Moneyball 2011 - Michael Lews and Michael Oher

2009 Topps #342 Michael Oher RC (click to enlarge)

There is likely no baseball card for Michael Lewis, in lieu of that I am featuring this Baltimore Ravens Rookie Card of Michael Oher which was featured here in 2009.  Oher is a Tackle for the Ravens and the subject of the Film adaptation of one of Lewis' other books "The Blind Side"

I find it odd timing for the film version of "Moneyball" to surface.  The book is from 2003, the Baseball Draft featured in the book occurred over 9 years ago.  I think at least part of the reason the movie finally got done was the success of "The Blind Side" in 2009.

Michael Lewis is a gifted writer, and  have read several of his books - many of which are related to business and finanacial tycoons.  He takes what otherwise may be a dry subject and adds interesting and funny insights and anectdotes.

  

While Moneyball is a non-fiction work, inevitably part of the story and the Moneyball version of Billy Beane is the creation of Michael Lewis.  One can give you straight facts, but the author still chooses which facts to keep and which to ignore and Billy Beane comes out of Moneyball pretty favorably - the same cannot be said of field Manager Art Howe.  The Paul DePodesta character goes by a different name in the film version of the story as DePodesta would not sign off on the veracity of the script. 

Michael Oher

The Blind Side was a box office success and can currently be seen on cable movie channels.  Micheal Oher has also proven to be a success at the NFL level as well starting all 32 games for the Baltimore Ravens in his first two seasons.  Oher has written (w/ Don Yaeger) his own Biography "I Beat the Odds".  

Moneyball 2011

Past Moneyball 2011 related posts:

Billy Beane

etc

Here is a link to a Moneyball and Collecting related article in Beckett that I first saw referenced by Chris Olds via Twitter. 

Phiadelphia Sports and Memorablia Show returns September 23rd - 25th

The Fall edition of the Philly Show returns to the Valley Forge Convention Center next weekend - September 23-25th.  Unfortunately events have conspired against Team Phungo this year and I will not be makeing the show.

I am a bit amazed that we are just over a week away from the event and the Philly Show website has not been updated with autograph guest info.  The show is run by Hunt Auctions who one would think would be responsible enough to try and get info out to their site in a timely manner - I would have to think the vendors for the show cannot be happy with Hunt's lack of advertising. 

They did send out post cards via snail mail that have event info though. 

1993 Topps #371 Mariano Duncan (image stolen from Baseball Card Database)

Saturday 9/24 is the Baseball Auto Day featuring HOFs Bill Mazeroski and Pat Gillick.  Phillies Alums scheduled include Mariano Duncan (93 NL Champion Phils), Dickie Thon, Tommy Herr, Tony Taylor, Jay Johnstone, and Ollie Brown.  WBC Heavyweight Champion (1978-83) Larry Holmes and Internation Boxing HoF member Larry Holmes is also scheduled for Saturday. 

Curiosly Sunday is Hoop Day - I say curiosly because there appears to be a chance that a large chunck of the NBA season may be lost.  Scheduled guests include Moses Malone, Bobby Jones, Artis Gilmore and Dr J. 

No Pricing information was given for the autos at the show.  

NOTE - at every recent Philly Show there has been at least one noteworthy autograph cancellation

Show admission is $8/day ($21 for weekend pass).  The cards mailed by Hunt are good for $1 off, typically local papers will have a similar coupon in the Friday and Sunday sports sections the weekend pior and of the show - of course the paper will cost you at least that much to buy.

If you can't make the Philly Show, don't fret, Collectors Showcase will be running a show the weekend of 11/11 in Oaks. 

In my opinion the CSA show is better then the Hunt Auctions show in Valley Forge, Admission is Cheaper, There seems to be a comparable variety of dealers, Autograph guests were decent with better options for the complimentry auto - Plus you can purchase beer at the convention center in Oaks!

One last card show note, the local card show this weekend is at the Concorde Mall in Wilmington Delaware - I don't see squeezing this weekend in, but I may trek down there on Sunday for a look around.

For general card show info click here

KHL plane crash

As you likely know yesterday there was a plane crash in Russia that killed dozens of passengers including what is believed to be the bulk of the Lokmotiv Team of the Russian KHL Hockey League.

Among the dead is 80s era Philadelphia Flyer Brad McCrimmon - I didn't discover Hockey until the early 90s when I moved to the Philadelphia area, so McCrimmon is before my time - He was on a couple of Flyers teams that went to the Finals and He won a cup with the Calgary Flames. 

Hockey like any sports fraternity  is not that large of a community and I am sure that many people who are involved in the sport at it's highest level are familiar with someone whose life was taken in the crash.  Our sympathies and condolsences to all involved.

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Last year while in Moscow, I was able to attend a KHL game - For some background on Hockey in Russia and a game report click here.  It is a much more upbeat post this one. 

Hurricane Irene Card Show Pick Ups

Just when you thought the supersaturated coverage of Hurricane Irene was over, Team Phungo brings it back. 

The local show was at the Exton Mall this past weekend and I ran out there for a few hours on Friday and added some baseball cards to my emergency supplies for this past weekend. 

Highlights

2011 Topps Heritage Baseball Highlight Sketches Roy Halladay
Cards from games that I attended are right at the top of my want list.  This card is easily my favourite one of 2011.  I went over my $1 limit for inserts to procure this special card.  


Super Veterans

1983 OPC Super Veterans Steve Carlton and Pete Rose

There were 1983 OPC star cards floating around at a couple of tables.  I have been putting together the 83 SuperVets and these are nice cards to supplement that set.

Chrome n Serial Goodness

The Pearce and Wainwright were both from a dime box.  Pearce isn't a star, but finding the #d/59 Chrome version of the card in a dime box could not be passed on.  The Shula card is from the Masterpieces #d/75 Green Frame parallel set - went a full dollar for this card.  
 
2011 Topps Inserts

There was one woman selling cards for a nickle, in addition to all these 60th anniversary inserts she also had a good selection of 2011 A&G.

The show was pretty small - I only hit 3 tables and there were maybe 5 others, but there was a good selection of different items.  

The First Topps Hunter Pence Phillies Card??

This is the giant Topps Hunter Pence card that was posted as part of the teams Starting Line Up feature at the ballpark.  I was happy to see the Phils and Topps elected to move up to the 2011 design, they have elected to skip some years.  Pence joined the Phils after Series 2 came out, I am not sure but I suppose this could be what the Pence 2011 Topps S3 card could look like.

This card was posted when we were at the game on Wednesday night - The Phils won 9-2, Pence had a couple of hits including a double and score 3 runs.  Cliff Lee got the had another good start and recorded his 13th win.  Jimmy Rollins had a lead off dinger for the Phils.  Rookie HR sensation Paul Goldschmidt went deep for the bad guys.

2011 Topps Lineage Blaster Break

I started out liking Topps Lineage - not enough to build it, but I did enjoy opening up the 7 pack blaster I picked up at Target - but then I got to 4 additional loose packs that I picked up and realized I was growing bored w/ the product.  

 

2011 Topps Lineage Blaster 

 

Damage: $21.19 (incl PA Sales Tax) for 57 cards

 

Highlights: 

 

 2011 Topps Lineage #TCS2 Derek Jeter

 

The pick of the pack was the above Derek Jeter Cloth Sticker.  I like the idea of including cloth stickers in Lineage but I was bummed the stickers look exactly like the dull ass base cards.

 

Regardless it's a big summer for Mr Jeter and according to the pack odds and my rough math, there is roughly 1 Jeter cloth sticker per case of Lineage. 

 

2011 Topps Lineage Cole Hamels 

 

There was only one Phil in my blaster.  I am in a bit of a Phils slump right now :(

 

75 Minis

Obviously the hit of Topps Lineage are the 75 minis.  I presented the Jake McGee base here for comparison.  Austin Jackson was my bonus relic. 

 

Other Highlights

Jose Bautista Venezuelan

Nelson Cruz Sparkle

Youkilis Stand Up (the other fun insert) 

Ichiro Base (w/ Rookie Cup) 

Michael Pineda Rookie All-Star

Johnny Damon Base and Knock off chromey thing

 

 

Blaster All-Star Team

 

Battery

 LHP David Price, RHP Verlander, C Miguel  Montero, I didn't get a closer so Chris Sale is the Blaster Relief staff.

 

Infield 

1B Billy Butler, 2b Michael Young (listed as 3b here, but I didn't get a 2b), 3b=Chipper, SS Tulowitzki

 

Outfield

Cargo, Either, Heyward, Carl Crawford

 

Report Card

Base Set Design - Meh - would have been nice to see heritage card stock. 

Base Set Checklist - thumbs up, I like short sets w/ Hall of Famers heavy - I would have liked to see a few more prospects, but I didn't get to really check out all of the prospects in this set.

Base Backs - hate it, but I was wondering has another set had such noticeable color variations on the back based on the players team. 

Photography - Solid

Inserts - Interesting - Like 75 Minis and the popups - but Topps really mailed it in by using the same pix and giving them all the same back - except for Venezuelan which they gave identical fronts.  

 

Final Grade

Thumbs Down - The more I see this set and the less I like it.  The boring base design combined w/ the mirroring of it for the inserts is a crummy combination.

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Congratulations Jim Thome - 600 Homers

2011 Phungo #25 Jim Thome

Jim Thome now ranks 8th career in Homers and 4th among Lefties (Bonds, the Babe, and Junior)

I am very happy to see Thome reach the milestone, he will always be one of the best players that I was able to see play on a regular basis.  I hope he sticks around for another season and gets another crack at a ring.  

For more info on the above card click here.