When asked by people to explain the inspiration behind the writing of my novel, I tell them that it was written for the millions of men who are past their prime but continue to live out their baseball fantasies vicariously through their favorite ball players. I am one of those men.
Often starting out in T-ball, little league, and pony league, millions of young men grow up dreaming of one day making it to "the show". Some will continue to play ball in high school and college, and the more talented players may eventually be drafted by a big league club and assigned to a lower-class minor league team. However, while some will continue to develop and move up to the AA and AAA levels, many will suffer career-ending injuries and others will simply be cut by their parent clubs due to below-standard performances. In either case, the low-paying minor leagues is where it ends for the majority of these young men.
With their dreams shattered and their professional careers over, what's next for these ballplayers? They obviously love the game and have been playing it since they were six. Well, most of them simply find another line of work and go about their lives. However, those who can afford to do so, keep their dream alive by signing on with one of the independent leagues or by becoming a weekend warrior in a local amateur league, such as the San Diego Adult Baseball League. By continuing to play in an organized environment, those players strive to improve their skills and hope to eventually get noticed by a scout or someone connected to a big league club. (In Pinch Hitter, the main character, David Robbins, is discovered by the manager of the local big league club while playing for a San Diego amateur league team. Albeit an unlikely scenario in the real world, it isn't entirely impossible.)
The many adult baseball leagues around the country are full of very talented ball players who come from all walks of life and age groups; it isn't uncommon to see men continue to play in these leagues until they are well into their fifties.
A few years ago, my wife and I were invited to attend an amateur league game at one of our local high schools, which is where they play their games on the weekends. The young man who invited us was a bartender at a popular San Diego sports bar. (He also bore a slight resemblance to Padre outfielder Scott Hairston.) Having never attended one of those games, I was surprised to find that the level of play was very good. It was almost like watching a Class A game. Although we never got the opportunity to speak with the players and inquire about their backgrounds, I got the impression that, at the very least, a few of those guys had played ball on the collegiate level.
It's a known fact that only a small percentage of ballplayers ever make it to "the show". And I've heard several players say that while it's difficult to get to the big leagues, it's even harder to stay there. I would think, however, that the ones who did make it there--even if only for a short time--would have a greater chance of finding some kind of employment within the vast minor league system...and thus remain connected to professional baseball.
Like many other men who grew up in America, I caught the baseball bug at an early age. And although circumstances prevented me from playing organized ball beyond little league and pony league, I've closely followed the sport throughout my entire life and continue to expand my knowledge. And you can count me amongst the millions of men who continue to fantasize about what it would be like to put on a uniform and walk out onto a big league field to the cheers of 40,000 fans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Whitney
Monday, October 20, 2008
San Diego Padres' Plan for 2009
With the San Diego Padres' 2008 season in a tailspin, it is now being reported that the mid-revenue club may be cutting their $73.6 million payroll to around $40 million for next season. Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune states that veteran outfielder Brian Giles was painted a "stark fiscal picture" of the 2009 season as part of a pitch to convince him to accept a trade to the Boston Red Sox in early August. Giles ultimately exercised his veto power and remained with the Padres.
That the Padres would actually consider reducing their payroll by such a large amount will be the subject of much debate between now and the beginning of spring training in 2009. That plan, if indeed enacted, certainly won't engender confidence in the fans who are already exasperated by the club's cellar-dwelling performance this season. While their 2008 attendance has fallen drastically from previous years, it might even be worse next year; many season ticket holders had threatened non-renewal of their seats for 2009 long before there was any talk about a payroll reduction.
The Padres entered the 2008 campaign believing that their club could win the NL West, which has turned out to be the weakest in the majors. At this writing, the first-place Arizona D'Backs are only two games over .500 and are barely leading the L.A. Dodgers. As it stands right now, the Padres are amongst the three worst teams in both leagues. The other two teams are the Washington Nationals and the Seattle Mariners.
