Mariano Rivera’s Race To 500 Saves!!! Part 13
After a 3-game set with the Atlanta Braves, Mariano Rivera was able to get into 2 games and record a save in each contest.
He now heads home, sort of. The New York Yankees return to the Big Apple, but they’ll play their next 3 games in the ‘other’ ballpark that calls New York home as they take on the cross-town Mets.
We’ll see if ‘Mo’ can add to his 499 career saves versus their inter-city rivals…. Stay tuned!
On this day in 1994, Kirby Puckett collected hit #2,086 of his career giving him the all-time hits leader spot in Minnesota Twins history. Hit #2,086 elevated Puckett past legendary Twins player, and Hall of Famer, Rod Carew.
Kirby would end his career with 2,304 career hits, all with the Twins. He is also the franchise’s leader in career doubles with 414!!!
Happy Anniversary Mr. Puckett!!!
Willie Mays is the only member of the 500 home run club to hit his first homer off a future Hall of Famer(Warren Spahn). Sammy Sosa, another member of the club, hit his first home off of Roger Clemens, who will certainly be a Hall of Famer, too.
**factoid courtesy of ‘Armchair Reader – Grand Slam Baseball’
My take – Just another comparison to a baseball legend that Sammy Sosa does not deserve… Enough said!!
Posted in Did You Know....
Tagged 1954 world series, 500 home run club, 500 home runs, 500 HR club, 600 hr, 600 hr club, all-star, baseball, baseball cards, giants, gold glove, Hall Of Fame, HOF, most valuable player, MVP, new york giants, Roger Clemens, sammy sosa, san francisco giants, say hey, Warren Spahn, willie mays, world series
This book is the 5th book in this new feature at ’30-Year Old Cardboard’.
Title – ‘Rule #1 : Mascots Cannot Talk’
Synopsis – It is a written rule that while in costume team mascots are not allowed to speak. We have pulled the tape off of their mouths to hear their hilarious stories first-hand.
Jacket Content – For 3-4 hours during each home game the team mascot is the most active employee in the stadium. A paid entertainer, the job’s philosophy is simple – Make them laugh at all costs. And do it without speaking 1 word.
In essence, the team mascot is a mime. A person dressed in character playing a role that is designed to bring out emotions from the people watching. And in most cases that emotion is humor.
We have spoken to dozens of current and former mascots for this story. We’ve taken the tape off of their mouths and let them share their sides of this famously, fun job.
With a ton of laughs, some resulting in tears, this book shares their stories. From wearing 40-pound costumes in 90 degree heat, to humiliating celebrities in the name of fun, and to cheering up ill children at hospitals, the people that do these jobs have shared their experiences with all of us.
Finally, the mascot gets to talk!!!!
Chapters
1 – Ace – Toronto Blue Jays
2 – Bernie Brewer – Milwaukee Brewers
3 – Billy The Marlin – Florida Marlins
4 – The Bird – Baltimore Orioles
5 – Captain Jolly Roger – Pittsburgh Pirates
6 – Baxter the Bobcat – Arizona Diamondbacks
7 – Dinger – Colorado Rockies
8 – Freebird – St. Louis Cardinals
9 – Gapper – Cincinnati Reds
10 – Homer – Atlanta Braves
11 – Junction Jack – Houston Astros
12 – Lefty & Right – Boston Red Sox
13 – Lou Seal – San Francisco Giants
14 - Mariner Moose – Seattle Mariners
15 – Mr. Met - New York Mets
16 - Paws – Detroit Tigers
17 – Phillie Phanatic – Philadelphia Phillies
18 – Raymond – Tampa Rays
19 – Screech – Washington Nationals
20 – Slider – Cleveland Indians
21 – Sluggerrr – Kansas City Royals
22 – Southpaw – Chicago White Sox
23 – Swinger – Oakland A’s
24 – Friar – San Diego Padres
25 – TC Bear – Minnesota Twins
Mariano Rivera’s Race To 500 Saves!!! Part 12
Well, well, well… After 8 days and 7 games of inactivity, guess who finally got the chance to make an impact in a baseball game.
In last night’s 8-4 victory over the Braves, Mariano Rivera faced the last 4 Beaves’ hitters of the night. And what did he do? He struck out all 4 of them of course en route to earning career save number 498!!!
I don’t care what uniform he’s wearing tonight. I will agree that it will look weird as we’ve seen him in just 1 jersey for the last 20 years. But it is, John Smoltz and he is finally making his 2009 debut tonight with the Boston Red Sox and I for one cannot wait for him to take the mound.
As a Marlins fan, it is hard to be a fan of anyone on the Atlanta Braves. At the same time, my love for the game and enjoyment of quality veteran players is a big reason that I still remain loyal to the sport. John Smoltz is a classy guy and has been one of the greatest team players in all of sports over the last 2 decades.
Whatever the outcome tonight, the game will thrilling. A future Hall of Famer is taking the mound for a new team in hopes of extending his career and wining another championship.
I wish you all of the luck in the world Mr. Smoltz!!! You deserve nothing but the best. Go Get ‘Em!!!!
1988 Fleer Andre Dawson – Baseball MVP
Here’s another one of the ‘oddball’ Andre Dawson cards I picked up recently. While the design is not as appealing as some of the other subsets that Fleer created in the late 1980′s, the picture is what I am drawn to…
Even well after ‘The Hawk’ took his mighty swing you can still see the look of intensity in his gaze as he ripped through whatever the pitcher had hurled his way. By the look of the direction his famous stare is headed, it appears that Andre is trying to see if the ball has been called as fair or foul.
Oh, and it never hurts to have the brick wall of good old Wrigley Field in the background either!!
Posted in Andre Dawson Collection, Chicago Cubs, Stars from the 80's
Tagged all-star, Andre Dawson, baseball, baseball card show, baseball cards, boston red sox, Chicago Cubs, collecting, collection, Cubs, dania beach, Expos, florida baseball card show, Florida/Miami Marlins, gold glove, hobby, Marlins, montreal expos, most valuable player, MVP, red sox, Rookie of the Year, ROY, silver slugger, sports card show, the hawk
There are a ton of great websites out there paying homage to the game’s greatest players. While some sit stagnant and only update content 1 or 2 times a year, there are quite a few that remain fresh with new content added on a regular basis.
Of them, I think that one of the best is the Bob Feller Museum. This site is full of great graphics and features a ton of information about the oldest, living member of the Hall of Fame.
In addition to the incredible content of the site, the museum holds a lot of events with current and former players to raise funds. They have quite a schedule lined up and I wanted to pass this info along as there are some incredible guests lined up.
Check this out:
Fergie Jenkins – June 26, 2009
Jim Kaat – July 1, 2009
Reggie Jackson – July 11-13, 2009
Dale Murphy – September 19, 2009
Don Larsen – September 26, 2009
For full details about the events and costs for these autograph sessions, click here. The museum offers the opportunity to obtain autographs from some of the sport’s biggest stars at a lower price than what you may be asked to pay at a large convention or baseball card show.
Check out the museum. You should like what you see!!!
Posted in Autographs
Tagged all-star, authentic, autograph collecting, autograph hunting, Autographs, baseball, baseball cards, Bob Feller, bob feller museum, cleveland indians, cy young, cy young award, dale murphy, don larsen, Fergie Jenkins, Hall Of Fame, HOF, indians, jim kaat, reggie jackson, sports autographs
Mariano Rivera’s Race To 500 Saves!!! Part 11
6 games and counting without an appearance from Rivera. The Yankees could have sent ‘Mo’ on a nice cruise for the week… Jeez.
