REA Blog: A Spotlight On Dirty Language in Baseball in 1898

Since the start of the REA (Robert Edwards Auctions) Blog in August of this year they have shared some amazing sports memorabilia. This time around they have uncovered an item that will make you laugh and blush at the same time, or it may offend, so please use this as a warning if you don't like rough language.

Items of historical significance can take many forms. We have always gone out of our way to stay away from items that we think are in poor taste or off-color. We also try our best to seize opportunities to document the history of the game and its relationship to American culture.

Which brings us to a recent dilemma encountered by our office this past week.

...(Above is a document called) “Special Instructions To Players,” regarding the use of obscene language by players at the ballpark, to intimidate umpires and opposing players, and to verbally battle with unfriendly fans.

...(It) quickly got our attention as the language used became very unexpected for an official Major League baseball document, let alone one devoted to demanding players not use “any indecent or obscene word, sentence, or expression.” It turned “blue,” and, well, got “bluer.” This piece is ironic as it provides many examples of exactly the kind of “brutal language” that was being outlawed. In fact, it is so over the top that at first we thought it was some type of a joke.

Nope. It's real. Click the above photo to download a pic or go to the REA blog for a closer look.

Story Link: REA Blog:

Congratulations Mr. O'Malley

The man who brought the Dodgers to Los Angeles has finally been elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Story Link: MLB.com:
Pic Link: Ohio University:

Rodney McCray Joins The Dodgers

The Dodgers have a new roving baserunning and outfield coach and its Rodney McCray. You may recall his famous catch while crashing through the outfield wall at Portland's Civic Stadium in 1991. His catch was even immortalized 15 years later with a bobblehead (above).



Story Link: MLB.com:
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Pic Link: Gameops.com:

Sounds Like Music To My Ears

What is that old saying? Sometimes, the best trades are the ones you don't make. Colletti is singing a new tune.

"There's potential for change, but as we look at the young players that we played a lot this past year, we're less likely to fill in [positions with veterans] as much as we have in the past and more likely we'll give the younger players greater opportunity," Colletti said. "I'm curious to see how our young players, who really had a chance this past year to play full-time, I'm curious to see what another year does."

Maybe the youngsters are here to stay.

Pic Link: NASA:

Story Link: LA Times:

Loney's An All-Star

James Loney has been named to the 49th Annual 2007 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team. Baseball-Reference is saying that he was a unanimous selection. Andre Ethier and Russell Martin were honored last year in 2006. Below are the rest of the group.

1B-James Loney, Los Angeles (NL)
2B-Dustin Pedroia, Boston
SS-Troy Tulowitski, Colorado
3B-Ryan Braun, Milwaukee
OF-Delmon Young, Tampa Bay
OF-Chris Young, Arizona
OF-Hunter Pence, Houston
C-Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia
RHP-Brian Bannister, Kansas City
LHP-Hideki Okajima, Boston

Story Link: MLB.com:

A Class Act: "The Value of Loyalty"

Unfortunately, Chan Ho Park's best years are probably well behind him. Fortunately, he still has the pride and values to know what is important to him. Sure, he wanted to finish off his MLB career by rejoining the Dodgers in some capacity, but patriotism and loyalty to his teammates on the Korean National Baseball Team came first. After all, he is the captain of the team.

"After giving long and deep thought to the matter, I concluded that I should respect loyalty," Park wrote. "Both are important to me -- to sign a contract with the Dodgers to pursue my dreams and goals, and to participate in the Olympics for my country. But the thought of leaving the national team bothered me most."

Pic Link: matttracy.com:
Hat Tip: 6-4-2:
Story Link: Chosun: