Philadelphia Phillies MLB Team Work Gloves
From Forever Collectibles

Support your favorite team while working hard in these officially licensed work gloves from Forever Collectibles. These gloves are embroidered with authentic team logos and lettering and have plastic beading on the palm and fingers for extra grip. They have rib knit cuffs for a perfect fit and one size fits most. 55% and 45% PVC. Machine Washable.
Amazon Sales Rank: #140569 in Sports & Outdoors Brand: Forever Collectibles

   

MLB Atlanta Braves
From Aminco

Lanyard keychain or id holder detachable clip. Extra thick band great raised lettering on the lanyard you will not be disappointed with this product.
Brand: aminco

   

Bases Loaded: The Inside Story of the Steroid Era in Baseball by the Central Figure in the Mitchell Report
By Kirk Radomski

On a quiet street on Long Island early on a December morning in 2005, more than fifty federal agents stood outside a lovely new home waiting for the front door to be opened. When it did, there stood the central figure in one of the biggest scandals in sports history: Kirk Radomski.
Amazon Sales Rank: #70306 in Books Published on: 2009-01-27 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Binding: Hardcover 256 pages
About the Author Kirk Radomski worked in the New York Mets clubhouse for a decade. In 2007, the Mitchell Report on steroids in baseball drew heavily from his testimony in revealing the names of players who took performance-enhancing drugs.
RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "YOU LITERALLY COULD GROW MUSCLES WHILE YOU SLEEP!" Kirk Radomski is a former New York Mets clubhouse boy who grew from a fifteen-year-old gopher... for multi-million dollar Major League ballplayers... doing everything from picking up dirty, sweaty, jocks... to picking up bats and balls... to sweeping up the sloppy aftermath of spoiled ballplayers post-game messes... and eventually graduated to become one of the main figures in Senator George Mitchell's campaign to expose and "clean-up"... the awful... illegal... drug problem... that has stained... and tarnished... the grand-old-game-of-baseball. On April 26, 2007 Radomski "signed a plea agreement with the U.S. attorney in San Francisco, pleading guilty to one count of distribution of anabolic steroids and one count of money laundering." The author admits wholeheartedly without even a stammer... or an excuse... that he was definitely guilty. And in addition to the illegal drugs... Radomski admits his involvement with illegal "corked" bats... and twice providing Doc Gooden with his own urine... to pass baseball drug tests. And it's from this point... that this story is told. I am an "old-school" baseball fan... and like most true fans... am mad at what has been done to the reputation of the game that was part of almost every American boy's youthful dreams. Though this story is told from a different perspective than the Canseco books... there is one distasteful trait that both authors have in common. They are both so egotistical about their "talents" and "expertise" in the use of steroids... human growth hormone (HGH)... and all the other illegally used drugs that have damaged the game... and sullied... the holiest... of holy... records. Where Canseco would brag that he was the pioneer of steroid use in baseball... the Godfather of steroids... Radomski constantly brags that he knows sooo much more than any ballplayer about the proper use of these *ILLEGAL-DRUGS*. This bellowing braggadocio... is repeated... not just once... but over... and over... and over... again. Never do you hear either of these author's ever utter... even one word... of remorse... for the illegal activities they were involved in. Famous names of drug enhanced ballplayers... are spewed out like fastballs out of a pitching machine fully loaded. When the author is asked who was the first ballplayer he provided with drugs... he states that since he had become "the most reliable source in the game"... having given drugs to literally hundreds of players... he couldn't remember for sure... who the first player was... but he thinks it was Lenny Dykstra. He then goes into great detail of Lenny's use. From there the names that either bought from him... or came to the "Messiah" for advice... flowed like water over Niagara Falls... Denny Neagle... Ken Caminiti... Kenny Rogers... Paul Lo Duca... Rondell White... Eric Gagne... Todd Hundley... Mo Vaughn... and Kevin Brown... who Radomski said was the biggest A-hole of them all... and the list is almost endless. The egomaniacal character of the author is highlighted when he tells multiple players they're using the drugs wrong... and they disagree with him... and he warns them of injuries they will incur... and boom!... in a blink of an eye... they all get the injury the "master" predicted. What bothers me the most about the author's writing... is not that I doubt the names that are named... I absolutely believe that... it's the hypocrisy that the author's own words lynch himself with. And whether the author realizes it or not... he is also defeating the arguments of guys like Barry Bonds (who the author did not sell to... but states Bonds is the poster boy for someone who overindulges in multiple illegal drugs) that steroids doesn't make a difference. *Here's an example of hypocrisy* A friend of his (by the way he only sold to "friends"... another statement he contradicts himself on) catcher Todd Hundley who "may have been the first player I supplied with growth hormones"... The author writes of Hundley before he used HGH: "I LAUGHED AT PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED THAT PLAYERS LIKE TODD, WHO LOVED THE GAME AND WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD TO IMPROVE, OWED THEIR SUCCESS TO DRUGS." Yet five sentences later... when Hundley said: "Ok... I want to try anabolics. Can you put something together for me?" The author... two sentences later says: "DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU SEE YOUR HOME RUN NUMBERS DOUBLE; YOU'RE GOING TO HIT THIRTY, MAYBE EVEN FORTY." And then two sentences later Radomski writes: "I'D SEEN TODD PLAY A LOT OF GAMES, SO I KNEW THAT FOR HIM STEROIDS COULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN HIS POWER NUMBERS." Huh??? Turns out Todd had the best season of his entire career. He broke the single season home run record for a catcher, and the Mets home run record with forty-one. There are other examples like this throughout the book. The names are probably true... but the cumulative statements... contradict themselves... and are illogical. And then there's the "Canseco-like" uncontrollable ego: "I KNOW BASEBALL'S EXECUTIVES AND OWNERS VILIFY MY NAME, BUT THEY OUGHT TO BE ON THEIR HANDS AND KNEES THANKING ME. IT WAS ME, AND OTHER PEOPLE DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING, WHO ENABLED BASEBALL TO KEEP ITS STARS ON THE FIELD AS OFTEN AS PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE." "STEROIDS AND GROWTH HORMONES MAKE A POTENT COMBINATION-YOU LITERALLY COULD GROW MUSCLES WHILE YOU SLEEP." Reviewer's final note: There are still no tests for HGH. Please Major League Baseball... do something to clean-up our once proud... former national pastime. Radomski's Calm Approach Deserves Consideration For anyone seriously interested in baseball's steroid situation, this is essential reading. To be sure, the book has its flaws, including the author's frequent reminders of his many self-perceived good qualities. As we might expect from a person who made it his life to serve professional athletes, Radomski seems to think he was important because he spent time with big name athletes who made a lot of money. And like other "trainers," Radomski seems to want a lot of credit for what "his guys" accomplished on the field. But the flaws are easily tolerated, and what cannot be ignored is the way this book pushes the debate on steroids and human growth hormone. Like Jose Canseco, Radomski sees the substances so many have harshly condemned as things that enhanced player health. According to Radomski, Senator Mitchell was surprised that he "continued to defend the use of steroids and growth by baseball players." While stories about Radomski's relationships with various athletes probably fill too many pages, here's a very knowledgeable user and observer who says "growth hormones increased a player's healing ability." He says that although HGH doesn't "build muscle like steroids," it allowed athletes to "play at the peak of their abilities every day without enhancing their performance." Radomski sees HGH as something that let's the body heal more quickly than normal. Since "growth hormones promote healing while cortisone simply reduces pain," Radomski can't help but wonder why HGH is still illegal. After spending a few pages echoing themes that are more fully explored in "Asterisk: Home Runs, Steroids, and the Rush to Judgment" (Triumph Books 2008) (regarding some of the many reasons for increased home run figures that have nothing to do with steroids), Radomski says he is convinced that there "was never any crisis in confidence about the integrity of the game on the part of either the players, or really, the public." He argues that amphetamines (which were illegal but allegedly used by most of the players most of us regard as 100% legitimate) have a more immediate and direct impact on performance than steroids. Holding little back, Radomski concludes that "baseball has always tolerated cheating." What is likely to be important about this book is not Radomski's personal role in distributing steroids and HGH to so many players. Instead, the thing that will probably make this book memorable is Radomski's willingness to challenge the prevailing conventional wisdom -- a conventional wisdom that simultaneously sees steroids as magical substances that can turn a Clark Kent into Superman and poisons so dangerous even responsible adults who have to use their bodies to make a living shouldn't be allowed to take them. As Dr. Jesse Haggard points out in "Demystifying Steroids" (Author House 2008), "Proper use of steroids may offer significant quality of life improvements to both individuals and society as a whole. . . . [A]dditional research involving steroids [may] help us advance our understanding of the human body and possibly unlock our true human potential." Radomski may be wrong, but his book offers another informed and clear voice that may ultimately add some serious thought to today's overly emotional public debate. The Story Baseball Doesn't Want You to Read This book is must reading for anyone who really wants to get a complete understanding of the steroid/PED problem in baseball. Radomski, who had been in baseball for years, does an excellent job of explaining the game's culture that drove player after player to use PEDs. For players who always tried to keep up on whatever their peers were doing to help them perform better (look at all the players wearing those magnetic necklaces), it was virtually no different than getting the inside tip on a good tailor in each town. "Cheating" was not even part of the conversation. And Radomski lays out a good case why the baseball hierarchy -- from coaches, managers, and owners up to the commissioner -- all knew what was going on, but all kept quiet. He also correctly predicts the entire A-Rod saga, including A-Rod's rationale for using. After you read this book, you'll have no doubt the majority of MLB players did something, and many continue to use. (And why wouldn't anyone use HGH? MLB is not testing for it). For baseball fans, the book is ultimately disillusioning, but in my opinion better to know the real story. Not recommended for young impressionable idealistic fans.

   

Major League Baseball 2K8
From 2K Games

It's 2008 and it's time to hit home runs as 2KG Major League Baseball 2K8 brings you your best season ever. Thrilling features have been added to make this season more exciting. Are you out or in? Joe Morgan is announcing 2K8! Play ball!
Amazon Sales Rank: #11765 in Video Games Brand: 2K Sports Model: 15782911 Published on: 2008-03 Released on: 2008-03-04 ESRB Rating: Everyone Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .59" h x 5.45" w x 6.77" l, .25 pounds
The Complete MLB Experience: Major League Baseball 2K8 returns to the diamond with the most complete MLB experience available. Revolutionizing your control of the 5 tools in baseball are brand new pitching, fielding and baserunning controls and a completely overhauled batting interface. Featuring a totally unique trading card mode, robust Minor League system, all-new Signature Style animations for 2008, and more, Major League Baseball 2K8 brings a new level of fun to the virtual baseball world. Features: Swing Stick 2.0 - Unparalleled ball-to-bat contact, unlimited variety of hit types and more realistic at bats with deeper Inside Edge integration More Signature Style - New and improved player walk-ups, batting stances, waggles, home run celebrations, step-ins and step-outs bring each player to life in true, 2K Sports fashion Total Pitch Control - A revolutionary right analog stick pitching system. Right stick motions and timing determine pitch type, speed and accuracy. All-New Baserunning - Intuitive and simplified baserunning controls featuring overhauled AI now play a key role in offensive strategy Full Minor Leagues - 90 Minor League teams available in both Franchise and Exhibition modes, with over 20 authentic Minor League Stadiums and additional authentic Minor League Stadiums post ship via digital download 2K Cards - Earn them, collect them, share them,and trade them. The most in-depth card trading system ever, taking the MLB 2K community to a new level. 2K Sports Online - Over 1 million online gamers in the 2K community, go head-to-head against the best players on the planet Best Booth in the Business - 2K Sports proudly brings back the duo Jon Miller and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan to the broadcast booth, delivering the deepest commentary available
Disappointing... The graphics on a standard large-screen TV are not good. I have played PS3 titles on standard TV and the graphics are usually decent. This looks like a PS2 title. The hitting is semi-ridiculous. Both the CPU and human player make about a dozen circus catches a game. It is not uncommon to play multiple 2-1 games in a row, slightly ridiculous. There are also bugs galore. Instant replays that do not match what you are watching (i.e. a recap piece where a Home Run goes over the wall and the announcer says it was an inside the park HR). And of course, the game freezes. I played a 10 inning game today and it froze in the top of the 10th. Good Decent game for fans of the series. Controls are a bit clunky but nothing you can't get used to. Not even close We downloaded and played this game after playing MLB 08 The Show. This game has terrible graphics, the controls aren't very good either. The pitching interface didn't even make sense. I don't know, after playing The Show this game proves how far behind it really is. 2K8 has some nice games, but the baseball is just bad and full of glitches along with fumbling controls. I agree with the first guy...much more like a PS2 game graphically. The people involved with making this game need to take a long, hard look at MLB '08 to see how a true baseball game should be made. Bad showing 2K8. Thank goodness for demos because this would be a waste of money.

   

Baseball Betting & Handicapping: Receive All My "Top Rated" Sports Picks For Life And Start Spanking Your Bookie! (Volume 1)
By Harry J. Misner

RECEIVE ALL MY "TOP RATED" SPORTS PICKS FOR LIFE VIA PICKSNETWORK.COM LOGIN ACCESS This book includes a copy of my "GAMBLING AIMLESSLY (GA) is for Bitches" Book which will show you how to change your Betting Advantage to atleast +120 instead of -110, and LIFETIME Picks Service VIA the Internet through the Picks Network Website (a $2,999 VALUE). Which will include ALL my TOP Rated sports picks for College Basketball, College Football, NFL Football, NBA Basketball, and MLB Baseball. Instructions to obtain the LIFETIME free picks service can be found on PAGE 3 of this book.

About the Author www.PicksNetwork.com

   

2009 Who's Who in Baseball


Annual Publication of Baseball Statistics


Love getting acquainted with each year's new version! I've been buying--and loving--these little volumes since the 1960s (I think I still have the 1964 book somewhere in my library). To get ready for the new baseball season, this jam-packed book of facts and figures is a great resource as you prepare to watch the games of the new year unfold. The concept is simple: list players with their batting and pitching statistics back to their first entry into professional baseball. The first entry is Bobby Abreu. 241 home runs, 1084 RBIs, .300 life time batting average. First played in the big leagues in 1997 (Houston). Last entry--Joel Zumaya (batters are first and pitchers second in the book). Lifetime record is 8-8 with a 2.76 ERA. One of ,my favorite juxtapositions. . . On pages 170-171, we have Frank Thomas, followed immediately by Jim Thome. Fascinating comparison. Thomas: 8199 at bats, 2468 hits, 495 doubles, 521 home runs, 1704 RBIs. Thome: 7344 at bats, 2048 hits, 397 doubles, 541 home runs, 1488 RBIs. And that's part of the fun of this book. Comparing players, trying to develop your ratings of who are the best and who remain the rest. . . . So, if you enjoy baseball statistics and want the basics of who has done what with their careers, this is a portable and useful volume. Highly recommended! Purchased this for my dad As the title suggests, I bought this for my dad. He, like any other Baseball aficionado, will love this book. I personally am not a big fan of Baseball, but I would pick up a copy for myself if I were. a must-have I've been buying this since I was about 12. Unfortunately, it gets harder to find every year. If you love baseball, then you love baseball statistics and records. Open this little volume up to any page, sit back...and suddenly it's an hour later. Just like when you were 12. What a treasure it is, same format, same red cover, same total lack of pretension or glitz. Perfect.

   

The New York Yankees 2009 World Series Collector's Edition
From A&E Home Video

Every complete game from the 2009 World Series will be available to own in this one-of-a-kind 8-DVD collector's set. Each definitive 2009 World Series game is presented in its entirety, preserving the complete, unedited footage of every World Series game and key postseason games--plus exclusive locker room celebrations and interviews. Release Date: 12/15/09
Amazon Sales Rank: #897 in DVD Brand: MLB Released on: 2009-12-15 Rating: NR (Not Rated) Aspect ratio: 1.33:1 Formats: Box set, Collector's Edition, Color, DVD, NTSC Original language: English Number of discs: 8

Great way to relive the World Series All 6 games of the 2009 WS plus game 6 of the ALCS are included in this box set. 4 different audio tracks. Fox TV, WCBS Radio (John Sterling), Phillies Radio and ESPN Desportes. Plus an extra disc of bonus features. Looks like another winner from MLB home video. Great Series Marred by Sub-Par Video Quality In theory this set looks simply spectacular: All 6 games of the 2009 World Series, with multiple audio options, highlight reels and slick packaging. However, the video quality of the set is utterly disappointing. Only presented in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio (full-screen), it is syndication quality at best and doesn't even come close to as crisp as the HD broadcasts on Fox. If you don't care about picture, then by all means pick up the set. But they really dropped the ball on this one, which is just heartbreaking or this diehard Bleacher Creature. What Happened? You Can't Hear The Crowd At All!! What happened to the sound editing? You can hear the announcers loud and clear - but the crowd is mixed down to nothing. Every big play, Every big hit - barely any crowd sound. I saw all these games live on TV and the crowd noise was LOUD and CRAZY. Here.....nothing. Takes all the fun out of it. Luckily, my father recorded the games with the TRUE crowd sound. Boo (!)

   

The Bigs 2
From 2K Games

The Bigs 2 Wii
Amazon Sales Rank: #998 in Video Games Brand: 2K Sports Model: 710425345975 Published on: 2009-07 Released on: 2009-07-07 ESRB Rating: Everyone Number of discs: 1 Platform: Nintendo Wii Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .58" h x 5.40" w x 7.55" l, .36 pounds
The Big Leagues just got bigger. The Bigs 2 allows fans to experience heroic gameplay, legendary game modes and incredible player models like they've never seen before. Elevating The Bigs 2 to new heights are bigger power-ups, amazing visual effects, and an all new career mode. Featuring exciting player animations and pick-up-and-play controls, The Bigs 2 delivers an action-packed, heroic MLB video game experience. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } table.callout { font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1. 3em; } td.vgoverview { height: 125px; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; } Develop Legendary skills. View larger. Swing with power in your 'Wheelhouse.' View larger. Earn Turbo Points for strikes. View larger. Put runs on the board with the 'Big Slam.' View larger. The Wheelhouse One of the new features of The Bigs 2 is the 'Wheelhouse,' an area in every batter's swing where their offensive threat is at its greatest. Color-coated and pulsating for both the batter and pitcher to see, balls struck well within this area are most likely to result in a hit, but there are no guarantees. Although it is a dangerous place for pitchers to throw, the Wheelhouse is also a tempting spot for pitchers to challenge hitters since not only do strikes result in the shrinking of a player's wheelhouse, but strikes and strikeouts centered there will earn the defensive team turbo points that can be used elsewhere in the game. Legendary Rated Players The Bigs 2 features a special Legendary Rating system for players as they develop. On defense a high rating means a player will be able to get to balls other players can't, which will make them very valuable against high-powered offensive team. In addition, players with high status are capable of spectacular plays, like jumping into the stands to rob a batter of a home-run, pulling down come-backers off the bat of opponents, etc. When these plays are made players will gain access to play specific mini-games as a reward, that are designed to be fun and further hone their skills in these specific areas. Along with the two mentioned above, players can also expect to see mini-games available to legendary rated players such as handling line drives up the middle, diving plays in both the infield and outfield and foul balls pulled from the hands of fans. Legendary status is not limited to defensive fielding positions though. Pitchers can possess a legendary skill rating that allows them the possibility of domination on the mound. Batter's legendary ranking can also be utilized both by the power and skill they bring as they step up to the plate, as well as in some cases an ability to increase the potency of their teammates skill in the batters box. An example of this is an enlarged wheelhouse for the batter that follows a player with a high legendary ranking or even the entire lineup. In these cases the value and strategy of having legendary players available for insertion into the roster is obvious. The Big Slam Similar to functionality in the first game in the series that allowed players who had accumulated enough turbo points a strikeout or home run when they wanted/needed it, The Bigs 2 brings the 'Big Slam' to the field. In this case offensive players who have enough turbo points can opt to take on a series of pitches in an attempt at a simplified grand slam. The rub is that there are only four pitches involved one for each batter in the series. All it takes to get your man on base is to make contact. Once the bases are full a grand slam is automatic. Key Features Become a Legend Mode - New & improved story mode, picking up at the end of the "Rookie Challenge" mode from The Bigs. Create a player and progress your career from a Mexican league to the Majors and, eventually, the Hall of Fame. Along the way, compete in boss battles against MLB legends. Season Mode - As requested by fans, enjoy a new Season Mode featuring full MLB schedules, stat tracking and roster management, as well as the ability to play as part of the team and general manager. Improved Gameplay - Bigger and better arcade baseball action, featuring Legendary Moves, Batter’s Wheelhouse & a more powerful Big Slam. Home Run Pinball - Enjoy exciting single player or co-op action in Times Square or three new environments. Mini-games - Test your hitting, fielding, running and throwing skills against MLB stars in several all-new mini-games. Game Modes The Bigs 2 comes with a wide variety of modes, some familiar to players and others new. The first of these is the story based 'Become a Legend' mode. This career mode picks up where the 'Rookie Challenge' from the previous game left off and has players creating a player, who comes up through the Minor leagues, the Majors and eventually into hall of fame. Along the way he will be challenged in a variety of boss battles against major league greats from all eras. In addition The Bigs 2 features a 'Season Mode' where players play through an entire 162 game season, as players and general manager, improving your team and making trades along the way. The game also contains a new version of the 'Home Run Pinball' mode, set in modern Times Square, Times Square retro, Tokyo and Las Vegas; mini-games similar to those in the 'Become a Legend' mode; and the 'Pick-up Game' mode where players can play a fast game against a real or AI opponent.
Awesome game When I started to play the game it was hard. But after a couple hours of playing you can pick up on the controls pretty easily. After you know the controls the game is a little bit easier. Thay have different levels for when you get better and better. Legendary plays are harder to get and they have more legendary plays than the bigs 1.They even have a season maode on the bigs 2 which is the same as the 2009 mlb season. People of all ages would like this game. I would suggest buying this game to a friend. A bit underwhelming This game could have been so much better but it just doesn't get it done. To start with, the graphics are pretty poor. Yeah, I know its a Wii but they look like something you would have seen on Nintendo 64. The various modes of gameplay are varied enough that you can spend a good while in each of them but in reality, its all the same. The regular "play ball" is okay, about what you'd expect...just a single game. The season play is about the same. The legend mode is kind of fun but the mini games are rather pointless in that you have to "pass" them in order to move on...so its more frustrating than fun. The way the games are set up make them tedious. The actual gameplay is okay...being able to actually throw a pitch or swing the bat is nice but once you get past that, its just kind of a dull repetative game. There are some times in the game where you'll have a "duel" between a hitter and a pitcher and all the hitter has to do is make contact and he'll hit a homerun...kind of silly to me. Another aspect are the "legendary plays" when someone makes a great catch. They usually occur about every other inning so they loose their "coolness" pretty quickly. Pitching is easy...just get your powerbar to max and the hitter is going to strike out. Move your controller with some twist and there you have it. The rosters for the teams are pretty limited. You have probably a total of 5-6 pitchers...which I guess doesn't really matter because all pitchers pretty much pitch the same. In all, this game is fun to just play a pickup game but it doesn't have everything that it could or should. They could have done much much better on this. Fun, Easy to Learn I was a bit skeptical of this game, I've been let down by baseball video games in the past. However, after spending a few innings learning the control scheme, this is by far my favorite baseball game. Certainly; it's worth mentioning that this is the only one where pitching is just as much fun as batting, so you don't have that "lets get the top of the inning over with" feeling. I won't go too much into the details of the game-play. It's enough to say that it's definitely an arcade baseball game; though there's enough meat to satisfy hardcore baseball fans too. Well worth the purchase.

   

MLB DETROIT TIGERS Official Jibbitz Crocs Shoe Charms NEW COMPLETE SET
From JIBBITZ

THESE ARE REAL MLB BRAND WITH LOGO ON SEALED PACKAGE. REAL AUTHENTIC TEAM JIBBITZ, SET OF 2. AWESOME FIND!! SHOW YOUR TEAM PRIDE ON YOUR FEET WITHOUT EVER SAYING A WORD!!
Amazon Sales Rank: #512761 in Sports & Outdoors Brand: JIBBITZ

   

Cubsology Trivia Challenge: Chicago Cubs Baseball
By Kick The Ball

Updated with fun and interesting facts through the end of the 2008 baseball season,

   

Picking Winners For College & Pro Basketball: Receive My Very Own College & Pro Basketball Picks For Life, Plus Much More. Limited Time Only! (Volume 1)
By Harry J. Misner

This book includes LIFETIME Access my top sports pick(s) VIA Picks Network (a $2,999 value). You'll also have the ability to purchase turnkey handicapping sites for only $2,000 at anytime in the future. See site for complete details. You'll also receive a copy of my first book called; GA "Gambling Aimlessly" is for Bitches which will show you how to change your betting advantage from -110 to +120 or more on all your straight wagers. This information is worth $1,000's in itself. I also throw in some of my own gambling angles that I like to use during the year, in addition to special discounts on all my future books you wish to purchase. So you'll not only receive my College & Pro Basketball Handicapping Picks for LIFE, but some other useful information as well. So I hope you enjoy it!

About the Author I'm 33 years old and among the many other trades I possess have been practicing sports handicapping for over 10 years. This book will be the first of many books I plan on publishing, so I hope you enjoy it!

   

Major League Baseball 2K9
From Take 2

Major League Baseball 2K9 captures player-specific details including batting stances, pitching windups and signature swings. Featuring game play enhancements in pitching, batting, fielding, and base running, making it user-friendly and enjoyable for rookies or veterans. New commentary and presentation provide the ultimate baseball experience. Music by Judas Priest, Cheap Trick, Coheed & Cambria, Ted Nugent, SR-71, The Romantics, Boys Like Girls, and Europe
Amazon Sales Rank: #949 in Video Games Brand: 2K Sports Model: 39534 Published on: 2009-03 Released on: 2009-03-03 ESRB Rating: Everyone Platform: Xbox 360 Number of items: 1 Dimensions: .62" h x 5.42" w x 7.51" l, .33 pounds
Get ready to get your uniform dirty as you play ball on the Xbox 360 with Major League Baseball 2K9 by Take-Two. You'll recognize your favorite players as MLB 2K9 captures such minute as each player's unique batting stances, different pitching windups and swings. With new commentary and gameplay enhancements to all facets of the experience, Major League Baseball 2K9 is a whole new ballgame. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } img.withlink {border:0px black solid;} a.nodecoration {text-decoration: none} You'll be able to recognize your favorite players by the way they move around in the box and swing the bat. View larger. Smart camera placement gives you a dramatic view of the game. View larger. Precision Pitching and Swing Stick give you precise control over the ball and bat. View larger. Enhanced graphics and presentation makes you feel like you're watching a broadcast. View larger. Beautiful Graphics and Presentation Take-Two continues to refine the graphics and presentation of the game, and when you play MLB 2K9, you'll often wonder if you weren't watching television. The new Virtual Director brings smart camera placement, dramatic cuts, and more for a broadcast feel. Real-Time Atmosphere means ballboys, umpires, and coaches move naturally. New Controls for Precision Batting and Pitching Using the analog sticks, Take-Two's Precision Pitching and Swing Stick give you the ability to paint the corners with your pitches and pull an inside fastball over the wall for a home run. The game carefully tracks aim and timing, so the ball always responds as you would expect it to in real life. Never Miss a Trade as Rosters are Updated Continually The latest rosters are included in the game, so your favorite team will have all its 2009 players. Not only that, with Living Rosters, the MLB 2K9 automatically updates the roster by getting the latest information online and incorporating it into the game. Never miss a trade again as they will be reflected in your game in real time. MLB 2K9 provides a wealth of statistical information, and baseball fans won't be disappointed. The Inside Edge feature uses six years of scouting data to accurately mimic player tendencies. You'll notice your favorite players reacting to situations in the game just as they would in real life. Player Specific Animations for More Realistic Games 2K Sports continues to build in more player-specific details, so now you can recognize your favorite players simply by watching the way they move around the batters box, how they swing the bat, or how they celebrate their home runs. It's not just hitters who get this treatment as pitchers also have their unique deliveries and windups. The result is a game that feels more life-like than before. Online Play with Sponsored Competitions When you're done practicing against the computer, you can suit up against your friends and play them online or off. With the Playoffs feature, you can skip the 162 game season and go straight to the playoffs with any eight teams you and friends want to play with. Then it's just a matter of playing the games to see who gets the World Series Trophy. Team 2K is an online competition to see who the best team of online players are. By playing Ranked Quick Matches, you can join in the fun and compete for prizes. New Play by Play and Commentary Team MLB 2K9 brings with it the new broadcast team of Gary Thorne and Steve Phillips. The new team injects depth and insight into the game, and provides another level of realism. In addition, the game also has real-time crowd noise and other sound effects that will have you feeling like you're sitting in the bleachers.
Disappointing First let me say I actually enjoyed MLB 2k8. It had flaws(several), but after tweaking some sliders I actually played a few full seasons, simming a game here and there, and enjoyed it. I had high expectations for MLB 2k9, and was very disappointed. After getting home and putting the game in I started up an exhibition game. I loved it, the presentation was new and great, the announcers were new and fresh, and the graphics looked good. Unfortunately the more I played the more the bugs and glitches started showing up. Such as......perfect throws to the first baseman and he wouldn't put his foot on the bag; outfielders not getting there gloves up in time to catch flyballs and letting the ball go over their heads; Players running through walls and disappearing; Stats are all screwed up; Pinch hitters for the CPU coming out and pitching the next inning; I actually had some phantom player standing in the other batters box once when I was hitting. My first franchise froze after the first three games and I had to start it over. I haven't even mentioned dumb things that just don't happen in a true baseball sim. Things like the CPU swinging at everything. They never take a pitch. For that matter, the CPU hardly ever throws a ball. Almost every inning is three or four pitches. You can fix that with sliders like last year right? Wrong. They took away a ton of sliders and presentation options from last year. There is no slider to control CPU aggresiveness at the plate. There are no sliders for a ton of things, and what ones there are you can't figure out what they mean. Want to change the presentation angle? Can't, there's no option. Oh and if you do mess around with some sliders it disables the card collecting feature. I will close by saying that everything is there for 2k to improve on to make a great game. Like I said before the presentation, graphics, and overall broadcast of the game is very nice. Unfortunately, I believe the bugs are just going to be too much to overcome for us xbox360 users to have a good baseball game to play this year. Oh well, theres always next year.... Do Not Buy This Game! The title of this post should pretty much say it all: This is a BAD GAME. Many reviewers are noticing the rampant glitches in this year's version--many more than were in MLB 2K8, which wasn't all that smoothly done in the first place--and what they are reporting is accurate if, perhaps, understated. In terms of its programming, this game is a disaster. And the baseball action (fielding mechanics, pitching, etc) make it seem like there probably isn't a single actual baseball fan employed in the 2K studios. Had a chance to check out The Show 09 on my buddies PS3, far--far--better. So my solution is simple--don't buy this game. If you did buy it, return it to the store immediately. It'll be disappointing not having a new baseball game this year, but maybe if everyone leaves this dog on the shelf either MLB properties will reconsider and send the license back to EA, or 2K will fire their entire design team and start over. At this point, either solution would likely result in a major improvement. EDIT I've talked this over with a number of friends, and we all agree--the enforced yearly output for sports video game franchises is killing the quality of the games. There is, literally, no time for major innovation, good quality control, etc. We've all agreed the following solution would work and hope you agree: Put out a new title once every two or even three years--offering downloadable ($) roster and rating updates for each new season between generations of the game. Giving these studios more time to focus on quality and innovation would probably lead to increased game sales. I did not purchase MLB 2K9 this year, choosing to rent it first instead since I was disappointed with the last two or three iterations of the franchise . And, needless to say, won't be buying it. I will be doing the same thing with Madden as well. Use the power of your pocketbook, rent these games for a few days before u purchase them. It will save u both money and time, and maybe the sports game companies will wake up and smell the new century. Too many glitches As someone already said, this game is LOADED with awful bugs and glitches... The graphics are nice and blah blah blah but there are so many glitches that it is impossible to enjoy this game... First off my "Franchise" has locked up after just 5 games... And what I mean by that is the console freezes every time I try to load my franchise... Yeah, sure it could be an issue with the console and not the game but considering the game has only been on the market 3 days now and 2 of the 6 total reviews have noticed this makes it odd.... Next the 1st baseman is never on the base.... The computer is safe on routine ground balls because when you throw to 1st base your guy isnt on the base.... This has probably happend about 10 times total in the 5 games Ive played so far.... Other issues Ive noticed are you cant pull up the computers roster in the middle of a game. This might not be a big deal to most people but if you are a true basebal fan and enjoy the strategy of using left handed relief pitchers against a tough lefty hitter and things of that nature it is IMPOSSIBLE because you have no idea whats going on with the computers roster. You have NO access to viewing that at any point in mid game.... Honestly the game play seems like it could be fun. But the glitches are too much to overlook... If it was a minor issue here or there that would be one thing but the constant freezing in "franchise mode" combined with the 1st baseman never being on the base on routine groundballs makes this game unbearable and virtually impossible to play. Especially if you plan on playing a 162 game season without these glitches becomming too over bearing.... The absolute best I can say is rent this before buying and play it OFTEN when you rent it to make sure you get the full experience of all the glitches. If you just play 1 game on rental you may not get the full jist of the problems... Im not trying to ppick on 2K sports because I think NBA 2K9 is a fantastic game, but this game is awful with too many bugs and glitches.... and based on there currently only being 6 reviews of this game on Amazon and a few of them are complaining of the same issue I dont think I bought a "bad" copy.... I think this game needs to be recalled.

   

Florida Spring Training, 3rd Edition: Your Guide to Touring the Grapefruit League (Florida Spring Training: Your Guide to Touring the Grapefruit League)
By Alan Byrd

Making Spring Training dreams come true for thousands of fans, Byrd concentrates on the vital info they need most: how to find the best parks, best seats, best hot dogs and beer, best spots for getting autographs and snagging foul balls. Plus five week-long trips that combine baseball with Florida fun, theme park thrills, beach blanket bingo, and quiet interludes at the old fishin' hole.
Amazon Sales Rank: #249271 in Books Published on: 2007-01-25 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Binding: Paperback 256 pages
Review A perfect example of the value of the book is the section on getting autographs...he gives you detailed instructions. -- David Pinto, BaseballMusings.com, February 14, 2007Byrd has done a very comprehensive yet efficient job of painting the picture of each town and stadium. -- Tom Goyne, Balls, Sticks & Stuff, December 27, 2006I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to someone who plans on heading down to Florida in March. -- Brian Borawski, Tiger Blog, January 4, 2007Its true value comes in making planning for the road trips fast and easy. -- Brian Walton, StLCardinals.Scout.com, January 5, 2007The book is perfect...every bit of information you'll ever need...taking the guesswork out of your Spring Training experience. -- Dawn Henthorn, Florida Guide, goflorida.about.com, 2/13/07The spring training autograph seeker absolutely must have this book. -- Amanda, red-hot-mama.com, January 14, 2007 From the Back Cover Make Your SPRING TRAINING Dreams Come True! IN THE SPRING, professional baseball teams turn Florida into every fan's dream destination. For the teams, Spring Training represents a new beginning, the first step on a pilgrimage to the World Series. For the fan, Spring Training represents the opportunity to watch the game's heroes up close and personal for just a few dollars and maybe even get their autographs. BUT every one of the 17 stadiums is different. Each has its pluses and minuses, so capturing the ideal Spring Training experience can be elusive without the right information. This book is your key to the ideal Spring Training experience -- at one park or many! For the serious fan, it offers five themed, week-long itineraries that combine baseball fun with theme park thrills, lazy days at the beach, and quiet interludes at the old fishin' hole. "All the information one could hope to find on the Florida ballparks where 18 major league teams train each spring ... Byrd is the consummate baseball fan." -- Kim Cool, Venice Gondolier Sun "Indispensable." -- Callie Stuhler, US Airways Attaché magazine "Detailed analyses of each stadium ... extensive advice on acquiring autographs." -- Harry Shattuck, Houston Chronicle Alan Byrd visits every Spring Training camp in Florida. He tastes every hot dog and every specialty food at the stadiums, and samples the beer. He sits in box seats and bleachers, tries the standing room, and checks for sun and shade. He tries for autographs at every park and reads every program. And he checks out all the great restaurants and nearby attractions to make sure you'll have plenty to do before and after the game. It's a tough job, but Alan's willing to make the sacrifice. About the Author Alan Byrd grew up attending Spring Training games with his Dad. As an adult, he became an award-winning reporter for the Orlando Busines Journal, where he covered Central Florida's sports, tourism, and transportation industries for 10 years. He is currently the director of sales, marketing, and public relations for McCree Inc., an Orlando-based architecture and construction firm. Byrd contributes his skills to a number of Central Florida community organizations and charities. And he still spends Spring Training season in the ballparks, these days with his son.
Great spring training gudie book I am a Florida resident, who absolutely loves spring training. Every spring I load up the car on the weekends and heads all over the state to different parks. I have recently gotten into the autograph act, so now when I go to the games I am seeking autographs as well. The book is very informative and from what I can tell quite accurate in its description of the parks, food, and autograph opportunities. If you are thinking of heading to spring training for the 1st, 2nd or even if you are a seasoned spring training vet, this book is definitely worth the price. It even includes some sample week long itineraries. A REAL HOMERUN I gave this book to my boyfriend for Christmas. He is a 50-year-old baseball fanatic, and he loves the book. When you give a gift you hope it will make the recipient happy. This book did that with flying colors. He is the expert on the subject and I trust his response. Great guide! I bought this book before going to Spring Training 2009. It was very helpful and has good directions. I was also able to get autographs because the book even tells you the best place to wait for autographs. I recommend it!

   

Upper Deck Authenticated All Star Vinyl Figure Derek Jeter (Pin Stripe Jersey) Limited to 1000 Pieces
From Upper Deck

Upper Deck All Star Vinyl is pleased to present Derek Jeter. Each 11" in Vinyl figurine comes packaged in a hip window box featuring the artwork of graphic artist Scot Terry. Depicting Jeter in his New York Yankees Home White Pinstripes Uniform and limited to only 1000 pieces, this ASV this figurine won't last long. Get yours today!

   

Taking on the Yankees: Winning and Losing in the Business of Baseball, 1903 to 2003
By Henry D. Fetter

A fascinating history of baseball's most successful franchise, on and off the field.

From Publishers Weekly The success of the Yankees has been built on management techniques that include innovation, strong leadership and the ability to spend money wisely, argues Fetter in his absorbing account of the relationship between good business practices and winning baseball. Although they are now regarded as the most successful franchise in sports, that distinction was far from certain when the Yankees began life as the Highlanders in 1903. It was not until Col. Jacob Ruppert acquired the team in 1914 that the organization was put in place that would produce perennial winners rather than constant losers. Ruppert's business acumen prompted him to purchase Babe Ruth in 1919, and his organizational structure allowed him to separate himself from the day-to-day operations of the Yankees in favor of Miller Huggins and Ed Barrow, manager and general manager, respectively, of Ruppert's teams. The Yankees' rise in the 1920s was at the expense of the New York Giants, which had ruled the National League and New York baseball in part by acquiring players from money-losing teams. Managerial squabbling led to the Giants' demise, and weak leadership later resulted in the resurrected Giants' move to San Francisco. As the Giants sank, the St. Louis Cardinals, led by Branch Rickey, became the Yankees' National League challenger. But a fallout between Rickey and Cardinal ownership resulted in Rickey's move to Brooklyn, where he, along with Walter O'Malley, would provide another foil for the Yankees. Fetter's telling of the rivalry with the Dodgers in the 1950s, along with the machinations that forced the Dodgers to move West, are particularly riveting. With the departure of the Dodgers and Giants in 1958, the Yankees stood alone as New York's baseball team, and despite the creation of the Mets in 1962, the Yankees continue to rule the baseball world. With its historical sweep, Fetter's work stands as a solid companion to Michael Lewis's Moneyball on how to build a winning baseball organization. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. Review As he meticulously recounts the rise of the Yankees, Fetter corrects many myths that have become accepted as fact. -- Wall Street Journal, Chaz Repak, 2 October 2003Should become the primary work on the subject....excellent. -- New York Sun, Tim Marchman, 22 September 2003 About the Author Henry D. Fetter is a lawyer and writer whose work has appeared in the Journal of Sport History, The Public Interest, and the Times Literary Supplement. A native New Yorker, he lives in Los Angeles.
A great read for baseball fans I really enjoyed this book. I head about it reading a review in the Wall Street Journal. When I first saw the phrase "the business of baseball" in the title I was fearful. But this was no review of accounting ledgers. It was instead a lively tour though the history of baseball with a focus on its most successful, and colorful team. It debunked many myths that I always carried around in my head (e.g. that my beloved Red Sox sold the Bambino to finance a play), and constantly got me thinking about the role of baseball in society and society in baseball. I thought it just as good in discussing free agency and the labor agreements of the last few years as it was covering the early history of the game. The author had a point of view, but it didn't get in the way of a clear and objective telling of the story. Best of all, it was just fun to read. What are the Pathways to Success in Major League Baseball? There are many paths to success in major league baseball, or so it seems; but all of them force teams at some point to take on the New York Yankees, by far the dominant team in the sport. At least that is what Henry D. Fetter argues in "Taking on the Yankees: Winning and Losing in the Business of Baseball, 1903-2003." While this book is really about how various franchises have built dominant teams over the twentieth century, they always seem to have played off of the persistent excellence on the field of the Yankees, whose 39 American League pennants and 26 World Series victories far outstrip any other team. Fetter creates the somewhat artificial dichotomy of National League teams going up against the Yankees over the course of the century. He singles out the St. Louis Cardinals (17 National League pennants and 10 World Series victories), the New York Giants (14 National League pennants and 5 World Series victories), and the Brooklyn Dodgers (9 National League pennants and 1 World Series victory) as representative of this rivalry. For Fetter, the National League rivals were dominated by the Branch Rickey innovations of the farm system and desegregation to enable them to acquire and keep economically priced talent who could challenge the Yankees. The Yankees, of course, had the advantage of enormous wealth to buy any talent that they needed to reign supreme in the American League. They did so with Babe Ruth in 1920 and they have spent liberally since that time to ensure success on the field, with only two major dry spells in their history--1965-1975 and 1982-1995. Without the financial resources of the Yankees, the New York incarnation of the Giants followed by the Cardinals and finally by the Dodgers of Brooklyn challenged them virtually every year. The Giants did it with deep pockets and the managerial genius of John McGraw. The Cards did so with the farm system of Branch Rickey that developed a continuing parade of quality players such as Rogers Hornsby supplemented by savvy trades for such players as Grover Cleveland Alexander. The Dodgers challenged the Yankees with an infusion of superb African American talent that started with Jackie Robinson in 1947. This is an excellent history of how these teams have approached building dominant teams. It is somewhat narrow in that it focuses its historical discussion on these four teams to the exclusion of other questions that deserve consideration. For example, how did other American League teams seek to build their teams? The A's in Philadelphia and later in Oakland were dominant at various points in the century, so too were the Cleveland Indians, the Boston Red Sox, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Detroit Tigers. How did they do it? Did the Yankees just outspend everyone else? What about those teams with essentially the same access to money as the Yankees but were never able to put together the dominance that the Bronx Bombers maintained? The Giants between 1937 and 1951never finished higher than third, but why not? Money alone is not the answer to ensuring success. These are questions worthy of consideration. Henry Fetter offers a reasoned and useful discussion of some of these questions; perhaps someone else will follow with an engaging analysis of additional themes and questions. "Taking on the Yankees" is fully worth the effort and I recommend it as both an enjoyable reading experience and one that helps cast into stark relief the manner in which Major League Baseball franchises have historically pursued excellence on the field. Informative and lively This book offers a lively and original take on baseball history--the mighty Yankees from the viewpoint of their three great historical rivals, the Giants, the Cards and the Dodgers. Easy to read, full of interesting anecdotes, yet offering real insight into the development of baseball as a business.