What went wrong for the Pads this year? Well, practically everything. In addition to some bad off-season acquisitions, they've suffered a spate of injuries and their once-heralded bullpen (best in baseball last year) has fallen on hard times. Of course, it doesn't help when you're starting pitchers rarely make it past the sixth inning. The short outings have really taxed the much-maligned Padre bullpen. That's why they've been carrying an unprecedented thirteen pitchers of late.
While their home run production (eighth in the NL) has been decent, their overall team average is one of the lowest in both leagues and they have no speed. Case in point: forty-two-year-old pitcher Greg Maddux got the Padres' only stolen base in the month of July.
Except for watching their team play the role of spoiler to rival clubs like the Dodgers and D'Backs, Padre fans have absolutely nothing to look forward to for the remainder of this season. And, with their top minor league prospect (Chase Headley) already with the club, there probably won't be any significant call-ups when the MLB rosters expand in September. The manager, Buddy Black, recently said that there could be three spots open in their starting rotation next spring. In the same interview, however, he stated that none of their top pitching prospects currently at AAA Portland will be promoted. Too bad{Font: Times New Roman Symbol: 133}it might be nice to see what some of the younger guys could do between now and the end of this season.
What rankles many of the long-time Padre fans is their belief that the organization hasn't lived up to the promises they made while campaigning for a new ballpark back in 1998{Font: Times New Roman Symbol: 151}which was the year they went to the World Series. The fans were under the impression that the owner of the club, John Moores, would open up his pocketbook to higher quality players once they moved into Petco Park. Even though they have been operating with a slightly higher budget since then, the perception is that they've been unwilling to allocate the funds it would take to bring in a quality player who could carry the team deep into the playoffs and possibly into the World Series.
Such was the case in 2005 and 2006 when the Padres won the NL West and in 2007 when they lost the divisional race by only one game. In all three seasons, the fans implored the club to make a significant move prior to the trading deadline for the purpose of solidifying the team and increasing their chances of going deeper into the playoffs. However, no such moves were made and the Padres were swept by St. Louis in the 2005 and 2006 divisional series.
Prior to the deadline this year, the Dodgers shocked everyone by acquiring Manny Ramirez from Boston. Their only real competition in the NL West, Arizona, just acquired Adam Dunn from Cincinnati. Had the Padres made a similar move last year, they would've won the West.
It's believed by many that John Moores' much publicized divorce is the reason for payroll deduction. That, of course, may or may not be true. At any rate, in order to reduce their payroll to $40 million, the club would have to rid themselves of players like Brian Giles ($9 million option for 2009 or a $3 million buyout), Trevor Hoffman (free agent), and several others whose salaries will be in the $5 to $6 million range. Players eligible for salary arbitration would probably be shown the door (the Padres have a history of avoiding that process). And, although I doubt it will happen, there could also be a few surprise trades involving marquee players such as Jake Peavy and Adrian Gonzalez{Font: Times New Roman Symbol: 151}the only two Padres with any real trade value.
Perhaps the Padres have a plan for rebuilding the club that doesn't involve cutting their payroll. If that's the case, why have they refused to comment on Krasovic's report?
In the meantime, we always have the Chargers...at least for now.
Dean Whitney, a semi-retired music producer & publisher and avid baseball fan, recently self-published his debut novel, Pinch Hitter. Dean also writes a baseball blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Whitney
That the Padres would actually consider reducing their payroll by such a large amount will be the subject of much debate between now and the beginning of spring training in 2009. That plan, if indeed enacted, certainly won't engender confidence in the fans who are already exasperated by the club's cellar-dwelling performance this season. While their 2008 attendance has fallen drastically from previous years, it might even be worse next year; many season ticket holders had threatened non-renewal of their seats for 2009 long before there was any talk about a payroll reduction.
The Padres entered the 2008 campaign believing that their club could win the NL West, which has turned out to be the weakest in the majors. At this writing, the first-place Arizona D'Backs are only two games over .500 and are barely leading the L.A. Dodgers. As it stands right now, the Padres are amongst the three worst teams in both leagues. The other two teams are the Washington Nationals and the Seattle Mariners.
