Walk the Walk & Talk the Talk: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali

Arrogance has always been one of my least favorite qualities a person can have. In most cases, I feel that it's a tool used by weak personalities to hide insecurities. In this world we live in today, it is relatively easy to transform into someone you're not; especially after the birth and rise of the Internet. While we now have freedoms we're still working out the kinks to, it is tougher than ever before to remain genuine and honest with others in a world so deeply rooted in boastful lies.

But in the rare case, arrogance is permitted in my book of what is tolerable and what isn't. And no, if you're excited thinking I'm referring to Donald Trump, you probably have the wrong idea and should go consult Fox News. I'm talking about Muhammad Ali, the self-proclaimed "Greatest of All Time". Ali, of course; left us too soon on Friday night after battling Parkinson's Disease for over thirty years. His impact has been reflected upon every second of this past weekend by friends, family, athletes, and fans; as it rightfully should have. After all, no other modern athlete has left behind the global legacy he had.

Muhammad Ali once said that he called himself the greatest before he even knew he was. His ego was unprecedented and challenging to an American society that was still rampant with racial tension. The man even refused entry into the Vietnam War because he felt it wasn't fair for him to defend a country that wouldn't defend him. Whether you agree with his decision or not, the man made a hell of a point. He lost some of his fanbase by choosing punishment over war, but it was hard to root against him once he stepped back into the ring.

Image Source

For his career, Ali won 56 of his 61 fights; 37 by KO. He entertained my parents' generation by trash talking his opponents while transcending boxing with phantom punches and the rope a dope. At the same time, he pushed boundaries for African Americans and took pride in his Muslim faith. He used the platform he was given to spread love and make a difference in the world, while also being the most ferocious fighter we may ever see. If that doesn't make him the greatest, I don't know what else would.

Like the famous idiom says, if you can walk the walk, you can talk the talk. Ali was confident in his abilities and proved himself time and time again. In the end, he succumbed to the illness brought upon by what made him great. But we all know that he died a bigger winner than any one of us.

Ali being awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom 

Rest in Peace, Champ.

The Sports World Mourns Prince

Goodbye, Yogi Berra.

Hey everyone, Drew back here. This has been a post I haven't been looking forward to writing for years, but knew was inevitable. Yogi Berra passed away this morning at the age of 90 due to what appears to be from natural causes; leaving the baseball world in mourning. The ten time World Series champion had a heart of gold and was one of the most colorful figures to ever play the game.

Of all the current and former players I've had the good fortune of meeting, there was nobody I would have preferred to meet more than Mr. Berra. His health began to fail around the time my Dad and I started attending sports card shows, and we've come just short of meeting him on several occasions through the years. I'll never get to say I shook his hand, however he was such a humble, graceful man to the point where it almost feels like I did. He treated the Yankees fans, players, and organization like family, and given the outpour of support and love shared across the world on his behalf today I know I'm not alone in saying that we all were impacted by his life.

Yogi played 19 professional seasons, all but one for the New York Yankees. Prior to his baseball career, he served in the US Navy as a gunner's mate on D-Day and throughout much of World War II. He was called up from the Newark Bears to the Yankees in 1946, and the rest was history. He batted .285 for his career while commanding a remarkable pitching staff; guiding them into the postseason every year but 1954 and 1959. Berra was a prolific postseason offensive force, and is the all time record holder in World Series games played, at bats, runs scored, singles, and doubles (he ranks second in Home Runs and RBI, only behind Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth).

Many of you know Lawrence Peter Berra for his famous "Yogi-ism's". Although he famously said "I never said most of the things I said", we all know he was responsible for "It's dèjá vu all over again", "It ain't over 'til it's over", and "Baseball is ninety percent mental, and the other half is physical". My personal favorite quote of his was when he was asked how many slices he would like his pizza divided into and he responded "You better cut the pizza in four slices because I'm not hungry enough to eat six." Some even view the man as a philosophical figure; while others just find him as humorous as they come.

I never got to watch him play, although I've seen plenty of his highlights over the years. My dad even said this morning that Yogi's playing career was overlooked by his cultural significance, which is a rare feat in baseball given the importance and relevance of statistics, stories, and history in general. Berra is at the forefront of such history, having connected generations of famous athletes who played generations apart. How many people got a chance to meet Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter?

As he departs, I want to remember Yogi Berra for all he was, on and off the field. He was the complete package, and the epitome of why we play and love this game. It's to root for people like him.

We're going to miss you, Yogi. Rest in Peace.

Image Source

And PS, if you're reading this up there: He was out.

A Salute to Baseball's Finest Gentleman

Hey guys, Drew back here. Well, it was a rollercoaster of a Sunday for me, certainly filled with its ups and downs. The highest of highs were spent in White Plains, as Dad and I went down to spend a little money and meet some players. We had a great time, and I originally planned to begin recapping the show today if it weren't for the news my friend William reported to me around noon. As many of you have now read on William's phenomenal blog, the great Virgil Trucks passed away yesterday at the age of 95. 

