My proposed Hall of Shame, within the Hall of Fame, would be like purgatory, waiting to get into Heaven as the case is debated. Baseball Commissioners have proven to be stubborn with their decisions. However, future circumstances might dictate these fallen player’s eligibility back in baseball, just as the Armando Gallarraga 28-out game (ruled out of a perfect game on the last out) eventually spurred the addition of replay and continues to be discussed. It opened eyes! Who knows, maybe a future commissioner will see the difference between good players and bad actions?
There were several “bad” players unofficially banned from baseball before the creation of the office of Commissioner of Baseball in 1921. They later had their bans made “official” by baseball’s first Commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who made it clear that gambling would not be tolerated. Landis barred a total of nineteen people during his tenure, five more than all of his successors combined. Of the nineteen, two were re-instated by Landis, one was re-instated by a successor and sixteen remain banned.
Long before Landis came to power and dating back to 1865, Thomas Devyr, Ed Duffy, and William Wansley of the New York Mutuals were banned for associating with known gamblers. John Radcliff of the Chicago White Stockings was banned in 1874 after attempting to bribe an umpire. The White Stockings, predecessors of the Cubs, were prohibited from using “Chicago” as part of their name beginning in 1900. The city of Chicago was soon to become the poster child for bad behavior in baseball.
All of these early players were eventually reinstated. George Bechtel of the National League Louisville Grays was banned in 1876 for conspiring to intentionally lose a game and never reinstated. His teammates, Jim Devlin, George Hall, Al Nichols, and Bill Craver followed in 1877 and were also never reinstated. Fellow NL competitor Lip Pike of Worchester arose suspicions for his play in 1881, and was banned, blacklisted, then finally reinstated in 1883.
As for non-players before the Landis regime, bans were issued to umpire Dick Higham in 1882 for conspiracy, New York Giants team physician Joseph Marie Creamer, III for bribery, St. Louis Browns managers Jack O’Connor and Henry Howell for attempting to fix the outcome of the 1910 American League batting title, and the 1912 Philadelphia Phillies owner, Horace Fogel for asserting that umpires were making unfair calls against his team. The are no records of reinstatement for any of these men.
Henry Zimmerman, also known as “Heinie” or “The Great Zim” was another famous case. He played third base for the Chicago Cubs and New York Giants, winning the National League triple crown in 1912. He was banned for fixing games with suspicion arising after his poor performance in the 1917 World Series. This was two years before the Black Sox scandal, but it took another two years for it to become official by Landis in 1921, following the trial testimony of his manager John Mcgraw, who was reluctant to turn him in.
Joe “Moon” Harris of the Cleveland Indians was banned in 1920 when he chose to play for an independent team rather than the Indians, violating the reserve clause. This proved to be simply breaking the rules but not the law, and he was justifiably reinstated by Commissioner Landis in 1922, in part for his service during WW II. Another non-gambling related ban occurred back in 1877, when Oscar Walker was accused of “contract jumping” by signing to play for another team while still under contract to the team he left. This was 98-years prior to free agency, another example of how time changes the rules.
The following year, Hal Chase of the New York Giants was banned for gambling with accusations extending back to 1910. This indiscretion also cost him a managerial position. He was also suspended in 1918 by Reds manager Christy Mathewson for fixing games and traded to the Giants. By the end of the 1919 season, NL president John Heydler disclosed evidence of Chase bribing players on other teams and had him blackballed, so neither league would touch him. 1921 was a bad year to face Commissioner Landis. Joe Gedeon of the St. Louis Browns, and Eugene Paulette of the Philadelphia Phillies, Lee Magee of the Chicago Cubs were all banned for conspiring or associating with known gamblers. Heinie Groh of the Cincinnati Reds was banned for two-days before agreeing contract salary terms. Play or face lifetime banishment was Landis’ ultimatum. On the criminal side, Bennie Kauff of the New York Giants was banned for selling stolen cars. Even though he was acquitted, the Judge considered him “no longer a fit companion for other ball players.” Ray Fisher of the Reds violated his contract by accepting a coaching position at the University of Michigan, Landis ruled. Bowie Kuhn reversed this decision in 1980, following the death of Landis.
