every year for the World Series, often against each other.

Take a Tour of Fenway Park! 100 Years of History (2012)

Come with ACISN and take a tour of one of baseball's most historic ballparks! Video footage was taken on location in April of 2011.

Ted Williams (2009)

HBO: Explores the life and career of Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams.

Ted Williams and the Atlantic Salmon (1975)

Baseball legend, Ted Williams, is documented in his quest for perhaps the greatest game fish of all, the Atlantic Salmon set in Canada, Norway and Scotland.

Ted Williams: A Tip of the Cap (2013)

North Coast Repertory Theatre - 2011. Written by Matt Thompson. Directed by Tina Polzin and Matt Thompson. Starring Johnny Clark.

Tenth Inning, The: Top of the Tenth (2004)

This latest entry covers the period from the early 1990's onward. Labor relations deteriorated badly in the early part of that decade leading to the players strike in August 1994.

The "Frostbite League:" Major League Spring During WW II (2013)

The Science of Hitting by Ted Williams (1974)

Baseball legend, Ted Williams, demonstrates his hitting methods joined by Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Harmon Killebrew, Al Kaline, Frank Robinson and many others.

Touching the Game: The Story of the Cape Cod Baseball League (2004)

Up for Grabs (2004)

A battle over who owns ball hit in 2001 by Barry Bonds for his 73rd home run.

ViewFinder: The Golden Game - Baseball in Sacramento (2008)

Welcome to Brooklyn, Jackie Robinson 1947 (2007)

This 2007 docudrama highlights Mr. Robinson's thoughts and feeling of becoming the 1st African-American to play in the modern baseball era.

What Jackie Robinson did for America: Blacks Entering MLB (2009)

Join Dr. David Bezayiff, a history professor from Porterville College, for a lecture about Jackie Robinson's role in history.

When It Was a Game (1991)

This film consists solely of 8mm and 16mm film taken by players and fans from 1934 and 1957. All but a few minutes of the film are in color.

When it Was a Game 2 (1992)

Film consists solely of 8mm and 16mm film taken by players and fans from 1925 to 1961. All but approximately 6 minutes of the film is in color.

When It Was a Game 3 (2000)

The third installment of the HBO series When It Was a Game focuses on the 1960s, an era of great change for the game of professional baseball.

When the Red Sox Ruled: Baseball's First Dynasty, 1912-1918 (2011)

Yankee Stadium: Baseball's Cathedral (2008)

Yankee Stadium: Baseball's Cathedral will celebrate the entire spectrum that makes this ballpark the most talked about sports structure in the entire world.

MORE NOTES:

If you have information on more Non-Fiction Baseball Videos, PLEASE comment, below.

I have this list in Microsoft Excel format; perhaps I can see about posting it here, somehow.

Enjoy! Noel in Seattle

Paco Rodriguez's scouting report on Yasiel Puig's driving

2013-04-29T21:18:44Z

via cdn2.sbnation.com

Did Paco Rodriguez offer an accurate scouting report on Yasiel Puig's driving back in Spring Training or what? This is Paco's quote:

He’s kind of wild, all over the place

OK,OK...so Paco's actually referring to Puig's behavior in the Dodgers clubhouse,but maybe the team saw the fun times coming with Yasiel. Better to let him get it out of his system in Chatanooga than LA.

via cdn2.sbnation.com

Did Paco Rodriguez offer an accurate scouting report on Yasiel Puig's driving back in Spring Training or what? This is Paco's quote:

He’s kind of wild, all over the place

THE DAY I LEARNED TO HATE THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

2013-04-29T17:36:20Z

I was the 4th son born in a family of 6 boys in late 1959 – just a year after the Dodgers came to my home town, Los Angeles. Sports were a big thing in our family, and my dad was a sports junkie. So by the time I was 6 years old, I was a big Dodgers fan. This is when dad got transferred to the bay area.

Being only 6 years old, I did not have a grasp on what sports rivalries were all about. I dimly recall hearing about the Juan Marichal - Johnny Roseboro brawl, but I did not know much more than that the Giants were ‘the bad guys’. And Johnny was – at that time – my favorite player because I was a catcher, too, on my little league team, of course.

