The Saga of "54" and the Truth - Post #120

[frankbmd]

Although it may seem like an eternity to some, I haven't been around on this forum all that long (a little over 54 weeks). I have also pondered the origins of Net54 more than once in my tenure here. Searching the nooks and crannies of the web site has not been rewarding. I'm sure there are veterans of this forum who are enlightened, but my suspicion is that most of the members have no clue as to the meaning of Net54. Therefore I ask the following:

Rule #1. Members who know the genesis of Net54 are asked kindly to refrain from posting on this thread. This is important and why I placed it first.

Rule #2. All others are encouraged to speculate about the reason this site is called Net54. This is not a contest and you may post freely and often as new ideas spring to mind. In other words you are encouraged not only to post early, but post often.

Rule #3. I fully expect that at some point one of the above rules will be broken, knowing the crowd here. If we can get enough response to Rule #2, which is actually difficult to break, when the Rule #1 rulebreaker posts, perhaps and hopefully he will not be noticed and therefore he will not need to be vilified.

I will start things off with a few examples designed to encourage participation, so that no one feels intimidated. Hopefully better responses will follow.

54, the number of outs in a 9 inning baseball game won by the visiting team. Visitors are always welcome on Net54.

54, the average age of our forefathers, who started this site, at the time of creation.

54, the number of cards in a deck containing two jokers.:D:D:D

[conor912]

Net54 was the vision of Steve Rubell. But since the internet wasn't invented yet, he settled for starting Studio54 instead. The rest is history.

[Matthew H]

In the old days, you used to have to drink 54 beers in one sitting as initiation into the club.

[bigtrain]

54 was chosen because it is the atomic number of Xenon, a noble gas and the founders were noble men. No? Ok, how about this? The original founders were coincidently named Toody and Muldoon. (Now I am really showing my age.)

[Bocabirdman]

Net54 was the vision of Steve Rubell. But since the internet wasn't invented yet, he settled for starting Studio54 instead. The rest is history.

You almost have it right. It was started with what little money was left over from the Studio 54 bankruptcy. From Swinging and Snorting to Soaking and Slabbing.:D

[AndyG09]

The first 53 "Nets" were already claimed, so the originator had to roll with 54.

Best,

Andy

[Bocabirdman]

54 was chosen because it is the atomic number of Xenon, a noble gas and the founders were noble men. No? Ok, how about this? The original founders were coincidently named Toody and Muldoon. (Now I am really showing my age.)

Toody was a fan of the Babe and Muldoon favored the Say Hey Kid. The Net difference between the two? 54 homers

[peterb69]

Car 54, Where are you?

[4815162342]

5 + 4 = 9
9 upside down is 6
9 x 6 = 54
Start back at 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OPJUVlZV1g)

[Bocabirdman]

It was renamed Net 54 because it took 54 posts for someone to correct another poster's grammar.

[wolf441]

As a tribute to Goose Gossage....obviously.

[bn2cardz]

I assumed it was a forum hosted by another company, Network 54, and the name carried over.

I don't know this and joined around the same time as you, so if it is right than it isn't breaking rule number one, but just an observational guess.

[Bocabirdman]

As a tribute to Goose Gossage....obviously.

Or Minnie Minoso?:D

[Jlighter]

I assumed it was a forum hosted by another company, Network 54, and the name carried over.

I don't know this and joined around the same time as you, so if it is right than it isn't breaking rule number one, but just an observational guess.

Hmm, the only logical answer here. Can't be that one. :D

[Republicaninmass]

It was renamed Net 54 because it took 54 posts before someone could correct another poster's grammar.

Edited for truth

[Bocabirdman]

Hmm, the only logical answer here. Can't be that one. :D

If LOGIC was involved, grown men wouldn't be chasing old scraps of cardboard, paying car payment or mortgage payment prices for them.:D Logic has NEVER been a player in this game.:)

[Leon]

After some amount of time I will give the real answer, which some longtime members might not know.

[Bocabirdman]

It was inspired by the number of times D.Young resubmitted his Willie Horton in search of PSA 10?

[frankbmd]

After some amount of time I will give the real answer, which some longtime members might not know.

June 13th

[mordecaibrown]

I always assumed it referred to any cards issued between the 1887 kalamazoo bats and 1941 (WW2). Any card issued over that 54 year stretch was considered pre-war.

That was just my assumption, I am interested in knowing the actual reason.

Andy

[Leon]

June 13th

How about Feb 23rd, the 54th day of the year?

[frankbmd]

Few know that Net 54 was the initial online dating site.

Inspired by the Marvelettes' hit single "Beechwood 45789"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucu83CZKeGg

The 5***4 portion of the title is based on encryption of that song title.

Vintage cards were introduced to the site by a gal named Lola

in an effort to get lucky with a member known only as leon.

Interestingly this is the same encryption methodology used by Ebay today.

[frankbmd]

How about Feb 23rd, the 54th day of the year?

How about March 23rd, the 54th day of the thread?

[wolf441]

54 = the Net average age of board members. Thankfully Frank and Waz joined around the same time and kept things in line....

