A New Ballot

The Baseball Writers Association just released their 2013 Hall of Fame ballot.  This year is not unlike other years, though there is bound to be plenty of conversation around three names that show up for the first time this year -- Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa.  All three are first ballot inductees based on statistics alone, though their clouded past and steroid allegations mean that they may or may not be enshrined.

This will be interesting to follow...

Rest in Peace, Lee MacPhail

Baseball exec and Hall of Famer Lee MacPhail died recently at the age of 95.  At the time of death he was the oldest living member of baseball's most hallowed club.

His autograph was one of my early through-the-mail successes, and his autograph is a cherished one.  My condolences go out to his family.

Failure #20: Ernie Banks

Another day, another unsuccessful attempt at getting an autograph through the mail.

This time it was a RTS (return to sender) from Mr. Cub himself, Ernie Banks. I'm not sure if I have the wrong address, or if he is just not willing to sign or open small stuff these days.