Blog Kiosk: 3/21/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I missed out on the Dodgers' First Look event yesterday afternoon. This is an annual soiree put together to introduce the upcoming seasons stadium menu items and giveaways to the local media. They brought out all kinds of new items; including a carne asada torta that I will have to try out.

Sue Jo at Dodger Insider provided some details and plenty of photos from the event, here. David Young at True Blue LA put together his own write-up: New Food Items (here) and Giveaways (here).

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. BTW, it's Chipper Jones Day in Georgia today. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1966 the Dodgers and Astros are the first Major League teams to play on artificial grass when they face each other for a spring training game in the Astrodome.
• Happy Birthday, Mysterious Walker, Bill Lamar, Jim Hughes, Tommy Davis & Carlos Monasterios!

Blog Kiosk: 6/2/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Sometimes you just can't help it.  Sometimes the other pitcher was just better.

Jon Lester got on to the mound against the Dodgers and dominated.  He threw a 113 pitch complete game, his first of the season, and finished the evening retiring the last fifteen batters he faced.  The only run scored against him was an home run, on the Lester's second pitch of the game, to Kiké Hernández to start the game.  After that, the Dodgers had nothing.  Via Carrie Muskat and Brian Hedger at MLB.com:

"I think that might have been the best I've seen Jonny since I've been here," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He gives up a leadoff homer and then nothing. That's physically the best I've seen him pitch here."

All you can do is tip your cap.

BTW, the Dodger pitcher were up to the task of matching Jon Lester.  Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.  Mike Bolsinger, the Dodgers starter, only allowed a two-run homer to Bryant, but that was all they needed to defeat the Dodgers, 2-1.

"He matched [Lester] pretty much pitch for pitch, and made a mistake, and Bryant hit it out of the ballpark," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "I thought we had a chance to win all night and didn't really give ourselves a chance." 

The above photo of Hernández's homer via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1995 Hideo Nomo recorded his first Major League win.  It would be against the NY Mets.  Nomo went eight innings, gave up two hits and struck out six in a 2-1 victory.  Also, he would then win his next five starts.
• Happy Birthday, Chin-Hui Tsao!

Blog Kiosk: 5/30/2016 - Dodgers Links - Bonds on Joc, Ryu and Clayton Kershaw

That's the look of steely determination.

Clayton Kershaw was a workhorse again last night; going 7.2 innings, giving up four hits, striking out ten and walking none.  Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

"To say it's a luxury (to have him) is an understatement," manager Dave Roberts said of that fifth day, when his ace takes the mound. "I think every time he takes the mound, you're looking at penciling in 10-12 strikeouts, eight innings. The pen is going to get rested. It's something that we don't take for granted around here. We appreciate Clayton."

Unfortunately, the bullpen failed to maintain a win for Kershaw intact.  Nevertheless, he did keep the Dodgers in the game long enough to allow then a chance to win the game.  Adrian Gonzalez drove in the winning run for the Dodgers in the ninth inning.  BTW, we did get a bit of an injury scare to Clayton.  Via Ken Gurnick and Troy Provost-Heron at MLB.com:

Kershaw nearly became the latest Dodgers pitcher injured while batting in the fifth inning. As he grounded out, the bat broke and the barrel struck him on the right side of the neck. He never left the home-plate area while being put out, but was uninjured and continued.

"It just scared me," Kershaw said. "I've never really done that before, it was just shocking. I wanted to make sure I didn't have any stab wounds. It just stunned me."

Both photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics bu Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1946 Boston Braves outfielder Bama Rowell became the first player to hit a Baseball that hit the Bulova clock located above the right field scoreboard at Ebbets Field.  in 1962 Maury Wills becomes the 7th player in history to hit home runs from each side of the plate in a single game.  It was against the Mets.
• Happy Birthday, Manny Ramirez!

Blog Kiosk: 5/26/2016 - Dodgers Links - No All Star Game for Vin, Dodgers Sweep and Julio Urias

"If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!"

As a part of Adrian Gonzalez's bobblehead night Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuellarcame out to perform the national anthem before the game.  You can see them in the photo at the very top, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Their appearance was the start of an festive affair that included an outstanding performance by Scott Kazmir on the mound, an attempted inside-the-park home run by a Reds player that ended with a perfect relay to home to get him out (watch it here), and a welcome sweep at a time when the Dodgers sorely needed it.  The Dodgers are now two games above .500.

