Racing Presidents Get Another Runner

 

One of the fun things that goes on at Nationals Park each game is the 4th inning Race of the Presidents (sponsored by GEICO). The tradition of this race started in 2005 on the scoreboard at RFK when the newly relocated Expos now Nationals moved into DC. The original race was sponsored by PNC Bank and had the common Dollar Presidents racing in go-carts the Presidents featured were: George Washington ($1), Abraham Lincoln ($5), and Alexander Hamilton ($10) (I wonder why they didn't have Ulysses S. Grant ($20) in the race? Cheapos). The next season 2006 the race was still on the video screen but was changed from a car race to a footrace and now had the Mount Rushmore Four: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. Then mid-season after the all-star break the race became a "live" event with runners in "mascot" costumes of the "Rushmore Four" with huge foam heads (which often are the cause of some embarrassing falls). Sometimes the 'Dents race in the period suits we are used to seeing them in, but I think most of the time now they race in their own Nats Uniforms with their uniform number being that of their presidency (George 1, Tom 3, Abe 16, Teddy 26 and now Bill 27).

Well for the 2013 season the team decided to add a fifth President to the race. The choice was announced at Natsfest on Saturday 26 January 2013. The identity was a big mystery, after some speculation of which President is was; guesses ranged from FDR to JFK to even still living presidents Clinton and Obama. The decision was made and William Howard Taft "Bill" will join George, Tom, Abe and Teddy. It makes the most sense considering Taft threw out the very first ceremonial "Presidential first pitch" on opening day, and supposedly is responsible for the 7th inning stretch.


Racing President's Sites: (and related sites/posts)
For more race details Wikipedia Presidents Race Page.
Let Teddy Win Blog
Nationals Mascots Racing Presidents
Nationals Mascots Racing Presidents Appearances
Racing Presidents Standings
Washington Post Announcement

Frank Howard: Roast On The Coast

Let me preface this post by mentioning how I became aware of this particular event. At work my current duties are that of a receptionist, due to the internet, smartphones, crackberries - er - blackberries, email and various other ways to contact people other than a land-line phone, a receptionists duties are not just answering the phone anymore. [Note: I should have said that answering the phone is almost NOT a duty of the receptionist anymore] At my particular office since most people have direct phone lines and extensions there is very little need to go the roundabout way of calling an operator/receptionist. Anyway part of those duties are visitor control for my particular area, signing the visitors into our area and contacting whoever it is they are seeing. It sometimes means that you will run into someone who is trying to solicit something or get sensitive information from you.  Well back in November or December of last year 2012 a gentleman approached me at my lobby/desk looking like someone who was going to go into a sales pitch. OH GREAT a solicitor, quick where is security?

The man was Charlie Haje he introduced himself and mentioned the "Working Warrior Nation" organization, he started into talking about baseball and that he was a personal friend of Frank Howard. Then he handed me a couple of these flyers and told me about the event. He mentioned that Frank "didn't know about the roast" it was a "surprise". I didn't believe him at first but after I checked the organization on the internet I found out that the organization (and the roast) was legit.

I think it would have been a cool event to have gone to but at $500 a pop minimum that was a bit too rich for me, as are many similar type events. I also thought it would probably be too rich for my co-workers so instead of posting the flyers or leaving them out since there were just two of them I kept them for souvenirs. I had forgotten the actual date of it until I looked at it again and noticed it was two Saturdays ago. I thought it was sometime in February. Oops! [Note: I was planning on waiting till just after the event or the weekend of it to blog about it.]

 Frank Howard "Roast On The Coast" Flyer
(Front and Back)

When I had first checked this out the event was listed on the Working Warrior Nation website, but since it has now past it was of course taken down. I am curious as to how the evening went. I looked to see if there were any reviews but the only mentions I can find on a Google search is some PRE-views and the occasional sports forum mention asking if anyone is planning on going to it or what it was supposed to be about. Again these are all PRE-Event notices.

Frank Howard 1970 Portrait/Clipping (Team Issued?)

Oh well the latest I've heard about Frank oddly enough is that Current National Roger Bernadina is planning on wearing number 33 this 2013 season. This is prompting people to ask if the Nationals should retire #33 as Frank's Number? So far Roger's number is still listed as being number 2.

Senators/Nationals Mentioned in this Post:

Roger Bernadina

Frank Howard

Five 1962 Post Senators

 1962 Post Cereal 65, 66, 67, 71 and 72 Senators (Fronts and Backs)

From Ebay I got a Five Pack of 1962 Post Washington Senators. The cost was relatively cheap $8.44 + $3.95 shipping. They all have nice straight edges. At one point they might have been "trimmed" to make the edges even straighter. I don't really care that much I don't plan on selling them. I won't say much about them except for one of them and my concern about it and possibly the rest.

