Results tagged ‘ Brandon Phillips ’
Midseason Report: Looking Back, Looking Forward, Looking at the ‘Now’
Red Letter Daze Updates on Twitter! Follow along at twitter.com/MisterRedlegs Well, it’s not exactly what I had in mind. It’s not exactly what I spent all night/morning working on. It’s not exactly what you expected, either, I’m sure. Yeah, me neither. Through most of last week I began compiling all sorts of information and statistics to throw at you for this Midseason Redlegs Report. In the end I tossed most of it in the trash. That’s because after their (predicted?) 2-5 roadtrip through Philly and New York, the Reds’ season is officially on the brink and, no, I’m not giving one @#$&*! dime to John Feinstein. We can look at the NL Central standings and see the Reds are 42-45 but only five games behind the Cardinals. Yay! We can also look at the NL Central standings and see the Reds are in fifth place and closer to the cellar, only 4.5 games ahead of the Pirates. Boo! This “Stuck in the Middle With You” groundswell, as Stealers Wheel sang back in the early ’70s, leaves us decidedly split on what direction the Reds should take in the second half: buy players for a playoff run, or sell off parts to build for 2010? The interesting thing about this position is there seems to be hope–hope for immediate improvement after eight straight losing seasons and hope for sustained success in the near future. Personally, I never believed this roster was playoff material, or even .500 material, coming out of spring training. But many of you are believers, owning that hope (and prayer) that five games can be overcome. It’s not impossible. I want to believe you for believing. I really do. Deep down so do lots of skeptical, cynical Reds fans. That’s where you are asked to answer: “What should Uncle Walt and the Reds do for the second half?” Buy parts that help for a run now, or sell off assets to build toward next year and beyond? Or, maybe a little of both. Even though the Reds backslid into the All-Star Game break and did so in pretty ugly fashion, the position of the team is perhaps its best in 10 years. We see the young pitching developing and the farm system sprouting, and only the farsighted can scream for “winning now,” regardless of the cost. In the past couple of weeks, more of the fan base has come around to the notion this roster needs more than one or two established new players to make a playoff run. We’re not talking World Series run or NLCS run. We’re talking about just getting past “Go” and collecting the $200. So as the first half closed and second half beckons, we’ll take a look at some of the things looking back, forward and in the now. NEWS! NEWS! NEWS! Bruce Out 6-8 Weeks: The good news of the day is Reds RF Jay Bruce will not require surgery on his broken right wrist suffered Saturday night in New York. He will be out 6-8 weeks, which raises a couple of interesting points: 1.) Can the Reds place him on the 60-day DL so they don’t have to make a 40-man roster removal if they intend to call up Drew Stubbs or Chris Heisey from Class AAA Louisville? With healing, physical therapy and baseball rehab, eight weeks seems about right, especially since the minors season will be concluded by the 60-day activation date of Sept. 12; 2.) What to do about right field now? Call up one of the youngsters or make a deal? Uncle Walt was already looking for an outfield bat–like, since last winter–but now there is a sense of roster urgency; 3.) Or is there a sense of urgency? SS Alex Gonzalez is due back from the DL in two weeks and Jerry Hairston could then become the extra outfielder, perhaps the starter in left field. It appears Chris Dickerson will take Bruce’s place in right field–at least, for now; 4.) Is the Reds’ season officially over without Bruce? He was hitting just .207/.283/.471 but he has 18 taters with 41 RBI and he was at least a “threat” to do something with the bat. I mean, if they were offensively challenged without Bruce, what are they now? Offensively ravaged? 5.) We know for a fact Uncle Walt was eyeballing 3b Scott Rolen of the Blue Jays. With Bruce’s injury, how does the front office’s plan down the stretch to the trading deadline change their thinking and approach? First Half Biggest Surprise: Contrary to the Reds’ blogosophere, there have been several positives in the first half. For one, if someone told us on Opening Day the Reds were only five games out at the All-Star break, would we have been happy? Oh hell yes. So why aren’t we happy? Glancing over some notes I have taken along the way, it’s actually a terrific debate (and toss-up) on what is the team’s biggest surprise of the first half. I would make the argument for the effectiveness of reliever Nick Massett, acquired in the Junior Griffey deal with the White Sox last summer and a player many Reds fans wanted released in spring training. Who would have guessed he would supplant Jared Burton, if not made him available for trade? Massett’s line: 4-0, 2.29 ERA, 19 hits allowed, 30 strikeouts in 35 innings. But there are compelling arguments elsewhere. Like, Ryan Hanigan’s performance behind the plate as a 28-year-old rookie. Who expected him to bat .338/.428 and throw out 44 percent of would-be base stealers? What about Coco Cordero earning his $12 million salary by saving 21 of 22 games without all the nail-biting drama of last year? He has posted a 1.75 ERA in 36 appearances and going to the All-Star Game. His performance at the back has shortened the game by an inning. And let’s not forget reliever Arthur Lee Rhodes, older than dirt, carrying a terrific 1.055 WHIP with opponents hitting just .178 against him. Uncle Walt was heavily chastised for this two-year signing, which has not only worked out great for the Reds but also makes Rhodes an attractive trade possibility. You can even make a case for the biggest surprise being the effective 1-2 punch of non-roster invitees Laynce Nix and Jonny Gomes in left field. Yeah, it’s not ideal and certainly a vulnerable position, especially with Gomes’ defense and Nix’s inability to hit lefties or anything that isn’t straight. But together they have combined for .266-13-39 with 141 total bases. Not great, not awful, but certainly a surprise. First Half Biggest Disappointment: You can point a finger at all sorts of things when you have a losing record at the break. But what’s the biggest problem with this team? Lack of execution, fundamental play, inexperience, talent . . . what? An argument can be made for manager Dusty Baker’s lineup choices and construction. We all know he’s a “player’s manager” and that’s certainly a huge benefit, especially when you are strategy-challenged like Baker. The most ludicrous thing I’ve seen on any Reds blog this year was on Redleg Nation, where someone punched some numbers and determined (with serious conviction) that Baker’s lineups had cost the Reds 11.5 games. In half a season. A 23-game turnaround. Now you know that’s stupid, right? But Baker’s insistence on playing on-base allergic Willy Taveras at leadoff and center field each night has played a role in this team’s offensive problems. How much? Hard to quantify because you cannot guarantee results of hypothetical replacements because game situations, the opposing pitcher or his approach, and defensive alignments switch from batter to batter. So while Baker has done a remarkable job with a t We have to be fair; Baker had been throwing together patchwork lineups since spring training, when he warned about the small margin of error with the Reds’ thin roster depth. He was right. 1b Joey Votto, SS Alex Gonzalez, 3b Edwin Encarnacion and last year’s best pitcher, Voltron, have missed huge chunks of the first half. In fact, the Reds have lost 223 games to injuries. Look at that figure again. Two hundred and twenty-three. Heading into the second half with Bruce sidelined and Voltron’s return unknown, that number is going to skyrocket. That leads us to the front office, where Uncle Walt has done zero to fill holes and keep the roster full and fresh in times of need. They played shorthanded for ridiculous spells from late May to mid-June because they didn’t want to put someone on the DL or make a roster move that would force a move on the 40-man roster. Worse, when the team was gasping for air and needing positive energy from the front office, nothing happened. Silence. The lack of any move, like the failed attempt at acquiring Mark DeRosa from the Indians, crippled the team’s resolve and hurt the Reds with the fan base. So to me, the biggest disappointment of the first half was the do-nothing approach of Jocketty. Stats That Tell a Meaningful Story: A look at random first-half numbers. . . . * Runs are next-to-last in the NL and 26th in MLB in runs scored at 4.09 per game; * The Reds trail only the Giants in MLB with an OPS of 84, or 32 points lower than No. 1 Yankees; * The pitching staff ranks No. 13 in MLB and No. 7 in the NL with an ERA of 4.26, just ahead of the average of 4.32. The problem? Walks. Reds have given up 335, ranking No. 3 in the NL and No. 26 in MLB; * Reds have allowed 35 percent of inherited runners to score, ranking No. 4 in