Ever wonder if you could sell your baseball cards like the stockbrokers do on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The Topps Card Company has come up with a way to do it online through “ETOPPS.” Warren Friss, Topps VP of Internet business will explain how it works on Right Off The Bat Tuesday beginning at 2:50 PM Pacific, heard right here on LOTGP.com, the A’s website, or 610 AM KFRC, in Northern California. [Read more →]

The San Francisco Giants will celebrate
Latin American Player Reunion at Pacific
Bell Park, Sunday June 23, 2002.

By Amaury Pi-González [Read more →]

It’s Sunday and it’s also Father’s Day, another weekly chapter comes to a close in the marathon season.

Flashback.

Father’s Day 1964, in New York, fans watched Philadelphia righthander Jim Bunning pitch one of the more dramatic games in baseball history, when he threw a no hit perfect game against the New York Mets in Shea Stadium.

I’ve interviewed Bunning, his catcher Gus Triandos, and second baseman Tony Taylor about the game and what they share in their memories about the game is how cool Bunning was that day as the drama unfolded.

In 1964, the Mets were managed by Casey Stengel, at that time a team still racking up 100 losses seasons as easily as Stengel had won AL pennants just a few years earlier with the crosstown Yankees.

Bunning was one of the top pitchers in the NL, on his way to a Hall of Fame career mainly with the Tigers and Phillies.

What a magic game for the Phils that day. Phillie manager Gene Mauch thought 1964 would be their year after the perfect game made every one sit up and take notice of the his team.

But, alas after seemingly having the pennant in hand, the Phil’s blew a 6 1/2 game lead with 12 to play and lost the flag on the last day to the Cardinals.

But on Father’s Day Jim Bunning put the spotlight on his club and made the nation aware of the Phillies, with a game I’ll never forget.

I think about the game every Father’s Day.

So, any potential gems out there today?

Click “Read More” and find out.

[Read more →]

One of the funniest and most astute writers in the Bay Area, Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle, joins Marty on Right Off The Bat Sunday at 11:50 AM Pacific hear the show right here on LOTGP.com, the A’s website, or KFRC 610 AM in Northern California. [Read more →]

by Charlie Danrick

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Have you stopped to consider what would happen in the event of another strike? Would fans be as forgiving as they were after the ’94 one and I have news for you…..too many never forgave and I ought to know because for 20 years I was an entrepreneur in the BUSINESS of baseball and sales receipts were much better pre-’94 than post. And here’s some scary info I took off the NY Post today, 6/14/02 but first….

Click “Read More” to continue reading. [Read more →]

Nigth after night, game after game, Barry Bonds comes up with the tying runs in scoring position or with a chance to hurt the other team in a myriad of ways.

What do you do if you are the opposing manager?

Walk him, let him hit and pray he doesn’t hit one out, hope he hits the ball at somebody who isn’t sitting in the bleachers?

Here’s what I think. [Read more →]

Is there a rivalry between the A’s and the Giants?

You better believe there is.

It starts with the fact that the Giants came to the Bay Area first in 1958 staking claim to Northern California.

The Athletics have been trying to catch up ever since Charlie Finley brought the A’s west from Kansas City ten years later.

The rivalry between the two teams is alive and well and can be seen in many ways.

Click ”Read More” and I’ll tell you about the rivalry. [Read more →]

The schedule shifts to the NL parks this Friday.

Now the games take on a different look as the AL pitchers have to grab a bat.

There is no DH, plus if the pitchers knock somebody down, they may be ducking a few inside fastballs when they come up to bat.

Watch out Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez, the hitters you knocked down over the years will be exhorting their pitchers to give you some well deserved payback.

Who has the edge in the weekend games?

Click “Read More” and we’ll see.

[Read more →]

The Athletics aim for their seventh straight win Wednesday against US Gold Medal winner Ben Sheets and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Mark Mulder, a 21 game winner last season starts for the A’s against the Brewers.

The lefty is a different pitcher this year.

Arm tightness has changed Mulder into what I now call “The New Mulder.”

Click “Read More” and I’ll tell you what I mean. [Read more →]

National League All Star Ben Sheets, one of the top young pitchers in baseball joins Marty on Right Off The Bat Wednesday at 11:20 AM Pacific. Sheets talks about his 2000 Olympic experience and more. Tune in right here on LOTGP.com, the A’s web site, or 610 AM KFRC in Northern California. [Read more →]