[Moonlight Graham]

Maybe 54 is the average amount of days PSA takes to grade a 10 day submission:D

[cyseymour]

"Net54 where ARE YOU???"

[jonincleve]

Originally named Net55 for the 55 people who owned an ungraded T206 Honus Wagner card. Then somebody got their card graded a PSA 8, they were kicked out and the site was renamed Net54

[novakjr]

I assumed it was a forum hosted by another company, Network 54, and the name carried over.

I don't know this and joined around the same time as you, so if it is right than it isn't breaking rule number one, but just an observational guess.

I don't know the full history behind the name, but I'm pretty sure you're spot on with how WE ended up with it. As far as I know Network54 Corporation, created the original forums. As far as how they came up with the name, I don't know.

But I'll humor the intentions of this thread. Assuming there was a baseball tie to the number. I'm gonna go with what little info that I have about the company. I believe the corporation is based out of Los Angeles. So let's assume that there's a chance that the founder was possibly a Giants fan. I believe the corporation started in 1999, so at the time, 1954 or '54 was the last time that the Giants had won the World Series.

Outside of baseball, my guess would be a play off of "Studio 54"(as someone had mentioned earlier). The movie came out in 1998, so it was fresh in people's minds again. Maybe the 54 was intended to indicate that it was "a popular and fun place for people to get together"...

[sdkammeyer]

Few know that Net 54 was the initial online dating site.

Inspired by the Marvelettes' hit single "Beechwood 45789"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucu83CZKeGg

The 5***4 portion of the title is based on encryption of that song title.

Vintage cards were introduced to the site by a gal named Lola

in an effort to get lucky with a member known only as leon.

Interestingly this is the same encryption methodology used by Ebay today.

I don't laugh out loud very often Frank. Thank you. F'n hilarious.

[Sean1125]

Was the original web host called network 54 or something?

[Griffins]

54 was Elliot's age when he founded the forum upon the demise of John Spencer's Full Count forum, and also the number of bottles of single malt Macallan he needed to help him recover from a years worth of moderator duties.

[Bocabirdman]

The original 54 members were all voiced by the same fella. A guest at Bellevue, his Internet access was part of his Occupational Therapy.:D

[novakjr]

Was the original web host called network 54 or something?

yes

[Bocabirdman]

Edited for truth

As long as it wasn't for grammar, all is well.:D

[frankbmd]

yes

Lighten up.;)

[novakjr]

Lighten up.;)

yeah, I probably should've made it a little more obvious that I was being sarcastic...Forgot all about the emoticons.. ;)

[T205 GB]

It was inspired by the number of times D.Young resubmitted his Willie Horton in search of PSA 10?

I wouldn't think PSA would be that accurate 53 other times:eek:

[EvilKing00]

hmmmmmmm

1 - Net1-53 were taken already?

2 - 54 member of the HOF - Herb Pennock = Favorite player?

3 - 1954 world series NY Giants winner= Favorite team?

4 - Goose Gossage wore #54= Favorite player?

5 - 54 outs in a 6 game series...........

6 - in 1920 babe ruth hit 54 HR - the first player to hit 50 in a season (and i think 40 as well)

[Buythatcard]

Shoeless Joe Jackson's IQ

[grainsley]

Because when Maris hit 61, the Mick only hit a lowly 54....he was obviously a sentimental favorite.

[t206blogcom]

In 1887, the baseball rules changed to 5 balls and 4 strikes (the numbers were higher in prior years).

Perhaps Net54 was created as a network of collectors who focused their collections on pre-war or 19th century cards, specifically N172 Old Judges that date to 1887.

[Bocabirdman]

...every possible T206 web address was already taken.:D

[39special]

I thought it had to do with UFO's

[Bocabirdman]

I thought it had to do with UFO's

Dude! We are not supposed to talk about that. You'd better look out your window. The car that just pulled up is the MIB.:D

[39special]

Dude! We are not supposed to talk about that. You'd better look out your window. The car that just pulled up is the MIB.:D

OH CRAP!! I thought it was the ice cream man!

[NewEnglandBaseBallist]

This board was previously hosted on Network54.com, which I believe was this boards second incarnation. I first posted there in early 2003.

[E93]

Nostalgia for when the pitcher"s mound was only 54 feet from home plate

[Bocabirdman]

Nostalgia for when the pitcher"s mound was only 54 feet from home plate

Pre-nostalgia for when the centerfield cow pasture was only 54 feet from home plate?:D

[EvilKing00]

Dude! We are not supposed to talk about that. You'd better look out your window. The car that just pulled up is the MIB.:D

lmfao!!!

[pro9]

As founder, I don't want to give it away yet, but I will mention that the original name of the forum was "Vintage Baseball Card Forum".

Some great guesses so far, keep them coming.

Elliot

[Jantz]

Not sure about the 54.

If I were going to start something.....anything, like a website or a business, I would want it to have a number that instills honesty and trust.

A number like.....00000001

Perfect! ;)


Jantz

[RCMcKenzie]

My memory is not the best, but I remember a board where the posts went like this...

does anyone have a T207 Milan?

