RIP: John Wooden

May God bless you sir. Instead of listing his accomplishments, which are many, I thought it would be best to let his words shine through. Below are some quotes from the finest teacher our land has ever known.

• Failure to prepare is to prepare to fail. (This quote was actually borrowed from Benjamin Franklin)

• Ability is a poor man's wealth.

• Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

• Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

• Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.

• It isn't what you do, but how you do it.

• Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.

• The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.

• You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

• You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one.

• Sports do not build character. They reveal it.

• Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.

• It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.

Go and check out his website here. Below is his Pyramid of Success. Live by it. Click on the pic to enlarge.

eBay: Iron-On Garvey

This is an interesting find on eBay. It is brand new to me, and it is not listed in my trusted standard catalog from 2002. That shouldn't be surprising since, over the years, certain sets are omitted to reduce the size of the catalog. Below is a 1978 RC Cola Iron-On of Steve Garvey. Overall, there are 5 different Dodger players- Garvey, Ron Cey, Don Sutton, Tommy John and Bill Russell. This is not a regional issue. Every team in the league has 5 players represented for a complete set.

(eBay Auction Link)

Vintage Dodger Snapshots: Charlie Hough

Master knuckleballer Charlie Hough is posing for a fan in this photo snapshot.

(eBay Auction Link)

Card of the Week: Nolan Ryan's Routine

Now that Upper Deck is out of the picture, Topps decides to copy one of the best cards they have ever made. See it here. Above is a short printed variation in the 2010 Topps Series 2 set that came out recently which features Nolan Ryan warming up his arm with a football. According to published reports only 3,000 cards were made.

Vintage Dodger Snapshots: Sherry Brothers

Not only is it rare for two brothers to make it into the show, but to have a chance to play on the same team is just incredible. Larry and big brother Norm Sherry both played for the Blue Crew in the late 50's to the early 60's. Here are some fan taken photo snapshots of the two.

Larry Sherry

(eBay Auction Link)

(eBay Auction Link)

Norm Sherry

(eBay Auction Link)

(eBay Auction Link)

SCP Auctions: Clyde King Says it All

Clyde King spent 6 season with the Brooklyn Dodgers during a very important time in Baseball history. In 1947, when Clyde came back to the team after a short stint back in the minors, Jackie Robinson joined the squad and forever changed the game. Clyde King was there to witness it all. The below baseball has been signed and was written on by Clyde in tribute to Jackie and his accomplishment that year. It is current available for auction through SCP.

Click any of the pics to enlarge for easier reading.

(SCP Auction Link)