Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - February 14, 2013

Roses, Valentines and Fantasies were all part of the Sully Baseball Daily Podcast today.

Specifically Pete Rose, Ellis Valentine and Fantasy Island.

 Listen to the podcast and it will make sense.

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - February 14, 2013


 

Be my (Ellis) Valentine

On this Valentine's Day, let's honor a REAL Valentine... namely former Expos star outfielder Ellis Valentine.

The star out of Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles, he went to Montreal to form a remarkably talented outfield with Warren Cromartie and future Hall of Famer Andre Dawson. Valentine became an All Star with 20 home run power, double digit stolen bases and a rifle for an arm that helped him win a Gold Glove.

He was a Kellogg's 3D Super Star, and his having a 3D card meant I voted for him on my very first All Star ballot.

He was hit in the face by a pitch in 1980, resulting in that bad ass face guard seen on his 1981 Topps card above.

Sadly that was when his career began to take its down turn. In 1981 he was dealt to the Mets. But soon more injuries and drug issues derailed him. He played his last big league game in 1985 and was broke not long after that.

But Valentine put his pride on the shelf and built himself back up, kicked the drug habit and now counsels young players in Southern California about how to avoid his pitfalls.

He founded the A.V. Light Foundation in Lancaster, California to counsel families and is involved with B.A.D., an anti drug organization for baseball players.

Valentine's days as a baseball superstar may have been limited but his life is worth celebrating as he has become a positive figure in many people's lives. And as Jackie Robinson said, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."

But let's not forget... he was a hell of a player.
Take a look at his throwing arm. Look, but don't try to run on him!

First taste of voting

As I get ready to vote today, I remember the first ballot I ever cast.

It was 1979... that's right I first voted when I was 7 years old.

I was in Yankee Stadium with my Aunt Mary and my brother and we were watching the New York Yankees play the California Angels.

Mary showed me the All Star Ballot and explained to me that we have the ability to pick which players are going to the All Star Game.

The responsibility was not lost on me.
Nor was the power.

My favorite player at the time was Butch Hobson, and you bet I voted for him.

I knew it was an uphill swim for him.
George Brett and Graig Nettles were both in the league.

But I felt my vote needed to be heard.

This was 1979 remember so we didn't see many National League games in the suburbs of Boston then.
The National League I voted basically from the clips I saw on This Week In Baseball and whichever National Leaguer were featured on those 3D baseball cards I used to get in Frosted Flakes.
Davey Lopes, Dave Parker, Pete Rose, Willie Stargell... I remember voting for Ellis Valentine.

You're welcome Mr. Valentine.


But in the American League, I was a pure partisan Red Sox fan.

Yaz? You bet.
Fisk, Burleson, Rice, Lynn?
And of course Hobson.

But when it came to second base, I sat there...
A 7 year old Red Sox fan sitting in Yankee Stadium...

I was going to vote for Jerry Remy.
But I felt Willie Randolph was better.

I turned to my Aunt Mary and decided to be honest.

"I'm voting for Randolph."

And I did.


I'll be voting in an hour or so.
Who I am voting for and which measures I am supporting are my business.

But when I do vote, I'll vote for the candidate that I want, whether I think they'll win or not, like with Butch Hobson.
I'll vote for a candidate, even they are not for my party, if I think they are the best qualified, like with Willie Randolph.

And if I just don't know ANYTHING about the candidate, I'll vote based on endorsement, like when Tony the Tiger endorsed Ellis Valentine by putting him on that 3D card.