What went wrong for the Pads this year? Well, practically everything. In addition to some bad off-season acquisitions, they've suffered a spate of injuries and their once-heralded bullpen (best in baseball last year) has fallen on hard times. Of course, it doesn't help when you're starting pitchers rarely make it past the sixth inning. The short outings have really taxed the much-maligned Padre bullpen. That's why they've been carrying an unprecedented thirteen pitchers of late.
While their home run production (eighth in the NL) has been decent, their overall team average is one of the lowest in both leagues and they have no speed. Case in point: forty-two-year-old pitcher Greg Maddux got the Padres' only stolen base in the month of July.
Except for watching their team play the role of spoiler to rival clubs like the Dodgers and D'Backs, Padre fans have absolutely nothing to look forward to for the remainder of this season. And, with their top minor league prospect (Chase Headley) already with the club, there probably won't be any significant call-ups when the MLB rosters expand in September. The manager, Buddy Black, recently said that there could be three spots open in their starting rotation next spring. In the same interview, however, he stated that none of their top pitching prospects currently at AAA Portland will be promoted. Too bad{Font: Times New Roman Symbol: 133}it might be nice to see what some of the younger guys could do between now and the end of this season.
What rankles many of the long-time Padre fans is their belief that the organization hasn't lived up to the promises they made while campaigning for a new ballpark back in 1998{Font: Times New Roman Symbol: 151}which was the year they went to the World Series. The fans were under the impression that the owner of the club, John Moores, would open up his pocketbook to higher quality players once they moved into Petco Park. Even though they have been operating with a slightly higher budget since then, the perception is that they've been unwilling to allocate the funds it would take to bring in a quality player who could carry the team deep into the playoffs and possibly into the World Series.
Such was the case in 2005 and 2006 when the Padres won the NL West and in 2007 when they lost the divisional race by only one game. In all three seasons, the fans implored the club to make a significant move prior to the trading deadline for the purpose of solidifying the team and increasing their chances of going deeper into the playoffs. However, no such moves were made and the Padres were swept by St. Louis in the 2005 and 2006 divisional series.
Prior to the deadline this year, the Dodgers shocked everyone by acquiring Manny Ramirez from Boston. Their only real competition in the NL West, Arizona, just acquired Adam Dunn from Cincinnati. Had the Padres made a similar move last year, they would've won the West.
It's believed by many that John Moores' much publicized divorce is the reason for payroll deduction. That, of course, may or may not be true. At any rate, in order to reduce their payroll to $40 million, the club would have to rid themselves of players like Brian Giles ($9 million option for 2009 or a $3 million buyout), Trevor Hoffman (free agent), and several others whose salaries will be in the $5 to $6 million range. Players eligible for salary arbitration would probably be shown the door (the Padres have a history of avoiding that process). And, although I doubt it will happen, there could also be a few surprise trades involving marquee players such as Jake Peavy and Adrian Gonzalez{Font: Times New Roman Symbol: 151}the only two Padres with any real trade value.
Perhaps the Padres have a plan for rebuilding the club that doesn't involve cutting their payroll. If that's the case, why have they refused to comment on Krasovic's report?
In the meantime, we always have the Chargers...at least for now.
Dean Whitney, a semi-retired music producer & publisher and avid baseball fan, recently self-published his debut novel, Pinch Hitter. Dean also writes a baseball blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Whitney
Worth Baseball Bat Review
I've said that Rawlings is the Rodney Dangerfield of baseball bats and baseball bat reviews. If that's true then Worth is the Joe Piscopo of baseball bats. You know he's still out doing comedy shows somewhere on earth, but you just don't care. You should already know where I'm going on this, and it won't be pretty.
Worth has come out with the most senseless hype I've ever read in a baseball bat review. Then to top it, they promote the acronyms of this hype. This is some of their actual spin, with my sarcastic comments added:
- "Performance Inner Core - 2 layers of composite fibers are assembled with polylayers in between
and then cured under high heat." Polylayers in-between? Cured under high heat? As opposed to
low heat?