Following up on the sombrero theme, it has been announced that Dodgers left-handed prospect Julio Urias will be called up from Oklahoma City on Friday to pitch that evenings game in New York.  Oh Boy!  The 19-year old will be the youngest player in the league when he comes in.  He'll be taking over for Alex Wood in the rotation, who is currently experiencing arm soreness but is expected to pitch again on Monday.  I suspect this will only be a spot start for the kid.  Although I have my reservations about bringing the kid up this soon I certainly welcome the opportunity to see what he can do on the big league level. 

 Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1971 Maury Wills records his 2,000th career hit against the Giants.  In 1996 former Dodger Mike Sharperson died in a car accident in Nevada at the age of 34.  He was an All-Star for the Dodgers in 1992.  Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider wrote a great story about him today.  Check it out here.  It is worth your time.

Blog Kiosk: 12/2/2015 - Dodger Links - Roberts, Kershaw and Puig

It's great to have you back, Dave!  Via Joey Nowak at MLB.com:

"To be able to put this hat and this jersey on again, it'll never be mistaken and forgotten, how impactful these people [have been] and the legacy they created," Roberts said. "I look at it as a responsibility to continue forward and do things the right way."

Photo above via @MLB on twitter.  You can check out more photo's from yesterday's press conference from Jon SooHoo here.  Below are more links to check out:

• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider live blogged the Dave Roberts press conference.  Check it out here.  Below is an excerpt:

A word that I like, I like “grit.” I wasn’t a great baseball player, and so I had to do a lot of things and grind and try to create opportunities for myself. And I think grit is something I believe in — it’s an unrelenting passion and desire for a common goal.”

“I’m always trying to learn. I’m always trying to grow. I want to be the best that I can be. That’s kind of my goal for staff, for people in the organization, for players. I think if we can shoot for that, everything else takes care of itself.”

• Just to clear things up.  Via Dylan Hernandez on twitter, Kershaw never said those things about Puig:

Friedman denies Kershaw told him to trade Puig.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) December 1, 2015

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Impressive first interview gave Dave Roberts inside track to Dodgers manager job."

"After our first-round interview, it was like he had our answer key. He had all the answers we wanted to hear going through it," said Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. "It was incredibly impressive."

"We went into it with a completely open mind," general manager Farhan Zaidi said. "There's no way Dave walked out of that interview without thinking 'I totally nailed that,' because that's what we all thought."

• Via Matthew Moreno at Dodger Blue, "Being Genuine Is Key To Connecting With Yasiel Puig, Says Adrian Gonzalez." 

“From my experience, Puig responds well to genuine people; when he understands there’s no agenda and people really just care for him,” Gonzalez said.

“I think that’s one reason why he’s really responded well to me. I told him from day one I don’t want anything from you. When I tell you something it’s for your own good. I’m not doing it because I’m trying to get something out of you or I’m trying to get something for myself.”

• This is good news.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Don Newcombe resting at home after fainting at Dodger Stadium press conference."
• Topps recently announced, via instagram, that a Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) of Bull Durham fame autographed card will be inserted into packs of 2016 Topps Archives.  Check it out on the right.
• Holy mackerel!  Are we about to have another reason to loudly boo Barry Bonds? Apparently, he will be a hitting coach for the Miami Marlins, via Mike Oz at Big League Stew.

The coaching hierarchy as it's been reported has Bonds as a second hitting coach alongside Frank Menechino, who has been with the Marlins since 2013. New Miami manager Don Mattingly and Menechino are said to be "all in" on the idea, according to Peter Gammons.

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An Asterisk in Time

I almost forgot this card existed.  So, when I was reminded of it through a post by Corky at Pack War I figured I would put up a little ditty about it.

Here is a card created by Upper Deck when they were still relevant in the Baseball card hobby.  Featured is the 2007 Sweet Spot Signatures "756" Asterisk card, and as you can see it attempts to take a giant jab at the reigning home run king - Barry Bonds.  Upper Deck wanted to make a point about Barry's recent home run record by producing this card and randomly inserting them into packs.  This card is currently for sale on eBay here.