For those not familiar with that incident, you really should check it out sometime, as it is one of the most serious incidents in the long-running rivalry. http://miscbaseball.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/the-fight-between-juan-marichal-and-john-roseboro/

When my neighborhood pal invited me to attend a Dodgers-Giants game at Candlestick Park with his dad and uncle, I wondered if it might not be a good idea to wear my Dodgers cap. This was a ball cap I did not wear out to play baseball with my brothers and kids in the neighborhood. I wore my little league hats for that. No, my Dodgers cap was only for special occasions.

I was wearing my Dodgers ball cap proudly as we entered Candlestick and climbed the ramps to the third deck, along the left field line. I can remember that place like it was there yesterday. It was very not much like Dodger Stadium to my young eyes. Where Dodger Stadium always felt sunny and bright, Candlestick felt dark to me. Almost like an indoor stadium. Perhaps it was the fact that many of the games I attended there were in overcast weather.

The game had not even started when the men in the row behind us started talking about my Dodgers cap. I tried to ignore them and looked to my buddy’s dad and uncle to see if they were aware of the foul words these big men were saying. But they either did not hear the things being said, or did not want to deal with it.

Maybe it was a mistake on my part, but I finally turned to look at them and confirm that they were saying those things to me. I immediately regretted that decision. The man sitting directly behind me said another curse word as he snatched my cap off my head. Then he stood up and tossed it over the rail, down to the next deck.

I lost my breath. I actually felt as if I had been hit in the stomach as I kept replaying what I had just seen – my beloved Dodger ball cap flying in the air and disappearing down into the crowd below. Laughter came from all around me as my eyes teared-up and I tried to catch my breath.

Afraid to look back at the laughing men behind me, I turned to my friend’s father and uncle in hope that they would come to the rescue of me and by ball cap. They said nothing at first. I expected them to turn and confront the men behind us – especially the man who had stolen my hat and thrown it over the rail! I thought – I KNEW – that if my father or even my big brothers were there, that they would do something. Do anything!

Finally, my friend’s dad just looked at me and said: "what did you expect?" I learned all I needed to know that day at Candlestick Park. I was a Dodger fan, and ALL Giants fans were the enemies!

Cardinals Fan: Dee Gordon?

2013-04-27T17:15:28Z

Greetings LA. I'm a Cardinal fan who appreciates good shortstop play, which means I'm not too keen on watching Peter Kozma play shortstop longterm, but I also appreciate realism, which means I don't want to sell an entire farm system for Troy Tulowitzki or Jurickson Profar. I remember there being rumblings over the offseason about Dee Gordon trade possibilities and I was wondering if I could get some comments on the likelihood of him being a trade piece around the deadline for the Dodgers, and if so, for what value. I generally like to ask fans of the other team about (imaginary) trades rather than my own Cardinal fan friends, because it just is more entertaining and realistic.

The impression I get is that Gordon is getting a second chance after a bad sophomore slump season. I'm not too updated on how he has done this year, so I'm not sure where his value has gone since the offseason, but back then people were talking about him in conjunction with Skip Schumaker. Most insane Cardinal fans thought that was a good value and most sane ones did not, and that was obviously proven right. So I get the impression that his value would be on the small package level for back of rotation pitching and near everyday bench depth, with appropriate prospects to make up any extra difference. Play around with the players if a bullpen pitcher was added with him in the trade. But again, feel free to correct me on his value since I haven't kept track of him. I see him as someone who still has high potential but also question marks about whether he will reach that, which brings his value down from what it would have been.

From the Cardinal fan side, just know that its unrealistic to think that the Cardinals would include Oscar Taveras or Shelby Miller in any trade (including for Profar), and Adams, Carlos Martinez in any but a blockbuster. Trevor Rosenthal, Kolten Wong and Michael Wacha are almost on that level too, they have high value (Wong more to the organization) but I'd have to say they're on the fringe of tradeable.