In 1922, Dickie Kerr of the White Sox, one of the “Clean Sox,” was banned for violating the reserve clause in his contract and was reinstated three-years later. Also, Phil Douglas of the New York Giants received a Landis ban for allegedly threatening to “jump” the team for the pennant stretch to spite coach McGraw. Judge Landis was obviously a no-nonsense strict ruler, and players began to fall in line after his first year in office.
1923 was quiet but in 1924, Jimmy O’Connell of the New York Giants and his coach, Cozy Dolan, were both banned for bribing a Phillies shortstop. William D. Cox, the owner of the Phillies, was the last living person banned by Landis in 1943 for betting. Landis seemed to feast on Philly owners.
In his most celebrated case, Judge Landis officially went to work on the eight players of the Chicago White Sox. All were banned in 1921 for conspiring with gamblers to throw the 1919 World Series, known as the Black Sox scandal. We’ll get into that in the next installment.
I guess I really know how to pick ’em, but how can I blame the 8-year-old child that fell in love with the Chicago White Sox 65-years ago in 1959. However, the 2024 version now needs to go 12-19 the remainder of the season to avoid tying the 1962 New York Mets (40-120-1) for the modern major league record for most losses in a season. They currently stand at an embarrassing 31-100 (.236). Thankfully, they will fall short of the all-time record held by the Cleveland Spiders, who finished 20-134 (.129) in 1899. History tells us just how bad this team has been after already losing their 100th game of this season at the hands of the Detroit Tigers. Only the 1916 Philadelphia A’s, who were 29-100-1 (.223), reached 100 losses in fewer games than the White Sox.
My stinking Sox have lost 100 or more games six times in franchise history and now in consecutive seasons for the first time. They went 61-101 last season under manager Pedro Grifol, who was fired Aug. 8. They are currently 3-11 under interim replacement Grady Sizemore. Their worst losing season was in 1970 when they lost 106-games, soon to be surpassed. You then have to go back to 1932 to find a worst winning percentage with the 49-102-1 (.325) club.
I understand that there is a Bill Veeck-like promotion where the first five people in line will make the starting lineup in an upcoming White Sox game. Veeck did things like this to attract crowds back in the day (See Post #257). Speaking of this, I was finally able to see a Savannah Bananas game in its entirety thanks to TruTV. I’ve obviously seen highlights of this spectacle that I liken to the Harlem Globetrotter shenanigans of my childhood. The closest thing in person that I’ve seen are the Portland Pickles, who play a serious brand of baseball but engage in extensive crowd antics. This is what attracts the crowds to the Minor League parks these days.
On a more serious note, my current favorite active MLB player, outside of Kyle Schwarber, is Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, even though I can’t say that the Dodgers are my favorite team. Japanese-star, Ohtani, has joined the elite 40-40 club, a group of batters, currently six, who have collected 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in a single season. There are still 31-games to go before the playoffs and Ohtani has done it in the fewest number of games. The club also includes Jose Conseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alphonso Soriano, and Ronald Acuna, Jr.
Last but not least, Florida won it first-ever Little League World Series. The team from Lake Mary “needed to win four elimination games and come from behind in both the semi-finals and finals to secure the championship, but thanks to a perfect bunt and a defensive miscue, they won it all.” They beat Chinese Taipei 2-1 in Williamsport. These are some future stars that the White Sox desperately need.
Sherm Lollar would have been 100 years old today and has been gone from our lives for nearly half of those, unable to promote his own cause. I never met the man, but he’s had as big of impact on my life as anyone. I find it difficult to explain, having a childhood sports hero and never outgrowing it. I saw him in the World Series on TV, saw him play in person, and adopted his uniform #10 as my own lucky number. I have his 1955 jersey hanging in my office, several of his catcher gloves, all of his baseball cards, and hundreds of clippings, photos, and endorsed merchandise preserved in binders. There is no sane reason why a grown man like me should have these items, yet others collect memorabilia from stars like Elvis and The Beatles, while sports enthusiasts pay thousands for signatures and game-used items. We’re all crazy about our heroes!
I had a few of his baseball cards and photos when I joined a group of collectors while living in Portland about ten years ago. While they dwelled on the popular names like Mickey Mantle, for example, I decided to focus on Sherm Lollar. They were in it for the investment and paid big dollars for their items, I was in it for the love of the game and the man. Besides, I didn’t have the pocketbook for the big names in baseball. I’ve written about him many times in this blog (See Post #5).
Sherm Lollar should have been a Hall-of-Fame name for his defense alone. There are so few, less than 20, that got this distinction for their work behind the plate. Over 18-years of Major League Baseball he achieved an unbelievable .992 fielding average despite the antiquated equipment that they used back then. The catchers that make it into Cooperstown also made an offensive impact, although the reason I was initially drawn to him was the home run that he hit in the 1959 World Series against the Dodgers, along with five hits. Everyone, including me, is a sucker for the long ball, but it’s the leadership skills and other overlooked talents that should be in the Hall-of-Fame formula.
Sherm Lollar is not a household name and is too often ignored. For example, the State of Arkansas, where he was born and raised, does not even mention him among the athletes on their website. I wrote the director a note yesterday about the significance of Sherm Lollar’s 100th birthday and included these facts:
- Born August 23, 1924, in Dunham, Arkansas
- Bat boy for the Fayetteville Bears Class D Minor League club
- American Legion Post #27 1938-1940 (named Graduate Player of Year in 1958)
- Played for a Kansas semi-pro team in 1943 while working the mines. Signed by the Baltimore Orioles of the International League at age 18.
- International League MVP 1945
- Major League debut April 20, 1946, with the Cleveland Indians. Played for 18 seasons with 4 different teams (Indians, Yankees, Browns, White Sox).
- Cleveland Indians back-up for both Frank Hayes who held the 312-streak of most consecutive games played by a catcher, and up-and-coming All-Star Jim Hegan.
- Caught a Bob Feller complete game in 1946 and scored the only run.
- Traded to the Yankees at the end of the 1946 season where he competed with Yogi Berra for the starting role in 1947 and earned his first World Series ring.
- Started two games in the 1947 World Series and went 3 for 4 with two doubles. Yogi Berra got the first pinch-hit home run in World Series history in Game 3 after pinch-hitting for him.
- Wrist injury forced his trade to the Browns, after it was determined by HOF Manager Bill Dickey that Yogi’s left-handed bat was more suitable for Yankee Stadium’s short porch in right.
- Earned his first of 7 All-Star selections (nine games) in 1949 with the Browns
- Traded to the Chicago White Sox for the 1952 season, the worst of his career.
- Tied a Major League record in 1955 by getting two hits in each of two innings of the same game.
- Career on-base percentage was higher than Berra’s (.357 versus.348).
- Hit a career-high .293 with 28 doubles in 1956.
- Caught Bob Keegan’s no-hitter in 1957
- Helped the White Sox to their first American League pennant since the Black Sox scandal of 1919, guiding the pitching staff to the lowest ERA in the league.
- Had five hits and five RBI’s, including a home run in the 1959 World Series.
- Caught a record-tying six pop-ups in one game
- Inaugural Major League Gold Glove Award recipient for catcher in 1957. Also won the American League Award in 1958 & 1959.
- .992 Lifetime fielding percentage, a ML record in his era
- Retired from playing in 1963, following a thumb fracture.
- Bullpen coach of the Baltimore Orioles from 1964-1967, earning a 2nd World Series ring in 1966.
- Bullpen coach of the 1968-69 Oakland Athletics (Catfish Hunter perfect game)
- Iowa Oaks Manager 1970-1972
- Tucson Toros Manager 1973 and 1974
- Died September 24, 1977
- Member of the Chicago White Sox All-Century Team.
That’s a remarkable career that is on the very fringe of Hall-of-Fame greatness, as are other historic figures in the game. Not everyone can get in, but some are on the doorstep like Sherm Lollar. I’m hoping that Arkansas answers my e-mail because I would like to discuss what to do with my collection of his stuff. I may very well have the largest in the world and have spent a lot of dollars and time to let it be thrown in a dumpster someday.
Happy 100th Birthday Sherm – I will be celebrating a 73rd myself in a few days. To honor the day, I bought a Sherm Lollar endorsed Rawlings mitt in a stylish glass case that goes nicely with an old newspaper ad of him and Ed Bailey. It reads: “Follow the Leaders…you can’t miss if you take a tip from the pros.”
Or should I say Hall of Shame?
I’ve often thought that Cooperstown should have a separate wing for the Bad Boys. After all, there are some “Bad Boys” in the Basketball Hall of Fame, with the induction of those Detroit Pistons of the late 1980s who earned this gritty nickname like Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Bill Laimbeer. They were just tough guys on the court and because they were hated and supposedly “played dirty” they were also accused of cheating their way to the championship. Sometimes, rough play can be considered cheating, just as being stronger, bigger, or craftier. The Bad Boys section for baseball, however, would be reserved for the guys who the writers and Hall of Fame executives shunned as cheaters, unworthy of a place on the hallowed walls of this upstanding institution.
So far, the “bad” have been left out in favor of the good, even in these times when bad can mean good, so certainly those currently banned players have their role in the history of the game. There are those guilty by association, groups and pairs like the Chicago Black Sox eight, Jack O’Connor and Harry Howell of the St. Louis Browns, along with Jimmy O’Connell and Cozy Dolan of the New York Giants. Those accused alone were Gene Paulette, Pete Rose, Horace Fogel, Lee Magee, Ray Fisher, Phil Douglas, Jerry Mejia, John Coppolella, Bennie Kauff, and Chris Correa. 24 players in all have been banned by Major League Baseball. Most of these men would not be known except for their indiscretion.
I can remember, as a child, encountering my first cheaters, those that bent the rules in their favor. They pushed and shoved, bullied their way to the front, even tried to trip you up. They peeked at your answers on exam day and stole the candy bar from your lunch sack, or worse yet your lunch money. Some got caught but too many others didn’t. “Rules are made to be broken,” was their philosophy, and they took every opportunity to make themselves a winner, especially in the sand lots where there were no referees. If not, they blamed you for their loss.
Sore losers and poor sports are part of every game, organized or not. Those looking for the easy way to victory are obviously under a lot of pressure to win at any cost. This was initially fueled by peers, parents, and even coaches.
Gambling has gotten many in trouble, as has stealing signals, leaving early on a tag, doctoring the ball or bat, bullying, doping, avoiding the tag, altering the grounds, and age fabrication. It extends from players to top level management and ownership. Those at any level who deliberately violate or circumvent the game’s rules to gain an unfair advantage against an opponent. However, there is also a fine line between cheating and gamesmanship that creates a gray area in reinforcement rulings. The million-dollar question becomes “What can I get away with?”
To be continued…..
Shohei Ohtani joined the 30-30 Club, despite a recent draught that has hopefully only temporarily dropped him out of the Triple Crown race. In Chicago related sports, the Cubs took the series from the Cardinals to at least rise from the cellar to face the Twins and White Sox, while bed-ridden Steve McMichael was honored by the HOF and the Bears won a rain-shortened game over the Texans in Canton. Former Cubs World Series hero, Kyle Schwarber, now a Philly, hit his 41st career leadoff homer, and the 10th of this season in a 6-0 victory over the trade-depleted Marlins. Alfonso Soriano’s 13 in 2003 as a Yankee is the record he is chasing. Schwarbs and Ohtani faced each other in LA, both in a DH role.