........ Yes, I have a T207 Milan Napolean back.


etc

There was another board. And then a hostile takeover like Mutiny on the Bounty. That's all I remember.

[JollyElm]

I think Wilfred Brimley and his diabeetus somehow figures into all of this.

[EvilKing00]

So whats the real reason for the 54????:confused:

[E93]

As founder, I don't want to give it away yet, but I will mention that the original name of the forum was "Vintage Baseball Card Forum".

Some great guesses so far, keep them coming.

Elliot

It is an Elliot sighting!!! How about a big round of applause for the guy that started this!
JimB

[h2oya311]

54 = the number of times the average user will view the BST page in a single day. I'm definitely in the hundreds...

[frankbmd]

So whats the real reason for the 54????:confused:

A very appropriate Post #54 in this thread, but you will just have to wait like the rest of us.

[dabigyankeeman]

The Yankees have won 27 world series, and in the next 100 years if they keep up that pace, they will win another 27, thereby Netting 54 championships. Condense to Net54. Yes, a Yankee fan started this forum.:D

[EvilKing00]

rulebook that the modern sport resembles was written by Alexander Cartwright in 1845 - and whoever bought the domain name typed in 54 instead of 45???

[SMPEP]

I thought it was the answer to life the universe and everything ... plus 12 just to make sure our answer was better.

[freakhappy]

It is an Elliot sighting!!! How about a big round of applause for the guy that started this!
JimB

+1

Yes!!! Elliot's the man! Thanks for what you created and now is Net54 :D

[frankbmd]

I have been looking for evidence to substantiate my previous contention regarding leon, Lola and the Marvelettes (Post #22). I decided to pick an area code at random (760) and dialed Beechwood 45789. A cub reporter named Farleigh from the Desert Sun in Palm Springs answered the phone. I explained the reason for my call and Farleigh assured me he would look into it.
Well, it wasn't long, before I could finish my venison tostada, that Farleigh returned my call. In the newspaper's archives he found evidence of a clandestine meeting that took place in the early nineties between the Marvelettes warm up band, "The Baker's Dozen", and a group of card soakers know only as "The Dirty Dozen". What makes this even more compelling though is the location of the meeting, the Bistro 29 in Twentynine Palms, just up the highway from Palm Springs. Far be it for me to doubt Farleigh's research and if I'm not mistaken 13+12+29=54. I think I'm getting closer to the truth.

[Jlighter]

I have been looking for evidence to substantiate my previous contention regarding leon, Lola and the Marvelettes (Post #22). I decided to pick an area code at random (760) and dialed Beechwood 45789. A cub reporter named Farleigh from the Desert Sun in Palm Springs answered the phone. I explained the reason for my call and Farleigh assured me he would look into it.
Well, it wasn't long, before I could finish my venison tostada, that Farleigh returned my call. In the newspaper's archives he found evidence of a clandestine meeting that took place in the early nineties between the Marvelettes warm up band, "The Baker's Dozen", and a group of card soakers know only as "The Dirty Dozen". What makes this even more compelling though is the location of the meeting, the Bistro 29 in Twentynine Palms, just up the highway from Palm Springs. Far be it for me to doubt Farleigh's research and if I'm not mistaken 13+12+29=54. I think I'm getting closer to the truth.

Wow, how did you have time for all this in your busy day?

Maybe you should hire Darren.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lLQ1I-AF-5g

:)

[Bocabirdman]

I have been looking for evidence to substantiate my previous contention regarding leon, Lola and the Marvelettes (Post #22). I decided to pick an area code at random (760) and dialed Beechwood 45789. A cub reporter named Farleigh from the Desert Sun in Palm Springs answered the phone. I explained the reason for my call and Farleigh assured me he would look into it.
Well, it wasn't long, before I could finish my venison tostada, that Farleigh returned my call. In the newspaper's archives he found evidence of a clandestine meeting that took place in the early nineties between the Marvelettes warm up band, "The Baker's Dozen", and a group of card soakers know only as "The Dirty Dozen". What makes this even more compelling though is the location of the meeting, the Bistro 29 in Twentynine Palms, just up the highway from Palm Springs. Far be it for me to doubt Farleigh's research and if I'm not mistaken 13+12+29=54. I think I'm getting closer to the truth.

I have investigated the Marvelettes' recording. While playing backwards, at exactly the 54 second mark AND 54 seconds from the end, the chorus Beachwood 45789 transforms into "..someday Net 54" You kinda have to tilt your head to one side and turn one ear from the music with your index finger in the other, but, it is there. It is there as plain as day. No "I buried Paul/Cranberry Sauce" debate here, guys. What is the real connection between this all girl band from Inkster Michigan and Net 54? Inquiring minds need to know.

[sam majors]

I know the answer!;)

[EvilKing00]

i got it!!!

Because it took the guy 54 licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop!!:eek:

[Bocabirdman]

i got it!!!

Because it took the guy 54 licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop!!:eek:

Nice try, but that was an owl and he proved it only takes three licks:D

[Bocabirdman]

I have been looking for evidence to substantiate my previous contention regarding leon, Lola and the Marvelettes (Post #22). I decided to pick an area code at random (760) and dialed Beechwood 45789. A cub reporter named Farleigh from the Desert Sun in Palm Springs answered the phone. I explained the reason for my call and Farleigh assured me he would look into it.
Well, it wasn't long, before I could finish my venison tostada, that Farleigh returned my call. In the newspaper's archives he found evidence of a clandestine meeting that took place in the early nineties between the Marvelettes warm up band, "The Baker's Dozen", and a group of card soakers know only as "The Dirty Dozen". What makes this even more compelling though is the location of the meeting, the Bistro 29 in Twentynine Palms, just up the highway from Palm Springs. Far be it for me to doubt Farleigh's research and if I'm not mistaken 13+12+29=54. I think I'm getting closer to the truth.

Am I the only one who has noticed that the Marvelettes other big hit was "Please Mr. Postman"? Considering how big of a part the USPS plays in our hobby, that cannot be a coincidence, could it? :eek:

[frankbmd]

I have investigated the Marvelettes' recording. While playing backwards, at exactly the 54 second mark AND 54 seconds from the end, the chorus Beachwood 45789 transforms into "..someday Net 54" You kinda have to tilt your head to one side and turn one ear from the music with your index finger in the other, but, it is there. It is there as plain as day. No "I buried Paul/Cranberry Sauce" debate here, guys. What is the real connection between this all girl band from Inkster Michigan and Net 54? Inquiring minds need to know.

Heading to Bistro 29 tomorrow to look for gum stuck under the tables. I'll run it down to Newport for DNA analysis. I'm guessing members of The Dirty Dozen are lurking on the Board right now. I realize this is a dangerous mission, but I wouldn't be caught dead in Inkster, Michigan.:eek::eek::eek:

[Bocabirdman]

Heading to Bistro 29 tomorrow to look for gum stuck under the tables. I'll run it down to Newport for DNA analysis. I'm guessing members of The Dirty Dozen are lurking on the Board right now. I realize this is a dangerous mission, but I wouldn't be caught dead in Inkster, Michigan.:eek::eek::eek:

I am afraid you'd be wasting your time as the Bistro 29 remodeled and sold the tables to The Birdie Cafe in Marathon FL. Of Course, a Birdie is one under par or -1, a Marathon is 26 miles...You can do the math (29 -1 +26) and see that the plot thickens.

[Jlighter]

I am afraid you'd be wasting your time as the Bistro 29 remodeled and sold the tables to The Fishing Net Cafe in Marathon FL. Of Course, a Marathon is 26 miles...You can do the math and see that the plot thickens.

I really don't feel like adding fuel to the fire.

But, Marathon Florida is about 154 miles from Boca Raton.

[Bocabirdman]

I really don't feel like adding fuel to the fire.

But, Marathon Florida is about 154 miles from Boca Raton.

Road Trip Dammit!!:D

[Bocabirdman]

I really don't feel like adding fuel to the fire.

But, Marathon Florida is about 154 miles from Boca Raton.

I smell a rat. Something's fishy about how this tale is turning. I think I will just leave it alone.:D

[EvilKing00]

so when are we getting the answer??

[frankbmd]

so when are we getting the answer??

The minions are getting restless, so even though the next chapter of my thrilling saga of intrigue is already written, if there are three more votes to end the suspense, we'll let the truth be told.

[MMarvelli]

"if there are three more votes to end the suspense, we'll let the truth be told."

Once the truth is discovered, the journey is over. :mad:

[ramram]

It's backward masking. net54 backwards is "4 5 ten"....and we all know what that means...

Rob M.

[EvilKing00]

It's backward masking. net54 backwards is "4 5 ten"....and we all know what that means...

Rob M.

that sounds like a vote to me!

[t206blogcom]

Another vote to reveal the truth...

[h2oya311]

I must admit I got lost along the way...

Looking forward to the grand reveal!!

My theories:

>> 54 is the number of outs Carl Hubbell got when pitching an 18 inning shutout vs the Cardinals in 1933.

>> the creator may have been from Oregon ("54 40 or Fight")

>> the creator was from MA (54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry - during civil war).

>> the creator was a meth user/dealer - much like baseball cards are an addiction to us (as in 54/142).

>> 5+4= 9 men on the field

>> 54 letters in the Sanscrit alphabet

>> 54 are the 191st and 192nd numbers in pi (and at the time of creation there were 190 Hall of Famers -- creator wanted Shoeless Joe and Pete Rose to be 191 and 192.

>> 54 is the sum of 2 thru 10, for what it's worth!!

Let us have it, I'm at wits end (as you can see)!!

[t206blogcom]

Let us have it, I'm at wits end (as you can see)!!

I'm with you. I haven't slept for two days. I might do something rash like start buying T205s if we don't find out soon. :eek:

[sdkammeyer]

It's the number of times I have been married. They felt sorry for me and named a website after my drama.

[frankbmd]

It's the number of times I have been married. They felt sorry for me and named a website after my drama.

Are you sticking with the fifty-fourth or taking a breather?

What was wrong with #32, I thought she was cute.

