Is Pepper Hastings leaving Beckett?

Blogging is a community event. You actually feel like you get to know people who post on your blog and vice-versa. You can get idea of what their personality is like and learn their interest.

Since Pepper started doing the majority of Beckett commentary on the blog, the community has started to expect:

• timely replies to Beckett bog entries,
• answers to questions on other blogs, and
• quick witted responses.

During an entry on Beckett's blog Thursday, Pepper announced that he only had a week and a half left. I'm not sure if that means he's leaving Beckett, leaving the blogging community, or heading to the campaign trail to be Ron Paul's running mate.

Either way - Pepper, thanks for all you did with the Beckett blog and for stopping by this one. Good luck in your next challenge.

NFL Rookies at the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Stay on the look out for Canton, OH area shows, dealers, and Pro Football Hall of Fame Events.

All NFL rookies will visit the HOF in the next three months - this is due to their leaugue orientation program. This could be a great opportunity to get some rookie autographs. The HOF site has a list of all the rookie orientation visitation days.

MAB and John Lester Strike When the Iron's Hot

I received an email this week from MAB Celebrity Services about a Private Signing with John Lester.

Some will say this is aggressive and too slick. Some will say it is similar to the eBay freenzie that occurs whenever a sports figure or someone in pop culture makes the news. But I think it demonstrates MAB's service and speed to meet their customers' demands.

There are plenty of people who collect no hitter autographs on lithos, baseballs, or bats. MAB recognizes this and provides this service immediately to their audience. John Lester was already under contract with MAB.

I don't know how the prices compare to other no-hit pitchers or if Lester's prices have jumped because of this week's game. If you didn't get the email, check out the MAB site. I've gone to their shows in North Jersey, but I haven't done a private signing with them. I've heard from other collector's that their service and speed and is fantastic.

Howard Hop-a-Long Cassady OSU Autograph Signing

Some autographs add to the look of your collection and some enhance the look to your collection. This "Hop-a-Long" Cassady autograph enhances a collection.

I went with a friend to a Hop-a-Long signing Friday night by Cardboard Memories at the Buckeye Store in Polaris Mall. This picture shows why this is an autograph that enhances a collection. Cassady signed an official Ohio State University throw-back helmet (made by HelmetHut) from the 1954-55 season.

Of course, a signature of a 50's Heisman trophy winner would great on almost anything: football, current mini helmet, or a current OSU full-size helmet. But look at how much more authentic and unique this piece is because of the helmet.

Cardboard Memories did good job running the show. Except the line was a first-come-first-serve style. I think the numbering system (based on when you bought the autograph ticket) is better. Most of the line was outside the store and they allowed 5 people to enter at one time. Once inside they did a good job of keeping things moving, allowing anyone to have a picture taken with Cassady and giving you a free COA sticker.

Hop-a-long was nice to everyone, he didn't say too much to the guests, but he was very courteous with people posing for pictures. Especially with the guy in front of me who couldn't figure out how to turn his camera on!

Cardnials' Isringhausen on the DL - deja vu?

So Cardnials closer Jason Isringhausen is on the DL after punching a TV and damaging his hand.
Hello Mets fans. . . does this sound familiar? 1995 Izzy broke his wrist trying to punch a trash can.

Will someone please teach Jason how to punch and introduce him to a punching bag so he doesn't kill himself?

Local Autograph Show Friday Night

I'm going with a buddy to a local autograph event Friday night. Hopefully I'll be able to put some pictures on the blog this weekend or Monday.

There shouldn't be too many people at the signing. This guy signs a lot and it's at a small store.

My friend is using a helmet that he bought from HelmetHut. I think it looks great and I can't wait to see the athelete's reaction to it.

Do Cards Really Equal Investments?

The Beckett blog has a great post Wednesday about a guy with 101 ARod Rookie's graded BGS 9.0. Pepper - Thanks for posting the article.

But I don't get it. Maybe I'm old-school (or just old now), but I don't believe there is or should be a such thing as a "graded card investor." You can be an investor and you can be a card collector, but a graded card investor? No.

I like graded cards too (for other reasons that I've discussed on this blog), but your investments should be separate. Has anyone heard of someone retiring thanks to their graded card investments? Has anyone heard of someone buying a home or paying for college thanks to their graded card investments? Help me if I've missed this.

Please correct me where I'm wrong. It's very possible that I am incorrect and I'm just very ignorant about grading card investing - but I don't remember seeing indexes, returns, and other "investment" information in my Wall Street Journal.

How Would the Yankees Have Treated Joe Torre?

What if Joe Torre had accepted the Yankees one year managerial contract offer?

How would things have been different if Joe Torre, not Joe Girardi, was the manager of a team that is:

• Playing .500 baseball
• In fourth place in the AL East
• Trails Tampa Bay in the standings
• Four games out of first place in the division

Would Joe Torre still have a job? How would he have been treated by the NY Daily News and NY Post? I think reporters for the Daily News and Post would be making daily calls to the Steinbrenner/Cashman clan about the manager's job status.

What if Torre was the manager and Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes were struggling like this? The NY media and ESPN would be all over him and We'd hear all kinds of cries about Torre's inability to work with young pitchers.

I'm not a Yankees fan - I'm just making an observation and wondering if Joe Girardi's honeymoon in the Bronx is about to end?

Update May 14:
What do you know. . . Baby Boss Hank Steinbrenner is now ripping the Yanks. Here's a link to Wednesday's NY Post.