Trucks was a great pitcher throughout his 17 year career, winning 177 games with a career ERA of 3.39. He threw two no hitters in the same season, was a part of two World Series teams, and made two All Star games to top off his list of on-field accomplishments. 

However, not many of us got a chance to know that side of Mr. Trucks. Instead, we know him as one of the greatest Through the Mail signers of all time. Most players in today's game are hard to reach TTM, with the exception of a few excellent signers. Most of the retired players and Hall of Famers can be a bit risky and could often lead to failure. There was no such thing as failure with Trucks. He made sure throughout his whole life that he would sign every piece of fan mail, and during the latter half of his life, he would go above and beyond expectations. 

I sent a custom card and an index card for Trucks to sign back in October 2010 after hearing of his remarkable reputation with his fans. Instantly after receiving 5 autographs back from that same request rather than the two I'd asked for, I became one of those fans. He even wrote a handwritten letter to me talking about his stint with the Yankees and advising me to keep up my hard work and good grades! The experience was incredible, and unfortunately I never got the chance to thank him in person. I've received over 100 Through the Mail successes, including superstars like Yogi Berra, Steve Young, Peyton Manning, and Shaquille O'Neal; but none of those successes excited me as much as his did. He truly was a wonderful man in every sense of the word, and it is unfortunate that he is no longer with us. The world lost a great athlete, but more importantly, a great man today. 

I'll leave you all with the very letter I received from Virgil Trucks two and a half years ago. Although the "Fire" may have finally been put out yesterday, Trucks' impact on our hobby and sport will carry on forever.

Rest in Peace.

R.I.P. Moose Skowron, 1930-2012

Hey guys, Drew back here. We lost a real good one today in baseball, in Yankee great Bill "Moose" Skowron. The Polish-American athlete; nicknamed "Moose" after a haircut that looked like Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini's, was one of the better players to put on the pinstripes during his tenure in New York between 1954 and 1962. He was a clutch hitter, and big games always brought the best out of his ability; as he batted .293 with 8 home runs in 39 World Series games, including 3 of those home runs in the 7th game of the series' he played in! He walked off the field as a winner, taking home 5 World Series rings, 4 with the Yankees, and 1 in 1963 with the LA Dodgers after he was traded from NY the season prior. He retired with 8 All Star appearances to his credit, and a lifetime batting average of .282 with 211 home runs. 

Today, Moose passed on at the age of 81 after a long battle with lung cancer. Of course, I wasn't alive at the time of his career, but I'll always remember him for being an integral part of that 1961 Yankees team, the team that wanted revenge after Bill Mazeroski beat them the season before. Maris and Mantle went off as you all know, but Skowron also hit 28 home runs, which added up to 143 home runs between the three of them ALONE that season! 

Not only was he a great baseball player in his 81 years, but he was also a great man. He always signed items for fans through the mail, and was a common guest at the Yankees Old Timer's Game festivities. Yogi Berra said of him: "There weren't many better guys than Moose, he was a dear friend and a great team man. A darn good ballplayer, too." He signed a card for me via a through the mail success a little over a year ago, and I appreciated every bit of it. He was a class act in every way, and I'm fortunate I got the opportunity to get his autograph. 

Moose, you will forever be remembered and missed. Rest In Peace.

One of Baseball's Biggest Kids Has Left the Field..

Hey guys, Drew back here. Watching baseball players ain't what it used to be, as Yogi Berra would say. In fact, I find it great to be able to have the opportunity to see what the game was like, say, prior to when I was born, on the MLB Network. I watched a show today called "Prime 9", which I'm sure many of you have watched before, and it was about the top 9 greatest characters in baseball history. Then, fittingly after I finished watching the countdown, I received a text from William. On occasion, he tends to sporadically inform me of news around sports, such as the passings of many former legends like Bob Feller, Duke Snider, Harmon Killebrew, Ron Santo, and many others. I was a little scared to check this one, unless it was a simple "Hey", or "How are you?" for example. Unfortunately, I had a reason to be scared, and that was because the message read "Gary Carter died."

I have to say, as sad as the news was to hear the first time, I wasn't necessarily surprised. Mr. Carter has suffered an enormous amount of pain in the past year, and it was almost assumed he wouldn't be able to survive brain cancer. However, there were moments of hope the Carter family had that relieved me. My family went through a tough time late last fall, and hearing news of a 57 year old man suffering from one of the worst cancer diseases out there was just a true tragedy. But, coming from someone who has now seen the effects of cancer, in a way I'm glad his suffering is now officially over. Maybe he could have recovered, but he would never fully feel the same way after battling a disease that takes people down a rollercoaster that endlessly continues to go straight down.

Fortunately, he lived a short, but great life. Gary loved the game of baseball, which is noticeable the moment you go to his Baseball Reference page, where besides his name is his nickname, "The Kid". I didn't have to go there to tell you how great of a player he was, for 4 teams, over 19 seasons behind the plate. Coming from a Yankee fan who is embarrassed to share the New York baseball love with the Mets, I will admit that 1986 season was a classic to look back on. Who knows how history would've unfolded had Carter not smacked a single to spark the late inning rally in the 10th inning of the 6th game of the World Series. Had the Red Sox wound up winning, the alleged "Curse of the Bambino" garbage from 2004 never would've been mentioned. Instead, the Mets took home the trophy to many bright stars and great people among the game. Carter was undoubtedly one of those great people.

He was elected into Cooperstown in 2003 on his 6th year on the ballot, where he continued to carry his famous smile. "The Kid" proved to fans that baseball is everything but about the money, which is why it hurts me to watch current players go out there and perform every day. A majority of current players love the game dearly, but that love for America's Pastime often gets pushed aside for a nice fat contract that will earn them cars and houses and all sorts of other expensive items. We need more Gary Carter's in baseball today, for sure. He set an excellent example for how to play the game the right way, without needles, syringes, PED's, and everything else that gives advantages to players. Baseball is changing into a business more and more every day, so it certainly is sad to see Gary go. It is just a game, afterall.

Rest in peace, Kid. I'd like to give my condolences to his family, friends, and fans, who lost a great of the game today, as well as a great of our world.

Harmon Killebrew, RIP, 1936-2011

Hey guys, Drew back here. For the past week or so, most baseball fans heard about Harmon Killebrew going into hospice care after battling an incurable esophageal cancer since last December. Just today, Mr. Killebrew has passed away, at the age of 74. Harmon Killebrew was a heck of a hitter back in his days as a member of the Minnesota Twins. "The Killer" killed 573 baseballs in his career for home runs, which now ranks 11th of all time. 

Beginning his career in 1954 for the then-Washington Senators, Killebrew struggled out of the get-go, and even had to be called down to the minors for a little while longer. Since he was still very young, he didn't let the tough start in the majors affect him, until 1958 when he was called up to become the Senators starting 3rd baseman. His first full season in the majors was 1959, where he again struggled early, but heated up extremely well by the All Star break, with 28 home runs at that point to his credit. At this time there were 2 All Star games in a season, and Killebrew started in the 1st and was a reserve on the 2nd team. By the end of the year, his 42 home runs were tied for the American League lead, and the single season record for home runs as a Senator. After battling a nose injury for much of 1960, he still managed to hit 31 home runs in 124 total games. After that year, the Senators were moved to Minnesota, becoming the Twins.

Soon after the move to Minnesota, he was named the team captain, and proved worthy of it by hitting over 40 home runs for 4 straight years, including 48 in 1962 and 49 in 1964! An injury set back Killebrew in 1965, however, they did go on to win the AL Pennant that season. Two more strong seasons followed in 1966 and 1967, but again followed by a serious hamstring injury that hurt him in 1968. Once again, he came back and dominated in 1968, hitting 49 home runs and driving in 140 runs! He won the American League MVP award that year, probably the best season he ever had.

His career began to take a downward spiral after his incredible 1969 season, with the home run totals slowly going down along with hits, RBI, and a batting average that in 1974 was a career low .222. After that season, he was released by Minnesota, and was signed by the Kansas City Royals to a 1 year deal. Playing in 106 games, he hit 14 home runs and drove in 44 runs. After that 1975 season, Killebrew decided to retire.

On Killebrew's accomplishment list is 13 All Star game appearances, an MVP award, over 500 home runs, and an induction into the Hall of Fame in 1984. Not only was he perhaps one of the best sluggers the game has ever seen, but he was also a great man. He broadcasted for several teams including the Twins following his retirement, until some health problems arose. Throughout the late 1980's and early 1990's, he almost passed away due to several surgeries. Many say he was an incredible and quiet gentleman, including former umpire Ron Luciano, who said of "The Killer":

"The Killer was one of the most feared sluggers in baseball history, but he was also one of the nicest people ever to play the game. He was one of the few players who would go out of his way to compliment umpires on a good job, even if their calls went against him. I'd call a tough strike on him and he would turn around and say approvingly, "Good call." And he was the same way in the field. And he never did this to get help on close plays, as some players do. The man hit 573 major league home runs and no umpire ever swung a bat for him."

So, rest in peace Mr. Killebrew, you will always be remembered and missed by the baseball world. 

See Ya.

R.I.P. Marty Marion

I recently got the news that former Cardinals shortstop Marty Marion passed away last night due to a heart attack. Marion was a great player for many years and won the 1944 NL MVP. The 8 time All Star was 93 years old, and lived a long and great life. He was an outstanding through the mail signer, and earlier this month I was fortunate enough to get his autograph through the mail on a custom and index card. He was a friend of the hobby and a gentleman to the game of baseball.

R.I.P. Mr. Marion, we'll miss you!

The Duke of Flatbush Has Passed Away...

Hey everyone, Drew back here. Today is another one of those sad days in baseball, as a legendary center fielder has passed away today. Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Famer Duke Snider passed away today at the age of 84, after battling some health problems over the past couple years.

Duke began his career in 1947 after being scouted by one of Branch Rickey's scouts in the early 1940's. He joined Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays to become perhaps the best trio of center fielders you could ever imagine. There was even a song having to do with that, called "Willie, Mickey, and the Duke" by Terry Cashman.

Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey, and the Duke) @ Yahoo! Video

Duke played 18 total seasons, 16 for the Dodgers, and 1 season with the Mets and Giants. He hit 40 or more home runs for 5 straight seasons, which is a pretty incredible streak long before the steroid era. While he may have not had the speed of Willie Mays and the popularity of the Mick, Duke was a phenomenal player and one of the greatest outfielders to ever live. With 2,116 hits, 407 home runs, and a life time batting average of .295, he may be considered one of the most underrated players in the Hall of Fame.

I was fortunate enough to get quite a nice little stack of nice Snider cards before his death. I first sent a TTM out to him and got my 2 cards back signed. Next, Dad gave me a certified Nabisco autograph for Christmas of his, and I recently picked up the 1961 Topps card shown above at a card shop for only $5. I definitely will be looking for more of his stuff in the future, to pay tribute to the wonderful life and career of the Silver Fox.

R.I.P. Mr. Snider, you will truly be missed...

A True Gentleman of the Game..

Hey guys, Drew back here. On Wednesday night, a lot of you guys heard about the unfortunate news in baseball, but I just wanted to add my perspective on the wonderful life of Cleveland Indians legend Bob Feller. Feller passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 92, after being diagnosed with leukemia in August, and suffering other health setbacks along the way. He was the longest tenured living Hall of Famer, after being inducted in 1962. He played 18 seasons in the majors, and began his first full season at the age of 17!

Bob Feller was not only a baseball hero, but he was also an American Hero. He was the 1st baseball player to enlist in the military after Pearl Harbor. He was a Gun Captain for the Navy, and missed 4 seasons right in the middle of his prime just to fight for his country. He won 5 campaign ribbons and 8 battle stars, and is the only Chief Petty Officer in the Hall of Fame!

Feller still managed to record 266 career wins, a career ERA of 3.25, and 2581 strikeouts. He could've had managed around 80 more wins, and approx. 800 strikeouts more, giving him close to 350 wins and over 3,000 strikeouts on his career.

But what good is it to talk about Mr. Feller without mentioning some of the remarkable things he's done off the field. He has always been one of the greatest Through the Mail signers of all time, and he was one of those players that would sign anything you gave them! I had the opportunity to get him TTM twice, the first time, he signed my custom, and a seperate card, but the custom came back very damaged. I sent him a picture of my custom and mailed him another one, and that one came back much nicer. I also bought an 8x10 autograph of his from Anthony, as you can see above. I've gained an awful lot of respect for Mr. Feller throughout the past few months, so it was very hard for me to hear the news of his passing.

So, I guess all else I can say is R.I.P. Mr. Robert William Andrew "Bob" Feller. You will truly be missed.

See Ya.

Sparky Anderson- R.I.P.

Hey guys, Drew back here. If you didn't hear the news yet today, a great has left us today. Former Reds and Tigers manager Sparky Anderson has passed away at the age of 76. Anderson managed the Big Red Machine in the 1970's, with Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and should be Hall of Famer Pete Rose. This team has been considered one of the best teams to ever play baseball. They won 2 World Series championships, in 1975, and 1976, and the team's legacy stretches beyond a few Hall of Fame plaques and World Series trophies.

George Anderson started his playing career in 1959, and ended it the next season. He did pick up his nickname of "Sparky" at that time, and the name stuck for the rest of his life. Sparky became the 1st manager to win 600 games in the American League and National League. He retired after the 1995 season, with a career record of 2,194 wins and 1,834 losses. His number 10 was retired by the Reds, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000 by the Veterans Committee.

Not only had Sparky known what he was doing when it came to managing a game of baseball, but he also was a great man. During his career in Detroit, he founded the CATCH Foundation, and he participated in raising money for it beyond his retirement. He was always an excellent TTM signer, until leading up to these final few months where he could barely spell his name anymore. I never got the opportunity to get his autograph while he was still living, and I truly regret not sending him a letter while he was still alive and well.

R.I.P, Sparky Anderson, you will truly be missed...