Once a upon a time, this card sold for upwards of a $1,000 on eBay (as indicated in a late 2007 story I wrote here).  Today, you can buy it for $475.00, and that might be pushing it.  After all, the card is not numbered and it is known that more than one card was produced - likely multiple copies exist.  Furthermore, as time passes by the relevance and schadenfreude this card once created has faded. 

Now, it is a mere footnote... Or *asterisk, if you will.

Hat Tip: Corky at Pack War

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Blog Kiosk: 5/2/2012

Meet one of the new owners of the Dodgers.  Magic posted this on his twitter.

• NOTICE!: There is a news conference this morning featuring the new ownership that will be carried live on PRIME TICKET, KCAL-9, MLB-TV, MLB.com and Dodgers.com at 10 a.m.  Be there of be square.
• The Sons of Steve Garvey blog has pics of the newspaper advertisement from this mornings paper.  The new Dodgers owners let us know what to expect.
• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy shares a pic of a bobblehead featuring Kobe Bryant in Lakers and Dodgers garb. 
• Steve Dilbeck has McCourt's final email to the Dodgers staff.
• Oil Can Boyd is not a stranger to controversy.  He recently commented, via Larry Brown Sports, that he is not thankful for Jackie.  "Wha.......?"  I can understand where he is coming from.  The unfortunate consequence of the integration of Baseball was the eventual demise of the Negro Leagues.

“Why’d you do this? I don’t really think that Negro League baseball shoulda been broken up. It was — it was individuality … I’m not real thankful to Jackie at all because I’m me – my style of baseball, the way I played it in the major league transpired from the Negro Leagues. So that’s why people found that I was a hot dog or I was flamboyant.”

• Lew Freedman at Call to the Pen wonders if "Yu Darvish is the Next Fernando Valenzuela."

The year was 1981, but in that more innocent time, Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Fernando Valenzuela set the nation on fire with his off-the-charts start to his career. Just like Darvish, he came from a foreign country. Just like Darvish, he was blowing hitters away with more than a fast fastball. Just like Darvish his first language was not English and he spoke to reporters through an interpreter.

• Night Owl Cards introduces us to a little known set called "Little Sun Writers" from 1990 that consist of 24 cards featuring professional Baseball writers.
• Keith Olbermann relays that Vin Scully has not only broadcasted the first Major League game of Bryce Harper, but also did the same for Mickey Mantle in his first game (an exhibition) in 1951.
• Dmitri Young is interviewed by CBS about his rookie card collection that is current available at auction through SCP.  He takes a little swipe at Barry Bonds.  

Q: Is there a favorite card?
A: It's the Hank Aaron. The Home Run King -- there's another guy that has the record, but the Home Run King is Hank Aaron. I was there for the game when 756 was hit, I was playing first. Deep down inside, when (Barry) Bonds hit it, I wanted to stick my foot out and trip him.

• Be sure to check out the vintage Babe Ruth pic at If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger... 
• I found this Deadspin article about a scam artist fascinating.  Heck, as a blog/website owner I get strange request all of the time, so this scenario is something I will keep at the back of my mind.  Apparently, this Sarah Phillips person leveraged her freelance writing gig with ESPN to scam some money and the control of a FB page for her personal benefit.

Blog Kiosk: 2/2/2012

Above is the new Dodgers logo that celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Dodger Stadium. It also includes an utterly distracting corporate logo. I think it would look better like this:

• James Loney is free. He won't face charges in the Maserati crash. Via LA Times.
• Greg at the Infinite Baseball Card Set shares his "Tale of 4 Ruth's" that feature the Babe in a Dodgers uniform.
• Seedling to the Stars puts together their own Dodgers prospect list.
• Night Owl Cards just finished completing his 2009 OPC set and scanned all of them for everyone to enjoy. That's right. All 600 cards.
• Keith Olbermann writes about the 10th Annual Pack Opening Day at Topps and shows off his own T206 Honus Wagner card.
• The Cardinals just opened up their Hall of Fame Museum website.
• White Sox Cards provides a little history lesson about February 1st, and a little game in a foreign desert.
• Edgar at My Autograph Signings visited the LA Fit Expo and got a bunch of auto's. He shows off a Barry Bonds auto his friend received. Apparently, Bonds was in attendance.
• Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL running back John Cappelletti had his personal collection stolen out of his Orange County home, via SCD.
• February always tends to be a little slow in Baseball. We are just a few weeks away from the start of Spring Training, so I guess you could call this time period the calm before the storm. That being said, I thought the below video would be a nice respite until the hurricane comes rolling in. Check out Nyjer Morgan practicing with the San Jose Sharks hockey club.

Video Link:

Blog Kiosk: 12/18/2011

A GIBBY does not make up for the MVP.

• Weird rumor of the week. This is a little strange. Rumors are swirling indicating that Ryan Braun initial positive test was due to medication related to herpes medication prescribed by doctor. Via TTF.

  But that’s not what this is about, it’s about Braun’s new rumor. Apparently, he allegedly failed the test due to medication. Usually a steroid is given for those type of things.

• No jail time for Barry Bonds, via Big League Stew.
  
• Josh at DodgerBobble points out a attraction at the Marlins new field- a Bobblehead Museum. How awesome is that?
  
• A Halos Heaven writer shares his experience at the Winter Meetings job fair and accepts a job with a team.
  
• This sounds like a bunch of horse puckey. This ESPN report claims we are in the running for Fielder. Yhea, right!
  
• Kobe and Panini wish you a Happy Holidays.

Video Link:

A musical interlude with ZAZ- Les Passants. Lyrics in English, here.

Video Link:

Blog Kiosk: 11/11/2011

Nice hat, Matt! I think Brandon Phillips is a bad influence. BTW, that's a real possum fur touk. (pic via BrandonPhillips Lockerz twitter)

• Jamey Carroll is close to signing a multi-year deal, via MLB Trade Rumors. Sounds like the Dodgers are not in the picture. Some good not trading him did us. UPDATE: Looks like a done deal. Carroll to sign with Twins, via MLB Trade Rumors.
  
• Rod Barajas leaves for Pittsburgh, via Dodger Thoughts.
  
• Baseball by the Letters hears from former Dodger Carl Erskine.

  "I usually receive eight or ten letters on the average each day. I try to answer right away, because when I can't, they pile up.
  
  I do them all myself and read each one. I consider fans the backbone of the game -- and I consider signing an extension of my career."

• The Kansas City Star writes about the Negro League Baseball Museum and the top 5 can't miss exhibits there.
  
• REA believes that all of the 2001 Barry Bonds Home Run Jerseys sold by Bonds own authentication company are fake. Figures!
  
• A Star Trek premium card is being released, at $50 per pack, and it includes an autographed Christian Slater card. As Beckett notes, instead of receiving payment for his signature Slater received a collection of Star Trek cards instead.
• Landon Evanson at Bugs & Cranks has a 2 part interview with Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro League Baseball Museum, regarding the legacy of Buck O'Neil: Part1, Part 2.
  
• College Football has Sandusky, MLB had Donald Fitzgerald. This is a story that I have never heard of before. It's incredibly sad and disgusting. Via The Post Game.
  
• On this Veterans Day, here is a great video (originally put up by Sully Baseball) featuring Ted Williams and his time as a jet pilot in the Korean War.

Video Link:

Guilty

Barry Bonds has been found guilty of one count of obstruction, via ESPN. I can't say that this excites me much. Frankly, I just don't care. That's pretty much all I can say about the matter. I have long since turned the page.

(Hat Tip: 6-4-2)

Blog Kiosk 7/6/2008

Three games under .500 and only half a game out of first. You gotta love the National West.

• This is one of the best Dodger fan uniform ever! Courtesy of Home Run Derby. Check out the video they have of her running bye in the outfield bleachers.
• Barry Bonds homerun ball #756 that was branded with an asterisk by designer Ecko has finally made it into the Hall of Fame. ESPN has the full background story of the negotiations between the Hall and Ecko. (Hat Tip: SOSG) Photo from Wax Heaven.
  