- "Rapid Air Vacuum process (RAV) - pressurized mold holds layers in place as air is rapidly
vacuumed out of the composite structure." Oh yeah, I'm buying a bat because air was vacuumed
out of it rapidly. Hey everybody my bat's better than yours because it's got RAV!
- "Epoxy Induction Process (EIP) - a proprietary 2 part epoxy is pulled through the woven layers
under constant heat and pressure, after the Rapid Air Vacuum process is complete." Hmm looks
like RAV wasn't enough to make this bat the best in the world, it also needed EIP. So Worth bats
have "layers in-between" and "epoxy pulled through the layers". You've got to be kidding me!
How about being honest? Something along the lines of Worth bats are not the best quality bats on the market and don't stack up well against the top bats. That's why we don't charge the same as the best bats on the market! Wouldn't that make more sense? Anyway, here is what Worth is offering:
100% Composite:
• Titan - Adult only 100% composite, one piece bat. Worth does not specify whether this, or any of their bats, has a stiff or flex handle. What even more confusing is that they claim it has an "aluminum layer designed for inner strength". An aluminum layer? For inner strength? Is this a composite or aluminum bat? Needless to say there are better options for low cost composite bats.
• Mayhem Comp - Youth only 100% composite, one piece bat with no information on the handle. The write up on this bat is very similar to the Titan, so I'd assume they're the same bat.
100% Alloy:
• Lithium Prodigy/Edge/Amp - Three names for the same bat. The name changes based on if it's an adult, senior league or youth bat. 100% alloy, one piece bat. Again no information on the handle. Go elsewhere.
Worth makes other bats that are on the bottom of the price range. Those brands are the Copperhead, Prodigy and Mutant. Yes they really name a bat the Mutant. Nothing to consider here unless you're playing t-ball.
This was by far the toughest review I've ever done but I make no apologies. Worth has a long way to go to compete in the baseball bat industry.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_V_Nelson
Worth has come out with the most senseless hype I've ever read in a baseball bat review. Then to top it, they promote the acronyms of this hype. This is some of their actual spin, with my sarcastic comments added:
- "Performance Inner Core - 2 layers of composite fibers are assembled with polylayers in between
and then cured under high heat." Polylayers in-between? Cured under high heat? As opposed to
low heat?
- "Rapid Air Vacuum process (RAV) - pressurized mold holds layers in place as air is rapidly
vacuumed out of the composite structure." Oh yeah, I'm buying a bat because air was vacuumed
out of it rapidly. Hey everybody my bat's better than yours because it's got RAV!
- "Epoxy Induction Process (EIP) - a proprietary 2 part epoxy is pulled through the woven layers
under constant heat and pressure, after the Rapid Air Vacuum process is complete." Hmm looks
like RAV wasn't enough to make this bat the best in the world, it also needed EIP. So Worth bats
have "layers in-between" and "epoxy pulled through the layers". You've got to be kidding me!
How about being honest? Something along the lines of Worth bats are not the best quality bats on the market and don't stack up well against the top bats. That's why we don't charge the same as the best bats on the market! Wouldn't that make more sense? Anyway, here is what Worth is offering:
100% Composite:
• Titan - Adult only 100% composite, one piece bat. Worth does not specify whether this, or any of their bats, has a stiff or flex handle. What even more confusing is that they claim it has an "aluminum layer designed for inner strength". An aluminum layer? For inner strength? Is this a composite or aluminum bat? Needless to say there are better options for low cost composite bats.
• Mayhem Comp - Youth only 100% composite, one piece bat with no information on the handle. The write up on this bat is very similar to the Titan, so I'd assume they're the same bat.
100% Alloy:
• Lithium Prodigy/Edge/Amp - Three names for the same bat. The name changes based on if it's an adult, senior league or youth bat. 100% alloy, one piece bat. Again no information on the handle. Go elsewhere.
Worth makes other bats that are on the bottom of the price range. Those brands are the Copperhead, Prodigy and Mutant. Yes they really name a bat the Mutant. Nothing to consider here unless you're playing t-ball.
This was by far the toughest review I've ever done but I make no apologies. Worth has a long way to go to compete in the baseball bat industry.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_V_Nelson
Friday, October 17, 2008
Combat Baseball Bat Reviews
Combat (the company) started in 1998 when they began manufacturing softball bats for other brand name companies. ComBat bats were born in the last few years when they decided to put out the same bats they make for other companies in their own name, including baseball bats.
This is the dirty little secret in many industries. The well known manufactures hire an outside company to produce products with their name on it (just like some American cars are really Japanese cars with different name plates. The Chevy Nova comes to mind). I've not been successful finding out the bats they've made for others, but I'm inclined to believe it was for softball bats.
Combat is focused exclusively on composite and hybrid baseball bats. They're priced less than the well known manufacturers; as they should be since they don't have name recognition.
They also have a composite/wood baseball bat (yeah, you heard me right). I'm not going to talk about these since I believe them to be a novelty. History may prove me wrong but no player in high school or college baseball will be using a composite/wood bat anytime soon.
Combat has a limited line-up of baseball bats. They are:
• Combat Virus - One piece, single wall bat with a stiff handle. The Virus has different codes for it's sdult (AB), youth (YB) and senior league (SL) bats. While it's less than the IMX, Triton and CF3 the Virus is not in their league. The Virus competes with the Omaha Comp, and I'd take the Omaha Comp.
• Combat B2 Da Bomb - Would you want the words "Da Bomb" on your bat? One piece, single wall bat with a stiff handle. Only available in youth models. While it's inexpensive (for a composite) I'm not shelling out $245 on "Da Bomb". There are better options out there for the youth player.
A few swear by Combat, but I can't recommend it at the present time. There are just too many unanswered questions. And there's no way a high school or college player will be swinging a Combat bat.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_V_Nelson
This is the dirty little secret in many industries. The well known manufactures hire an outside company to produce products with their name on it (just like some American cars are really Japanese cars with different name plates. The Chevy Nova comes to mind). I've not been successful finding out the bats they've made for others, but I'm inclined to believe it was for softball bats.
Combat is focused exclusively on composite and hybrid baseball bats. They're priced less than the well known manufacturers; as they should be since they don't have name recognition.
They also have a composite/wood baseball bat (yeah, you heard me right). I'm not going to talk about these since I believe them to be a novelty. History may prove me wrong but no player in high school or college baseball will be using a composite/wood bat anytime soon.
Combat has a limited line-up of baseball bats. They are:
• Combat Virus - One piece, single wall bat with a stiff handle. The Virus has different codes for it's sdult (AB), youth (YB) and senior league (SL) bats. While it's less than the IMX, Triton and CF3 the Virus is not in their league. The Virus competes with the Omaha Comp, and I'd take the Omaha Comp.
• Combat B2 Da Bomb - Would you want the words "Da Bomb" on your bat? One piece, single wall bat with a stiff handle. Only available in youth models. While it's inexpensive (for a composite) I'm not shelling out $245 on "Da Bomb". There are better options out there for the youth player.
A few swear by Combat, but I can't recommend it at the present time. There are just too many unanswered questions. And there's no way a high school or college player will be swinging a Combat bat.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_V_Nelson
Three Places to Find Babe Ruth Cards
The evolution of the internet has truly leveled the playing field and made it considerably easier to locate and purchase vintage baseball cards. Fifteen years ago, collectors were generally limited to hitting large baseball card dealers (which were only available in big cities), card shows, live auction houses, and garage sales. Searching for a specific card was obviously a long and drawn-out effort. A collector could spend years searching for any of the four 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth cards, and would be forced to settle for whatever was available.
Today, the market has opened up and prices have evened out considerably. For the first time in a couple of decades, rare Babe Ruth cards are within reach of everyday collectors. Other than the major auction sites (e.g. Amazon and eBay), where can a collector look for vintage Babe Ruth cards? Here are a few places to start.
