Lelands: A Couple More Choice Items

Well, the Lelands November Auction just completed. Vintage and rare sports memorabilia appear to still be on fire. Can this stuff actually be a hedge against our current economic downturn? Who knows, but so far so good. I suspect the rarity of some of these treasures is the reason for some recent strong closing prices. Memorabilia that is perceived as more readily available has been and will probably continue to be a little soft.

Of course, this is not what this post is about. I had recently written about this auction, but I failed to include some fairly choice collectibles. So, I'm gonna make that up now.

Below is a game used bat once used by Babe Ruth during the 1932 season. Based on records from Hillerich and Bradsby we know that Ruth ordered 12 of these bats for the season. This rare piece of lumber sold for a healthy $59,590.81.

Auction Link: Babe Ruth Game Used Bat:

Now this is the kind of item that belongs in a museum. The silver presentation bat below was made in 1898 and was given to one of Baseball's earliest pioneers, Cap Anson.

Anson was presented this magnificent trophy bat for his many contributions to the game as one of its most prominent early players, only four months after his retirement from the Chicago Colts. The bat is hollow and made of beautiful sterling silver with decadent designs engraved on its barrel and grip. The inscription on the barrel reads “ Presented to Adrian C. Anson by the Students of Notre Dame University as a testimony of their pride in him as one of the earliest and greatest athletes of their Alma Mater, February 22nd, 1898”.

The Bat comes directly from the Anson family. It sold for $36,602.50.

Auction Link: Cap Anson Silver Trophy Bat:

Videos: Dodgers, Manny and some Bike Hero!

Are you missing Dodger Baseball. Well, here is a nice Dodger montage to help keep you at bay.

YouTube Link: 1stclassDodgerfan:

Dodger Hill. I recommend watching this one through. It is very well done.

YouTube Link: caseywillard:

FATMIME is predicting that Manny is leaving the Blue Crew and serenades us with a sad song.

YouTube Link: FATMIME:

I love me some Guitar Hero from time to time. The interactive feel of the game allows you to literally imagine yourself playing with your favorite band. I can get through the medium levels, but I still have a tough time playing at a higher level. Now, I'm not one of those obsessed gamers who sits himself in front of the TV for an 8 hour session of games, but I do enjoy sitting around from time to time playing some games. So, finding the video below made by some creative kids has put a big smile on my face and has me yearning for the end of the day so that I can do something really important- like getting to the next level.

YouTube Link: Bike Hero:
Hat Tip: Extra Mustard:

CC Would Look Good in Blue

He can hit. He can pitch. Better yet, he wants to pitch the big games. He proved last year that he has the fire and drive to lead a team to the promised land. CC Sabathia is the type of player teams coalesce around. I think we would be very happy to have him in Blue.

Apparently, the Dodgers appear to agree.

A report by Dan Graziano on NJ.com said the Dodgers are considering a six-year deal worth $110 million to 120 million, if they haven't put it in front of Sabathia and his agents Greg Genske and Brian Peters already.

What makes this even more interesting is the recent inclusion of the Giants into the race. Tony Jackson reports,

it APPEARS that the CC Sabathia sweepstakes could come down to two final teams: the Dodgers and the Giants...Anyway, we know CC wants to pitch for an N.L. club because he likes to hit. We know he just purchased a home in SoCal. And we know he wants to stay close to home. That pretty much leaves the Dodgers and Giants...So it LOOKS like that is where this whole thing is headed, provided the Dodgers don't re-sign Manny Ramirez anytime soon.

Who would you choose? Manny or CC Sabathia?

I think the potential 1-2 punch of Lincecum and Sabathia is too terrible to bear. Of course, having Manny in the lineup for a full 162 game season could easily ameliorate any discomfort I might have. After all, don't we have Billingsley and Kershaw as our potential two man tag team. With the consistent Kuroda in the mix, who should only get better with more experience in North America, I don't know if a long term deal for a pitcher is the wisest thing to do.

Thank goodness the decision isn't mine.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go

Second baseman Jeff Kent has not decided whether he will retire or return for his 18th season in the majors, according to his agent, Jeffrey Klein.

Kent's future has got me thinking about a song I use to love as a kid- the Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go." I think it perfectly encapsulates the predicament Jeff find himself in. OK, maybe not- it's a fun song anyway.

It also happens to be a song a close friend asked myself and another buddy to sing and dance to for his sisters Bat Mitzvah. Why he asked us to do it I still do not know. In our preparation it seemed like it would be fun. As it was happening I wondered, "why am I doing this?" Now, in retrospect, I scratch my head and think, "what the hell was I doing?" I was young and stupid, I guess.