• Check it out. Even George Carlin has a card. (Hat Tip: Trader Crack's)
• Gavel Chat queries a handful of the most senior ticket collectors in the hobby to come up with their Top 10 Vintage Sports Tickets of All-Time.
• Who's for a high-speed train connecting Southern and Northern California. It seems like the timing couldn't be better. It's on the ballot this coming November as Proposition 1.
• Dmitri Young has one of the finest collections of rookie cards featuring Hall of famers. He has about 150 cards and all are in PSA 10 condition. That means they are in Gem Mint perfect condition, like they are fresh from a pack. At this coming National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago later this month it will be on display. Hat Tip: SCD:

Weekly Blog Kiosk 4/20/2008

Quote of the Day on Saturday. "I look great, don't I?" By Nomar Garciaparra.

• Cardboard Junkie discovers the 1988 Dinosaurs Attack! Topps Set.
• I've added a whole new section of Dodger bloggers called "Video Bloggers." I only know of a couple of folks who regularly post Dodger relating videos on the internet. Say hello to TroyfromWestVirginia and Deezulboy. If you know of anyone else please let me know.
• Dodgers Locker has been added to the Dodger blogroll.
  
• Topps Company secured the rights to exclusively produce cards from the estates of 16 Hall of Famers. They include Jackie Robinson, Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Thurman Munson, Roy Campanella, Rogers Hornsby, Lou Gehrig, Cy Young, Mel Ott, Johnny Mize, Jimmie Foxx, Honus Wagner, Pee Wee Reese, George Sisler and Christy Mathewson.
• Frank Thomas was released today by the Blue Jays. Wow! The stars from my youth have become unemployed veterans. Anyone know what Piazza is doing? On the other hand, could they be looking at Barry Bonds as a replacement?
• The Padres serve low octane beer and now they have a Rally Ram.
• Did the Cubs throw the 1918 World Series?

  Now, it cannot be said for certain that gamblers got to the '18 Cubs. But Eddie Cicotte, pitcher and one of the eight White Sox outcasts from the '19 World Series, did say in a newly found affidavit he gave to the 1920 Cook County grand jury that the Cubs influenced the Black Sox. Cicotte said the notion of throwing a World Series first came up when the White Sox were on a train to New York. The team was discussing the previous year's World Series, which had been fixed, according to players. Some members of the Sox tried to figure how many players it would take to throw a Series. From that conversation, Cicotte said, a scandal was born.

  Forget the Billy Goat, how about the thrown series? Hat Tip: Baseball Musings.
  
• Hockey Fights Cancer has an auction running til the end of the month to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the charity. If your a hockey fan click here to bid. Hat Tip: SCD:
• Here is another auction to watch. The Yankee Curse jersey is available on eBay right now. It is up to $69,000.00.

Weekly Blog Kiosk 4/6/2008

5 games down 157 to go.

• Home Run Derby has photos of some incredible Lego Baseball stadiums.
• John Weisman of Dodger Thoughts has had enough of the "bloggers need a life" attitude from the mainstream press. Also, for the record. I do not blog in my underwear in the basement of my parents home. I blog in my underwear in the living room of my own home- thank you very much!
• LA Dodger Talk has the Dodger minor league report.
  
• Roberto was at the Coliseum and shares some pics of Carl Erskine, Wally Moon, Norm Sherry and Ron Fairly signing autographs. He also caught Andruw Jones earlier in day signing autographs at a Nike Store.
  
• Library of Congress has just opened a new Historic Baseball Resources website. There is everything from cards to photos, audio and video, newspapers and famous collections. Hat Tip: SCD:
• Steven Finley Was Here, Dodgerfan.net and Dodger Blog have been added to the Dodger blogroll.
  
• Bidding has started on Barry Bonds homerun #762 at SCP. This stands, for now, as his last career homerun and sets the record for most career dingers. Of course, the key question to ask here is, "do you care?"

• Stale Gum informs us that Topps Card Company pulled off an elaborate April Fools joke by creating a Baseball card inserted in their 2008 Baseball Series 1 boxes of fake high school phenom Kazuo Uzuki. He supposedly threw a 104 mph fastball and was expected to go straight to the major leagues. Kazuo Uzuki means "the first son of April."
• ARod was attacked by a hawk at Fenway Park. No, not that ARod, but Alexa Rodriguez a 13 year old middle school student from Bristol, Connecticut. Check it out here and with pics.
• Guy Wellman shares his Dodger career and collection. He was a player, a scout (who signed Frank Howard and Garvey) and a field coordinator.
  

eBay: Upper Deck Is Making Fun Of Barry

What a perfect way to end the 2007 Baseball Collecting Season. Create a special insert card that perfectly captures one of the biggest stories of the year.

