flipping channels last night between innings. i caught the end of an mlb network show about topps baseball cards' 60th anniversary. as a topps a's collector, i even turned the sound up on the tv. fans voted for their favorite topps all time cards. popularity contest. a's had 4. ok. not surprisingly, new york metro (ny giants, brooklyn dodgers, mets, yankess) had a huge percentage - 22 out of 60. whatever.  here's ours... reggie 1969 #31 on list,   rickey 1980 #6 on list,  mcgwire oly 1985 #11 on list,  and mcgwire 1987 #45 on list.

have lots of a's cards... love this set. 1982 granny goose. stadium giveaway. iirc, we were given incomplete set. i would go to baseball card shows around the bay to get the missing ones. white borders and simple design highlight our gorgeous unis and hats of the day. what makes this set unique, imho, is the paragraph and description on the back of each card about the '81 season.. we were the talk of the baseball world. billy on cover of time magazine...we had the best record in the league in '81. remember we won our first 11 of the year. beat kc 3-0 in first round. then, yanks beat us 3-0. still bums me. furthermore, rickey should have won mvp. and, mccatty cy young. who did win both? old friend rollie. whatever. enjoy.

great memories here.   the pictures of the coliseum from the 1986 issue, for example, are gorgeous. i moved to the bay area in the 70's. walking into the coliseum for the first time from the bart station ramp, peeking through the in need of an repairs wood and metal fence at the field and seats was, well, love at first sight. i had been to many stadia before my first visit to oakland:. fenway, wrigley, yankee, shea, dodger, angels, twins metropolitan. ours was the most beautiful of all.

 

impossible to ever imagine a time when baseball fans looked forward to going to the park for the first time of every new season to not only see the game - but, to buy the new team yearbook.  we were starved for pics and stats and stories. the combination of all three in these publications hit the right note. i liked yearbooks so much i would order other teams' through the mail to look through in the off season. (did i make the 75 word limit, yet?)

a daily read, uniwatchblog.com, had a lead article this morning with steve sale, 15 yrs a's uniform stitcher from 1988 to 2003. recommended reading, of course. here's a nugget for those who like highlites. again, pasted from uniwatchblog.com, a super daily must peruse... (ss is steve sale. uw is uniwatch) "SS: The worst player I ever dealt with was Joe Morgan. Oh my gosh. He was a prima donna. One time I was doing some work for the Giants — I did some work for them, too — and I walked into the clubhouse. Now, Wilson was making the Giants’ jerseys at the time, and they had apparently sent a size 44 jersey for Morgan, when he wore a size 40. So I walk into the clubhouse and Morgan just lets me have it, cussing at me, he throws his jersey at me, he goes, "Hey you, this is your fault! What kinda shit is this? Fix my fucking shirt!" And I went nose-to-nose with him and said, "Hey, you don’t ever talk to me that way." He and I nearly got into a fistfight. A few players had to break us up. UW: Aside from that being no way to treat another person, why would he even think you were responsible for his mis-sized jersey? SS: Because he knew I worked the jerseys, so in his mind he probably thought any problem with the uniforms was my fault. UW: Did he eventually apologize? SS: Oh, no. No way.

once upon a time, in a land familiar to us all, there were these things called books. people like me read them. people like don marquez wrote them. some people even had what were called bookshelves to provide a home for these books. by my count, in my bookshelf are 18 books solely about our favorite team. books by and about dick williams, reggie, and catfish don't make the cut. each is not in our green and gold on the cover and/or the a's are not the only focus of attention. in dick's case, now that he's in copperstown as an oaklander, maybe an update will be forthcoming. also, maybe eck and rollie will be subjects one day...see if i'm missing any. thanks to don for detailing for a severely technology challenged fan how to post pics.

just purchased a digital camera. have every a's yearbook from 1968 including a few kc and philly ones. any interest in me posting cover pics or more of all? same goes for cards - every topps a's from 1967, starting line ups, books (of course, don marquez' fine effort inluded), posters...love to share this collection digitally web speaking. there are a few other a's blogs out there as we all know. but, think we'd all agree right here right now would provide most exposure for us loyal a's fans.

have 'em all back through kc days. fun item to collect., (also collect all topps a's cards). look forward to buying the new yearbook each year. rite of summer. a's have been unique because many years since 68 no yearbook was published. in its place, was a magazine which served pretty well as a substitute. past 2 years, 2009 and 2010, have produced very lame yearbook editions. this year's worse than last. for each player page this year, 2010 yearbook has a picture, height, weight etc. that's it. no stats. no interesting tidbits. nada. only baseball related reading is article in back of the yearbook about the pitching staff. i get the idea we don't need the stats etc in a dead tree yearbook format any more. you want that stuff, use the puter. but, hey, just pictures? here's the question. maybe a reader here has inside knowledge a schmo like me doesn't have. are the a's phasing out yearbooks?

recent scores depressing. 2009's attendance depressing. 10 teams in mlb history have relocated. with a new stadium in the works in miami, they are off life support. as are the come back from the dead devil rays. now, we are on the clock. that dark cloud doesn't make a hoot of difference to readers of this board. for marginal paying customers, however, it's a deal killer. naturally, we will probably be last in the league this year in attendance. thanks, lew. all has been kinda predictable to this point. - stadium sucks, we can't get a new stadium we'll move, we'll move close, can't build a stadium close, we really tried, team depleted to save payroll, attendance way down ... - the first of the 10 to move was boston braves to milwaukee in 1953. most recent, of course, les expos. characteristic of the movers is dwindling home attendance in the waning years of the franchise as fans exit a bad movie. 5 of the 10, as one would expect, were last in league attendance both of their last 2 years (boston braves, sl browns, first washington senators, ny giants, les expos). 2 of the remaining 5 were last in attendance the last year but not second to last year (milwaukee braves & phil a's). thanks to indians and the mistake by the lake, kc a's and second washington senators were next to last in their final year. in their second to last year, kc also could look to cleveland to draw worse and senators, surprisingly, on 1970, in their second to last year before texas called, were 8th out of 12 in the a.l. that leaves brooklyn dodgers. not a myth was their support in the face of relocation. in '57, last year, 5th out of 8 in n.l. in '56, 2nd out of 8.

are we witnessing the beginning of the end of fan over-exuberance march madness in cactus country? just as the spring training mega stadiums come on-line. what is with the paltry attendance in the first week this year? economy stupid, i know, but...tempe diablo, my favorite target, as it's the site of my worst sports scalp 2 years ago - a weekday sellout pander to the ticket masters - has averaged 2700 for 4 games. only the cubs seem to be in their normal spring training 10k range. a ton of empty seats for yesterday's mets game in florida on a sunday on mlb network...in desert for first sunday of seasons' games, only dodgers first game in glendale a near sellout. other games not even close. and that includes cubs at giants in scottsdale. any thoughts?

ken, i hope you read this. if you don't, someone who knows you will tell you the following. you are an awesome baseball radio god. bill and lon have absolutely nothing on you. doesn't hurt that i'm in santa rosa and you frequently mention bennet valley golf course, rancho cotate... but, please stop pronouncing emil brown - EE-meal -long e and accent on the first syllable - instead of uh-MEEL. (accept my apologies if the rbi machine told you that is the way he says his name). thanks bro.

the power of positive thinking everybody at once one hour before game time today 1:30pm oakland time pause take a deep breath close your eyes grasp your favorite a's thing repeat three times concentrating on each and every syllable channeling good vibrations to our young men they will do this they will win today first win of 4 vs detroit.
"lets go oak - land"
"lets go oak - land"
"lets go oak = land"  

thanks a's.
as marco's ball touched down we all knew 3 would score and effectively end the series. not even huston at this stage could blow a six run lead (to become 5). what a great sports moment. as i was driving back to santa rosa,  horrendous traffic could not dampen the euphoria that only a sweet a's win can bring. so i was thinking where does this rank all-time on the list of pro/college games i've attended?
-a's sweep west bay team in '89 series at 'stick
-'81 a's win 11th in a row to open season easter sunday vs mariners
-cal bears hoops ends 25 yr streak against ucla at harmon
-6th game world series 1986 bill buckner game at shea. standing right there cause many mets fans had departed.
-boston u hockey wins ncaa title in providence over arch enemy boston college 1978
-grounds crew longwood cricket club boston 1976 as bjorn borg (non baseball hero) wins tourny 15 ft away. get to be in his presence, sounds kinda wacko religious, all week
- yesterday. maybe the top. cause the a's have always had, since i moved here in 1978, the unique, bizarre element of a team that won't always be here - so enjoy it while it lasts. and throw in the big monkey...couldn't keep fremont out of my mind yesterday.

shocking, really. no better way to put it.
#1 - i moved to bay area in 1979. first thing i did was find the one spot in golden gate park where i could pick up a strong enough signal to listen to the a's on the radio on kdia. we got billy before the 1980 season and started with a real station ksfo either that season or next. from there to knew, then kfrc, and now, well, you know.
#2 - the tarp. ouch.
we've been served notice. hope everyone is paying attention. and not in denial. if we don't pack the park this season, we have no chance to keep this team here. if we fill the seats, we're still in the game.
anyone have any history of teams/parks who have tarped in any sport? i can only think of the marlins. and we know they're moving from miami. did the 'spos tarp? i'd like to know what kind of an indicator tarping has been historically.
my new year's resolution - beat the tarp. step 1.
next year. maybe get on the radio.

one who doesn't get why he's in hof? popularized splitter. wow. what is with the lovefest for him over so many other 90 innings a year players? i'm guessing playing for cards and cubs didn't hurt. (but, doesn't help lee smith.) it's so funny how these things work. baseball media has floated his name as a possible hof'er for so long - and yet continually dimisses the other short "closers" of his era smith, reardon, goose... as not worthy.

gone to arizona in january for an a's fantasy camp? thinking about taking the plunge this coming winter before i get too old to pick up wash' signs at 11am on a weekday morning in the desert sun. not cheap. big $$. (and. do any women go to these? wife a peninsula gal, so a lifelong 26 splash hits - zero champs fan - bless her heart - she'd get a kick out of their team's gig). all about equal opportunity.

off day thoughts. saw the picture of n swisher from float day yesterday in one of the picture diaries. awesome pics. i'm guessing i'm one of the oldest who watches this board- 50 yrs young. so, i gotta a little perspective about the following. and, i've been a huge baseball radio guy all those years in different locales around the country. n swisher is the flat out best, most enthusiastic, least conceited, and egocentric player i've ever heard interviewed on the radio. that's it. i've got a man crush on him.

considering we are currently showcasing the most unwatchable outfit in the bigs - count us posters as the only sets of eyes at the mac or in front of the tube enjoying this particular brand of the national past time - numbers not too bad at all. 19th in attendance with 23,676 per game which puts us on a pace for 1.9 mill. if this team can draw 2 mill or close to it, the season is a success. 2 mill has now become in 2005 the team attendance mendoza line. draw 2 mill and las vegas and portland, o can k our a. ( btw,we are 21st in salary, record 25th outa 30 teams but you knew that.)
on the attendance futures front, next homie we have many good seats available with tampa and canada coming in for 6. yikes. great news is the nl team in the area and nyy give us at 6 more 30k plus crowds this year.
let's go oakland!

ok i admit it. i'm an attendance freak. and i'm especially attuned to relocation division attendance numbers. what do i see today courtesy of mlb.com box scores? kansas city hosting minny before a matinee gathering of 10k. nothing out of the usual there. next up, purveyors of the worst unis in mlb, canada's team blue jays hosting tampa bay - a unique relo inter-division day game. for sure a chance for an under 10k crowd - an attendance freaks holy grail - only surpassed by an under 5k crowd. day game. toronto. vs drays. could be an under 10. but, noooo. are you kidding me? 21,409! must be a mistake. had to go to official blue jays headquarters on the web. you won't here this anywhere else. it was one of those school days and you had kids and teachers and parents and busdrivers padding the crowd in levels 100 and 500. can you believe that? fleece blankets are good for attendance. school days are better.      

waiting till the 7th inning is cheating.
in a feable attempt to get to 300 words, i will add the video of athletics nation at the game absolutely awesome.
very much down with the kotsay cotton.
but, too easy.
tyler, i hereby recommend you, the leader of the board, wear a ginter jersey from now on.
winner gets nothing.

first up 16,758

saw the line in one of the diaries questioning kendall's plate appearances. forgive me blez if this doesn't get to 300 words. it's gotta be said - you know what i'm saying. jason remonds me of carney lansford when we first got him in a trade with red sox in 1983. (geez, i'm guessing not a lot of you were even born by then). took a wwhile for a's fans to warm to him. not a lot of power. but, not a lot of strikeouts either. i remember asking about carney, and it fits for jason as well, 1 question. when's he going to start hitting the ball solidly and hard? for a .300 hitter, it seems his outs are not of the hard variety. well, carney worked out just fine. possibly my favorite a's player in an era when there were many to choose from. carney and jason play with heart and intelligence and it looks like they know what their doing.(as an aside, contrast that with how byrnes or kielty look playing this game at times) jason's gonna be a great a's player. go easy on him. i love having him on the team. let's go oak-land.

its an off day. i think i've read about every thread. good stuff.i even read the one where it says i'm one of 10,000 or so who come to AN daily. now, if we can get the other 9,999 to go to games, then i won't have to worry about the relocation division standings i so ineloquently blogged about before.. anyway, here's my thought. haven't heard it elsewhere, although i haven't read every bill james book. apologies if this is not an original thought.
for era's why not charge different percentages for each base. it'll still add up to one run. the percentage of responsibilty of the baserunner to the departed pitcher will be reduced from the current 100% it has always been. works like this. starter leaves game in 6th inning with runners on first and second. reliever comes in. gives up double scoring the two inherited baserunners. starter should get charged not for both runs 100% like nowadays. makes no sense to me relief pitcher's era perfect for the day if his double hitting responsibilty on second doesn't score. doesn't sound fair since he, imo, let a run score from second so he should bear 50% responsibility to his era there, and, let a run score from first, so he should bear 75% responsibilty to his era. the starter's era effected .50 for the runner on second. and, .25 for the runner on first. the relief pitcher's era effected .50 for the inherited runner on second scoring and .75 for the
inherited runner on first scoring. for further explanation, had the relief pitcher inherited a runner on 3rd base who scored on his watch, then, he would be charged .25 to his era and the prior pitcher .75. whaddaya think. lets go oak-land!  

the best number of the day comes from beautiful tampa, florida. 26,018 attendance for drays opener. our battle is fought in 2 places. sea, tex, angels on the one hand. bigger picture - and i'll say more important - fannies in the seats. we need 2 million. minimum. 25,000 per game. and either/or/both tampa and miami struggle to break 1 mill. we need tampa and florida to have horrible years. so, there you have it. our division is a three teamer now. oakland, tampa, miami. needs a name. montreal, you might say, graduated out of our division. kind a like british football where you move up and down depending on performance.