1962 Post Cereal 65 Dale Long Senators

 1962 Post Cereal 66 Chuck Cottier Senators

It is a little hard to see in the scan but there is an oddity with Chuck's card. If you look carefully on the upper right of his head  you can make out a sort of square shape, that is from a piece of yellowed cellophane tape attempting to hold the corner on to the cardboard backing. Sigh! Maybe that one is a fake. If it is then maybe all five are fakes UGH. But why would someone try to fake these? They don't seem to be worth it. If it is a fake then it was made sometime ago as the tape is yellowed and the tape stain on the back of the paper is also yellowed. I really hope if is not counterfeit but if it is OH Well.

 1962 Post Cereal 67 Billy Klaus Senators

 1962 Post Cereal 71 Gene Woodling Senators

1962 Post Cereal 72 Gene Green Senators

Senators Mentioned in this post:
Chuck Cottier
Gene Green
Billy Klaus
Dale Long
Gene Woodling

Tis The Season: Awards 2012

Wow Congrats to the Nats on the very cool individual awards that have been received for the 2012 season. I'm getting to this about a week late or so because I was lazy with the scanning (plus I didn't have some 2012 cards of some of the players so I had to improvise) So without further ado and little pomp here they are:

First Baseman Adam LaRoche received his first Golden Glove Award:

 2011 Topps Allen and Ginters 167 Adam LaRoche Nationals

Adam also received his first Silver Slugger Award for NL first basemen:

Adam is the second National to double-dip the Golden Glove with the Silver Slugger. Back in 2009 3rd baseman Ryan Zimmerman double-dipped. Z-Man also got a Silver Slugger in 2010. This year for 2012 he was awarded the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.

2012 Topps Heritage 494 Ryan Zimmerman Nationals

LaRoche wasn't the only Silver Slugger for DC this past season:

Shortstop Ian Desmond won his first Silver Slugger despite the injuries that kept him out for part of the season:

 2012 Topps Heritage 149 Ian Desmond Nationals

So they thought they'd shut him down huh? Well even with having a September Shut Down - September is supposed to be for Call Ups - Right-handed bullet slingger Stephen Strasburg won the Silver Slugger for Pitchers and yep it's his first ever.

2012 Topps Heritage 291 Stephen Strasburg Nationals

Hey even an Ex-Nat won his first Silver Slugger. Josh Willingham who is now on the Twins.

2010 Upper Deck Baseball Series 1 Season Biography

SB-132 Josh Willingham Nationals

The Nats also received two big big awards:

Not only did 19 year old Bryce Harper end up being a Rookie All-Star he won the coveted NL Rookie Of The Year Award:

2012 Topps Update WalMart Blue Variation 

US183 Bryce Harper Nationals

And Skipper Davey Johnson got the NL Manager Of the Year Award. It is his second MOY Award his first was 15 years ago for the AL when he was skipper for the Orioles.

2012 Topps Heritage 402 Davey Johnson Nationals

The 2012 Season saw the Nationals win First Place in the NL East sending them to their First Ever Playoffs in the NLDS (OK so back in 1981 The Expos went to the Playoffs and went as far as the NLCS but lost that one). Unfortunately they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.


Related Links:
Two from MASN Sports Nationals Pastime Blog
Five Nationals Receive MVP Votes
Gonzalez finishes third in NL Cy Young voting


Nationals mentioned in this post:
Ian Desmond
Bryce Harper
Davey Johnson
Adam LaRoche
Stephen Strasburg
Josh Willingham
Ryan Zimmerman

Screech Mascot Monday at CK42

At my regular card blog I posted my semi-regular Mascot Monday post this episode covers Screech (thus this cross-over post). You can view it at this link: Mascot Monday: Screech.

 2007 Topps Baseball Opening Day - 215 Screech Nationals (Front)

I am trying to make my MM posts a regular thing, but haven't been consistent yet. One of these days maybe I will. I am always on the lookout for Mascot cards. I also accept Mascot Postcards and team issued promo cards/photos of mascots.

Almost there, but not quite

The 2012 MLB Season is almost over. Just 3 more games to play. The Nats have clinched a spot in the playoffs, and are hanging on to first place in the NL East, but they need just ONE win to clinch the division with the Braves only 3 games back.

I feel like the situation in the song "T-E-A-M (The Baseball Game)" from the musical "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown". All we have to do is win JUST ONE MORE GAME and the championship division is ours. (The video below I found on youtube and is from one of the cartoon specials)

In the Charlie Brown song the entire outcome hangs on Charlie Brown and of course things don't go too well for him. This season things have been going pretty good for the Nats due to the pitching and clutch hits and spectacular defensive plays from several of team. One of those players Michael Morse has made several clutch hits. Then there was this grand slam that was very strange:Micheal Morse Grand Slam rewind

All in all the Nats need to focus on the game. I was going to link to a video or even the music to "The Game" from the Musical Damn Yankees but I couldn't find the version from the movie [EDIT: UGH That is right that song was cut for the movie, not sure if it was ever in the script for the movie at all.] I found "Heart (You've Gotta Have)" from the movie but not "The Game". OH Well since I've talked about clutch hitting why not?

Its Fun Being At Number One!

 To paraphrase Mel Brooks' movie "History of the World: Part I" - "It's Good to be number one!"

Something that has been absent from baseball's return to the Nation's Capital has been a Winning Season. Being number one in the division is something that hasn't happened for the Nationals except in the first half of the inaugural 2005 season, and maybe for one or two games at the beginning of some of the other seasons.

The 2012 MLB Season has been a very good one for the Washington Nationals. They have been first in the NL East for most of it. Since sometime in early August they have somehow managed to top most of the many internet "Power Ranking" lists, even when in a losing streak. On some of the lists they are still at number one but on a couple of them they have slipped down to number two or lower. The end of the season will tell all though. Many teams have enjoyed being on top all season long only to take a nosedive at the end of the season.

The current Montreal Expos franchise as the Washington Nationals has not had a winning season. The closest they have gotten was in the inaugural 2005 season when they went .500 with 81 wins 81 loses and last season 2011 when they had 80 wins and 81 loses with one postponed game that was never made up. Had that game been played and they won, which at that time of the season they were hot enough to win, they would have matched the 2005 season. The last winning season for the Franchise was 2003 (83 wins 79 loses .512 avg). As for Washington baseball history the Senators were in three World Series 1924, 1925, and 1933 but only won it in the 1924 Series beating the Then NEW YORK Giants, they would lose to those very same Giants in the '33 series and the Pittsburgh Pirates in '25. In all the rich history of DC Baseball there has been more losing than winning. You have to go back to 1969 for the Senators last winning season of 86 wins 76 loses.

From a Washington Post article earlier this year: "Even losing baseball was better than no baseball. This year marks the 79th year of major league baseball in Washington. In that time, area fans have been treated to just 18 seasons of above-.500 ball but only once in the past half-century"

So you can see that a winning baseball team in DC is a VERY BIG DEAL to the longtime area fans who went many years without ANY baseball. Forgive us if we are not very humble this season and remind you of Philadelphia Phillies Fans. Those fans are frustrated this year and should be humble because they are used to a winning team that is currently losing. They (The Phillies) have a slight chance of having another winning season so I guess that humility of theirs won't be around very long if they have it at all. The Nats on the other hand are almost guaranteed to have a winning season with only needing to win 4 of the next 33 games. So even if the Nats fail to make the playoffs, which is another subject completely, fans like me will be very very happy and proud of our team this season.

UPDATE: D'oh! I forgot to mention the biggest reason for this is that the Nats pitching this season has been phenomenal. The individual starters might not be the best five pitchers in all the league but the whole combination apparently is getting the job done. All season long the team has had the lowest runs allowed against them in the league, even with a few games getting away from them and being blown out.

GO NATS GO!

Yahoo Sports Power Rankings (first power ranking list to have the Nats in first place this season): http://sports.yahoo.com/news/power-rankings-nationals-yankees-rangers-bryce-harper-manny-machado-roy-oswalt.html
ESPN Power Rankings Week 22: http://espn.go.com/mlb/powerrankings/_/season/2012/week/22


Related Links:
http://www.citizensofnatstown.com/home/2012/8/10/riding-that-train.html
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1305776-washington-nationals-are-approaching-some-truly-magic-numbers
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/veteran-nats-fans-enjoying-rare-winning-season/2012/06/17/gJQAup1zjV_story.html 

Images appearing in the photo collage are by Getty Images, AP, or Reuters except for image of Manager Davey Johnson by USPresswire, and the team photo marked DistrictSportsPage.

Trio of Mini Autos

In recent weeks I've gotten some mini autos from a couple of purchases off of Ebay from a couple of card Bloggers. I found out about the sales on their blogs then I bid and thankfully won them. One of them took a few bids to win but fortunately I had the highest bid in the end. All of them are on card and signed with a blue sharpie.

OK first up is this 2009 Topps 206 mini auto which I got from Chris at Stale-Gum it was $5.00 plus $2.00 shipping. Luke Montz was drafted by the Expos in 2003 he made his Major League debut in September call-ups with the Nationals in 2008. He has since signed with the Marlins. Haven't heard much from him.