The current buzz is about a baseball card that doesn't even picture a player and was issued after the season had ended. You grab a swatch of cowhide and a magic marker. Draw an asterisk on it. Turn it into a baseball card and suddenly you have a controversial and expensive conversation piece.

So far only 3 cards have surfaced. The first card sold on eBay for $955.00. A second card was sold as a "Buy It Now" at $1,200.00. The third card is currently available along with another rare insert card at a current price of $1,076.00. Bidding ends in 2 days.

Hat Tip: Sports Collectors Daily:
eBay Link: Purchased for $1200.00:

Who has the $1,000,000 Baseball?

Where is #762? It's out there somewhere. Is it sitting in a mitt ready to be thrown from one glove to another, or has the owner kept it in a safe place as a memento? After all, it's not everyday you catch a homerun.

With Bonds possibly forced into retirement, he may never hit another homerun again. So his last homerun in Colorado on September 5th may become very valuable.

The ball Bonds hit off Ubaldo Jimenez landed in the left field seats at Coors Field, but it's still unclear what happened to it.

No special effort was made to recover it and no one has come forth thus far claiming to own it. That could change now that it appears 762 may stand as the record.

Auction companies have said the $752,000 Mark Ecko paid for #756 would be surpassed should the final home run ball be authenticated and come up for sale.

Man-O-Live! Someone out there is holding a fortune.

Story Link: Sports Collectors Daily:

Barry Bonds Indicted

News from out of the Blue. Barry has just been indicted for perjury and obstruction.

The indictment charged Bonds with lying when he said that he didn't knowingly take steroids given to him by his personal trainer, Greg Anderson. He also denied taking steroids at anytime in 2001 when he was pursuing the season home-run record.

He is also charged with lying that Anderson never injected him with steroids.

"Greg wouldn't do that," Bonds testified in December 2003 when asked if Anderson ever gave him any drugs that needed to be injected. "He knows I'm against that stuff."

Ya know, my problem with all of this is that I can't help but gloat. Does that make me a bad person?

Anyway, I don't believe there is any realistic chance Barry will end up in jail. Probation and public service time are probably in the cards.

Also, how do you like my weak attempt at photo-shopping.

Story Link: Yahoo Sports:

Ecko Wins Bonds Ball And Will Let Fans Decide What He Should Do With It

I wanted so badly to not have to bother writing about the sale of the Barry Bonds home run ball at the recently concluded SCP/ Sotheby's auction. I did briefly mention it when I wrote about the Del Crandall collection,but that was all I was going to do. Unfortunately, a unusual twist of events has caused me to relent and write anyway.

As most of you know the Ball sold for $752,467.20 ($902,960.64 with the Buyer's premium). This was much higher that I thought it would sell for. The Buyer was fashion designer Marc Ecko who has decided that the ball will be in all of our hands. We get to choose it's fate.

Ecko is offering three choices: Donate it as is to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.; brand it with an asterisk and donate it to the Hall of Fame; or put it on a rocket and blast it into space.

“I wanted ... to democratize the ball and to give the ball to the people, to give the ball to America.”

So check out his page for details and make your decision today. Hat Tip: SCD:
Vote 756.com Link: VOTE HERE:

Steroid Awareness Clinic

This is just too funny.

The Dodgers already are tweaking the Giants, scheduling a "steroid awareness clinic" before Thursday's game. And if Bonds hasn't hit a home run by the end of that evening, it's on to San Diego, the land of the giant syringe.

Wow. I hadn't heard of this. There should be national referendum requiring steroid awareness clinics in every city Bonds and the Giants play this year.

Story Link: San Jose Mercury News:
Hat Tip: Big Blue Wrecking Crew:

What Will the Dodgers Do?

Diamond Leung of The Press Enterprise let's us know about the Dodgers plans if Bonds were to break the record at Dodger Stadium.

"Our plan in the event of a home run is to acknowledge the home run's significance on DodgerVision and allow Barry to tip his cap and be acknowledged by the crowd."

Dodger spokesman Josh Rawitch made a funny. I'm sure the Dodger fanbase will express their gratitude.

Story Link: Diamond Leung: