Rollins- lots of hot air

[Jim VB]

Max,

You're going to have to let me know how that book turns out. I just checked Amazon. They do have one copy available. Asking price is $1,000. Sorry, I don't have Steinbrenner-like money!

To Veeck's thought. I think it would be worse than ever if everything was one year deals. When the Yankee's make a mistake, and they often do, they have to pay dearly for it. That's a good thing for competition.

With all one year deals, I think there would be even more movement, and I think the primary driver for premium player movement is the desire to win. The owners may not care, but the best players do.

[howard38]

I think it was Charlie Finley who suggested players should become free agents after every season.

[baseballart]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

Max,

You're going to have to let me know how that book turns out. I just checked Amazon. They do have one copy available. Asking price is $1,000. Sorry, I don't have Steinbrenner-like money!

I haven't finished it, but I'm expect it will have something along the lines of "I am a more antique Roman than a Dane..."

[tedzan]

This comment by Al C.ristafulli really reflects the times we live in........

"" If Babe Ruth played today, baseball fans would hate him and say things like "I don't understand how anyone
could root for a fat, womanizing, alcohol-abusing, egotistical dirtbag who cheats on his wife." ""

However, I remember kinder times.

Since 1947, as a 9 year old, I've rooted for the Yankees (we lived 2 blocks away from Phil Rizzuto in Hillside, NJ).
I have been truly fortunate to see some of the greatest players, play some great games in the post-WWII era....
Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Ted Williams, Johnny Mize, Mantle, Mays, Snider, Banks, Aaron, Clemente, , etc., etc.
Some great pitchers....Feller, Roberts, Spahn, Koufax, Gibson, Reynolds, Ford, and Don Larsen's Perfect Game.

Having said all that, I can tell you that every Fall, us kids (and later as teenagers) would enthusiastically root for
our favorite teams. In our neighborhood there were fans of the Dodgers, Giants, Phillies, Cardinals, Indians....and,
I was the lone Yankees fan.

As you know, from 1947 to 1958, the Yankees won 10 A.L. pennants and 8 World Series. My neighborhood friends
did not detest the Yankees, the likes of what you see nowadays......Why so ?......
Reflecting back on those times, the Yankees team consisted of, not one, but several "Derek Jeter's". Berra, Bobby
Brown, Joe DiMaggio, Henrich, Ellie Howard, Keller, Mantle, Mize, Rizzuto. Everyone, regardless team favorite, had
a lot of respect for these guys and their work ethic. Another factor in this equation was Casey Stengel....you just
couldn't help but like this guy.
Conversely, I had great respect for Aaron, Hodges, Matthews, Mays, Reese, J Robby, Snider, Bobby Thomson, etc.

I guess we were young and had not yet learned to detest others. We did not play organized Little League BB. We
formed our own BB games, or played "stickball" every day. Furthermore, we were collecting some real cool BB cards
of our favorites....thanks to the Bowman Gum Co. and Topps.

Indeed, those were tremendous times.



TED Z

[mightyq]

sorry to burst your bubble bob stats, but yankess fans think that buck and mcarver are anti-yankee's...why is it ok to bring up their 04 4 game collapse against the redsox and not their championship record?? dont they go hand in hand? if anyone listened to the "wfan" during the playoffs you would have a heard a ton of yankee fans calling in and complaining about buck and mcarver. on why they bring up past failures. to me thats part of doing your job, bringing up failures and acievements. btw didnt philly fans boo mike schmidt his whole carrer? think about that. mike schmidt the best third baseman of all time.