1. Major Auction Sites - much as they were 15 years ago, major auction houses are still a key force in the vintage baseball card market. Heritage, SCP, Mastro, and Robert Edward are the big names in the rare sports memorabilia market. When a highly valuable Babe Ruth card, such as the 1914 Baltimore Sun card, is available for sale, one of these auction services will probably facilitate the sale.
2. Specialty Websites - some sites do offer a very targeted set of cards for collectors. A collector searching for Babe Ruth cards can quickly find and purchase a very specific card. In addition, these sites often offer collectors additional details about a card or set. Looking for a 1929 Kashin Ruth? You can not only buy the card you are looking for, but see what it looks like and learn more about the set. Many of these sites scour the internet for the specific type of card, giving collectors a simple website to find what they are looking for.
3. Baseball Card Shows - baseball card shows continue to be a great place to find Babe Ruth Cards. Card shows are held all over North America every weekend, allowing collectors to interact with dozens of dealers and other experts. Baseball card shows are also a super place to find deep discounts on rare cards. Dealers arrive at these shows intending to make deals and build a client base. Collectors can use this environment to their advantage. Several websites carry listings for card shows in your area.
Adding Babe Ruth cards to your collection is easier than ever before. Prices are as low as they have been in years and collectors are buying them up. Knowing where to find these old baseball cards is the hard part. Picking and choosing the perfect card is the fun part. Enjoy!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_B_Hooper
Today, the market has opened up and prices have evened out considerably. For the first time in a couple of decades, rare Babe Ruth cards are within reach of everyday collectors. Other than the major auction sites (e.g. Amazon and eBay), where can a collector look for vintage Babe Ruth cards? Here are a few places to start.
1. Major Auction Sites - much as they were 15 years ago, major auction houses are still a key force in the vintage baseball card market. Heritage, SCP, Mastro, and Robert Edward are the big names in the rare sports memorabilia market. When a highly valuable Babe Ruth card, such as the 1914 Baltimore Sun card, is available for sale, one of these auction services will probably facilitate the sale.
2. Specialty Websites - some sites do offer a very targeted set of cards for collectors. A collector searching for Babe Ruth cards can quickly find and purchase a very specific card. In addition, these sites often offer collectors additional details about a card or set. Looking for a 1929 Kashin Ruth? You can not only buy the card you are looking for, but see what it looks like and learn more about the set. Many of these sites scour the internet for the specific type of card, giving collectors a simple website to find what they are looking for.
3. Baseball Card Shows - baseball card shows continue to be a great place to find Babe Ruth Cards. Card shows are held all over North America every weekend, allowing collectors to interact with dozens of dealers and other experts. Baseball card shows are also a super place to find deep discounts on rare cards. Dealers arrive at these shows intending to make deals and build a client base. Collectors can use this environment to their advantage. Several websites carry listings for card shows in your area.
Adding Babe Ruth cards to your collection is easier than ever before. Prices are as low as they have been in years and collectors are buying them up. Knowing where to find these old baseball cards is the hard part. Picking and choosing the perfect card is the fun part. Enjoy!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_B_Hooper
The 5 Most Popular Babe Ruth Baseball Cards
Babe Ruth's place in baseball history is well documented. He sits at or near the top of the record books in several statistical categories. He is widely regarded by baseball historians as the most dominant hitter of his generation.
Babe Ruth's emergence as a baseball star coincided with the surge in popularity of the sport. While baseball experienced incredible growth in popularity, baseball cards also became increasingly popular. Often produced by tobacco and candy companies, cards were frequently packaged and included with another product.
Many Babe Ruth baseball cards were produced during his legendary career. Some of his cards are among the most recognized cards in the baseball card collecting hobby. All of the cards printed during Babe Ruth's career continue to maintain high values. A few Babe Ruth cards do stand out from the rest.