Schwarber homered once in game two and three times in game 3 to boost his season total to 27 (11 lead-off shots) while Ohtani homered in the opener (#34).
Currently tied for seventh on the single season leadoff homer list, Schwarber joined Soriano as the only players with multiple seasons of 10-plus leadoff homers and is not done yet. If Schwarber can get to 3 more home runs from the top of the batting order at any point this season, he will be the first player since at least 1974 to have three consecutive such years. In addition, he’s the first Phillies player since Jayson Werth in 2008 with 3 homers and 7 RBIs in a game. He ties a career high and delivers his first ever 4-4 game. He is batting 364 over the last 15 games.
Ohtani and the Dodgers are slumping, as the surging Diamondbacks and Padres, both with 9 wins in their last 10 games, have closed the gap to two games — the smallest margin since late April. Ohtani’s batting average has slipped to .294 after the Brewers series and from .316 since the All-Star break. He and his teammates travel to St. Louis and Busch Stadium for Players Weekend where he has yet to have a career homer.
Gavin Sheets matched a career high with four hits and drove in four runs, Korey Lee and Brooks Baldwin homered and the Chicago White Sox gave interim manager Grady Sizemore his first win, pounding the New York Yankees 12-2. This was of course after losing 24 of 25.
The Little League World Series is underway, and as we passed through New Jersey, I couldn’t help but think of 1998 when Toms River, New Jersey, defeated Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan in the championship game of the 52nd Little League World Series. The title game was punctuated by a standout performance by future White Sox and 2015 MLB Home Run Derby champion Todd Frazier, who went 4-for-4 with a lead-off home run, and was also the winning pitcher. He retired from baseball in 2022.
As a final note or two, TruTV has agreed to broadcast five Savannah Banana games. I’ve set my record function in hope of catching some of the action. After all, tickets are both expensive and hard to get. Plus, Da Bears are now 3-0 in the preseason. It could be a good year.
July marked the end of the MLB trade deadline, so I was keeping an eye on the wire while we traveled. The Cubs picked up a reliever, Nate Pearson, and All-Star Isaac Paredes in exchange for popular Christopher Morel. The White Sox, after 14-straight losses and only 27-wins in 108-games had yet to make a move until the last few days… pitcher Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham to the Cards, along with Michael Kopech to the Dodgers in a 3-way swap, while the Cubs dealt Mark Leiter, Jr. to the Yanks for futures. The Sox got more prospects in exchange but nothing to rescue this pitiful season.
As the trade deadline loomed, Pham was back with the Cards, former teammate Paul DeJong, also with the Pale Sox, went to the Mets, and Jorge Soler was reunited with the Braves. Danny Jansen of the Blue Jays, sent to the Red Sox, could end up playing for both teams in the same suspended game. This has yet to happen in the 121-year history of the MLB. Injury-prone Eloy Jimenez is moving his medical baggage to Baltimore.
The chump White Sox lost their franchise record 15th, no 16th, no 17th, no 18th, no 19th, no 20th, no 21st straight game, swept by the Mariners, Royals, Twins, and A’s, dubiously besting Baltimore’s 1988 swoon. It beat their previous mark of 14 set less than two months ago, another of the Top-40 all-time losing streaks in MLB history (tied at #38). It’s been that kind of year! They matched the 1988 Orioles with 21 consecutive losses after becoming the seventh team in MLB history to lose 20 games in a row. They join the company that includes:
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1961 Philadelphia Phillies, 23 games
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2024 Chicago White Sox. 21 games
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1988 Baltimore Orioles, 21 games
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1969 Montreal Expos, 20 games
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1943 Philadelphia Athletics, 20 games
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1916 Philadelphia Athletics, 20 games
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1906 Boston Americans, 20 games
The pain and embarrassment finally ended on the threshold of the 1961 Phillies record with a 5-1 win over the A’s. Jonathan Cannon gave up one run over six innings to stave his personal drought while helping the White Sox to their first victory since early July. One straight win! Never mind, “One Straight Loss” thanks to the A’s, followed immediately by the firing of Manager Pedro Grifol, just in time to play the Cubs, another two losses and perhaps the beginning of another record slump by the chumps.
