The Golden Sombrero presents Rookie Card Corner: Manny Ramirez 1992 Bowman

Fun Fact: Manny was named New York City Public Schools High School Player of the Year in 1991 after hitting .615 with 14 homers in 22 games.

As a senior on the Deerfield High School baseball team in 2004, I had the opportunity to watch Jason Kipnis first-hand as my shortstop counterpart for rival Glenbrook North High School in the northern suburbs of Chicago.  Amongst my teammates, he quickly earned the reputation as one of the most impressive hitters in the conference, and with good reason.  Kipnis ultimately garnered All-State honors – we were actually the two All-Conference shortstops in the Central Suburban North – and went on to have a tremendous high school career.

Although I graduated from high school a year before him, the strong impression that Kipnis left fueled my interest to track his career.  After all, it’s not everyday that a player who directly intertwined with your own career reaches the Major Leagues.

Continue Reading ‘Former rival Jason Kipnis continues to produce’ >>

This week the Cleveland Indians signed former first round draft picks Austin Kearns and Travis Buck to one-year contracts. Kearns, who posted a .746 OPS in 461 plate appearances for the Tribe and New York Yankees in 2010, signed to a tune of $1.3 million and figures to be the team’s fourth outfielder in 2011 behind Shin-Soo Choo, Grady Sizemore, and Michael Brantley.  A former first round pick of the Reds in 1998, Kearns, now 30, has never panned out to be the well-rounded hitter that was supposed to complement Adam Dunn in the Cincinnati lineup. In fact, he’s been the exact opposite.

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The Golden Sombrero presents MLB Look-alikes: Travis Hafner and Vin Diesel

Be sure to check out all of our MLB Look-alikes

• The Mourning Journal is reporting that the baseball world lost yet another legend on late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning, as Bob Feller has passed away at the age of 92.  Earlier in the day it was reported that Feller had been moved into hospice care in Cleveland, and now comes the potentially heartbreaking news of the Hall of Famer’s death several hours later. *I am still seeking further confirmation on this story, check back for updates* [Mourning Journal]

• I’m sure that Atlanta Braves’ fans had a good laugh yesterday after learning that the Kansas City Royals had signed both Jeff Francoeur and Melky Cabrera.  If the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox made a splash in the free agent market, then one would have to assume that the Royals are floating face down. [MLB Trade Rumors]

• The always bat-shit-crazy Luke Scott took the time to give David Brown another candid interview on Wednesday at the Winter Meetings.  It turns out that the gun-toting, buck hunter is also a “birther.” I know, shocker. [Big League Stew]

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