Vintage Spokesman: Billy Loes

Here is 1958 magazine advertisement featuring former Brooklyn Dodger Billy Loes endorsing Nokona Gloves.

(eBay Auction Link)

USA! USA! USA!

What an exciting finish in this mornings World Cup match between the USA and Algeria. See the last minute goal by Landon Donovan below.

(TwitVid Link)

Card of the Week: Power of the Big Unit

Here is Randy Johnson's 1993 Stadium Club card, #501, as this weeks "Card of the Week." It shows the power this man brought to the field.

Wha???? Holy Cra???? Strasburg is at What?

The world must be coming to an end because the Red Bordered 2010 Bowman Auto Strasburg is officially over $100,000.00 right now. That's right, a card made just months ago now eclipses, in value, many of the most rare and cherished Baseball cards and memorabilia items ever created over its 100+ years of history. Very few items have sold for this much.

Not only that, the chap who bought the 2010 Bowman Superfractor for $16,403.00 just a few weeks ago has listed the card back on eBay. With a little over 5 days remaining it is already at $18,600.00- potentially garnering him a nice little profit. On the other hand, since it has a reserve floor value that has not been met yet it may not sell at all.

As I slap my forehead in utter disgust I wonder aloud, "what the hell is going on here?"

Lopes Throws Some Dirt

Davey Lopes had a heck of a day against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday afternoon, August 20, 1974. He went 5 for 6 with a lead-off home run to start the game, another home run in the 2nd inning, and then a third dinger in the 6th inning. Throw on top of that a double and a single, and I guess you can say that he single-handily beat the northsiders. So, I imagine it would not have been a surprise to learn that he received a little bit of chin music from the Cubs.

Dave LaRoche threw a high and hard one that caused Lopes to hit the deck. He got up in a hurry while hurling some dirt in LaRoche's direction. Davey walked towards the hapless pitcher as the benches cleared. No fight ensued, but considering the drubbing the Cubs received, 18 to 8, I think the message was clear. Don't mess with these Dodgers- especially Davey Lopes. Below is a pic from eBay memorializing the moment.

(eBay Auction Link)

T206 Brooklyn Dodgers: Bill Bergen

Brooklyn Superbas catcher Bill Bergen was one of the best defensive backstops to ever play the game. He

"ranks with the best receivers in modern baseball. He is an intelligent student of the points of a batsman, a true and fast thrower and is without a peer in judging and capturing foul flies."

Billy ranks 8th all-time in catching base-runners and 9th all-time is assist by a catcher. Bergen also was 1st in fielding percentage for a catcher in 1908 and 1911. Unfortunately, as a hitter he is arguably the worst batsman to ever play the game.

In a 11 year Major League career, including 8 years with Brooklyn, he batted a career .170 in 3228 at-bats. That is the lowest batting average for any player with over 2,500 chances at the plate. In fact, the next lowest batting average is .211- recorded by Davey Force who played in the 19th Century. His lifetime on-base percentage was an inept .194 and his slugging percentage was .201. In 1909 he set the longest hitless streak at 46 at-bats. (This record stands today if you don't include pitchers) No doubt, Bergen was the last person you wanted at the plate during a clutch situation.