Pieces that are definitely in the tradeable cateogry would be more along the lines of Matt Carpenter (consistent hitter, highly versatile able to play 1B, 2B, 3B and both corner outfield spots) , Joe Kelly (good back of the rotation potential proven last year, good heat, bullpen flexibility) , #7 prospect Tyrell Jenkins (promising, high upside, but a few years off).

Anyway, I'd love to hear your input on where his value is at, is he viably tradeable, what assets you would want to gain around deadline time for him, etc. Thanks!

Poll

Dee Gordon is tradeable...

Never. He's a long-term Dodger

5 votes

but only for high prospects, an everyday player, or in a package for a star.

30 votes

at the deadline for the right impact pieces to bolster the rotation, bullpen, or bench.

47 votes

82 votes | Poll has closed

Yasiel Puig for David Price

2013-04-27T04:30:09Z

With Billingsley out for the remainder of the year. Three of our starting outfielders locked up for five or more years. There is some decisions the Management can do with our #1 prospect Yasiel Puig. With Crawford looking like he is back to the form he had with the Rays, we have no reason to trade him to bring up Puig. ( BTW we can't trade him, no trade clause) Now Greinke will be out till mid june. That's no reason to panic though. But there is David Price the Cy Young pitcher in Tampa. We are all aware that the Rays are not capable to sign Price to a 100 million plus deal. So they are willing to trade David Price this year according to various rumors.

Price the reigning Cy Young award winner is only 27 years old and in the discussion of top 5 pitchers in the Major Leagues. We know that the Dodgers offense has started off struggling. But it seems like the only problem has been with RISP. That is not something to worry about according to Mattingly. We know Kemp, Eithier, Gonzalez and Hanley when he gets back, are gonna drive in runs. Lots of runs. But if you look at the past World Champions they have won with pitching, pitching, and pitching. Imagine having Kershaw, Greinke, Price, Ryu, and Beckett as a rotation. That is a rotation that will bring it every night and put nightmares in the heads of opposing hitters. If we are for real about the future we need that rotation.

Puig had a great spring training and showed a lot of potential. By April 1st it seemed like he could of started in left field and fans nor players would of had any problem with it. Puig is only 22 and has so much upside it would sound stupid to trade him at this time. But remember our outfield is locked up for 5 or more years. So if managment feels they want to go ahead with Puig then there has to be one change. That change would be trading Andre Eithier. The Rangers have their top prospect Jurikson Profar just itching to get in the bigs, but there's no room with Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler in the middle infield.

A option for Ned Colletti to think about would be trading Andre Eithier to the Rangers for Ian Kinsler. This would be a old fashion trade and a fair trade. Both players signed a contract last year for 5 year/80 million. Both would benefit with the option of bringing up their top prospects. Puig would be able to play right field and Profar would be able to play 2nd base.

I Juan more Uribe in the Dodgers lineup

2013-04-26T17:48:21Z

via cdn2.sbnation.com

Let me close my eyes as I write this because I may be unable to continue once I actually see the words, but here goes:

I want to see more of Juan Uribe in the lineup.

Let me start by saying I have never liked the guy, even before he signed with the Dodgers and became a black hole sucking the life out of the lineup. I just never understood how he could have any success as a Major League hitter with that pirouetting fall on your ass swing. Honestly, you could probably insert the guy into your company softball team's lineup and no one would question whether he actually worked in Tech Support or was a professional baseball player brought in as a ringer.

Having said that, Juan Uribe has been the best of the various suspects the Dodgers have been running out to the 3B/SS position this year and it's not even close. Take a look at the numbers for the alternatives:

Name	G	AVG	HR	RBI	R	OBP	SLG	BB%	K%	BABIP	wOBA	WAR
Juan Uribe	11	.190	2	4	4	.414	.476	27.6%	20.7%	.154	.396	0.5
Nick Punto	13	.360	0	1	3	.448	.400	13.3%	23.3%	.500	.384	0.4
Justin Sellers	18	.204	1	2	4	.295	.259	8.2%	23.0%	.256	.260	0.0
Luis Cruz	16	.087	0	1	2	.122	.087	2.0%	16.0%	.103	.089	-0.2
Skip Schumaker	19	.107	0	1	3	.306	.143	19.4%	11.1%	.125	.239	-0.3
Jerry Hairston	11	.167	0	1	1	.188	.167	3.1%	3.1%	.167	.160	-0.4

In the least number of games played Uribe leads this group in HR, RBI, R, SLG, BB%, wOBA and WAR. To top it off, it appears that even his low Batting Avg has been the product of bad luck as his Batting Avg on Ball in Play (BABIP) suggests there is an improvement coming. Uribe's career BABIP is .278, so with some additional playing time he should be able to add another 100 points to the Batting Avg.

