January 2008
The Greatest Hitter of All Time
" Do I believe steroids and growth hormone helped me achieve that ? Yes. "
- Jose Canseco 
" I was a guy who practiced until the blisters bled, and then practiced some more. When I was a kid I carried my bat to class with me. I’d run a buddy’s newspaper route if I could get him to shag flies for me. When I played for San Diego, I paid kids to shag flies on my day off." – Ted Williams
1953 Topps Baseball Cards
From 1978-1987, I was an avid baseball card collector. Like most kids, I gave it up as I got older. Now that I have my own son, I have come back to those cards. There are thousands. I have started to sort them, so that I may pass that collection onto my son. I have also sparked an interest in starting a new collection; the 1953 Topps set. Beautiful colors and true greats from years ago. It also features a good friend of mine; Red Sox infielder Ted Lepcio. I am have half way there. I have acquired Jackie Robinson, Satchell Paige and Willie Mays. I have even got a couple autographed ones along the way, including Hall of Famer, George Kell. Thanks George.
People argue for Mint condition. I like the dog eared corners and creases. Those bruises tell stories. Were the cards in back pockets, bicycle spokes, the washing machine ? After all. Isn’t that were cards were for ?
James Edward Rice
If you grew up in Boston in the late 70′s/early 80′s then you knew Jim Rice was legendary. I can remember quite succinlty the summer of ’78 when my brother had a Jim Rice poster and I had a Carlton Fisk. This led to daily feuding on the importance of each player to the team. In hindsight, Rice was unbelievable. Arguably the greatest threat in baseball.
‘Jim Ed’ was not a fan favorite however. Fenway fans had come to look New England’s Fisk, Captain Yaz and the star Lynn. things became worse when Hobson, Lynn, Fisk and Burleson changed teams. Pressure mounted on Rice and he responded, but his salary increased and no championships came. Fans became disgruntled that Rice, alone could not deliver a championship.
He also had a penchant for hitting into double plays. In the early 80′s, Fenway would often show their frustration by chanting ’6-4-3′ every time Rice stepped into the batter’s box. Keep in mind, Rice hit into so many dp’s, because he hit the ball so hard!
His stats are Hall of Fame numbers. A plea to the writers, if Cepeda, Puckett, Sutton, Perez and Hunter are in; vote Rice in next year. Please. He deserves it. A class act throughout all his exposure.
Mirabelli’s Back
Looks like Doug Mirabelli will be back with the Sox next year. Everybody knocks Mirabelli as the Official Catcher of Tim Wakefiled. Yes it is true, he would be out of MLB if not for Wakefield… but Doug and his wife Kristen bring a great community presence to Boston. This PR is an intangible for the Sox. His leadership and experience will also go a long way to the growing crop of rookie pitchers the Sox have on the way up.
On a more somber note. Rest in peace Buddy LeRoux. For all the turmoil surrounding his tenure, his legacy was great. A true entreprenuer and success story.
rickycan
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