   

New York Yankees Therma Base Elevation Premier Jacket
From Majestic

Therma Base Premier Jacket by Majestic is a full zip soft shell jacket with olympic collar, banded cuffs and waistband. Team color striping along body contoursfor select teams. Front Authentic woven team logo and sleeve patch. Made of 100% polyester woven and fleece bonded. This jacket is windproof, waterproof, moisture wicking fabric and four-way stretch for maximum comfort.
Amazon Sales Rank: #28913 in Sports & Outdoors Brand: Majestic
Pay tribute to your favorite Major League Baseball team with this Therma Base Premier jacket. The full-zip soft-shell jacket features a comfortable Olympic collar, along with color-blocked inserts, banded cuffs and waistband, and reflective transfer piping along the body contours. The authentic MLB team name, meanwhile, is woven onto the front chest and sleeve. Best of all, the jacket is outfitted with Majestic's Therma Base system, an innovative insulating technology that maintains temperature control while providing the ultimate in body comfort and wearability. Majestic engineered its specialized Therma Base fabrics and linings to not only insulate your body against extreme environments, but also to perform better in comparison with traditional materials, with a four-way stretch performance for maximum comfort. Plus, the fabrics allow air to circulate around the body for improved ventilation while you exercise. Made of 92-percent polyester and eight-percent Therma Base fabric--which itself is Spandex woven and fleece bonded--the windproof, water-resistant Premier jacket is officially licensed by Major League Baseball. About Majestic Athletic The Majestic Athletic story began in the 1950s, when Mary Capobianco endeavored to open her own sewing mill. After working in the booming garment industry of Bangor, Pennsylvania, she realized she could work just as hard for herself and get much more in return. She started with women's clothing, blouses mostly. The company was called Maria Rose Fashions, and served well-dressed women from coast to coast. It was a far cry from athletic apparel, but it demanded the same attention to detail. After learning the garment business first-hand, her son Faust Capobianco, III, followed in her footsteps. In 1976, he founded the Majestic Athletic you know today. Well, almost. The spirit was there, but the company hadn't made it to the big leagues yet. That happened in 1982, when Majestic introduced their first Major League Baseball batting practice jersey. This relationship grew in 1984 when the company signed their first MLB National Licensing Agreement, which brought fans the high-quality apparel they needed to truly show their team's colors. Since the beginning, Majestic Athletic's philosophy has been simple: create the highest-quality athletic wear with a commitment to heritage, craftsmanship, and authenticity. And even though the company hit the big leagues, they still take time to add the hand-stitched details that got them where they are. But now they do it for every Major League Baseball club, the National Basketball Association, National Pro Fastpitch Softball, most major colleges and universities.
Warm and Water resistant I've had this jacket two years now. Love it! It breathes in warmer weather yet blocks the wind in chillier weather. It is water resistant and does well in light rain. Perfect to wear at an October Yankee game for instance! Stays clean and repels dirt quite well. Indeed all MLB teams still wear their colored version of this classic.

   

Redsology Trivia Challenge - Cincinnati Reds Baseball
By Kick The Ball

Updated with fun and interesting facts through the end of the 2008 baseball season,

   

The Story of America's Classic Ballparks [VHS]
Directed by Bob Hercules




As Sinatra sang: "There used to be a ballpark...right here." Between 1909 and 1923 there were 15 major league ballparks built in the United States. Today, only three of those parks remain: Boston's Fenway Park (1912), Chicago's Wrigley Field (1914) and Yankee Stadium (1923). When this documentary was produced in 1991 you could have added Tiger Stadium and the "old" Comiskey Park to this list. You have to doubt that any of these last three will celebrate their centennials. "The Story of America's Classic Ballparks" looks at these grand stadiums as not only examples of urban architecture integrated into neighborhoods, but as temples constructed during the golden age of baseball. If you remember, as I do, going to see your first ball games in places that are now apartment complexes or whatnot, then you will enjoy this particular trip down memory lane. Perhaps the greatest testament to these classic ballparks is that their spirit lives on in the latest generation of stadiums such as Camden Yard and those new ones I can never remember the corporate names of in Detroit, Houston, Pittsburgh, etc. Great video, but not enough of Detroits Tiger Stadium. Crosley Field, Ebbetts Field, Polo Grounds, Fenway, and on and on. Sorry Tiger Stadiam was not more involved, although this was a documemtory from 1991, and this is September 29, 1999--two days after its closing. A sad day in Detroit and Michigan. EXCELLENT IF YOU LOVE THE GREAT OLD BALLPARKS, YOU WILL LOVE THIS VIDE

   

Boston Red Sox Replica Riddell Mini Helmet DENNIS ECKERSLEY AUTOGRAPHED WITH CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
From Riddell

The Riddell Replica Mini baseball helmet has been a standard in the collectibles industry for years. This Boston Red Sox Replica Riddell Mini Helmet is approximately half the size of a real baseball helmet, but with all of the detail. It's ideal for display in a Den, T.V. Room or Bar. Also one of the most popular items ever for autographing by your favorite player. Item is made of ABS plastic, and features the official team decals. Comes in a stackable, clear dome package that showcases the helmet beautifully. Officially Licensed by MLB
Brand: Riddell

   

Free NFL Football Picks For Life - Limited Time Only!: Receive All My Top Sports Picks Via Picksnetwork.com (Volume 1)
By Harry J. Misner

This book includes a copy of my "GAMBLING AIMLESSLY (GA) is for Bitches" Book and LIFETIME Picks Service VIA the Internet through Picks Network Website ($2,999 VALUE). Which will include ALL my TOP Rated sports picks for Collge Basketball, College Football, NFL Football, NBA Basketball, and MLB Baseball. Instructions to obtain the free picks service can be found on PAGE 3 of this book.

About the Author I'm 33 years old and among the many other trades I possess have been Handicapping Sports for over 10 years. This book will be the first of many books I plan on publishing, so I hope you enjoy it!

   

High-Flying Birds: The 1942 St. Louis Cardinals (SPORTS & AMERICAN CULTURE)
By Jerome M. Mileur

1942: Americans suddenly found themselves at war but were not about to be distracted from the National Pastime. With only one player older than thirty, the St. Louis Cardinals were the youngest and fastest team to win the National League pennant and World Series. The team featured rookie Stan Musial, future Hall-of-Famer Enos Slaughter, and ace pitcher Mort Cooper, the National League s Most Valuable Player of 1942. With their winningest season ever, posting 106 victories, the 1942 Redbirds have been called the greatest Cardinal team of all time. Mileur provides a game-by-game account of the season with play-by-play action.
Amazon Sales Rank: #121833 in Books Published on: 2009-03-15 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Binding: Hardcover 304 pages
About the Author Jerome M. Mileur is the former owner of a Double A Eastern League professional baseball club in the cities of Holyoke, Massachusetts; Nashua, New Hampshire; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from 1982 to 1995. He is Emeritue Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a member of the Society for American Baseball Research.
Teamwork: A Case History Jerome M. Mileur hits a home run with his account of the "high-flying birds" from the summer of '42; the team that surprised and surpassed the talented Brooklyn Dodgers with a remarkable late season surge, and then polished off the mighty Yankees in the World Series so efficiently, they almost seemed bored by it all. This book was anything but boring for this diehard Cardinals fan and baseball historian. It's also a fascinating case history about the remarkable accomplishments that transpired when a bunch of hardworking, blue-collar ballplayers got together and defined what the essence of "teamwork" is all about. It's a story that makes you believe once again, that just about anything can be accomplished if a group of individuals work in perfect harmony with each other and collectively, rise above any reasonable expectation level. A Valentine to a Great Baseball Team What a terrific team; what a great baseball season! While the Cardinals had been competitive throughout the latter part of the1930s, they had not won a championship since 1934. They had challenged for the pennant in 1941 while losing to the Brooklyn Dodgers, but in 1942 the Cardinals enjoyed their winningest season up to that time with 106 victories. They then went on to take the World Series against the New York Yankees in five games. This book offers a fine discussion of a dramatic season, in no small part because the Brooklyn Dodgers also won 104 games and barely lost to the Cards. The Dodgers had a 10 game lead as late as early August but St. Louis caught fire in the last two months of the season, winning 43 of their final 51 games--and 12 of their final 13--to catch and surpass the Dodgers. When the dust settled, the Cardinals had finished two games ahead. This team also enjoyed several standout performances; pitchers Mort Cooper and Johnny Beazley finished one-two in National League wins and ERA. Cooper, the league's MVP, was 22-7 with a league best 1.77 ERA. Beazley finished 21-6 and had a 2.14 ERA. Most important, this was the first full season of Stan Musial, and he made an immediate impact with a .315 batting average. He was joined in the outfield by Terry Moore and Enos Slaughter. Slaughter also had a standout year, batting .318, leading the league in hits, and ranking among the league's leaders in RBIs and runs scored. There is more to this story than the stunning victory of the Cardinals in the 1942 baseball season. First, it represented the beginning of a dynasty in which the Cards won three more pennants and two World Series championships in the 1940s, taking the flags in 1943, 1944, and 1946, and triumphing in the World Series in 1944 and 1946. Second, 1942 represented the last year of Major League Baseball in which a majority of the players were not lost to military service in World War II. This is an important story and deserving of full discussion. Third, this was also the last year of Branch Rickey's reign in St. Louis. He departed the Cardinals thereafter for Brooklyn where he went on to lead the Dodgers and build it into one of the powerhouses of the National League. Finally, the success of the Cardinals in St. Louis in the 1940s finally drove the Browns, the American League entry in St. Louis, from the city. It demonstrated that the city was not big enough for both of them. The author deals with each of these issues to some degree but concentrates on the day-to-day story of the season. "High-Flying Birds" is an enjoyable, sometimes insightful history of the rise of the Stan Musial Cardinals. I was pleased to recommend it for publication and to give it a five-star rating. Enjoy.

   

Nike Boston Red Sox Red Training Sleeveless T-shirt
From Nike

Whether you're training on the playing field or working out in the gym, this sleeveless Nike top is the ideal shirt for any aspect of your sports life!
Amazon Sales Rank: #339083 in Sports & Outdoors Brand: Nike

Very Comfortable Pro: -Sizing appears the same as other sleeveless Nike shirts like this that I have owned... that was appreciated, thank you -This funky synthetic material is super thin and light, as well as soft and comfortable, made from alien DNA and not cotton -I swear the material is a little elastic, so it moves with you some/has some give... like a loose second skin... feels nice to work out in -No tag on the inside of the collar (information is silk-screened like the "B" Red Sox logo) -Official MLB item Con: -The Nike swoosh and "B" Red Sox logo are stenciled, not sewn, bummer Bottom line: I really like it and recommend it to all Sox fans out there.

   

Trenton Thunder MLB Replica Home Cap


Replica home cap with team logo on the front. Replica of the caps worn on the field by your favorite team. Velcro adjust. One size fits most.Team sales only.

   

Baltimore Orioles Cap - New Era 5950 Alt Cap (7 3/8)
From Star Struck

This is the official alternate cap worn on the field by all your favorite players. Wool blend. These are exact size fitted caps; please click on the Size Info button below to see the chart to determine your correct size.
Size: 7 3/8 Brand: New Era

Great Hat at a Great Price While the Orioles just changed uniforms this past off season they didn't drop this alternate hat that they've been wearing more and more often. Even better was when I found it on sale. New Era makes the best MLB hats and while their sizing consistency sometimes leaves something to be desired this hat fits and looks great.

   

America's Baseball Legends - A Video Tribute to the Game's Greatest Heroes
From Diamond Entertainment

Featuring Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Micky Mantle, Hank Aaron and over 20 more legends!

Major League Baseball video scrapbook
AMERICA'S BASEBALL LEGENDS is recorded in SP mode and HiFi sound. Most of the vintage film, kinescope and TV videotape clips used here are at best of "fair" quality; quite a few are pretty awful-looking. An anonymous narrator quickly runs through a list of prominent ballplayers while heavy-on-rhythm upbeat synthesized orchestrations play underneath. (Not available on DVD)
Total running time: 58:30

PROGRAM (athletes given a quick mention are listed in brackets)--

[Christy Mathewson, Rogers Hornsby, Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb]
1951 ceremonies for the 100th anniversary of the National League
Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams
[Bob Feller], Roy Campanella, Carl Furillo, Phil Rizzuto,
Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson
Bobby Thompson's 1951 "Shot Heard 'Round the World"
[Sal Maglie, Don Newcombe, Bob Lemon]
Mickey Mantle, Warren Spahn, [Joe Black], Stan Musial
Hank Bauer, [Ernie Banks], Bill Mazeroski's World Series home run, 1960
Ken Boyer, Moose Skowron, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra
[Gil Hodges, Early Wynn], Bob Allison, Duke Snider, Eddie Matthews
[Robin Roberts], Allie Reynolds, [Eddie Lopat, Carl Erskine]
Johnny Podres, Whitey Ford, [Nellie Fox], Roger Maris, Frank Robinson
[Roberto Clemente, Harmon Killebrew], Sandy Koufax, Hank Aaron
[Billy Williams, Don Drysdale, Carl Yastrzemski]
Pete Rose, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson
[Tom Seaver, Willie McCovey, Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson]
Brooks Robinson, [George Brett, Nolan Ryan], Joe Torre


Also recommended (VHS only):
The "Baseball Classics" series features vintage documentaries of World Series play.
Volume #1 is called: 1952 & 1953 World Series:Yankees/Dodgers

   

MLB Men's Washington Nationals Schedule Series Watch #MLB-SW-WAS
From Game Time

Wear your team's schedule on your wrist with a Game Time NFL or MLB Schedule Watch! Forget about trying to read the newspaper's fine-print sports schedules! And don't sit glued to your TV waiting for your team's schedule to appear. The Game Time Schedule Watch is the only watch in the world that keeps you in touch with your favorite NFL or MLB team. Each Watch is pre-programmed with your favorite sports schedule displaying upcoming games, locations and start times. It even plays a melody at the start of each game as a reminder so you don't miss the kickoff or first pitch... how neat is that?? And there's more to shout about... you can update your Schedule Watch directly off the internet each season. All you do is hook up the custom designed USB connector and download the whole shebang in minutes... it's that easy! Be the first in your crowd to own one of these Watches, and you'll feel like a high-paid network sports commentator. Watch these fine features! Official team logo displayed; Stainless steel bracelet; Fine Citizen quartz movement; Water-resistant to 3 ATM (102 feet); Lifetime limited warranty. State Team Selection. Order your Watch today! AVAILABLE SEPARATELY: Game Time NFL Schedule Watch - word search in our Store for 'Game Time'. Game Time MLB Schedule Watch

• Size: Adult
• Color: WASHINGTON NATIONALS
• Brand: Game Time
• Model: MLB-SW-WAS
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, 1.00 pounds
• Band material: Polyurethane
• Bezel material: Plastic
• Case material: Plastic
• Clasp type: Buckle
• Dial color: grey
• Dial window material: Plastic
• Movement type: Quartz
• Water-resistant to 165 feet

The GAME TIME Brand

The Leader in Licensed Sport Watches
GAME TIME is the leader in licensed sports watches with licenses for all major sports including the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, 21 top NASCAR® drivers, and over 70 colleges and universities. In 2006 GAME TIME was once again recognized by the NFL as the top selling watch licensee in its history.