He's the only guy on the list with a positive WAR besides Punto, who as you can see is carrying a .500 BABIP and has been extremely lucky. According to Fangraphs, he's actually tied for 3rd on the team in WAR with Mark Ellis and Adrian Gonzalez and behind only Carl Crawford and AJ Ellis.

Sure, the BB% is certain to come way down which will bring the OBP along with it, but the SLG is not at an unsustainable level. In Uribe's 2 seasons with the Giants he slugged .495 and .440 in an even more difficult home park than Dodgers Stadium. With the Dodgers ranked 29th in runs scored, every extra-base hit they can muster is sorely needed and of the 3B options, Uribe has the most power potential.

The glove has never been a problem for Uribe, so even when Hanley Ramirez returns to SS it would be good to have a steady fielder next to him. In the mean time, the Dodgers need to turn as many balls into outs as possible and Uribe will help do so.

All I really want is for Donnie Baseball to give the man an everyday opportunity to prove he does not belong in the lineup because so far he's been the best option. Run Uribe out there everyday for a couple of weeks while he is lukewarm and if he eventually reverts back to the automatic out he has been for the last 2 seasons then you try somebody else.

Now, let me hurry and hit save before I come to my senses and delete this.

via cdn2.sbnation.com

Let me close my eyes as I write this because I may be unable to continue once I actually see the words, but here goes:

I want to see more of Juan Uribe in the lineup.

Name	G	AVG	HR	RBI	R	OBP	SLG	BB%	K%	BABIP	wOBA	WAR
Juan Uribe	11	.190	2	4	4	.414	.476	27.6%	20.7%	.154	.396	0.5
Nick Punto	13	.360	0	1	3	.448	.400	13.3%	23.3%	.500	.384	0.4
Justin Sellers	18	.204	1	2	4	.295	.259	8.2%	23.0%	.256	.260	0.0
Luis Cruz	16	.087	0	1	2	.122	.087	2.0%	16.0%	.103	.089	-0.2
Skip Schumaker	19	.107	0	1	3	.306	.143	19.4%	11.1%	.125	.239	-0.3
Jerry Hairston	11	.167	0	1	1	.188	.167	3.1%	3.1%	.167	.160	-0.4

Now, let me hurry and hit save before I come to my senses and delete this.

the GM

2013-04-26T16:28:35Z

How many bad FA signings (League, Uribe, etc) must we have before the new owners fire our "brilliant" GM? His history of bad deals goes back years and the old excuses (McCourt's budget, bad morale, etc) are no longer valid. However, bad decisions continue to be made. He must be given credit for hanging on to some young talent. The Red Sox deal seems to be a good one, but when it come to FA, overpaying for over-the-hill talent is the norm, not the exception. Clearly, Ned is at fault, no one else.

Anything to say about Mattingly?

2013-04-22T14:57:06Z

What is wrong with this blog, it's just incredible that no one is making a post here to comment about the fiasco the Dogers are so far into the season.

Unless that everybody is pleased with the results so far, including the Blog coordinator, i cant get why there is no post about Mattingly or the slump the Dodgers are into right now.

Can somebody at least reccomend a good blog where i can chat about Dodgers Baseball with other fans?

What is wrong with this blog, it's just incredible that no one is making a post here to comment about the fiasco the Dogers are so far into the season.

Unless that everybody is pleased with the results so far, including the Blog coordinator, i cant get why there is no post about Mattingly or the slump the Dodgers are into right now.

Can somebody at least reccomend a good blog where i can chat about Dodgers Baseball with other fans?