5. 1932 U.S. Caramel - The U.S. Caramel Company released a set of card featuring sports stars in 1932. Of the 32 athletes featured in the set, 27 were baseball stars. The popularity of Ruth combined with the difficulty of putting together a complete 1932 U.S. Caramel set has made this a popular card.
4. 1933 Goudey Sport Kings - In addition to its baseball release in 1933, Goudey released a set of cards featuring athletes from many sports. This set was a Who's Who of the sports world in the early 1930's. It included three baseball stars. Babe Ruth was one of these stars.
3. 1948 Leaf - Long after Ruth's career was over, Leaf produced a beautiful set of cards featuring modern stars such as Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, and Ted Williams. Leaf also capitalized on Ruth's continued popularity and chose to include him in the set.
2. 1933 Goudey - The Goudey Gum company printed four Babe Ruth cards in 1933. These cards are often reproduced in modern sets as they are among the most recognizable Babe Ruth baseball cards ever printed.
1. 1914 Baltimore Sun - Babe Ruth's rookie card was printed by the Baltimore Sun newspaper in 1914. Ruth was photographed along with his Baltimore Orioles (then a minor league club) teammates as well as members of the Terrapins. Cards were printed in red or blue and displayed a team schedule on the back of the card.
There are only ten known Babe Ruth rookie cards in existence today. The Ruth rookie is considered the second-most valuable card on the market, trailing only the famous Honus Wagner card. The most recent sale of a 1914 Babe Ruth netted over $500,000 in auction.
Babe Ruth baseball cards have continued to be a popular choice with collectors. Those listed here only represent a small sample. There are many cards for collectors to choose from.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_B_Hooper
Babe Ruth's emergence as a baseball star coincided with the surge in popularity of the sport. While baseball experienced incredible growth in popularity, baseball cards also became increasingly popular. Often produced by tobacco and candy companies, cards were frequently packaged and included with another product.
Many Babe Ruth baseball cards were produced during his legendary career. Some of his cards are among the most recognized cards in the baseball card collecting hobby. All of the cards printed during Babe Ruth's career continue to maintain high values. A few Babe Ruth cards do stand out from the rest.
5. 1932 U.S. Caramel - The U.S. Caramel Company released a set of card featuring sports stars in 1932. Of the 32 athletes featured in the set, 27 were baseball stars. The popularity of Ruth combined with the difficulty of putting together a complete 1932 U.S. Caramel set has made this a popular card.
4. 1933 Goudey Sport Kings - In addition to its baseball release in 1933, Goudey released a set of cards featuring athletes from many sports. This set was a Who's Who of the sports world in the early 1930's. It included three baseball stars. Babe Ruth was one of these stars.
3. 1948 Leaf - Long after Ruth's career was over, Leaf produced a beautiful set of cards featuring modern stars such as Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, and Ted Williams. Leaf also capitalized on Ruth's continued popularity and chose to include him in the set.
2. 1933 Goudey - The Goudey Gum company printed four Babe Ruth cards in 1933. These cards are often reproduced in modern sets as they are among the most recognizable Babe Ruth baseball cards ever printed.
1. 1914 Baltimore Sun - Babe Ruth's rookie card was printed by the Baltimore Sun newspaper in 1914. Ruth was photographed along with his Baltimore Orioles (then a minor league club) teammates as well as members of the Terrapins. Cards were printed in red or blue and displayed a team schedule on the back of the card.
There are only ten known Babe Ruth rookie cards in existence today. The Ruth rookie is considered the second-most valuable card on the market, trailing only the famous Honus Wagner card. The most recent sale of a 1914 Babe Ruth netted over $500,000 in auction.
Babe Ruth baseball cards have continued to be a popular choice with collectors. Those listed here only represent a small sample. There are many cards for collectors to choose from.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_B_Hooper
Monday, October 13, 2008
5 Softball Pitching Drills
Drill 1: Fast and Slow
Purpose: To practice changing speeds.
Procedure: Working with her catcher, the pitcher alternates fast and off-speed pitches. The goal is to keep the delivery the same.