the NL and No. 20 in MLB. Surprising. The Second Half Storylines: Most everyone knows I’m a “storyline” kind of fan, and as the second half unfolds on Thursday, what will make us follow them if they officially fall out of contention? Finding the storyline is harder than it appears: * Buy or sell? * Either way, how do the replacements fit into the future plans? * Can the Reds have their first winning season since 2000? * Will this team get healthy and what happens if/when it does? * Getting Voltron healthy, Harang consistent and Arroyo traded; * The progression of Homer Bailey; * The progression of the young guys, especially if some of the top minors prospects are promoted; * Can Joey Votto win the batting title? * Will this team play better fundamental ball against a more challenging second-half schedule? * Is Baker sitting on a hot seat? In Other Things Redlegs Related, or Not . . . * Team MVP to this point, Brandon Phillips, Coco Cordero or Joey Votto? * In the first inning, opponents have outscored the Reds 72-44. Would have guessed the margin to be even wider; * The Reds were in New York this past weekend and MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann, a sensational baseball historian even if doesn’t know it’s Heisey, not Halsey, gave the Reds a lot of words on his baseball blog. You will probably enjoy his rip job of Dusty Baker, too. Read down, Olbermann has several Reds items from the weekend. btw: I wonder what Olbermann thinks of Ken Burns deciding to update his PBS documentary “Baseball” from 1994? At the time of the airing, Oldermann found so many factual errors, misrepresentations and misidentified photos in the series that he held a nightly count of the miscues. Plus, according to Burns’s documentary, the entire modern era of baseball revolves around Red Sox vs. Yankees. Geez, who woulda guessed? * Is the fastball still an effective pitch? Bleacher Report takes a look. And FWIW, I wrote this story almost 25 years ago. * And did you see this story in the Cincinnati Enquirer last week? Marge Schott’s mansion, Ambleside, is for sale. A cool $3.95 mil. Be sure to check out the photo slideshow tour. Seriously, if I had the cake I’d buy it. May not be able to afford heat or air-conditioning, but I’d buy it and hold croquet tournaments on the lawn and barbecue festivals on the grounds. Maybe even a Civil War reenactment, or perhaps a reenactment of the 1990 World Series. Yeah, quick: someone dial up Glenn Braggs, Billy Bates and Ron Robinson, the true creature. What a nice daydream. –30–
eam suffering from so many injuries, how much of the blame does he deserve for the team’s record?
If the Reds Are Buyers, What’s the Cost? . . . And Other Off-Day Musings
The Reds’ front office is apparently alive and well, thank you. Undoubtedly you are comforted by news that no one has died, or still napping after lunchtime. Turns out Uncle Walt’s offer for badly needed Indians 3b/LF Mark DeRosa was runnerup to the Cardinals’ package of RHR Chris Perez and a player to be named from a group of three. According to several reports, the Reds offered RHR Josh Roenicke and another player, believed to be a close-to-ready prospect. DeRosa is a free agent at the end of this season who will be in line for a bigger money contract than his expiring three-year, $13 million deal. The Reds really, really needed DeRosa if they are serious about contending this year–all six teams in the NL Central are separated by just five games–and he was the perfect fit for the middle of their order between Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce. But now that Uncle Walt has shown the Reds are buyers–at least, for the right piece–what is the cost of that purchase? How much of their stockpiling farm system should they surrender for a one-year run or half-season rental? There are a lot of Reds fans who are greedy, if not giddy, about winning now . . . today . . . fo sure, no matter the cost. Slugging outfielder Matt Holliday of the A’s is a commonly mentioned name, but he is a pending free agent with $4.5 million due in salary this year and a Scott Boras client who is in line for perhaps the biggest offseason contract of any player. Is he worth the cost of three players from the Reds for 2-3 months? We’ve seen other names tossed around such as OF Josh Willingham of the Nationals, OF Gary Matthews Jr. of the Angels and now, Boston SS Julio Lugo–all likely a bunch of media guesswork and rumormongering without consideration to the way Jocketty traditionally works. Basically, he doesn’t trade prospects for hacks and most of all, he doesn’t overpay. The one player rumored who seems to hold some legitimacy: 3b/OF Ty Wigginton of the Orioles. The Reds appear to be more than one hitter from being legitimate contenders over the course of the season and now we are seeing injuries, ineffectiveness and/or tired arm syndrome . . . in another word, cracks . . . in their starting pitching. Yes, the Reds are a really good week from being in first place and the division appears wide open and winnable. But how long does that window exist, and where do the Reds stand when that window closes? How many wins will it take to win the NL Central and how many extra victories can an acquired player help the Reds produce above their current pace or talent? Are the Reds better off spending cash and minor league inventory for those players or making better use of their current talent, e.g., platooning Chris Dickerson and Willy Taveras; giving Jonny Gomes at-bats in place of Bruce against certain lefties and more time against select righties, etc.? Most of all, the Reds are on such a fringe of being just a .500 team, how long do you wait to decide–buy or sell for this race? If the Reds are buyers, and they appear to be, what’s the cost they should be willing to pay? The Value of Engagement: We all realize the Reds need to make a player move or two if they want to be in the race for the duration of the season. But as they clambered through June, going 10-14 and batting an atrocious .230/.303/.352–numbers padded by routs of the Indians near the end month–we have also seen why it’s historically frustrating being a follower of this team. When does the Reds’ front office ever give fans something to follow other than the hope and prayer of victories that usually do not come? Compared to the Wayne Krivsky regime, GM Walt Jocketty’s administration is an open book. He talks cordially with the media and oftentimes in frank and honest conversation. But the value of engagement with this particularly fickle and cynical fan base goes much, much deeper. It’s about action over words, substance over guarded online chats with assistant GM Bob Miller. The Reds do so little to genuinely engage their fans (bobbleheads and retro jerseys don’t count) that the long periods of front office inactivity like we saw in June is aggravating, boring and completely unnecessary. There has been no off-the-field fuel, no electric momentum and no reason for the monotonous static. This stuff ain’t hard, really. It’s all about congealing marketing savvy, public relations smarts and common business sense, especially for a team and fan base that is so obviously starving for positive developments and improvement. As mom used to yell at us as kids: “Pay attention!“ Front offices don’t like to react to every whim of the fans and media, and that’s understandable. But in June, when the Reds played way too many games shorthanded and the offense was pressing and missing its best player, Joey Votto, it didn’t take much perception to see the entire operation (team, organization and fan base) needing a blow of fresh air. That’s when you make a move–albeit a small one, perhaps–that sends the best message to all parties: we’re not sitting on our azzes; we’re trying. Phillips Kills Former team, Again: On his 28th birthday Sunday, Reds 2b Brandon Phillips (above) had 3 hits, 3 runs, 3 RBI, a stolen base and a heckuva snag on a ball to his left. BP career against the Indians: .341 with 4 homers, 18 RBI, and 18 runs in 88 at-bats. Phillips’s on-base plus slugging percentage in running his yap about the way he was treated by the Indians: 1.065. Check out this column about BP’s neverending grudge by Rob Oller of the Columbus Dispatch. You may love Phillips’s talent and potential, but his attitudinal crap is very old now, and that’s why he’ll never be a leader. Never. Teammates and opponents admire talent but respect comes from how the player carries himself. As many have pointed out on Reds boards in recent days, Phillips’ act has the stink of Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson and, ya know, that stuff never works out for the player. Never. Whenever we see Phillips perform his on-field “look at me” garbage and then flick his thin skin over rightful criticism of things like, oh, running through a stop sign at third base, swinging at a 3-0 pitch with key runners on base, or half-azzing it on a batted ball, I am reminded of hinting comments CTR made the past few years about Phillips’ selfishness, jealousies and, perhaps, phoniness. If Phillips doesn’t like the criticism, then don’t do stupid stuff. Pretty simple. Eat Spinach, Hit Homers: When Jonny Gomes blasted his third homer in a week on Sunday–an opposite-field cannon shot by which the stadium got in the way–I was thinking the Reds finally got some home-run power to help this ailing offense. But poster Mike at Redleg Nation produced some fairly lengthy research about the ’09 Reds and their place in team history for offensive woefulness and, well, the 2009 results were fairly surprising. The Reds have 72 homers, which ranks right of the middle of the NL and just a pinch off the league average of 75. As we all knew, the Reds’ problem is getting people on base, where they rank No. 13 in the NL at .321 and 23rd in MLB. Eeeck. They’re also 11th in the NL in runs scored at 317 . . . and yet the Braves, Astros and Cubs–teams with seemingly more pop–have fewer homers AND fewer runs. Go figure. Then, I went to one of my favorite sites, Hittrackeronline.com, to look at the Reds’ power production on a daily basis. Sure enough, the Reds have not gone more than two games without a homer and get a long ball every 34.8 at-bats, just one hitter off the league average of 35.7. And their 2.5 percent of hits being a home run is league average. But perceptions and realities come together in a very clear, form-fitting stat: The Reds hit 39 homers and scored 144 runs in 28 May games. In June, they have just 17 homers and 90 runs in 25 games. Gomes has hit four of the Reds’ last 11 taters. Riverfront76 at Red Reporter does an insightful report every 18 games. It’s great reading. In the 18-game period ending Friday night, the Reds were 7-11 with a team batting average of .220, OBP of .295 and slugging percentage of .332. They had 11 homers in this period against the softest schedule of any NL team. An enormous opportunity has been lost. Summertime Baseball Reading: It’s that time of year when new baseball books are hitting the shelves just in time for summer vacations. For the most part, it’s a rather uninspiring long list with the best coming in the fall, including Joe Posnanski’s “The Machine,” about the Big Red Machine; Mark Frost’s “Game Six,” detailing the famous 1975 World Series game between the Reds and Red Sox; and “Sixty Feet, Six Inches,” by HOFers Reggie Jackson and Nolan Ryan, intimately detailing through their own experiences what a pitcher and batter encounter on the mound and at the plate, as written by former Cincinnati Post columnist Lonnie Wheeler. Until those exciting titles are released, you might try one of these newbies for summertime reading: * “Satchell: The Life and Times of an American Legend,” by Larry Tye–Superb! The most definitive work of one of the game’s greatest players and characters. Released only a couple of weeks ago, it is skyrocketing toward bestseller status with five-star reviews across the boards. Best baseball book of the season thus far. * “Heart of the Game: Life, Death, and Mercy in Minor League America,” by S.L. Price–Built off the article by the Sports Illustrated writer, this emotional story deals with the moment and aftermath of minor league coach Mike Coolbaugh dying from being struck in the head with a batted by ball from Tino Sanchez Jr. The guilt of Sanchez and anguish of Coolbaugh’s family makes this a rare baseball book–a timeless story. * “Intent to Kill,” by James Grippando–Breaking from his Jack Swyteck series, Grippando forms a thriller around a top minor league prospect whose wife dies in a mysterious car accident and the danger of knowing the truth. Getting solid reviews. The lost art of the baseball novella needs a revival. * “Baseball’s Hall of Fame–Or Hall of Shame,” by Robert W. Cohen–I generally shy from these types of studies, but Cohen takes a simple formula to examine all eras, taking a deeper look at “moral” exclusions of outed players Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, and some honest perceptions about the Steroids Era candidates. Not bad. * “Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain,” by Marty Appel–In the 30-year anniversary of the small plane crash that killed Yankees catcher Thurman Munson, Appel gives an update and reprise of his prior Munson bio, including more details and interviews surrounding the crash. Due out July 7. What Does This Say? The Reds promoted perhaps their best pitching prospect, RH Zach Stewart, to Class AAA Louisville over the weekend and shifted him back to the bullpen. Doug Gray at reds.minorleagues.com says the shift is to slow down Stewart’s innings jump from last year (33 plus 47 in college to 79.1 thus far in ’09) since becoming a starter. Makes plenty of sense. But