Home Run Derby

In 2008, 38 men stole 66 bases against the New York Mets.  None of them went to jail.  None was even prosecuted or charged with a crime.  And the Mets would like to keep it that way. 

But if a memorabilia vendor who had 2nd base stolen from him has his way, that could change.

This Spring Training, someone might be in trouble because of a base they stole.  It was stolen from a memorabilia vendor at the Mets’ Springtraing home at tradition Field in Port St. Lucie FL.

The base in question is from the 2007 All-Star Game and is autographed by Jose Reyes of the New York Mets, according to a recently released police report. The base is estimated to be worth about $2,000.

Here what the base looks like. 

Unbelievably…..  a few days after the base was stolen, it turned up in the vendor’s driveway (early Saturday morning). 

And it would seem the Mets want the story to be over right then and there …

A Mets general manager told police he didn’t want a report and would “take care of this,” the report states.

The vendor doesn’t feel the same way …

The memorabilia vendor wants to pursue charges in the matter, and a police lieutenant asked that the incident be investigated further.

Know what happens when you try to sweep things under the rug?  The Mets might be about to find out.

Stay tuned.

Think you’re good at picking Home Run hitters? 

Play homerderby.com’s 2009 Home Run Derby Contest and find out … and compete for $2,000 in prizes while you’re at it.  Only $10 for a full season’s worth of fun. 

See the Official Rules for details.

We just showed you some guy who could catch a baseball without dropping his video camera, but these guys have him beat for fans who can catch a ball.

Let’s go to the world of Cricket, where this Aussie bloke grabs a ball – which is even more impressive when you consider he did it one handed because he was talking on his cell phone.

Barehanding a Home Run at a Softball game is impressive enough … but while holding a baby in your other arm?

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One of the best things about going to a baseball game is that you can get yourself a souvenir – as in a baseball. 

Whether a player gives you one, you pick one up off the field, or you catch it – if it leaves the playing field, you can keep it. 

Let’s check on some video of fans catching baseballs (and other balls).

Here’s a first person view of how to grab a batting practice Home Run.  This one comes off the bat of the Phillies’ Jayson Werth before Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS at Dodger Stadium.  What makes it impressive is that the videographer is the one who catches the ball. 

H/T: The Fightins

Impressively, that guy seems to be the King of BP at Dodger Stadium – he’s caught a number of BP Homers - here he is catching a Torii Hunter Batting Practice Home Run.

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Did you ever notice that Baseball Players have great big rides? 

Last Spring, we showed you Mark Buehrle’s big-ass Ford F-150 Dominator.  The Spring before that, we saw Jon Lieber’s F-150 Super Truck.

This year we’ll head to the North Side of Chicago to check out Cubs’ Outfielder Alfonso Soriano’s tricked out Hummer H2.

Now, Soriano’s ride isn’t exactly a four-wheeled beast like the Ford F-150 SuperTruck, but it’s got it’s merits. 

Especially the sound system, installed by Abt Electronics of Glenview, IL.  Check this out.

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This week’s HRD Wayback Machine takes up back into the 1970’s and early 80’s.  

Back then, big name sports stars weren’t lining up to do commercials for Gatorade.  Instead, they were lining up to do commercials for Aqua Velva. 

Okay, Aqua Velva looks a lot like Gatorade, but it was (still is) a men’s aftershave.  I think it was orginally meant to be a mouthwash.  Your dad probably used it.  Personally, I don’t know anyone who used that stuff.

And with the tagline “A man wants to smell like a man” … the cheese factor in the Aqua Velva spots was simply priceless.  Even worse than that Johnny Bench commercial for Bubble Fudge.

Pete Rose was the posterboy for Aqua Velva … and he wasn’t afraid to sing the Aqua Velva jingle.

The cameo by Vic Tayback (Mel from the TV show Alice) makes that whole commercial for me.

But that’s not Charlie Hustle’s best work.  Here’s Rose simultaneously taking batting practice and putting on the charm on a female reporter. 

