Robert Edward Auctions

Well I didn't win the exact item I wanted, but I'm happy with my win. I got the 28 item lot of Nineteenth-Century Generic Baseball Items. There are some great scorecards and other rare vintage items. Including a

1884 first edition of Our Base Ball Club and How It Won the Championship by Noah Brooks. This book, published by E. P. Dutton and Company, New York, is believed to be the first novel ever published in which the plot revolves entirely around the sport of baseball.

I can't wait to read this. Lately, I've been very interested in the history of baseball, and a early work of fiction would be a fun read.

I cannot believe the 19th Century Baseball Trade Cards sold for $9,500.00. Lot #717. That averages to $40.25 a card! Many of those cards are very rare; especially the Tobins and Sporting Life cards, but many of the cards are also considered commons. Of course, they are almost impossible to find these days so I may be the loser on this one. Even at this moment I'm regretting my decision not to go for it. The smaller lot of 148 cards, #718, ended up at $3,500.00. It was hampered by trimming issues and lesser cards, but still ended up over $23.00 a card. Amazing!

Other notables include $16,000.00 for the Toleteros "Black Wagner" Josh Gibson. $70,000.00 for the Josh Gibson autographed RPPC. $85,000.00 for the Ruth/Gehrig signed baseball. $130,000.00 for the Ruth Baltimore News card. $100,000.00 for the Joe Jackson T210 Old Mill. $220,000.00 for the T206 complete set. High graded T206 commons sold for astronomical values. This market is on fire.

Let's Sweep!!!

Derek Lowe vs. Chan Ho Park. New vs. Old Dodgers. LA vs. San Diego. Time to show the Pads who rules in the region. No matter how much the Padres try to look like the Dodgers it will not work. The mighty Dodger Blue in the sky knows the difference. You can't fool him by signing Dave Roberts, Mike Piazza, Eric Young and Chan Ho Park. They don't wear Blue anymore. Sure, we still love them, and I bless their future careers, but they can't beat the Blue!!!!

The Efficient Tomko

Brett Tomko is proving to be a very wise signing. Who knew he would easily replace Mr Grumpy on the mound. So far, he has outpitched Jeff Weaver, having gone 3-1, with a 4.20 ERA. Weaver is 1-3 with a horrible 7.48 ERA. Tomko has been sharp and reliable. Weaver has been wild and terrible. Tomko went seven innings yesterday while giving up 2 runs, on 5 hits and no walks. One run was as a result of a freak play- a bloop single between short and left field. It should have been caught.

Overall, Tomko, a highly respected artist (Really! This guy shows his paintings in galleries), seems to have founds his grove this season. He has gone at least 6 innings his past 3 games, and has a walk to strike out ratio of 6-16. I think we have a solid middle of the rotation starter. He makes $3.6 million this year, and is starting to look like a bargain.

Jeff Weaver at $8.5 million is looking like a major bust. He has been utterly terrible. In has last game, against Chicago, he got ripped for 8 runs in 2.1 innings. He has given up at least 4 runs in each of his past 5 starts. The league is batting .316 against him.

What strikes me as even more remarkable, though, is that throughout their careers, Tomko has been better than Jeff Weaver- if not just as good. Look at the stats.

Tomko came into the league with the Cincinnati Reds in 1997 as a starter. He has gone 84-74 with a overall ERA of 4.51. His WHIP average is 1.36, and he strikes out 2 batters for every walk he gives up. Additionally, he has given his team nearly 200 innings a season the past 4 years.

Weaver joined the Tigers in 1999 and has gone 79-90 in that time. Sure Detroit was pretty bad then, but he has no excuses for his bad play in New York. As we all know he was booed out of there louder than Barry Bonds at Dodger Stadium. His lifetime ERA is 4.49, with a WHIP average of 1.32. He does get more strike outs as he gets 2.5 strike outs for every walk. Additionally, he has given up less walks in his career, only 388 to Tomko's 470, despite having pitched almost the same amount of innings.

Incredibly, though, Tomko appears like the better pitcher. Albeit, slightly better. Heck, they are almost identical. They seem to be the exact same pitcher. And for $4.9 million less, Tomko appears to be a diamond in the rough. Coletti is starting to look like a genius.

Steve Howe RIP

Today, we all woke up either knowing or hearing that the enigmatic Steve Howe died in a car crash yesterday. He was a player both loved and respected, but he also was ripped and scorned throughout his career. His life and baseball career was cut short and destroyed by the ravages of addiction. Numerous times he was suspended for cocaine use. Substance abuse became the curve ball he could neither pitch or control throughout his life. I wish to extend my condolences to his family and friends. And I am hopeful that in light of this tragedy, we can all take a step back and remember how great he was on the mound, while at the same time encourage our own friends and family to seek help when they need it. RIP

2004 In Review-Reliving the Past

This is really good. The 2004 Dodgers season in review. Check it out!!


Get this video and more at MySpace.com

Gone Scan Crazy

So I went a little crazy this afternoon and started scanning some cards during my lunch break. Check out one of my favorite photos/ autograph. It's a picture of Hinky Haines and Babe Ruth, with Hinky signing it at the bottom. What makes this remarkable is Hinky Haines. Who was he? He is the only athlete to have played for both the World Series Champions New York Yankees in 1923 and the NFL Champion New York Giants in 1927.

I've also scanned cards from the 1947 Tip top Bread set, 1966 Topps Venezuelan set, Mayo Comic Cards and Mayo Game Cards. All 4 are difficult to complete and will probably take me years to finish.