Trade Post: Thanks Wicked

These cards come courtesy of Traded of the Year Wicked Ortega. This Gomes Pristine is actually a sweet bonus card Wicked threw in. I'm not a big fan of cards where the design overtakes the photography but I have to give it up. 2003 Topps Pristine is pretty nice. Gotta keep a look out for the CC.

And then we've got the object of the trade, a Justin Ruggiano auto.

Ruggiano was one of my favorite Bulls. I've posted a lot about him elsewhere, but I'll add this. Having been to a number of minor league games, I don't have much of an idealized picture of the minor leagues or the interaction between the players and the fans. Things today might be a lot more "fan friendly" with in between inning activities designed to keep everyone amused in every down moment, but I remember a lot more interaction when I was a kid on all levels. I remember sitting down next to the dugout talking baseball with the players. Nelson Liriano even signed a ball and tossed it to me in the middle of a game once. Who knows why? He just did it.

Ruggiano might not do stuff like that, but he's that kind of player. A few years ago I was in the RF stands in Durham and the guys in the first row kept trying to make conversation with him while he kept loose throwing while the pitcher warmed up. Not talking trash, just talking baseball. After an inning or so Ruggi warmed up and they spent the rest of the afternoon hamming it up. I wasn't in on it, but every baseball outing should be that awesome: summer afternoon, full beers, a bunch of guys chatting up the RF about a double he'd hit the night before, the RF responding with the typical baseball answers that belie his sh!t-eating grin. He had a down year last year, but he's a major-league player. If not for the Rays then for someone, and soon.

The Jonny Gomes Collection

First, many thanks to all of you who've sent Gomes cards my way. I'm not the most organized guy in the world, so I don't names with all of the cards. Anyway, you know who you are. Many thanks!

As of 3/7 I've got 32 different cards

Here's a link to the game-used Durham Bulls jersey Jonny signed for me at a game in Chicago.

2002
Bowman Heritage, #277 (thx Wicked!)
Just, #11 (thx Wicked!)
Topps Pristine, #190 (thx Wicked!)

2003
Bowman Chrome auto Joey Gome, #344 (thx Sewing Machine!)
Topps Chrome, #T161 (thx Wicked!)

2004
Bowman Chrome, #146 (thx Troll!)

2006
Allen and Ginter auto, #AGA-JG
Bowman, #47
Bowman, #47, white border, /120
Bowman Originals auto, 2006 Bowman Buyback, 20/363
Bowman Originals, 2002 Bowman Buyback auto /341
Fleer, #116
Fleer Tradition, #63
Fleer Ultra, #49
Topps, #23
Topps black, #23, /55
Topps Turkey Red, #565 (thx Wicked!)
Upper Deck Ovation, #OA-JG jersey relic
Upper Deck Spectrum, #69
Upper Deck Sweet Spot auto, #136, /150

2007
Allen and Ginter, #318 (signed ttm)
Fleer, #35
Topps, #339 (red back)
Topps, #339 (white back)

2008
Topps, #559
Topps Heritage, #533 (thx Ike!)
Topps Heritage Chrome. #533 /1959 (thx Ike!)
Upper Deck, #90
Upper Deck Series 2, #UDJ-GO jersey relic (thx Troll!)

2009
Topps Heritage, #609 (thx Troll!)
Topps t206, #16 (thx Troll!)
Topps t206 mini
Upper Deck, #365

Trading Post: On Card Autos

So, an epic trade with On Card Autos. Around 75 Rays, numerous CCs, several Rays relics. Awesome.

Another copy of this AMAZING Gomes card. Man, I can't get enough of it. Jonny's defense takes a lot of crap on the message boards, and a bit unfairly I may add. He's not the fastest dude around, but he'll give you all-out effort. Check out this card depicting a defensive play at Fenway. Great stuff, and a great card.

I don't like to rip on anybody around these parts, so I'll say this: either as a DH or RF I want this man on the roster next year. For Jebus' sake.

And speaking of defense, one of the relics from the trade, an Aubrey Huff. Man, is there a position Huff didn't play for the Rays? He's definitely under appreciated, basically the face of the franchise pre-CC. Funny thing about this card is it showcases his defense but celebrates his two HR in a victory over the Yankis. Weird.