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Baseball players are a superstitious lot.   So it’s no wonder only a handful have ever donned unlucky #13 on their jersey.

In honor of this Friday the Thirteenth, Home Run Derby honors the men who haven’t been afraid to wear the “unlucky number.”  Without further adieu, here’s HRD’s All-Thirteen Team … and you guessed it – there’s thirteen of them.

Lance Parrish, Catcher

Big Wheel was an eight-time All Star, a six-time Silver Slugger, and won a Gold Glove at catcher for three straight seasons.  Only the second catcher to ever win a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger in the same season (1983).  He played for five different teams as #13, but I’ll always remember him as a Detroit Tiger.  In 1982 he threw out three runners in the All-Star game.

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With the return of baseball … it’s about time for Home Run Derby to bring back …. JERSEY OF THE WEEK!

For this JotW, we’re headed to Mesa, Arizona - where the Chicago Cubs are having their spring training … 

One Cub fan apparently left his shirt in the dryer a little too long.

Seriously.  That’s a women’s shirt isn’t it?  Next time, just go shirtless, dude.  See Milwaukee Brewers fans as an example.  Or Philadelphia Phillies fans and their bodypaint (NSFW).

I’m really hoping that this guy lost a bet and he doesn’t like walking around in women’s clothing.  Then again, he likes Mike’s Hard Lemonade in the can.

Cub fan in a women’s shirt Rating

• Cleverness:  0
• Originality:  0
• Understandability:  0

That’s the T-Shirt Hall of Shame.  Wy is he wearing it?

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Thanks to suec93 – who let Home Run Derby use her pictures.

Think you’re good at picking Home Run hitters?  Play homerderby.com’s 2009 Home Run Derby Contest and find out … and compete for $2,000 in prizes while you’re at it.  Only $10. 

See the Official Rules for details.

2009 isn’t expected to be a great season for the San Diego Padres.

• The Padres are coming off a last-place finish in the NL West (63-99)
• Baseball Prospectus predicts them to stay in the basement (74-88)
• They’ve been trying to trade their Ace Starting pitcher, 2007 Cy Young winner Jake Peavy
• Trevor Hoffman’s bobblehead is now with the Brewers 
• And Baseball America ranked the Padres’ farm system 29th … of 30 teams.

In fact, the Padres’ greatest cause for celebration during the 2009 season is their past.  More specifically, the Padres’ 40th anniversary as a ballclub … and the 25th anniversary of their 1984 National Peague Pennant. 

You remember 1984 (or maybe you don’t) - when the Padres came back from an two game deficit against the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS to win three straight  and go to their first World Series.

In fact, the Padres will be having a 1984 NL Champions Weekend the weekend of May 22-24.  There will be Fireworks on Friday, a NL Champs celebration game on Saturday (most likely with lots of players from the 1984 team on the field), and T-Shirt and Batting Helmet giveaways all weekend.  I’d also expect the Padres to wear throwback of their hideous 1984 kits (pictured above) for at least one of the games.

But that celebration will be a slap in the face of their opponents that weekend -

The Chicago Cubs. 

Ouch.  That’s just stone cold harsh.  I think it tops the guy who wrote “CUBS SUCK” in the snow in St Louis.

And somehow … I don’t think it’s a coincidence.  Do You?

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Being a baseball fan living in the Chicago area, I’ve had the chance to watch a lot of White Sox TV play-by-play announcer Ken “Hawk” Harrelson.

He’s pretty much known for his cornpone country shtick and baseball catchphrases as much as being the first baseball player to regularly wear a batting glove. 

Among Harrelson’s phraseology is 

• He Gone (for a strikeout victim)
• Gas (for a fastball)
• Stretch (cheering for a fly ball to get over the fence

Mind you , I somehow missed the fact that he says the exact same thing to start up every game he broadcasts.

 ”Sit Back, Relax, and Strap it down.” 

Here’s Hawk saying that phrase … 32 different times.

Did you notice former White Sox TV analyst Darrin Jackson doing what he did best?  Namely showing off his glazed expression while not saying anything as Harrelson dominates the airwaves?