"Faith Day" in Atlanta

If politics and Baseball are ingredients you would rather not have mixed please skip this post.

Bigotry of any sort pisses me off to no end. When are people gonna learn. Below is a story from Think Progress that caught my attention. I've placed it here in entirety. The Atlanta Braves did the right thing.

Focus on the Family Disinvited From Atlanta Braves’ ‘Faith Day’ Events

Last week, the Atlanta Braves became the first team in major league baseball to sponsor a post-game Christian evangelizing event called “Faith Day.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution provided details:

The blend of big-tent evangelism and the national pastime is expected to draw thousands of new eyes. … [The event is] designed to reach out to people looking for a spiritual purpose in life. Faith Day is the first promotion of “intentional Christian ministry” in Major League Baseball.

Except the Faith Day festivities didn’t offer a “big tent.” The event was cosponsored by right-wing group Focus on the Family, which, according to their press release, used the event to distribute promotional materials about a website they run called TroubledWith.com, which features virulently anti-gay content:

Male homosexuality is a developmental problem that is almost always the result of problems in family relations, particularly between father and son. [Link]

The following factors can also contribute to the homosexual orientation: pornography; spousal abuse in the home; molestation and pedophilia… [Link]

‘Mom…I’m Gay’: The story of one woman who heard these devastating words. [Link]

Contacted yesterday by ThinkProgress, Braves spokesperson Beth Marshall said that the Braves have asked that Focus on the Family not be affiliated with the two upcoming Braves “Faith Day” events on August 13 and August 26. Marshall declined to explain what brought about the decision to exclude Focus on the Family from the future events.

Unfortunately, Focus on the Family remains a cosponsor of several other Faith Day events at baseball games this summer, which are organized by a group called Third Coast Sports. Email the CEO of Third Coast — mike@thirdcoastsports.com — and urge him to completely sever their ties with the anti-gay group.

There’s no crying in baseball, and there shouldn’t be bigotry either.

Happy Belated Birthday

I can't believe I missed this. Happy belated Birthday Jerry!

Adblock

Adblock

Adblock

Adblock

YouTube Link:

Hat Tip: C&L

Los Angeles Dodgers Vintage World Series Film DVD Set

Earlier this week I had a chance to review a copy of the Los Angeles Dodgers Vintage World Series Film DVD Set. It has highlights of all the previous LA Dodger championships. It includes the win over the cursed White Sox in 1959 when the Dodger use to play at the LA Coliseum. An unbelievable sweep of the invincible New York Yankees in 1963. BTW, this was the first time the powerful Yankees had been swept in the Fall classic. The supremacy of Sandy Koufax as Baseballs best left hander was showcased in the 1965 World Series. 1981 brought a championship to Baseballs longest serving infield cast. Man-o-Live... I forgot how great Pedro Guerrero was. Of course, who could forget the 1988 season. Kirk Gibson was like some aging warrior king willing his flock to win this last battle. "How Sweet it is! The Fruits of Victory! What a Team!"

What a Team! My only complaint comes from the 1988 series. They should have included Vin's famous line after Gibby's walk off homerun. "In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!"

That first game of the '88 series will forever be branded in my brain. I was 16 years old and a fanatic Dodger fan- some things never change. On this evening, I was forced to go with my parents to a family function event. We where always going to family function events. If my uncle got a tooth pulled the whole family would get together later that weekend. If we woke up on Saturday morning there was a good chance the family would get together that evening to celebrate. We where a tight knit group. Of course, I was 16 and had other priorities. I could not miss this game. So, after some cajoling, I convince my uncle and aunts to turn the TV to the game.

That whole evening I had my eyes glued to the television. The Dodgers scored 2 early, but then Canseco hit a convincing Grand Slam to put Oakland on top by the 2nd inning. All the while, 2 mahjong tables had been set up and dinner was being served. I reached for a plate of chicken, pansit (Filipino style chow mien), rice (Asians can't go without rice) and egg rolls. The Dodgers score another run to make it 4-3. Then the ninth inning comes around and the taunts from my uncles started. "The Dodgers are gonna lose!" "Change the channel- it's over!" "Dodgers suck!" They knew that they could have some fun sticking a knife in me. But I would have the last laugh. Gibson comes up to bat and Mike Davis steals 2nd base. The rest is history. As Gibby's ball sailed over the right field wall I simultaneously jumped to my feet, pointed to my uncles and screamed a defiant "Screw You!" Obviously the taunts had gotten to me. Who cares though. The Dodgers had won, and I knew the series was theirs.

This is a brand new DVD set put together by A&E Home Video. Please check out their website for ordering. A&E Home Video Link to DVD.