This is a great BJ Upton expression, like a Bart Simpson "Who, me?" BJ was an uber prospect for so long it's easy to forget he was born in 1984. Dude's young, and has only begun to tap his potential. One of those guys who's so talented, so athletic you think he's lazy or loafing but he's not----he just makes it look easy. Looking for a big comeback season this year after a down year last year, right Boss Man, Junior!

Compa says that here "CC looks like he's about to kick some a@@." Right on.

And finally, some trivia:

I have very few of the UD Documentary cards, and at some point need to get the ones from Sonny's CG shutout of the White Sox and the Rays/O's double header on September, the Rays games I got to in '08. So, who's on the front of this card? Kazmir. By extension, who was the young hurler who led the Rays to victory?

James Shields. Pretty lazy of UD to just throw any old Rays pitcher on the front as if most fans wouldn't know the difference. (And yes, sadly I'm sure very few did---aren't many Rays fans out there)

Thanks again On Cards Autos! Glad you dug the cards. Have a good one and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

Don't know what ya got...: Part 2, Elliot Johnson

I know I misspelled Chris Richard's last name "Richards" several times in the last post. I had to mention it, or compa would be packing her things.

Like Jonny Gomes, I imagine that your average Rays fan 10 years from now will not know who Elliot Johnson is. This says a lot more about our culture and our preference for the flashy and trendy than these two ball players. Elsewhere I've posted my feelings about Gomes and his instrumental role in serving notice to the rest of the AL that the Rays were no longer doormats, so this post is about Johnson and his role in those same events.

First, Elliot is a super fan friendly guy, like Richard. A friend of mine one complained about how some of the Bulls, especially in the wake of their success over the past few years and the Rays WS run, basically gave up on interacting with the fans. I don't know whether or not that's 100% true, but I do know that I have seen kids standing 20 deep, all screaming "Elliot," waiting to get a sig, and that Elliot has stood there and signed until everyone had an auto. I never asked for one myself, which I now kinda regret, but there you have it. (As an aside, I similarly watched the O's Adam Jones sign for about 30-minutes prior to the Rays/O's double header two seasons ago. Again, no auto for me, but that made quite an impression)

Second, and like Richard, Eliot is no slouch as a player. Elliot has a decent bat for a middle infielder and Rays Index has this play from the Int'l League Championship as the Rays organization's play of the year. Elliot only got a brief cup of coffee with the Rays in 2008, and it looks like this past season will have been his last with the organization (scroll down to the last bullet point). Although he advanced pretty quickly through the Rays' system he has been a victim of organizational depth as much as anything else. I mean, without naming names, there are guys on ML rosters whose stats are far less.

Third, he's another guy who plays all out. The first brawl Gomes was involved in? It came after this play. I'm no unbiased observer, so I'll tell you a different play at the plate story for context. When I was a Little Leaguer I was a pretty fat kid who ate, slept, and drank baseball. I was a solid hitter, but obviously no great runner of the bases. Championship game, I'm on second and the batter hits a soft single to right. The coach sends me home, which I still think is one of the stupider decisions I've ever been a part of. Ball beats me by a bit, OK a lot, catcher is blocking the plate, so I absolutely blew the kid up. Seeing as how the ball beat me I'm initially called out. But the ball is now over in the on-deck circle, so the call is reversed and I'm called safe. UNTIL the other ump comes in from left and re-reverses the call, saying that not only am I out because runners coming home MUST slide, but that technically I should also be tossed from the game. I had no idea about the rule, and let me be square with you: that wasn't the worst thing that ever happened to my fat 13 year old self, but it was up there. Between my teammates and coach calling me out the next few innings things really sucked. Of course we lost and I caught unmentionable Hell for it from all involved. As far as I know no one ever got on the coach for a) sending the fat ass home from second on the play or b) no bothering to inform us we had to slide going in to home.

At any rate, this is all to say I'm totally behind Elliot Johnson on his collision with Cervelli now and forever. My fat 13 year-old self would agree. That is how the game should be played. If not, then don't block the plate, period, or go back to Little League. As for the current narrative, the next day the Yankis retaliated, Gomes clowned several Yankis, and the rest is history.

I hadn't thought too much about that play until I saw this card over at a post at Play at the Plate:

A signed Elliot Johnson depicting the Cervelli play. Improbably enough, his base card is also of the same play:

Both are from the 2008 Stadium Club set, and I'm going to try to get my hands on them ASAP after the first of the year. Hopefully by trade, then by bounty, and finally via flea-bay if all else fails. Not only is this a great card of one Hell of a player, but it also depicts THE moment when the Rays fortunes changed for the better. Who knew that one hard play at the plate could send a team to the World Series?

Thanks for the memories Elliot, loved watching you play.

Have a good one everybody and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

Dear Tampa Bay...

Re-sign this man. Like yesterday. This is your opportunity. Do it NOW.

Trading Post: Many Thanks to Wax Pack Relapse

I came across Wax Pack Relapse while surfing Troll's Blog one day. Dude's pretty organized with what he has to trade, and I had my eye on some cards in his extensive spreadsheets when he mentioned he had a few David Prices he could send my way. In fact, 8 total. I'm planning a post on my Price cards in the near future, but if there's one thing that's certain it's that Prices on the 'bay command value based more on hype than performance. I know, he's a big prospect, but still...it means folks that just want to collect his cards get priced out of the market pretty quick.

Long story short, it was AWESOME to get these in the mail:

I'm really digging these. I like the photo in general (BIG comeback year for Topps in that category) and will also cop to preferring the old school paper stock of the Target Exclusive on the left. Just something for the old schooler in me.

Then: Price as a collectible postage stamp:

Nice card, captures his intimidating mound presence. It's also pretty weird, given the United Peoples of Baseball-type feel to it. Almost like I could use it in lieu of international postage or something.

And these:

The card on the left is just plain goofy. He's waiting on a throw back to the mound, I get it, but it's the only card I can think of that depicts the pitcher waiting on a throw. Wild stuff.

But that's not all he sent. I also scored this Delmon Young:

That's another really great shot. You have the OF wall, the foul line, lots of color, the drama of the pick-off move...just a really well-put together picture. Moreover the design of the 2008 Stadium Club gives the photography plenty of room to just be itself. Nice card.

And then, this gem of The Legend, Jonny Gomes:

Being a Gomes fan, this card represents a lot of what I really dig about him. Dude is listed at 6'1'', 225 lbs., but he's one of those guys who, when you see him in person, has a looming presence. He's massive. That's only increased by the fact he seems to prefer outsizes jerseys, as seen in this photo. The crop makes him seem even bigger and again, the design stays out of the ways and cedes ground to the great photo. And he plays all-out, all the time. Jonny Gomes: Elmer Valo for the new millennium.

Finally, Kevin Slowey.

Slowey was the winning pitcher in the game the compa and I went to for our anniversary this year, he laid a great sig (with anniversary wishes!) on a card for us at the Twins auto day, and he went to the same school as my Moms, Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC. He's also a heck of a pitcher whose year this year was sidelined by injury. Next year with Slowey back healthy the Twins should be that much better!

Thanks for the cards Wax Pack Relapse!

Have a great one everybody, and good night Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

Trading Post: Priceless Gems from the Priceless Pursuit

So, a while back I caught this post over at the Priceless Pursuit. He had pulled this CC in a pack, and I left a comment asking if he's be willing to part with it.

He was game, and we got the deal done! Now, I really appreciate his willingness to part with a #'d card without asking for a king's ransom in return. I don't have too many #'d CC, and my collecting budget just can't hang with the guys who will throw down for #'d cards on the 'bay. Long story short, I don't actively seek them out or feel compelled to, but I'm INCREDIBLY stoked when a fellow blogger passes one along.

BUT that's not all sent sent. He also sent along a two more Peñas for someone else's collection:

For all the HRs one tends to forget that Peña is also a Gold Glove 1st Baseman, so the Fleer Platinum is a +1 in the compa's book.

Next, three Delmons, all of which actually sport pictures of the man in question, without any mystery men popping up.

That's my first Delmon #'ed card, and was an incredible bonus to get. Don't forget to check out the bottom of this post and help me figure out with this person NOT named Delmon Young could be.

Finally, he included a RC of the man, the legend, the off-again, on-again pro-wrestler and CCC fave, Jonny Gomes. Nice shot of Jonny running the bases in what looks to be a Spring Training Game.

Thanks for the Trade, Priceless! Hope you enjoyed the cards I sent as much as I enjoyed these.

Have a great one, everybody and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

Catching Up: Gomes Winner, and Where I Been

First up, I have a good excuse for slacking the past few days (and I apologize). A friend of mine scored tickets to the Twins game last Tuesday night, and the compa (who is more my partner in crime than voice of reason at times) said that we had to go. So we went. Which meant that I've been playing catch up non-stop since we got back at 3 AM Wednesday morning.

But first, OMG that game was amazing!

Just check out the noise! That stuff never comes through on the tele, and I'm still half-deaf from the screaming. That's the mascot rolling around on an ATV on the field. Mijares (he of the Delmon hpb infamy) eventually took the flag from him (the mascot, not Delmon---don't think they're speaking yet) and led a hand-slapping tour around the outfield. Really, really cool stuff.

One of the strangest things about baseball is that, just because you go to a lot of games and watch a lot of different players in person you don't necessarily see anything special happen. You might see a HOF take the field, and that's awesome, but your memory of a particular game might be of that HOFer making 2 errors and going 0-4. I was really lucky (thanks Jeff and Compa!) that I even had the opportunity just to drive 5 hours, go to the game, then turn around and drive 5 hours home, much less that the game turned out to be so mind-blowingly amazing! The Twins really sent the Metrodome out in style, and it was incredible to be there for game 163 against the Tigers.

So...the moment you've been waiting for...the winner of the Gomes is...after three randomizations...Brian!!! Brian, shoot me an email with your preference for either the Ginter or 206 and I'll get it to you. Thanks to the folks who participated, and spread the good word of Gomes!!!

Have a great one!

TTM from a CCC Fave and the Ensuing Giveaway: Jonny Gomes Rules

So, I called home today and asked the compa the question, like I always do, "Is there any good mail?" That's code for, "Please tell me something other than bills came today."

Today that answer was, "Yes." It's a pick-me-up, and adds to the excitement of going home. At present I only have one ttm from my Ginter Negro League Project out, as well as two book orders, so I figured those were the likely suspects. Pretty cool. So I got home, saw the SASE, and looked at the postmark:

If you follow this blog you know where this is going. Please don't give it away for the others.

So, the week after the awesomeness of this post, I decided to write a letter to the man himself, thanking him for signing the jersey at the Cubs game and including two cards for him to sign.

To recap: Jonny Gomes is one of the greatest players in the history of the Rays. As a player he's got maddening, raw power. His career thus far has been marked by incredible peaks. He was even 3rd in the ROY voting in 2005. Unfortunately, the Rays decided they were better off with a veteran RF and right-handed bat who was more expensive and less productive (not pointing fingers, just saying) and let Jonny walk. He caught on with the Reds, had a torrid spring, but was sent to AAA Louisville to begin the season. After coming up and despite platooning with other Reds OFs, Jonny put together a HELL of a season: .879 OPS, 20 HR, 51 RBI in 281 AB.

He's also an absolute fan favorite, so I sent off the two cards without much hope. If nothing else, I included one of these, with the explanation that it was the best I could do because I couldn't buy Jonny a drink to say "Thanks" for all the memories of him playing for the Durham Bulls and Tampa Bay Rays.

If you remember, Gomes was one of the foremost hellians at the center of a lot of celebrations in the Rays clubhouse last season. And now, today, I received these in return:

Two sweet autos from an awesome player!

Now, in the letter I sent I said I'd give away one of the cards on the blog, which is now what I'm going to do. I like the Ginter, Compa like the 206, so what we'll do is this: follow the blog, leave a comment saying you're in. On Thursday night I'll run 3 randomizations of the list, #1 gets their choice of the two.

Good luck, have a great night!

Dusty Baker, Destroyer of Dreams

Seriously.

You know that I'm a big fan of one of baseball's great ruffians, Jonny Gomes (as an aside, his BB Ref page is now brought to you by everyone's favorite bridge dweller, Collective Troll!!!) and that I've been ceaselessly querying the ether as to why Gomes hasn't been a mainstay in the Reds lineup. But I digress...

Now, I caught this Dusty quote today on the Reds Yahoo teampage:

"When I played, at this time of the year and you were not in the pennant race, it was called a salary drive, a time for players to show they deserved a raise or a chance next spring training, a chance to make those numbers on your bubblegum card look better."

—Manager Dusty Baker, on what's left to play for after a team is eliminated.

OK, fine. I get it. But this roughly translates as: "Every man for himself! Maybe I'll see you in March!"

First, that's not exactly what I want to hear from my manager. Ever. No matter how true it may be.

Second, who's out there trying to prove they deserve a roster spot/spring invite/raise this evening? Again, I'm not a pointing fingers type, but...Gomes lead MLB in homers in the spring and wasn't on the team at the beginning of the year. Apparently these was something else to prove, but what the heck do I know?

Third, and related the #2, Dusty really needs to catch some lightening in a bottle here in terms of managing/talent spotting. People already associate him more with blowing up Wood/Prior, and he's two surgeries in to blowing up Volquez/Cueto. All that needs to happen now is for Dusty to shove Homer Bailey head first into a dugout urinal, breaking his neck, and Dusty'll have successfully managed a full staff of prospects who were all at one time assumed to be "the next Roger Clemens."

So, Dusty, we love you, man, but keep these thoughts to yourself. You need to start managing again like you know how to win, which is done by scoring more runs than the other team. Over a season, teams with the most wins go to the playoffs, which are a crap shoot, but still. Even if you're looking to next year, you can't burn out your promising young pitchers and you gotta figure out what hitters will help you score runs and which ones won't. Seem to be having some problems with that...

Have a good one folks!

In honor of Carlos Peña and our lost pennant hopes...

the Compa "accidentally" shut her thumb in the door yesterday. Seriously. That's dedication.

In other news:

Gomes: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI

CC: 0-3, BB

It only took till Sept, but at least Gomes is finally getting the playing time he deserves! Hopefully next season he starts in Cincy, stays in Cincy, and has a MONSTER season. Not that the Rays have been recently looking for a right handed power bat to mostly DH and play some OF...oh....wait....

Catching Up:Contests, Things I Don't Get, and Thanks to 1980 Topps Baseball

OK, so first of all don't forget the two great contests going on right now.

1st, the Ginter Giveaway at Card Cache.

2nd, the HOF giveaway at Collective Troll. While you're there check out Troll's latest post on the mad props he's gotten for his work. Very well done, sir!

Next, two things I don't get:

1) Why in the name of all that is holy is Jonny Gomes not an everyday player in the Reds OF? His OPS is .925, his OPS+ is 136. He's a legit power threat in a lineup that could really use another big gun. So why on earth isn't he etched in stone in the lineup?

2) Why aren't CC and Zobrist getting national coverage for MVP, and Niemann for ROY?

Finally, sending out good vibes, I recently received two incredible packages from some folks in the blogosphere. With school kicking off in less than 24 hours, the compa and I have been in the weeds for the past two weeks (hence the slackness in posts, and these belated thank yous). The compa has a moral obligation to thank Troll for the incredible package he sent her (long story which I'm sure she'll explain) and she has promised me that's coming soon! Apologies, Troll, she really digs the cards.

I got two unexpected cards from the folks at 1980 Topps Baseball. Let me say that it's incredibly humbling that anyone would think enough of me to pick up some 1986 Topps needs for me at a show. Dean Family, I cannot thank you enough and am in your debt! With these two cards, I'm now 1 away!

First up: Dave Rozema. Did you know he's Kirk Gibson's brother-in-law?

He might be most famous for plunking a couple of Twins in 1982, which spawning a bench-clearing brawl, during which Rozema tried some sort karate kick that not only derailed his season, but also failed to connect with its target, John Castino. Apparently, he was a "colorful" player and a pretty good sport at that, as his home town minor league team sponsor a Rozema karate kick bobblehead night. I love how in this card he's leaning back a bit, like he's getting ready to throw a kick at someone. Nice touch!

I also received Lance Parrish.

Lance Parrish looks like catchers have and should have looked since the beginning of time. Bat over his shoulder, yeoman-like mouth half open as if to say, "What are you looking at?" I know Topps is about to break out a new T206 retro set, and let me just say that THIS is the prototypical shot they should use. It's absolutely timeless.

Many thanks again, Deans!

Gomes HR X 3!!!

We're only in the 6th at Cinci, but CCC favorite Jonny Gomes has already homered 3 times! Way to go Jonny!

Jonny Gomes and the invention of lost history

OK, so I'm back safe and sound from Iowa. It's been an eventful few days here at CCC, but instead of throwing it all out at once in a unintelligible rush I'll go more or less chronologically. Which leads me to the Cubs game last Friday at Wrigley Field.

Daddy D of error card fame decided to treat the compa and me to a ball game in Chicago while were in IA, being only a short drive away. And yes, ANY ball game is a GREAT ball game, and ANY ball game at Wrigley is SPECTACULAR, and being with family is awesome, but....

The Reds were in town, which meant I got to see Jonny Gomes. As a fan I watched Jonny come through Durham and bounce back and forth with TB, and I can say he's a real pleasure to watch. He's generally excited about something, he swings a 3-foot piece of rebar in the on-deck circle, and exudes a genuine enjoyment for the game.

He is one of the most important players in the history of the Rays franchise, although I get the feeling the 20 years from now most Rays fans will have forgotten how/why he is important. Well, we all remember that going in to last year the Rays were no good, by which I mean although their minor league system was loaded and successful, the big club wasn't getting anywhere. Despite their immense talent, in the best of times they were patsies for the Yankis and Red Sox. Without getting overly analytical, there was psychological barrier to their running with those teams, and those teams pushed them around pretty forcefully as a result.

Step in Jonny Gomes. During spring training last year another Durham alum, Elliot Johnson, broke the wrist of a Yanki minor leaguer in a play at the plate. Antics ensued, and a few days later Yanki Shelley Duncan spiked the Rays' Akinori Iwamura going into second. Even if one thought the former play was questionable, there's no doubt the latter was outright dirty. Gomes flew out of the dugout and, as they say, kicked ass and took names in the defense of his teammate.

Later in the regular season, when Red Sox Coco Crisp went after the Rays' James Shields, Gomes once again led the charge, landing several haymakers. There's been a lot of talk that Gomes was punching a defenseless Crisp, but my take on it is this: there are baseball fights where the idiot batter charges the mound and the dugouts empty only because they have to; and then there are brawls where a hit batter is much more an excuse for teams who genuinely don't like each other to get after it. Read the write up in the link above: this one was all-out and ugly. And let's not forget, the night before Crisp had done some rather ill-advised mouthing off and threw an elbow into Iwamura on a routine steal, so he had pretty much challenged the Rays to kick his ass. CC even got in a few punches according to the write up.

Anyway, by leading the charge Gomes served notice the Rays were for real and could compete with anyone. I'm not a fan of physical violence, but it's always been a part of sports, and the shady underside of baseball in particular, from Ty Cobb to Bob Gibson to Pedro Martinez. By going after them, Gomes showed the Rays weren't going to take that kind of crap anymore. And if people did try to intimidate them, well...Gomes would be in their nightmares.

Which leads me back to Gomes and the game at Wrigley. The Durham Bulls changed unis after last season so they sold off all their old, smelly, game used togs in March. I was lucky enough to score Gomes's jersey from last year, when he was with the Bulls biding time between stints with the Rays. I'm not a big memorabilia guy, but this was Gomes's jersey! I went to the game early while the compa and her dad went for beers (Cubs fans!) and waited around while the players stretched out.

Now, I hate being a creepy auto-grubbing adult. It seems like almost no one signs at the park anymore, and I noticed on the back of the tix to my last Twins game it says that MLB policy is that players WON'T sign at the park.

But I was only interested in Gomes. Not Votto, not Bruce, not Lee, nor Ramirez. Just Gomes. Gomes was shagging flies in LF during BP, so I went on the left field line. He seemed to have adjusted to life in the NL and was regularly tossing balls up into the LF stands, warming up the crowd over there, etc. Things wound down and he started to jog in, so I called his name and held up the jersey. He came over and I told him how much I enjoyed watching him in Durham. He kinda smiled, signed the jersey, and jogged on in.

I didn't grow up in a big league town so, despite my age, ball players are still like icons for me, and I'm sure I sounded like a complete idiot. Like the compa says, it's more proof she's married to a 12 year old.

Anyway, Jonny was really cool and I can't thank him enough for signing the jersey, especially since players don't do that too much anymore and MLB apparently discourages it. It's a great sig, and a great memory of one of the most important players in the Rays' rise to prominence. I hope I'll see him again one day at a Rays old timers event or something, because the organization as well as the fans owe him a lot of thanks.

So, I'm off for beers with the Daddy D and the compa. Jonny, the first beer is for you!