Anyway, below are some choice lyrics to the song and a video.

Darling you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
If you say that you are mine
I’ll be here ’til the end of time
So you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?

Always tease tease tease
You’re happy when I’m on my knees
One day is fine, next day is black
So if you want me off your back
Well come on and let me know
Should I stay or should I go?

Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An’ if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know!

This indecision’s bugging me
If you don’t want me, set me free
Exactly who’m I’m supposed to be
Don’t you know which clothes even fit me?
Come on and let me know
Should I cool it or should I blow?

YouTube Link: Clash:

Jeff, I think your productive playing days are in it's twilight. Go and wander around the Texas plains and tend to your bike business.

Hunt Auctions: Ruth Game Used Dodger Uniform!

Hunt Auctions recently closed their annual Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory Auction last week with some incredible results. As you may know, Hunt seems to always have some of the best vintage memorabilia around. This years event was no different.

Babe Ruth, the greatest athlete to ever play the game, also wanted to be a coach. It was a dream he would seek out at the end of his playing days. Unfortunately, a lifetime of partying and carousing about did not endear him to Baseball owners.

Although, the Yankees did offer the managing position for their top minor league team, Newark Bears. He turned that down to be a player-coach for the Braves in 1935. After a year with Boston he officially retired. Offers stopped coming and his dream to be a manager seemed to just fade away. The greatest player of the game had effectively been shut out.

Then, in 1938, the talent and attendance starved Brooklyn Dodgers came calling. Babe Ruth would have one last chance to coach for the Dodgers.

Not only was Ruth appointed first base coach, (where the fans would be sure to see him throughout the entire game), but he was also ordered to take pre-game batting practice with the club so the fans could once again witness the “Sultan of Swat” hitting a few balls out of the park. In spite of the “side show” atmosphere, Ruth clung to hope. But when the club’s managerial post opened the next year Leo Durocher was appointed the job, and Ruth wasn’t re-hired. He hung up his Brooklyn Dodgers uniform after one season. This would be the last baseball uniform he would ever wear as a professional. From the day Ruth last removed it until the day he died, he waited and waited for a call from some team, any team, to become a major league manager. It was a call that would never come.

Below is a game used uniform worn by the "Sultan of Swat." It sold for $270,000.00.

Auction Link: Ruth Game Uniform:

Is Russel Martin your favorite Dodger? Well then, the below game used uniform is probably your favorite item. It come from the 2008 All-Star game and was worn during the Workout Day/Home Run Derby. It sold for a relatively affordable $250.00.

Auction Link: Russell Martin All-Star Uniform:

Baseball related advertising memorabilia from the 1940's can be very hard to come by. They can especially be difficult to find in good condition. Below is a 22 inch square advertising sign featuring Brooklyn Dodger Whit Wyatt hawking Chesterfield cigarettes. It sold for $850.00.

Auction Link: Whit Wyatt Chesterfield Ad:

Below is an actual game-used bat of Jackie Robinson. I'll let the auction description speak for itself.

The history of the offered bat begins with Thomas Michael "Buckshot" Brown. From 1943 through 1945, Brooklyn Dodgers star shortstop Pee Wee Reese served in the U.S. military during World War II. In order to fill Reese's spot, the Dodgers called up Tommy Brown from the Minor Leagues as a utility infielder in 1944. Brown remained with the team until 1951 and became friendly with teammate Jackie Robinson during that time. According to family history, when Brown was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1951, Robinson presented the offered bat to Brown indicating to him that, "...it was his lucky bat and he wanted him to have it." The bat has remained in the Brown family since that time until its current offering and is one of the finest of its type to have entered the marketplace with special note to its unimpeachable provenance.

In our time, when previously unreachable barriers are met after years (no decades) of struggle, this bat is a timely reminder of the past. One of America's earliest social leaders and, yes, one of the games greatest antagonist on and off the field helped start it all. It was not only Dr. King's dream that was satisfied.

The below bat sold for $34,000.00.

Auction Link: Jackie Robinson Bat:

Play the Mannywood Choose Your Own Adventure

I kid you not, I used a "Choose Your Own Adventure" in a book report for a middle school English class. It was the greatest scholastic scam of my young life. While most of my classmates read a mini-novel filled with actual plot lines and interesting characters, I had a roughly 100 page book that I easily whittled down to a mere 20 pages. It was beautiful. I completed my report in under an hour and smiled as I ran away with a undeserved "B."

This afternoon, I was reminded of my youthful deed with an email pointing to a great post on AOL/Fanhouse. It features a great "Choose Your Own Adventure" featuring Manny Ramirez. Go here to check it out and be sure to play through it, I think you'll enjoy it as much as I did.