What a Difference a Few Days Make

Four in a row, Baby! After going 1-13 the prospects for a successful season was looking bleak. Kent and Nomar went down with injuries. Then we just couldn't hit. Our starting pitching was faltering as tempers flared in the clubhouse. We had players on the roster who, seemingly, did not want to be there. But Baseball is a funny game.

Like life, Baseball takes you on a rocky road filled with many highs and lows. Sometimes everything falls into place, but sometimes nothing can go right. Success can be sweet, but failure is just as sour. Nevertheless, we all chose to continue to play and given enough effort we all know that good things can happen.

Well, the Dodgers are making the effort. They get rid of clubhouse whiner Odalis Perez. The reliable old horse we know as Giovanna Carrera joins the club after failing to catch on with another team and pitches well. Toby Hall comes in to provide some excellent back up work even though he believes he is a starter. Elmer Dessens rejoins the Dodger team after a trade to provide some stability. Jason Repko comes back from the DL after a long rehabilitation. The young and hot hitting Wilson Betemit, a former Atlanta top prospect, arrives from Atlanta, and Banny Baez takes a seat in the Braves bullpen. Caesar exits in exchange for future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. The best available infielder, Julio Lugo, comes in for a late season rush. Finally, James Loney is called up to replace Nomar on the roster.

Then, like my dog, Miko, with a plate of hot food under her nose the Dodgers turn on a dime. Change is good.

The I Ching, "The Book of Changes", is an apt way to see how this team has evolved this season. Its

philosophy centers on the ideas of the dynamic balance of opposites, the evolution of events as a process, and acceptance of the inevitability of change.

We may have been down but that cannot last forever. Furthermore, once you accept change as a reality and move forward with that in mind it become inevitable that something will happen- something dramatic. We have seen first hand the ups and downs of the season. From long losing streaks to long winning streaks. We have seen how the team has grown- both good and bad. We have seen that when you accept inevitability of change good things can happen. Right now good things are happening.

The Dodgers score 10 runs on 17 hits to trample the Reds. Furcal goes 3 for 6, while driving in 4 (Including a clutch 3 run double in the 7th inning). Lofton gets 2 hits. Drew gets 3 hits of his own. Ethier gets a hit, a run and a RBI. Betemit hits his first homer- a 2 run shot. Martin scores twice on one hit and an RBI. Loney has 3 big hits. Even starting pitcher Sele contributed with the bat- getting a single.

Our pitching was just as solid. Sele continue to impress. Tomko, Beimel and Broxton finish off the game as the bullpen starts to coalesce into a solid relief staff. Everything is starting to look bright.

I hope that this is a start of a upswing that leads to something better than good.

National Pick-Ups

Here are some of the items I picked up at the National this past weekend.Above is a late 19th Century Baseball themed Victorian Trade Card I found on the last day. It's a bit beat up on the top, but is very rare. In fact, since I started my own collection of Trade Cards 6 years ago I had never seen this example.

Here are 4 more T206 cards of the Brooklyn Dodgers (Superbas or is it Bridegrooms).

e75 Jack Johnson American Caramel card. This is in rough condition, but was inexpensive and fills a hole in my collection.
Above are 2 Dodgers mini pennants I picked up. They measure approximately 1 inch by 2 inches and were made in the 40's or 50's. I love this oddball stuff.

I also picked up 7 cards for my 1880's Terrors of America set, a bunch of 1964 Topps Giant cards for my set (i need 2 more), a bunch of Callahans for my set and the final 3 cards for my 1972 Topps Set. Also, I picked up some oddball team issues photos and advertising promos of various Dodger players from the 60's to 70's. I'll post some of these shortly.

Update:Above is a scan of the 7 Terrors of America cards I picked up last weekend. This is a late 19th Century tabacco card insert featuring playful images of kids causing trouble. This set cracks me up.

For more pics of cards purchased at the National last weekend from other vintage collectors please check out the Vintage Baseball Card Forum:

My Time at the National

As you may know, the National Sports Collectors Conventions concluded this past Sunday in Anaheim. It was quite an event with athletes and celebrities of all stripes signing for adoring fans. There where several hundred tables featuring modern shiny Baseball cards and vintage rarities. Unfortunately, the crowds where underwhelming, but met expectations. I think 30,000+ collectors showed up over the 5 day event. My discussions with a handful of vintage dealers suggested that they did quite well. One dealer who specializes in vintage non-sports cards said he had a buyer walk up and spend $28,000 at one time. That is a monster sale for such items.

I will post some pics of my purchases soon, so please stay tuned. Also, I added a handful of pics in my photoalbum. For some strange reason many of my pics turned out blurry- I think I need some photographic instructions. Nevertheless, I had a fun time. On top of that, I finally completed, after 5 years of trying, my 1972 Topps Baseball set. I also got a early 20th century Jack Johnson boxing card- a caramel 27 scrappers. This was my find of the week.

more pics can be found on the Vintage Baseball Card Forum: