Continuing the theme in a year of auctions by former Cardinals greats Bob Gibson and Curt Flood, Hall of Famer Lou Brock is next in line. The legendary “baseburglar” is offering a number of his personal baseball-related items for sale this month.
Legendary Auctions, the same house that sold almost a half-million dollars worth of Gibson’s memorabilia this summer, is currently featuring a Brock collection of 78 items. Online and phone bidding begins today, Monday, November 9.
Included are at least three items directly a part of his then-record-setting 893rd stolen base in 1974 – his game jersey, the actual bag from the stolen base and the ball from that play. Brock’s 1967 championship ring, gloves, jerseys, bats, other game-used equipment items and commemorative balls are up for sale, including the one from his last hit as a major leaguer.
A really unique item is the “20” pennant that flew above the old Busch Stadium to recognize Brock’s retired number. A wide variety of different award plaques, cups and trophies are among the heirlooms to be auctioned as well as a number of oil paintings of Brock, including ones by Leroy Neiman and Flood.
Alas, not a single Brockabrella is being offered…
Off topic. Anybody who knows something about the Elias rankings, why is Carp ranked where he is?
I wonder when teams will get smart and stop giving things like the bases and jersey´s away – could be significant revenue!
is there some durability factor in the starting pitching rankings? All I can think of.
Though the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggested that the “framework” of a contract offer to the 29-year-old Holliday, estimated to be $96 million for six years, has been put forth, Boras said on Sunday that the Cardinals have made no proposals.
Boras is anxious to have the Cards set the market. They won’t, or haven’t put anything on paper. The attempts at starting rumors of activity usually wouldn’t be denied or exposed by an agent. There is bad blood here as I have said.
There wouldn’t be much of a framework anyway. With Albert looming, they have about as much money now as they’re going to. Why back load? Also, Boras doesn’t like differed.
Boras starts rumors all the time and has never hesitated to comment on offers not made.
I agree it makes no sense to backload Holiday.
bb, where did you see the full Elias list? All I have so far is the free agent subset, which obviously does not include Carp.
The rankings cover two years of performance, which is probably why Carp is not at the top.
brian, not only is he not at the top, he is near the bottom of the B´s – below guys like Looper.
I only saw the projected list but it looks like the guy has updated it with changes to reflect the actual. (the guy at the Tigers site who provides it to majorleaguetraderumors.com. )
OK, thanks. I know about the projections guy, but I am not going to write based on that. I’ll wait until I get the real thing.
As an aside, a former GM I saw down in Arizona says he believes there will be a push to adjust the free agent comp process (today driven by the Elias rankings) in the future. Would have to be in the next CBA.
There are a lot of Type A free agent relievers this year who will get destroyed because of it.
Boras starts rumors all the time and has never hesitated to comment on offers not made.??????
Maybe he does………who refutes them? He never hesitated to comment or negate rumors not made by him? He starts rumors to create activity according to you………. why quell rumors of activity then?
There is bad blood here. He is trying to pressure the Cardinals to make a formal offer, probably to expose them to Holiday as insincere. There is no framework……… Holiday will want an opt out option…….as will Pujols if he decides to talk……..bank on that. To no one in particular.
Boras does not need the Cards to make any offer at all. Holliiday has plenty of marketibility.
For their part, the Cards are not going to make an offer, if Holliday is not going to give it serious consideration.
Jumbo? You would like to be understood it seems. I understand you perfectly I think. The Cardinals organization represent a phantom father figure whose esteem and dignity your trying to protect. What is the point of your statement in reality?
Holiday wants to play here. He wants some of the Pujols money is all. Some of us don’t really think Albert is going to be here for the long run. For PR purposes, the Cardinals have created an expectation that they will make an offer. They have been jerking around with Boras since the Rockies series. He hasn’t said a word. His statement of denial about no offers from the Cardinals is for Matt Holiday, so he doesn’t bother to call in………………..thats all. He knows where their headed.
For the record……….. Holiday isn’t really a fit here………with Albert………as has been shown. To be honest, I’d rather watch the kids play…………………… envision this……. Franklin closing against the Yankees. We are light years from being serious. Phillies might go Hamel for Lohse. That would be a huge help believe me.
Holliday thoughts. 1. He may not want to be a second banana for the rest of his career. He may want to be the ‘franchise’ player. 2. On the other hand, he will never be the greatest ever, so his potential greatest legacy would be to be linked to the potential greatest ever, which would be the case if he and Albert are here long term. 3. If the Cards buck up market rate dollars to sign him, Carp and Wainy will eventually feel like suckers. 4. Two big alpha male star egos may be more than TLR can handle.
West Coast………I think the cards knew from the jump that Holliday would not be coming back to St. Louis. They are just saying the things they know cards fans want to hear in the media about trying to resign Matt. Mo took a shot for a World Series championship by acquiring Holliday and it didn’t work out. But Mo won over the fans who wanted to see the cards do something to help a struggling team make it to the playoffs.
RC, welcome and thanks for posting.