[Bocabirdman]

It's the number of times I have been married. They felt sorry for me and named a website after my drama.

You must have a great lawyer. 53 divorces/murders and you can still afford to collect cards?:D

[frankbmd]

You must have a great lawyer. 53 divorces/murders and you can still afford to collect cards?:D

You obviously haven't heard of the cemetery find discovered while Steve's eighth was being interred. His lawyer only kept the Wagner.:D:D

[Bocabirdman]

You obviously haven't heard of the cemetery find discovered while Steve's eighth was being interred. His lawyer only kept the Wagner.:D:D

So, he paid for his divorce with a little Heinie?:D

[EvilKing00]

probably his little Heinie, that caused the divorce in the 1st place :eek:

[frankbmd]

I grew up with the '54 Dodgers.

Steve grew up with the 54 "bums".

[sdkammeyer]

Are you sticking with the fifty-fourth or taking a breather?


As of next month we are going to rename the site Net55

[h2oya311]

Bueller, Bueller,...BUELLER!!!!

[Eric72]

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to read is (probably not) true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent...and I would never (admit to being so lame as to) take my opening directly frm the old TV show Dragnet, which was in its prime in 1954.

In 1954, there was a boy named Eric. Like many young collectors of the day, he eagerly anticipated the release of Topps' newest baseball card line. As a die-hard Yankees fan who treasured his '52 and '53 Mickey Mantle cards, he could scarcely wait to get his hands on the '54.

He searched in vain, all summer long, for that '54 Topps Mantle, but to no avail. Had he lived in a town with a population of more than 54 and the General Store stocked the Bowman offering that year, things might have been different for poor Eric. However, lady luck was not smiling on him.

Throughout his childhood, and into adulthood, Eric combed the barns and farmhouses of his tiny rural community, hoping against hope that someone would be willing to part with their copy of this elusive card. He never did leave Tinytown, PA, nor did he give up his boyhood dream of grabbing that '54 Mantle. And it wasn't until nearly thirty years later that he stopped searching.

In the spring of 1982, Eric learned that there would be a Baseball Card Show at the local Volunteer Fire House. Figuring he would finally be able to snag the card that haunted him all these years, he woke up early that day and headed down to the fire house. In fact, he was the first one in line...a full two hours before the show opened.

When the doors were finally unlocked, Eric vaulted himself into the show and frantically went from dealer to dealer, asking each of them the same question..."do you have a '54 Topps Mickey Mantle?" He didn't quite understand the reactions they gave him until he stumbled upon the 19th and final vendor set up that day.

The kind dealer handed him a well-worn copy of a thin book, made from newsprint paper, with the title, "Current Card Prices" on the cover. As he flipped through its pages and realized what he was seeing, a look of dawning comprehension came over his face.

"You mean they never effing made one?" he asked the dealer.

"I'm afraid not." came the reply.

Eric dropped to the floor, dead on the spot, from a condition the Medical Examiner could only describe as, "a broken heart."

This message board was created in his memory, many years later, by those who were there that day.

[Texxxx]

I will throw a simple guess out there. Leons age when it started.
If that doesn't work then I will say the number of Depends that Frank goes through in a week.

[sam majors]

Please see post #65 for the answer. ;) ;) ;)

[39special]

Post #65 says I know the answer.Is that the answer?

[frankbmd]

It's so much fun seeing everyone jumping for the carrot. I feel like the rabbit at the greyhound track. Eric, I thought your post was autobiographical until the death scene. Please assure us that you are still alive. As for Texxxx, I guess it depends on which week you are talking about. When I'm dealing with you, the stack seems to get a little higher. To the best of my knowledge Leon is not yet 54, so that theory would hinge on whether he has found the Fountain of Youth and is headed backwards.:eek::eek:

Sam Majors may be clairvoyant or he may be a principle somehow involved an undercover plot or he may just be your average Joe man in the street type guy waiting to be discovered by Jay Leno. All I know is that he is not an agent of mine and is in no way connected financially or psychologically with this thread.

I'm considering half time at the Super Bowl for the reveal, and no I will not be there for a live presentation. The name of the thread may change at that time, but the change will be appropriate and shouldn't fool more than 10% of the members.

A few more theories before Sunday would be nice. I may even wrap up my serialized version before then.

[wonkaticket]

It's Chuck Norris's favorite number.

[baseballart]

Very simply, 3 was subtracted, the "." dropped, and "54" remained

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/content_images/fig/1340170104054.png

[frankbmd]

Very simply, 3 was subtracted, the "." dropped, and "54" remained

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/content_images/fig/1340170104054.png

Intellectually appealing, but flawed in the sixth line of the formula, which belies the result obtained.:eek:

[DavidG1966]

The Curse of 1940, also called Dutton's Curse, was a superstitious explanation for why the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League did not win the league's championship trophy, the Stanley Cup, from 1940–94.

Net = Hockey 54 Years = Duration of the Curse

1940 was also Pre WWII (for the US)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_1940

Was anyone involved in the naming a Hockey or Rangers Fan?

[drmondobueno]

Very simply, 3 was subtracted, the "." dropped, and "54" remained

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/content_images/fig/1340170104054.png

Silence. Head hurts.