There is a wealth of knowledge in my neighborhood. Retired accountants, bankers, lawyers, brokers, and doctors – men and women. I learn something new every day or benefit from their expertise when they assist the HOA on contract negotiations. They might help save money on insurance, zoning, or investments, for example, to keep our annual costs down. I often wish I had skills like this, but my media background doesn’t necessarily apply. What do I have to offer?
Sadly, my chief interest and wealth of knowledge these days seems to be baseball cards, for what it’s worth. It’s like going full circle back to childhood and skipping all those years of doing business. In the back of my mind is the hope that I uncover something valuable, but maybe all that matters is that it makes me happy. I keep thinking of my childhood neighbor, who hit me square in the forehead with a rock, requiring stitches. He was a little older and had an impressive assortment of baseball cards and enviable knowledge. As he and his mother came to see me in bed after the accident, they brought me a box of unopened baseball cards as an apology. I’m sure it was the mother’s idea! It took all the pain away and made me want another hit in the head. The baseball cards are long gone but the scar is still there.
Baseball cards tell a story and finding them like a treasure hunt. I have about ten massive binders of them, carefully organized by team and player. All of them are valuable to me, regardless of condition or worth. They bring back memories and inspire me to learn more about the history of the game. I have several neighbors that feel the same way. I spent yesterday afternoon with one of them, who made it his business. For many years, he was a distributor for Topps, the major brand in baseball cards that has bought out everyone else. They are currently capitalizing on the current resurgence of the hobby, that also extends to all other sports, video games, celebrities, and even Disney.
He eventually established his own trading card business, having recently sold it, but keeping an active role while in his 80’s. I wanted to drool when he showed me a recent shipment of classic cards that he bought for resale. We’re headed to a local card show today, but just to look, and not as an exhibitor, as is his norm. He’s off to the National Sports Card Convention in Cleveland next week. I wish I had the mad money to attend and participate, but I continue to get satisfaction on a smaller scale, by hanging with neighbors like this. No different than when I was a kid.
If I had an extra quarter growing up, I’d hop on my bike and head to the nearby grocery store to buy five packs of cards (5-cents each). All was right in the world, as I’d sit on the curb and open them like a Christmas package. Back then, they also contained a flat, pink, slab of bubble gum, so the scent became associated with the cards, as I’d begin to organize them once I got back home, sometimes putting together All-Star teams. Then, we’d get out the Whiffle ball and bat to play Home Run Derby as our favorite player. I’d imagine myself as Mickey Mantle, until I found a new hero, Sherm Lollar. These days, I’d be Kyle Schwarber or Shohei Ohtani at the plate.
I’ve been striking out a lot recently while participating in what they call “Card Breaks,” sharing the cost of buying several boxes and paying to keep the cards of the team of your choice. I’m not willing to invest in the higher-priced Dodgers or Yankees, so I tend to stick with the lower-priced White Sox or Cubs. Naturally, all the more desirable autograph and relic cards never seem to come my way. I prefer the random draws, but luck is never in my favor, so I’m still stuck with the less desirables, but content with the Hope.