Blingboy – “Holliday thoughts. 1. He may not want to be a second banana for the rest of his career. He may want to be the ‘franchise’ player. 2. On the other hand, he will never be the greatest ever, so his potential greatest legacy would be to be linked to the potential greatest ever, which would be the case if he and Albert are here long term. 3. If the Cards buck up market rate dollars to sign him, Carp and Wainy will eventually feel like suckers. 4. Two big alpha male star egos may be more than TLR can handle.”
1. Bling, I think from observing from afar this year that the cards team may be a tough sell for elite players. There will never be equal treatment for all players while Albert and TLR are part of the cardinals IMO and I really don’t think those great players will ever be happy with that arrangement. It would be much easier to be a great player in Boston, LA, New York, where there are more players like you and one guy does not run the show. Second banana in ST. Louis is a long way from the top you see.
2. Much better chance to win a championship with the Yankees than any other team.
3. The cards would never pay Holliday 20 mil a year, somebody else will.
4. Therein lies the problem………As long as Albert and TLR are in St. Louis there Albert will be the Alpha male, anyone else will just be one of the pack. Albert runs this show and being one of, if not the greatest players to ever play the game, may give him the right to do so.
Good to hear from you RC. I said that all along. Called him a “Bright White Convertible” if I recall. It wasn’t Mo that spotted that money sitting in Boston RC. Thats BD. RC, if you still have any influence, look at Matsui, look at Utley’s bat position. That college swing has to evolve into an on base attack. Hr’s are inevitable. Doubles and singles are desirable. Stealing bases are essentials. Sure, he will be doing some push ups at first, but he will also be taking longer to polish his Lamborghini in a few years. I would probably let the bikini’s polish mine.
RC makes a good point that Matt or other elites may want to blend in among fellow greats. My thought had been he might rather be king somewhere else than be the Prince Harry of the Cards for the duration. Either could be the case depending on his personality. Bottom line is the same though. Albert, and the Albert/Tony thing rules the roost here.
Of all the ‘no Holliday’ plan B’s iIve seen so far, keeping Glaus as the cleanup is looking better al the time. Freese might get rooked, but would be a good part time/ bat off the bench.
Hopefully, the plan is not to make smoke until February and then squeegee up a bargain from the bottom of the barrel.
I don´t see Holliday being King anywhere due to his personality. Would he really be embraced in Boston? Anaheim? Certainly not NY. Even if he is king there this year it will only last until the next big FA hits the market. If Holliday is smart he´ll look at how Scotty Pippen got into the hall of fame and named one of the 50 greatest NBA players of all time. If he does that, he could end up in STL after all.
You guys are funny. Pujols never recovered after Holiday arrived. He was not the Alpha male as his play reflected. I think Matt is more of a team player, looking to play with accomplished, clear minded professionals. Albert’s vulnerability is in his religious superstition, and they’re active interaction with his self esteem mechanisms. As has been shown, these structures are fraught with danger when extended too high.
Teams will hold back till January on the Holiday courtship. The Cardinals are going to use the gimmick of being a suitor themselves to justify their lack of activity until the end………………Mo has already said as much in recent articles.
Great to have the CNB resident shaman’s psychological elevator music playing in the background.
Regarding expensive free agentss signing with St Louis. Sometimes it happens, if we pay the piper and a man finds St Louis a good professional homebase (eg., McGwire, Edmonds, Rolen, Morris).
However, lets be realistic. This does not happen all the time. McGwire grew up with TLR as his manager and was happy to get back together and take less than top dollar. Holliday is going to get $5MM more per year from another team. Mark will need to choose to take less, to stay in St Louis, as did McGwire.
Mo is in a tough spot and I will be interested to see how things unfold this winter. Mo is pretty clear-minded about realities.
The Cubs have been bought by a billionaire, supposedly. Its bad news for the Cubs to move from corporate owners, who could care less, to some rich fan who does not mind wasting money on his hobby. The Cubs could shell out 150% of the salary of the Cards. If so, this kind of big financial advantage is going to be tough to overcome very often. We need to start looking for stud amateurs in Brazil or Africa or China, somewhere lightly scouted.
Thanks Jumbo. I enjoy playing. Going up?
We know that the Oakland As traded for Holliday as a rental. Beane knew he was not going to retain Matt.
Did the Cardinals believe they could retain Holliday after they traded for him or was he strictly a 2 month rental? They traded 3 players to get Rolen from the Phils, but were able to sign him to a long term deal. Scott was from southern Indiana, he was fed up with playing for an East Coast team, so he was amenable to not going into free agency. Matt Holliday is from Oklahoma and pals with McGwire and Schumaker. Maybe the Cards thought he might take a below market deal, despite Boras.
But the problem is Holliday is about the best FA position player on the market this winter. He will command a huge deal. The Union will want him to go to the highest bidder. So did the Cards understand this, when they made the trade? Probably yes.
They probably know they do not have the huge finances to win every year. So they needed to take a gamble and use up a lot of chips for a run at the playoffs in 2009. It was bad luck it ended in 3 games.
Don’t let the borasbluster get to you Jumbo. At this point its just more of that elevator music. The Bay offer is real, 4/60. That’s where the top of the market is right now.
The Cards have a big advantage in not carrying a lot of non-productive salary obligations. Add up Albert, Matt, Carp, Wainy, Lohse, Molina, Franklin, Miller. We can afford that. Colby, Brendan and Skip are the cheapest strong up the middle in MLB. Freese, Craig and Garcia, all cheap. That leaves a 4 or 5 starter and some tweaking the pen (bargain basement DD reclamation projects) and some bench guys. That would be a team with some holes but the biggest hole would be plugged.
Don’t make the mistake of seeing the Strauss expose as something that Boras wanted to do. They are holding it up, portraying Boris as the boogie man. He knows the Cards aren’t in this thing. He is just influencing and protecting Holiday from any back door attacks by the Cards. The “stirring the pot” attitude, by agitating Cardinal fans is more than just born of bad blood. It is carrying on a dialog through the press with his client. To be honest, this isn’t the best way to do business, which also suggests a few kinks his personal relationship with Matt. He wouldn’t be taking this posture, which is bad for his image, for no reason.
Brian, does the 50$ average price per fan quoted, does that include concessions and tee shirts?
Boras knows the feeding frenzy isn’t happening so he’s slinging chum over the transom. Trotting out all the language of the deal platitudes, exhibiting the ritual chest thumping and brightly colored tail feathers. Thats all it takes to send Westy scurrying into the brush. Boras knows the market for long term big money is crap. He knows his client doesn’t like the American League and it isn’t awed by his client. He knows the Mets are not a player. He knows his client will never be a Cub. He knows his client thinks STL would be great. Mo knows all that too. Stand up and dust yourself off old chap, this could be Mo’s finest hour.
The $50 is just the beer money, and a foot long brat.
BB……… I have known Holiday wasn’t coming back for ever. He is way over priced at this point anyway. I could care less. If the Cards make an offer and stand by it, that shows character. Boras is suggesting that there is none in this org. It is well know my opinions on that topic.
My calculations say that the Holiday maneuver, with the Boston(Lugo) loan netted BD 30million in liquid cash. This doesn’t not take into account the liquidation of ” Fab Eggs”.
WC, you’d have to ask Boras what he counts in the $50 per fan.
My guess is that he is referring to the Fan Cost Index, which for a family of four is $214 for a game at Busch. It does include elements the Cardinals may not receive directly. Details here.
WC, who’s going to take Lugo off our hands to pay off that loan?
All signs predict a more hostile market this year than last. You won’t see the Cardinals pointing to it, but if you watch Boston papers or MLB transactions you will see the transaction concluded at some point soon. I’m guessing 1.5 to 2.0 million to Boston. They didn’t make the trade for Duncan. Lugo will be a Cardinal through the year it appears, unless he can be involved in a trade of some sort in which the Cards eat 70% of his contract. He will remain a Tony tool to balance Shu, rest Ryan, and spell at 3rd.
The Cardinal payroll moneys are an extension of BD’s piggy bank. The books will always be kept with those considerations. I am really impressed with his business savvy. I would speculate that Lugo’s 9 million isn’t such a worry in light of the profits taken. His salary is now part of the “Dry Powder fund” that I’m sure BD will find a way to forgive ………….himself.
The Red flag today is the Reds announcing a large Payroll reduction. They were at 77. Going down 10 mill. Looks like more pitching flooding the market Joel.
You know that Mo suggested an offer for Holiday would come well after their exclusive period.
For public relations purposes. They have to be sure it is offered and withdrawn before he has a chance to fall back on it. It could be everyone is going to stress Boras through the Holiday negotiations. Its going to be tough on Matt I think.
Yes, I’m saying they don’t really want Holiday! They never intended he stay. This is all history now…………… the future with Pujols is where the unknowns are.
The MLBTradeRumors site has this tweet from the USAToday guy:
“#mlb #redsox The Red Sox met with agent Scott Boras about Matt Holliday, giving them insurance in case Bay departs28 minutes ago from web
BNightengale
Bob Nightengale”
I didn’t think that was allowed during the exclusive period.
They just can’t talk money. I thought the Sox were so down on Scottie…ha ha……….. If the Yankees added Holiday, the RSox could start another long cycle. Here goes Boras playing that rivalry again.
You might say that Red Sox can be very forgiving when their ass is in a bind. If Scottie wasn’t into sports, he would be running a “three card Monty” game on the street in NY.
Boras dredged up the theory that Matt’s lack of success in the American League was due to McGwire’s hitting camp the previous winter. He must be having some trouble, otherwise why remind everyone of the underwhelming performance.
There are a lot of interpretations floating around here.
Matt Holliday is a highly attractive free agent. He should receive top of the market offers this winter. The Cards will not make a top of the market offer and have already publicly and unnecessarily admitted this, just in case no one else knew. If Matt signs with the Cards, it will be at the end of the 2 week exclusive period, and his decision, because there is more money to be found elsewhere, so Boras cannot recommend this to him. After open bidding begins, and money becomes the main factor, some richer guy will outbid DeWitt. Mo has already disclosed there are fallback options in the event of Matt’s departure. Thats about where things now stand.
Video of Albert talking about christmas. Interesting outfit.
http://videos.stltoday.com/p/video?id=7250490