where does Stewart fit–starter or closer? In a year and a half in the system, he’s jumped three levels. After being a reliever at Texas Tech and last year with the Reds at Sarasota and Dayton, he was flipped to starter this year and been lights out–4-1 with a 1.82 ERA and 63 strikeouts. He has walked only 18. Either way, Stewart, 22, is moving up the ladder very, very quickly. Here’s a terrific report on him from Redlegs Baseball. Farm Subsidies–the Perfect Stimulus! With the international signing period running July 2 to the end of August, the Reds are one again aggressive players in Latin America in what is considered a banner crop of 16-year-old talent. When they passed up seemingly better and more expensive pitching prospects by selecting Arizona State RHP Mike Peake during the recent draft, I wrote: “. . . We all know the Reds have budget issues this year and other than making Leake the safe, sure pick, scouting director Chris Buckley had a very telling comment: they plan to be very active in Latin America again this year. This is good news and smart news. Latin talent is cheaper and oftentimes better. . . . By applying a greater influence in [Latin America], the Reds can better spend resources on younger and more talented players than agent-controlled players in the U.S. It’s not a bad formula over the big picture.” Today, ESPN.com reported the Reds are in the race with the Yankees, Red Sox and Padres for 16-year-old pitcher Cristopher Cabrera from the Dominican. Cabrera is not among of the top five Latin pitching prospects, but he’s considered the equivalent of a high-round pick. With so much international talent this year teams can drop back to their second and third options and still do very, very well. Not all the Reds’ pu As for Cabrera, one scouting report says he throws in the 89-91 mph range and has a “sturdy build, strong legs, good flexibility, frame has strength, with room for continued development.” Meanwhile, the Reds are apparently scouting in Germany again this year. OF Max Kepler, 16, is a speedy outfielder with a plus-arm and left-handed bat with power. He’s already 6-4, 180 pounds. The Reds also have eyes on players from Curacao, where they plucked RHP J.C. Sulbaran a year ago. And in Case You’re Wondering. . . Your Corky Miller Reds bobblehead suddenly has a new life, according to OMGReds.com. Or is that a Corklehead? –30– 
rsuits will be kids with first-round talent, such as last year’s big signings, outfielders Yorman Rodriguez and Juan Duran. But by drafting a “signability pick” with good ceiling like Peake, considerable monies are saved to chase cheaper, younger bumper talent like Cabrera. It’s like having a 3-for-$5 coupon for ******** at the BK.
Reds Gift Guide 2008: Autographs
Fifth in a series
Since the 1870s, baseball fans have collected signatures and photos of their favorite players and teams, making autographs as much a part of the game as the Sunday matinee.
But what was long a harmless hobby is now a very large business. Sports memorabilia is a $1 billion industry in great part because the public is so willing to pay big bucks for access to their favorite players, past and present. Many older players make as much money signing autographs as they did playing the game, and for that reason there’s little shortage of signed materials in the marketplace.
That’s why this segment of “The 12 Days of a Redlegs Christmas” deals with autograph items–at least, on a peripheral scale. The obvious is taken for granted: as a Reds fan, you want or already have something signed by your favorite players. The goal here is not to be an all-inclusive price guide or catalog listing, but to point out a few items or themes that might make good holiday gifts.
In some instances the omission of a player or item is done on purpose, like team-signed baseballs, especially for the 1940, 1975-’76 and 1990 world championship teams (photo, above). Every true fan wants one of these balls; the reality is the cost and rarity means you will likely have to buy them through an auction unless you get lucky at a show or through a dealer you trust.
No item is suggested here unless there is a direct source for you to buy right away as a holiday gift. You’ll pay upwards of $40-$80 for most active players to sign a ball or photo–unless you attend RedsFest in December (see item below). But there’s also some autographed items in other parts of this series, including an upcoming installment on cards, where signed “memorabilia” cards are the current rage and often much cheaper options to signed balls, bats, photos and equipment.