Despite my better judgement, I keep buying baseball cards. It’s a sad addiction that now seems to be my sole retirement hobby, besides writing about it. I check the Topps Now website daily and recently subscribed to their e-mails, as if I don’t get enough already. I’m also a “Top Fan” of the local Blue Breaks Card Shop and participate in their weekly Hobby RIP Nights. I guess you could say that I now have so many baseball cards that the store owner is starting to display them for me. Most all of my Shohei Ohtani cards (and I’m not even a Dodger’s fan) are stored in a glass case there, hoping for a buyer.
I am a White Sox fan, and follow the Cubs, but most of those player cards have dropped in value to the point that they are worthless. The Sox are easily the worst team in baseball, having lost their 65th game last night. Tim Anderson, following the trade to Miami, was recently designated for assignment, Jose Abreu, traded to the Astros, is washed-up. Yoan Moncada is injured while stars like Luis Roberts and Eloy Jimenez are hitting .230 – no need to dwell. My extensive collection of Sherm Lollar merchandise is unwanted. The Cubs are in last place in the Central division and all my favorites like Bryant, Rizzo, and Baez are playing for other teams.
Last week, on RIP Night, I traded the Blue Jays for the White Sox. I might have had a valuable Vladimir Guerrero card, instead I got a Tim Anderson, just hours before he was sent back to the minors. This week in “The Break” I drew the Twins and Royals, hoping for Jose Miranda, Bobby Whitt, Jr., or Joe Ryan, players that I really don’t care about. I also can’t explain why I bought a Topps Now Miranda yesterday after he made a historical twelve consecutive hits. I guess I did it for trade bait, but I’ve yet to find anyone to trade.
I’ve used the word “Break” in reference to baseball cards during several recent posts. Allow me to have an internet “expert” clarify what it means: “Breaking refers to the practice of opening multiple boxes or cases of a product at the same time, and then distributing the cards to a larger group of paying customers. Breakers sell ‘slots’ to their breaks, and customers receive a defined portion of the opened product. In some cases, the customers will pay for a specific team, which entitles them to any card belonging to a player from that team; in other cases, the customer is simply given a randomized allotment.”
“Breaking has become a major business within the trading card world. Breakers operate websites and often stream their breaks on social media platforms. For high-stakes breaks, it isn’t uncommon for thousands of people to tune in and watch even though they aren’t paying for a slot or receiving any cards.”
I’ve admittedly experimented with Fanatics sites like Mama Breaks and Black Tie Breaks to try and understand this phenomenon. It reminds me of playing fantasy sports where you pick your players, hoping that they perform well. I never had much luck with that game either, because I get too emotional when I pick my players or teams, like the White Sox and Cubs. It’s all gambling, disguised as a hobby, but I’m addicted. In reality, anyone that I pick is likely to “break” an arm or leg.
My eyes are still sensitive to sunlight, hence the bulky, black sunglasses. I went out to fix both yard fountains this morning in the cooler temperatures and found myself breathless, another indication that I need to continue the gym work to get back into shape. After I’m done writing this morning, I’ll walk to the fitness center and do the stationary bike, rowing machines, and weights that are now my daily routine. I often feel spent on the walk back.
Our electric fireplace was finally installed yesterday but will need some finishing tile. Because of our concrete walls, the size of the plug did not allow it to fit flush with the wall as expected. We watched the flames dance and felt its warmth that was not necessary on another hot, humid Floriday day. It’s just another home improvement project that was crossed off the list but then added another to-do line.
I went to another baseball card trade night last evening with expectations of leaving with fewer numbers in my collection. Instead, I exchanged two cards for twelve, adding to my bulging binders. Tonight, I am participating in an on-line break, having drawn the Toronto Blue Jays. I promptly traded for the White Sox, the worst team in baseball, for the second worst. This tends to be my luck in these games of chance, but at least the Sox are my team through thick and thin. With unwrapped cards dating back two years, maybe I’ll get a good break, but more likely there will be a valuable Blue Jays card revealed.