[peterb69]

Emc2 = 54

[WWGjohn]

I have it on good authority that the name came from a meeting of "Monster set" collectors, 54 to be exact, who decided to create this forum where only posts pertaining to their beloved set would be allowed. Not sure how nonMonster set posts ever got started.

John

[Leon]

I just emailed Frank quite a long explanation and he can post it whenever he wants to. Nice thread and nice stories guys....

[novakjr]

Emc2 = 54

Interesting. In that equation. There appears to be multiple possiblities for the values of e m and c. They can all equal 3, although I'd lean toward that being unlikely, as it would've been more simple to assign a cubed singular varible. Although it is possible assuming that e, c and m could all be the same number, if they were representing different theoretical specifics. The more likely scenario being any combination that has one of them equaling 1, another equaling 3, and the third equaling 9..

In the context of that equation e definitely does not equal mc², in term of a fully whole number valued equation.

Unless, your large 2 represented "square". Then we're left with a different set of possibilities all-together. C could equal 1, while e and m could be interchangeably represent the numbers 2 and 27, 1 and 54, 3 and 18, or 6 and 9. It's possible that c could equal 3, while e and m represent 1 and 6, or 2 and 3. C could be represented by either positive or negative numbers. As it pertains to e and m. They could only both be negative or both be positive, but not 1 of each..

Again, we are not left with a solely whole number valued equation that can make e=mc².

Assuming that both emc2=54 AND e=mc², or emc²=54 and e=mc², fractions and decimals are the only possibilities.

[tschock]

I think it was from a 12 year old named Adam who was missing #54 from his set. He was definitely into older police partner TV shows like "DragNet" and "Car(d) 54 Where are you?".

[frankbmd]

Interesting. In that equation. There appears to be multiple possiblities for the values of e m and c. They can all equal 3, although I'd lean toward that being unlikely, as it would've been more simple to assign a cubed singular varible. Although it is possible assuming that e, c and m could all be the same number, if they were representing different theoretical specifics. The more likely scenario being any combination that has one of them equaling 1, another equaling 3, and the third equaling 9..

In the context of that equation e definitely does not equal mc², in term of a fully whole number valued equation.

Unless, your large 2 represented "square". Then we're left with a different set of possibilities all-together. C could equal 1, while e and m could be interchangeably represent the numbers 2 and 27, 1 and 54, 3 and 18, or 6 and 9. It's possible that c could equal 3, while m and c represent 1 and 6, or 2 and 3. C could be represented by either positive or negative numbers. As it pertains to e and m. They could only both be negative or both be positive, but not 1 of each..

Again, we are not left with a solely whole number valued equation that can make e=mc².

Assuming that both emc2=54 AND e=mc², or emc²=54 and e=mc², fractions and decimals are the only possibilities.

David, I used the numbers on my telephone keypad, squared the c and multiplied and came up with 72, so if Emc2 is correct, welcome all to

Net72

[novakjr]

David, I used the numbers on my telephone keypad, squared the c and multiplied and came up with 72, so if Emc2 is correct, welcome all to

Net72
The first portion of that was assuming that the larger 2 was just a 2... The second portion addressed as if it represented a "square".

[frankbmd]

I could be wrong. But I'm pretty sure that the way it is written, you would square the value of c before doing anything else with it. Otherwise it would need to be written as (emc)²

3 * 6 * (2*2) = 72

Don't screw around with a math major.:D:D:D

[novakjr]

3 * 6 * (2*2) = 72

Don't screw around with a math major.:D:D:D

Yes, yes. you confused the hell out of me for a moment there. I see the error, I accidentally assigned c twice in one of those possibilities. I'll go back and fix it.

I've just been playing around anyways. Gimme a break lol.. It's probably been 16 years since I've even seriously entertained a math problem. The last time would've been AP Calculus during my Junior year of HS.. I won't count my semester in college, because I was pretty much drunk or hungover the whole time..

[novakjr]

3 * 6 * (2*2) = 72

Don't screw around with a math major.:D:D:D

Even with my mistake, I don't see a possibility that I listed which e,m and c would result in any combination of 3, 6 and 2 together.

NEVERMIND. I get it now. It wasn't anything I did. I misread your reasoning, and it went straight over my head..:o:o:o

[BleedinBlue]

The answer is really much easier than that guys.

54 cards is the tipping point for most people who tackle the monster. Many, many people eventually try to defeat the monster and nearly all of them slink away with their tails between their legs. But careful analysis by Ted and many other long time collectors identified the number 54 as the point of no return. Once a collector had acquired their 54th card from the T206 set they were once and forever ensnared in the monsters NET.

Or, at the kickoff meeting for the Vintage Card Collectors Forum, each member was given one vote when electing a president. While there were only 12 people in attendance, it was quickly noted that there were 54 votes cast. A quick investigation discovered the discrepancy resulted when each of the Bruce Dorskinds had voted separately.

[Big Six]

The answer is really much easier than that guys.

Or, at the kickoff meeting for the Vintage Card Collectors Forum, each member was given one vote when electing a president. While there were only 12 people in attendance, it was quickly noted that there were 54 votes cast. A quick investigation discovered the discrepancy resulted when each of the Bruce Dorskinds had voted separately.

If this isn't the reason Net54 got it's name, well, it should be...

[Leon]

The answer is really much easier than that guys.


Or, at the kickoff meeting for the Vintage Card Collectors Forum, each member was given one vote when electing a president. While there were only 12 people in attendance, it was quickly noted that there were 54 votes cast. A quick investigation discovered the discrepancy resulted when each of the Bruce Dorskinds had voted separately.

that was good...

[Eric72]

It's so much fun seeing everyone jumping for the carrot. I feel like the rabbit at the greyhound track. Eric, I thought your post was autobiographical until the death scene. Please assure us that you are still alive.

Frank,

After a long night, I did wake up dead this morning...but feel much better now:D

Thanks for your concern:)

Best Regards,

Eric

[oddity]

I'm a frequent thread reader (lurker) waiting for an answer to this one.....

This is my first post here, and I'm waiting an answer to this!

Why five four?!?!?!?!?

[EvilKing00]

Frank posted the answer a few posts back - it was due to the creator being a 1954 Brooklyn fan - not the climatic ending i was hoping for lol:rolleyes:

[Eric72]

Frank posted the answer a few posts back - it was due to the creator being a 1954 Brooklyn fan - not the climatic ending i was hoping for lol:rolleyes:
I would think a true Brooklyn Dodgers fan would have chosen Net55...

[oddity]

Frank posted the answer a few posts back - it was due to the creator being a 1954 Brooklyn fan - not the climatic ending i was hoping for lol:rolleyes:

Oops, sorry, my bad. I thought I was following this thread pretty closely, but after 10 pages, I guess I wasn't as sup to par as I thought.

Not quite the amazing ending to this I was hoping for either...


lulz???

[frankbmd]

Half time at the Super Bowl is still in play.

If you're attending a good party, don't worry it'll be there when you get home.

25 hours to go. Should be about 7PM CST

[frankbmd]

Few know that Net 54 was the initial online dating site.
Inspired by the Marvelettes' hit single "Beechwood 45789"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucu83CZKeGg
The 5***4 portion of the title is based on encryption of that song title.
Vintage cards were introduced to the site by a gal named Lola
in an effort to get lucky with a member known only as leon.
Interestingly this is the same encryption methodology used by Ebay today.

I have been looking for evidence to substantiate this contention regarding leon, Lola and the Marvelettes. I decided to pick an area code at random (760) and dialed Beechwood 45789. A cub reporter named Farleigh from the Desert Sun in Palm Springs answered the phone. I explained the reason for my call and Farleigh assured me he would look into it.
Well, it wasn't long, before I could finish my venison tostada, that Farleigh returned my call. In the newspaper's archives he found evidence of a clandestine meeting that took place in the early nineties between the Marvelettes warm up band, "The Baker's Dozen", and a group of card soakers know only as "The Dirty Dozen". What makes this even more compelling though is the location of the meeting, the Bistro 29 in Twentynine Palms, just up the highway from Palm Springs. Far be it for me to doubt Farleigh's research and if I'm not mistaken 13+12+29=54. I think I'm getting closer to the truth.

Heading to Bistro 29 tomorrow to look for gum stuck under the tables. I'll run it down to Newport for DNA analysis. I'm guessing members of The Dirty Dozen may be lurking on the Board right now. I realize this is a dangerous mission, but I wouldn't be caught dead in Inkster, Michigan, home of the Marvelettes.

Surveillance video from Homeland Security released today clearly identifies border crossings 54 miles east of Yuma by a band of 12 mean hombres disguised as a mariachi band. When the musical troupe couldn’t play “Cielito Lindo” upon a request from the Border Patrol, they were apprehended. HS confirmed the identity of the band as the "Dirty Dozen", aka the Sonoran Soakers. Seized musical instruments were found to contain rebacked T206s that tested positive for heroin and possibly other contraband. Agents became suspicious when they noticed “crack” in the cracks of a particularly well worn example of Harry Lumley. Apparently the Sonoran Soakers were using the contraband laden cards as envelopes with team names to indicate the final destination of each delivery. With the interception of the Brooklyn bound delivery, residents there are warned to use caution as street violence is expected to increase with the break in the supply chain. If you have friends or relatives in Brooklyn, please keep them in your prayers. Residents of the other 52 cities represented in the T206 set are also urged to exercise caution with the apprehension of the Sonoran Soakers.