Pete Rose Signed Items
The most popular and infamous player in Reds history is not only baseball’s all-time hits leader but one of its most prolific autographers. There are hundreds of Rose-signed items on the market and choosing the right one is a matter of subjective preference–a signed ball, bat, photo, cap or Dowd Report–you name it, you pay it and Pete will sign it. Here’s the proof: “Sorry I Bet on Baseball” signed ball that is, umm, certainly unique. There’s all sorts of themes by which to buy Rose-signed items–his 15 times on Sports illustrated covers is the most of any baseball player–including his 44-game hitting streak, being MVP, a batting champion, three-time World Series winner and, of course, the Hit King. How to make to simple? Nothing says “Pete!” more than a signed bat. A personal favorite remains the signed front page poster of the Cincinnati Enquirer the day after he broke Cobb with hit 4,192. Price: $134.99
“The Great Eight” Signed Photo
There’s not one Reds fan who doesn’t appreciate and respect the Big Red Machine era, so you can’t go wrong giving that special fan a 16-by-20-inch photo signed by the eight players–Bench, Rose, Concepcion, Morgan, Perez, Foster, Geronimo and Griffey–who comprised the “Great Eight” starting lineup. This popular and increasingly valuable image makes a simple statement of historical greatness by lining up the players by position. Price: $455 at Onlinesports.com; $799 at www.ceisports.com.
Also: Look for a new 16-by-20 collage poster of the Great Eight that features the players in-action and with their signatures. Gaudy-looking piece with a gaudy price tag: $699 at Ironcladauthentics.com.
Idea Dept.: As the price of collecting the Great Eight continues to rise, more fans have been seeking ways to buy them cheaper. Buying a single-signed ball of each player can be done for about $400. Finding signed cards of their 1975 and ’76 Topps issues is even cheaper.
The Living Hall of Famers
There are three terrific and (relatively) inexpensive autograph collectibles to commemorate the enshrinement of Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez and Sparky Anderson. The first is a Hall of Fame gold postcard that depicts their actual Cooperstown plaque. These cards have long been popular items for HOFers to autograph. The other great item is the Perez-Steele art postcards that can be autographed or paired with a cut signature. Either way, these are A-plus-plus gifts at a cost usually under $50 each. The plaque and Perez-Steele cards can be found on eBay and most larger shows such as RedsFest. A new item growing in popularity is the official Hall of Fame baseball. The player usually adds his HOF year to his signature. Visit Ironcladauthetics.com for a good selection of Reds-signed HOF balls. Pick up one of the balls and ask announcer Marty Brennaman to sign one, too. Signed balls and photos of the living HOFers range from $80 to $130 each at any number of web-based autograph sites.
The Dead Hall of Famers
Edd Roush, Eppa Rixey and Ernie Lombardi were extremely popular players in their day and they maintain a steady collectibility today. Their signed 3-by-5 index cards, vintage and memorabilia cards, album sheets and photos are fairly common on eBay. But you’ll notice that single-signed balls by these players are extremely tough finds: Roush, $250; Rixey, $3,500; and Lombardi, $1,400. Or, take my cue and put together a nice Perez-Steele card with a cut signature and have matted and framed, like I did here with Edd Roush. Cost: around $60.
Signed Riverfront Stadium Seat Back
One of those overpriced, contrived collectibles that drives me nuts. But there is a certain novelty to this back from a Riverfront Stadium red seat that includes a numbered faceplate and the signatures of Rose, Morgan, Bench and Perez. Needs more autographs, especially at this price: $699 at Fan’s Edge.
For the Love of Vada Pinson
There a growing revisionist interest in former Reds great Vada Pinson, whose statistics make him a borderline Hall of Famer. Pinson died of a stroke in 1995 at age 57 and over the past few seasons there’s been a curious tick in his collectibility. Problem is, there’s not a lot of signed materials and what’s out there is a bit pricey for a non-HOFer. Prices: ball, around $350; photo, $100-200 at Quality Autographs and Memorabilia.
Brandon Phillips Signed Gold Glove Ball
Want something really unique and a piece Phillips will be overjoyed to sign? Pick up a commemorative Rawlings Gold Glove baseball and have Phillips sign and put the year on the sweet spot. Gold Glove balls are not that easy to find–surely a dealer will offer them at RedsFest–and they offer a chance to get a player-signed item unlike the norm. The Gold Glovers generally like to sign these balls because they signify a great accomplishment. Price: Around $20 for the ball at Anacondasports.com.
Redlegs at FanFest
There isn’t a better time or more cost-effective way to get autographs of current and some former players than RedsFest held Dec. 12-13 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown. At $20 for a two-day pass, you can get any item signed free as long as you can bear the lines. This year’s show is perhaps the biggest for autograph seekers with a lineup that includes young stars many fans desire–Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto, Voltron and Phillips–plus old-timers George Foster, Eric Davis, Jim Maloney, Lee May and Mario Soto, and so many more, including minors stars.
Ted Kluszewski Signed Items
Despite Big Klu being a terrific signer through the mail, the emotion and devotion he evoked from Reds fans is reflected by the small number of his autographs on the market. Fans simply do not resale Big Ku items very often. It’s very difficult to locate his single-signed ball ($500) unless you visit the sports memorabilia auction houses. Instead, look for one of his many signed cards he returned to fans through the mail, which have decent value if they are graded. Price: Around $100. Check out the selection at KHW Hall of Fame Gallery.
Gateway Cachet Envelopes
If you’re looking for something different, easy to find, inexpensive and yet limited, dated full-color silk cachets from the Gateway Stamp Co. have been around since 1977 to commemorate some event in history, politics or sports. You can usually find these items, which have a U.S. Post Office postmark for the date of the event and oftentimes an autograph, for less than $50. The Reds have good representation with cachets of Bench, Morgan and Perez going into the Hall, Tom Seaver’s 3,000th strikeout, Tom Browning’s perfect game (right), Mario Soto making the 1983 All-Star team, Jim Maloney at Crosley Field, Eric Davis hitting the big Game 1 homer in the 1990 World Series, and a handful of Pete Rose issues, including one for being banned from baseball. Check eBay for the best prices.
Johnny Vander Meer Signed Photo
Arm issues and wildness limited his potential but Mr. Double No-Hitter made his name in 1938 on being the only pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters. Afterward, the Reds asked him to change his number to 00 but he flatly refused. Vander Meer was very popular on the autograph tour in the 1990s so his autographed items are plentiful and affordable. Most popular: signed photo of him pitching in the second no-hitter. Price: Around $40 for a signed photo, up to $230 for a signed ball with inscription. Try Claremontshows.com
The 5 Most Difficult Reds Autographs to Buy
1.) Bid McPhee
19th century Reds second baseman was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, sending high-end collectors swooning. They have found almost nothing, not even cancelled checks. It’s believed his wife handled most all correspondence. Price: $10,000 and up . . . for a cut signature.
2.) Pat Moran
Manager of the 1919 champions died unexpectedly from kidney disease in 1924 at age 48. He left behind little correspondence and few autograph albums (popular at the time) with his auto are known to exist. He’s high on the wish list of high-end baseball collectors. Price: Up to $9,500 for a 3×5 cut.
3.) Harry Wright
The mastermind player and manager behind professional baseball in Cincinnati and one of the game’s early visionaries died at age 61 of pneumonia. His signatures usually come from old score sheets or business letters. Price: Up to $7,500
4.) Willard Hershberger
The signature of the backup catcher who committed suicide late in the 1940 championship season is so rare and desired that his autograph on a team-signed ball or autograph page can add hundreds to the value. A simple cut signature starts at around $350.
5.) Paul Derringer
The great pitcher of the 1940 champions, Derringer was moody and temperamental, and hated signing. He often refused mail requests even 40 years after he retired. Very difficult to find on a single-signed ball. Price: around $300 for a signed photo, about $950 for a single-signed ball.
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