Breaking is the latest phenomenon with card collectors. Instead of buying a box of cards, you share the contents of several boxes with others, adding variety and value. You pay a fee and either pick your team or rely on the luck of the draw, depending on the offer. Each pack of cards is unwrapped separately during an on-line event. Unlike the old days, there is no bubble gum prize, just rare variations like parallels, special finishes, numbered, and game-used relics that add unique value to the standard player’s traditional issue. These also command higher prices on the resale market, when at one time only supply and demand determined prices. This was the case with Honus Wagner when his tobacco cards were destroyed because he did not appreciate the association. This left very few on the market and determined its multi-million-dollar worth.
I’m not sure whether I like to watch the unwrapping ceremonies over opening them myself. It’s always like Christmas when a sealed pack of cards is opened, at least for me. Opening a full box is even more thrilling but the investment is sometimes prohibitive. This is why sharing the cost has become popular through these lotteries, plus multiple boxes add to the drama. I’d rather have complete control and keep all of the cards, but these chance breaks like tonight better fit my retirement budget. Go Sox!
We have dinner tonight with another card collector and his wife. He once owned his own trading card business, so it will be interesting to see what he has in the way of White Sox merchandise. I find it amazing to see how card collecting interests have exploded in the past few years with football garnering the most attention Hobby cards like Lorcana and Pokeman have also attracted younger interest. There are also hockey, auto racing, basketball, history, celebrities, soccer, and every other sport as options, depending on taste. I’m sticking with baseball in search of that illusive Honus Wagner. Give me a break!
I’ve been to a lot of Cubs games in my lifetime, most at Wrigley Field but some at Sox Park during the Crosstown Classic. I’ve seen them in Phoenix during Spring Training and during Covid had tickets for games that were cancelled. Most importantly, I watched them win a World Series game in the Wrigley stands thanks to my wife and her ticket contacts. Since that time, I rarely got to see them play, living so far away and without access to tickets. Our retirement from the media business has limited our opportunities to see free concerts and games. However, my wife and I have been on a bit of a road winning streak these last few years.
We saw them win in San Francisco with the entire family in 2017 and again in 2018 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Finally, in 2021 we all went to Pittsburgh for a 9-0 victory. Last night, it all came to an end in the bottom of the 9th against the Rays at Tropicana Stadium. A walk-off 3-run homer by Brandon Lowe sealed the loss, a first for my son in many years to going to Cubs games, even without me. I was privileged last night to watch the game with “Three Generations of Cub Fans,” including my grandson and my wife who bought us a brick with that inscription, embedded in the walkways around Wrigley Field. My grandson isn’t much of a baseball fan and in fact bought a new Rays cap just before that final blow. My son’s wife and two daughters did not join us, so their Cubs victory streak is still intact.
I followed some other baseball last night while sitting in the stands, gorging myself on hot dogs, pulled pork nachos, and dip-n-dots. As you can see, not all was lost. We had good family bonding time and a 2-0 lead most of the game. Our area, after a persistent draught, has had a deluge of recent rainfall, while heavy showers made it challenging to get to and from St. Pete. I was glad my son was driving. Too many unknowledgeable neighbors and friends asked if the game was rained-out, not realizing that it is a covered stadium. It made for pleasant, dry and airconditioned conditions. In other MLB action, two of my favorite players, former Cub, Kyle Schwarber had two home runs for the Phillies last night, while Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers also homered. Sadly, my White Sox lost too, their 51st of a season that’s not even half over!
“Take me out to the ballgame,” always makes a game memorable, as we all sang along arm-in-arm. “Root, root, root for the CUBBIES,” drowned out the home-team Rays chant, so a lot of fans went home disappointed thanks to the “L” rather than “W.” There are two games left in the series, but we won’t make the drive again this year, and it will be several more years before the Cubs schedule will allow them to return. Who knows when we’ll see the Cubs play again, but thanks to our Braves Spring Training facility next door, there will be much more baseball in our lives. Go, Cubs, Go!