In 1999 GAME TIME invented and patented the world’s first Schedule Watch, a watch that displays a sport’s season schedule and even plays the national anthem when the game starts as a reminder. The Fishkill, New York based company offers an industry leading 14 different styles of watches in all price ranges from its inexpensive digital watches to its elite Diamond Swiss Chronograph Legend Series. GAME TIME’s variety of styles include casual and dress watches, sport watches, and non-traditional versions like clip-on and pocket watches, all featuring your favorite team’s logo. Many styles are available in men’s, ladies’, and youth sizes.

Each GAME TIME watch is first and foremost a precision time piece backed by the only limited lifetime warranty available in the licensed sport watch industry. Every Analog watch is constructed of high-grade materials including most with Citizen® Quartz Movement. The General Manager Series and Owner/Alumni Series watches feature the logo etched in 23K Gold, while the Sapphire series has a Platinum logo and real Sapphire Glass crystal.

In 2006 GAME TIME introduced GTen, a new division featuring special non-sports licensed watches. GAME TIME Entertainment offers a very diverse stable of licenses including Speed Racer®, Dubble Bubble®, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE®) wrestlers, Orange County Choppers®, Victory Motorcycles®, Polaris®, and Military Mascots (a GTenTM exclusive). More licenses are on the way!

Whether you’re a fan who likes big and bold team colors, or the subtle quiet approach, GAME TIME has a watch for you. With your favorite team on your wrist, you’ll always know when it’s GAME TIME.

Only a few things keeping it from perfection
I'm not sure where I first saw this item (Game Time Men's MLB team Schedule Series watch, in my case Washington Nationals) but it looked like a really neat gadget and nearly instantly appealed to me because, well, it's a gadget and because it relates to my being a baseball fan.

I'm sure that I could find some means of getting a schedule for my favorite team or perhaps all of the teams in MLB into one of the portable devices that I carry around, be it my 'Smartphone' or my iPod Touch, but then again I don't always carry my iPod Touch and I'm too frugal to pay for a data plan to use with my Smartphone (I have a Smartphone so I can sync my contacts and schedules with my PC, but I don't carry a data plan as I don't want to shell out that much money for what really seems to be a limited network usage experience).

When I'm home I can easily check the team schedule online, or I could just check in the "old school" printed newspaper and find the daily match-up information if I want to, but then I tend to simply glance at the information when I do see it and not remember it later in the day as game time rolls around. (Some may ask why not surf for such information while at work and the answer to that question is that while it's ok to check news sites and such, the internet at work is really supposed to be used for work and not for amusement...)

Anyway, as I mentioned above, I grew intrigued with this device from pretty much the moment I first saw ads for them online. I wear a watch nearly all of the time and having the schedule information where I can look at it quickly and easily (at a glance) is really nice. Add in the melody feature that plays the "Take me out to the ballgame" tune when the game is starting and you have a pretty nifty little gadget.

I mention in the review title that a few things keep this item from perfection. What are those things? One would be that there are parts of the information on the display that are hard to read/see. The LCD font is good, but not perfect, and some parts of some letters on the display are a bit thin and not as clear as one might wish for. The team logo takes up a healthy portion of the display space and is merely stenciled and/or painted onto a small covering over the bottom third (give or take) of the display. If that logo were perhaps a bit smaller, then there might be more room to enlarge the fonts on the screen a little. That said, well, part of the appeal of this watch is having the logo for your own favorite team displayed for others to see your team spirit, so I don't expect future versions will be all that different.

One of the other things holding back perfection is the cost for future schedule downloads and the worry that such updates might not be available for some reason or another (if the leagues decide to stop doing business with the makers of the device as an example). The device ships with a special USB cable and adapter that connects the device to a PC (sorry Mac users, the device's instructions don't mention Mac at all, and simply state the operating systems supported as "Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP". That said, it appears that Windows Vista wouldn't be a problem at all...) and users are instructed to visit the manufacturer's website at www.schedulewatch.com Once you connect to that website you'll find that the manufacturer charges a nominal fee ($9.95 at the time this review is written) for schedule updates. The process appears to be fairly straight forward and simple enough and is documented nicely in the simple and clear instructions that come with the device.

I mention that the instructions are simple and clear and they are just that, though I note at least one part of the instructions that was wrong -- the procedure that tells how to turn off the melody shows the wrong button. It was easy enough to experiment and find the proper button, but it could be frustrating trying to follow the instructions only to find that you just can't turn off the melody (which seems to be defaulted to being 'on' when you purchase the device).

On the plus side the battery for the device is user replacable in what seems to be a very easy process. The back of the device offers a cover that can easily be opened by using the edge of a penny or similar coin. Turn the battery cover clockwise and it should pop off easily enough and allow quick access to replacing the CR2032 battery.

Possibly related to that plus is another slight negative, the device is NOT really water resistant. The instructions note Water/splash resistant only -- do not submerge. It would be nice to be more assured that the device would be more water resistant so owners/users wouldn't need to worry about keeping it from getting soaked, but I expect that the device would be just fine if you don't try to swim with it on.

That about covers things for this review. If you're looking for a buy it or not recommendation, I'd say this is easily something that is worth spending your money on, even if the price seems a little high compared to budget priced watches that can be found so easily. The Game Time Men's MLB Schedule Series watch seems to be constructed to be relatively durable, with a bezel that helps protect the LCD display and should help prevent scratching and other damage.

   

Picking Winners For The NBA (National Basketball Association): Receive My Very Own Top Nba Picks For Life, Plus Much More. Limited Time Only! (Volume 1)
By Harry J. Misner

This book includes LIFETIME Access my top sports pick(s) VIA Picks Network (a $2,999 value). You'll also have the ability to purchase turnkey handicapping sites for only $2,000 at anytime in the future. See site for complete details. You'll also receive a copy of my first book called; GA "Gambling Aimlessly" is for Bitches which will show you how to change your betting advantage from -110 to +120 or more on all your straight wagers. This information is worth $1,000's in itself. I also throw in some of my own gambling angles that I like to use during the year, in addition to special discounts on all my future books you wish to purchase. So you'll not only receive my very own National Basketball Association (NBA) Handicapping Picks for LIFE, but some other useful information as well. So I hope you enjoy it!

About the Author
www.HarryMisner.com

   

One Championship Season: The Story of the 1944 St. Louis Browns
By Carson Van Lindt

One Championship Season recalls the one championship won by the St. Louis Browns during the 1944 season.

A Solid Narrative of the St. Louis Browns's Only Pennant-Winning Season
The St. Louis Browns were the American League's hard luck team. It had a good team for a few years in the 1920s and again in the mid-1940s but one only one pennant in its history between 1902 and 1953. The 1944 Browns were a fun team but they had the misfortune to field their only league winner when the cross-town Cardinals, of the great teams of the era, also won in the National League. They lost to the Cardinals in the 1944 World Series.

This is a fine one-season narrative of the activities of the Browns on the field and an analysis of how they were able to take the pennant. It does not offer a sustained, in-depth analysis but it is a good account that many baseball fans will find satisfying in this enormously entertaining story of how the Browns moved from worst to first in the American League.

Recreation at it's finest!!
The rare photos enhance the story in this fine book, One Championship Season. Mr. Van Lindt gives credit where credit is due when he gives the reader insight to the building of the St. Louis Browns franchise. Excellent read.

ONE CHAMPIONSHIP BOOK
THIS IS A VERY GOOD READ. THE ONLY BAD THING I FOUND WITH THIS WAS THAT IT WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH. IT IS PRESENTED IN A VERY DETAILED, HISTORIC, AND WELL RESEARCHED VERSION. IT IS FIRST A HISTORY OF THE YEAR BY YEAR DISAPPOIMENTS THIS FRANCHISE WENT THROUGH. THEN IT IS A DAY BY DAY TELLING OF THAT ONE GREAT SEASON. IT IS IN THIS DAY BY DAY RERELLING THAT THIS BOOK REALLY STANDS OUT. IT ALSO HAS GREAT PHOTOS THAT REALLY STAND OUT AND HELP BRING THE STORY COME TOGETHER. A MUST READ FOR NOSALGIA AND FANS OF ST LOUIS.