 2009 Topps T-206 Mini Auto Luke Montz Nationals

(Front and Back)

These other two are from 2001 Allen & Ginters and are current Nationals. Both I got for aprox. $12.00 each w/ $4.00 for combined shipping or there about. I got them from another Chris (didn't think about that till just now) at Nachos Grande.

First we've got power hitter Michael "The Beast" Morse. Who is one of the best things for the Nats since Adam Dunn. I think Micheal is a bit better for the team than Adam was.

 2011 Allen & Ginter's Mini Auto Mike Morse Nationals

(Front and Back)

Rounding out our trio of autos this post is one of the more consistent and winning starting pitchers for the Nats this season Gio Gonzalez. Since this is last year's card he is wearing the uniform of last year's team the Oakland Athletics.

 2011 Allen & Ginter's Mini Auto Gio Gonzalez Athletics

(Front and Back)

Nationals mentioned in this post:
Adam Dunn
Gio Gonzalez
Luke Montz
Michael Morse

Bryce Harper - All-Star?

Bryce Harper All-Star? Clown Question?

(From April 2012 GQ Interview - modified)

First off let me say that Rookie Phenom Sensation Bryce Harper is super awesome for the Nationals. Ever since being the first draft choice expectations for him have been high, and so far he has lived up to them and excelled beyond them. At the beginning of the season when fans were discussing what to do about him, I was in the camp of "hold off calling him up til September" he won't be ready. I had a small amendment of if the DL was full and required early call-ups. I was WRONG Totally Wrong.  Bryce was called up early in late April when Ryan Zimmerman was put on the DL for a shoulder injury. Fortunately the injury wasn't too severe (unlike Jason Werth's broken wrist) Ryan bounced back.

(2012 Topps Archives - 241 Bryce Harper RC Nationals)

[On my Top Wants List]

Since his call up from his short "fast tracked" time in the Minor Leagues, Bryce has been unbelievable. Not only is he a hitting sensation, he is a super fielder. He just what the Nats needed in center field. heck the Nats needed a Center-fielder. I don't want to knock the guys who have been in center-field for the Nats before Bryce, but most of them were not the best match for that position. Another Rookie sensation has been Tyler Moore who was called up in early May a week after Bryce was called up. Tyler doesn't play everyday, but when he does 'Bang Zoom'.

Even though he was called up early Bryce was not up early enough to make the official ballot for the All-Star Game. He had to be a write-in by the fans. Apparently enough fans thought him worthy enough he is in the competition for the last roster spot.

(Getty Images - 12 May 2012 vs. Cincinnati Reds)

Bryce has certainly shown he is good enough to be an All-Star so it is not a question of his ability. It might be a question of "Should he be in the All-Star Game this season"? As a Nats fan I say that is a "Clown Question". Is it too soon? My biggest fear I guess is what if he doesn't make it (The All-Star Game) and then his career crashes into a downward spiral?  I don't think that will happen but it could.Is this his one and only chance? I don't think so. If he continues to excel in all areas of the game and avoids long-term serious injuries he could make many All-Star Game appearances during his career.

UPDATE: I just saw via facebook that the final All-Stars were: AL - Yu Darvish Rangers and NL - David Freese  Cardinals. BIG BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Dang now my whole post is almost pointless. :(

Related Links:

MLB All-Star Rosters 2012: Why Bryce Harper should Be Voted in by Fans
Mike Trout, Bryce Harper Spur Debate
Bryce Harper is not getting many fastballs or strikes to hit
5 Holes in Bryce Harper's Game Heading into the Second Half
Is Baseball Ready For Bryce? (GQ April 2012 Interview contains some foul language.)

Nationals Mentioned in this Post:
Bryce Harper
Tyler Moore
Jayson Werth

Ryan Zimmerman

Couple of '54s Not-so Curly Ws

When I first started this blog I mentioned how Washington's Curly W didn't come around til 1963 during the reign of SSII (Second Senators Franchise Two) the franchise that would move to Texas to become the Rangers. Anyway these 2 pre-curly-w Senators cards I got earlier this year (02 April 2012) from sportlots.com. If I recall I got three 1954 Topps cards all in one lot the third card (Johnny Lipon) I mentioned on my other Blog CaptKirk42's Trading Cards. That card I ended up learning about a player getting bounced around a few teams in just a season or two. These cards I'm not going to analyze I'm just gonna show em so Enjoy.

 1954 Topps 97 Jerald "Jerry" Hal Lane

(Front and Back)

 1954 Topps 6 James "Pete" Edward Runnells

(Front and Back)

Senators mentioned in this post:
Jerry Lane
Pete Runnells