Who could have imagined a defunct soul trio and their back up band, a desert bistro, the Border Patrol, drug traffickers, a temptress named Lola, and a member known only as leon were behind our little site known as Net54baseball? As improbable as all this sounds, don’t jump to any conclusions until you hear a member known only as leon’s version

“Frank, I beg to differ. Let me explain the truth behind Net54. When the forum was originated, it was right after the demise of the original Full Count board, which was started by John Spencer and (current) board member Mike Williams, in around 1998. After a two or three years John got tired of getting threatened with lawsuits, and all that went on, and shut it down. Elliot Bassin and Mike Williams both immediately started chat boards to take its place and for our hundred to two hundred (I guess) members to go. It was decided one forum was better than two. For a few days both were running. One, Mike’s, was hosted by Yahoo, I believe, and the other by a chat board hosting company called Network54.com (where the non-sports guys still are). It was decided that the Network54 one was a bit better operationally so Mike shut his down and we became http://www.network54.com/Forum/153652 , which is the web address of the old board. It is still there for read-only purposes, though everything has been transferred to our new board. There are a few reasons, which is another story, to keep that board alive…but as read only. As we got much bigger our s/w and hosting provider, Network54.com, didn’t update their s/w and their service wasn’t great. It didn’t have many features of the newer s/w on the market. Network54 still has rather antiquated s/w but it works for many forums, just not ours. In March of 2009 we started looking for a different hosting and chat solution for our forum. I asked questions of members, analyzed several different chat solutions and decided to buy the s/w, Vbulletin, which has one of, if not the, largest base of chat forums on the market. At this exact time I asked several friends of a good name for the new forum since we were moving away from “”Network54.com” and it could easily be changed. The new name was actually going to be Net55baseball.com, but after further thought I decided to capitalize on the historical marketing of Net54 and made the name very similar, Net54baseball.com, which it is today. Whenever someone says “Network54” they are not correct and I cringe a bit, but it’s not a big deal. The name todays stands at Net54baseball.com and that is the story of 54, which was almost 55 J.”

I apologize for the nonsense before “The Truth”, but appreciate your indulgence. Thanks to all for your contributions and if anyone wants to add anything to the front end of “The Truth”, please feel welcome to do so. My initial concept for the thread was simply the question about 54. Although correct, I’m not sure Leon’s story completely answers the question, but it seems at least that the “54” part of our title has absolutely nothing to do with baseball.

The saga part (my nonsense) was not preconceived. It just happens.

[atx840]

Glad it's out now, I'm not good with secrets. :D

Fun thread Frank.

[h2oya311]

Great thread....so anticlimactic though! I had fun researching the importance of 54. Regardless, what, then, is the reason behind the name "network 54" from whence this board originated?

[Bocabirdman]

Well, that was silly, good fun.....:D

[t206blogcom]

Well, now we know. Better entertainment than the halftime show...

[wolf441]

The suspense of this thread just blew out the lights at the Superdome. Good work..

[Vintagecatcher]

Wanted to thank Frank for this entertaining thread. Brian Coat's theory was awesome!

"Or, at the kickoff meeting for the Vintage Card Collectors Forum, each member was given one vote when electing a president. While there were only 12 people in attendance, it was quickly noted that there were 54 votes cast. A quick investigation discovered the discrepancy resulted when each of the Bruce Dorskinds had voted separately."

Thanks gentlemen

Patrick

[EvilKing00]

now thats an answer worth waiting for!

[freakhappy]

Damn that was long and exhausting...I only fell asleep twice during the explanation :D;)

[SushiX37]

This thread and that answer had an "Al Capone's Vault" kinda feel to it.

Rich

[WWGjohn]

The "real" explanation is quite interesting, although it does not match up well against "at the kickoff meeting for the Vintage Card Collectors Forum, each member was given one vote when electing a president. While there were only 12 people in attendance, it was quickly noted that there were 54 votes cast. A quick investigation discovered the discrepancy resulted when each of the Bruce Dorskinds had voted separately." I really prefer that one and I'm still half convinced it is the real one.

John

[frankbmd]

Don't know about Bruce's legend, but I sure would like to meet him. I'd invite him over, but I don't have room in my driveway for his 43 cars.

[mwilliams]

Small tweak to Leon's version...I shut the Full Count board down due to some extremely disparaging comments about 9/11, not threatening lawsuits.

Prior to all the crap, these were great, great days!

http://web.archive.org/web/20010806070830im_/http://www.fullcountbcc.com/images/logo.gif

[Leon]

Small tweak to Leon's version...I shut the Full Count board down due to some extremely disparaging comments about 9/11, not threatening lawsuits.

Prior to all the crap, these were great, great days!

http://web.archive.org/web/20010806070830im_/http://www.fullcountbcc.com/images/logo.gif

Thanks Mike. I had heard John (and maybe you but for sure John) had got threatened with lawsuits. Maybe that was only a rumor though.....at any rate glad to have you here with us again after all of these years.

[baseballart]

Great thread....so anticlimactic though! I had fun researching the importance of 54. Regardless, what, then, is the reason behind the name "network 54" from whence this board originated?

www.network54.com was simply the hosting site for the forum

[mwilliams]

Leon...that happened too, but there was no teeth to them :)

Appreciate your kind words!

Mike

[h2oya311]

www.network54.com was simply the hosting site for the forum

Well duh! But where did the hosting site come up with the name?? There aren't any hosting sites called Network3 or Network45...are there?

[Bocabirdman]

Well duh! But where did the hosting site come up with the name?? There aren't any hosting sites called Network3 or Network45...are there?

Ok, now we are back to an all girl singing group from Inkster MI.......:D