Drill 2: Football Toss
Purpose: To develop correct rise-ball release.
Procedure: The pitcher throws a junior-sized football underhand to a partner. Grip it along the seam with all the fingers and with the thumb on the opposite side. The ball should spiral. If it wobbles in flight, the palm has turned toward the catcher at release.
Drill 3: Four-Corner Control
Purpose: To develop control and accuracy.
Procedure: The pitcher throws to the extreme four corners of the strike zone. When she achieves accuracy at one spot, she moves the target to the next corner. A catcher or a target on the wall can be used. To adjust for the in and out targets, the pitcher must adjust her body angle from her normal stance. She turns the toe on the rubber about a half inch in or out from the position she used to throw to the middle of the plate.
Drill 4: Wrist Snap Behind Back
Purpose: To develop the wrist snap by isolating the wrist, which prevents the pitcher from using the elbow to snap the ball.
Procedure: The pitcher stands sideways 5 to 10 feet from the catcher or a wall. The glove side faces the target, and the ball is behind the back. The pitcher flips the ball by snapping the wrist.
Drill 5: Oversized and Undersized Ball Spins
Purpose: To make the pitcher practice throwing a riseball.
Procedure: Using a baseball or an 11-inch ball may help the pitcher make the correct movements to get underneath the ball. The smaller the size of the ball allows the fingers to be more flexible and allows the correct movements to occur with less effort. A pitcher can use an undersized ball when initially trying to create muscle memory for the correct spin movements. An oversized ball is helpful in speeding up the wrist snap because the hand must pass under more area in the same amount of time. The oversized ball can also illustrate the spin to a pitcher who may be struggling with the backward concept. A 14-inch ball seems to be the perfect size because the pitcher can hold on to it comfortably throughout the circle before snapping the wrist at release. The routine used with these balls can mirror the routing used with the Spinner-starting close up without the circle and adding distance as well as the full circle.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
Purpose: To practice changing speeds.
Procedure: Working with her catcher, the pitcher alternates fast and off-speed pitches. The goal is to keep the delivery the same.
Drill 2: Football Toss
Purpose: To develop correct rise-ball release.
Procedure: The pitcher throws a junior-sized football underhand to a partner. Grip it along the seam with all the fingers and with the thumb on the opposite side. The ball should spiral. If it wobbles in flight, the palm has turned toward the catcher at release.
Drill 3: Four-Corner Control
Purpose: To develop control and accuracy.
Procedure: The pitcher throws to the extreme four corners of the strike zone. When she achieves accuracy at one spot, she moves the target to the next corner. A catcher or a target on the wall can be used. To adjust for the in and out targets, the pitcher must adjust her body angle from her normal stance. She turns the toe on the rubber about a half inch in or out from the position she used to throw to the middle of the plate.
Drill 4: Wrist Snap Behind Back
Purpose: To develop the wrist snap by isolating the wrist, which prevents the pitcher from using the elbow to snap the ball.
Procedure: The pitcher stands sideways 5 to 10 feet from the catcher or a wall. The glove side faces the target, and the ball is behind the back. The pitcher flips the ball by snapping the wrist.
Drill 5: Oversized and Undersized Ball Spins
Purpose: To make the pitcher practice throwing a riseball.
Procedure: Using a baseball or an 11-inch ball may help the pitcher make the correct movements to get underneath the ball. The smaller the size of the ball allows the fingers to be more flexible and allows the correct movements to occur with less effort. A pitcher can use an undersized ball when initially trying to create muscle memory for the correct spin movements. An oversized ball is helpful in speeding up the wrist snap because the hand must pass under more area in the same amount of time. The oversized ball can also illustrate the spin to a pitcher who may be struggling with the backward concept. A 14-inch ball seems to be the perfect size because the pitcher can hold on to it comfortably throughout the circle before snapping the wrist at release. The routine used with these balls can mirror the routing used with the Spinner-starting close up without the circle and adding distance as well as the full circle.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
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