Grandpa Is Him
A general microcast about everything and nothing in everyday life. True short stories, family fun, some true crime, anything that I find interesting. In short, it is about everyday life, as lived by every day people, presented a fun and entertaining way.
Grandpa Is Him
Baseball by the Numbers: Exploring the Art of Stats, Coaches, and Mud
Baseball isn't just about what happens on the field – it's a complex world of statistics, coaching strategy, and quirky traditions that make America's pastime endlessly fascinating. We explore the hidden aspects of the game that fans rarely see but that shape everything from scoring to memorabilia.
• Box scores have evolved from simple newspaper summaries to complex analytical tools incorporating advanced metrics like exit velocity and launch angle
• First base coaches use precise methodologies including hand signals, timing pitchers, and making split-second decisions about whether runners should advance
• Stolen bases significantly impact scoring opportunities when executed at a 75% success rate or higher, as demonstrated by Ohtani's remarkable 93.7% success rate in 2024
• Every MLB baseball gets rubbed with special "magic mud" from a secret location in New Jersey to provide pitchers with better grip
• MLB's authentication team has tagged over 10.5 million items with tamper-proof holograms since 2001, preserving everything from dirt to jersey patches
• The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown houses over 40,000 artifacts in temperature-controlled vaults, most donated by players who know their items are safer there
Welcome back to Grandpa. Is Him a fun podcast. Since the podcast started I've been trying a lot of different things to try and help us find what feels best for us. Among those things I've done is I've done individual interviews. I've interviewed here in my studio. Among those things I've done is I've done individual interviews I've interviewed here in my studio. I've done remote group interviews and captured some of the essence of the group experience. I've done remote interviews with a telephone. I've included my grandkids, I've included adults, and so I finally got to the point now where I'm going to be doing an episode where we have a guest host who will be helping to contribute to the show. My co-host tonight is John Stapp.
Lynn Dimick:John and I have been friends now for I think, 49 years. John and I first met I think it was late 1975, maybe early 1976. John, because of his great math mind, was tutoring a member of my family who was struggling a little bit in math, and so he would come over in the morning before school. They would do the tutoring session and then we would walk to school together. Well, since John and I were in the same grade, we had a lot in common, so we would talk about all things music related and about different people and things like that, like you normally do.
Lynn Dimick:One thing that I've always really admired about John is he's got this great mind for math. He's one of the few people that I know that have achieved a perfect score on the college entrance exams in math. Come to think of it, he's the only one I know he loves math and because of his love for math he understands that baseball can be defined and identified and analyzed by individual statistics. It's one of the few sports that really can break things down individually. John is a Giants fan, I am a Dodgers fan. We have never argued. He's always been gracious.
John Stapp:Yeah, I've known Lynn forever and we're the best of friends.
Lynn Dimick:And among other shared interests interests we love baseball- it also didn't hurt that John was a little bit older and had his driver's license and his parents had a four-door Chevy Caprice that he could haul us all around in and we got to use that car all weekend long and it was a blast. In fact, it was in the backseat of that car, coming home from a dance one night, that I first kissed my wife. Let's get started. Ever since I was a young boy wait, I can't say that, those are the lyrics to Pinball Wizard, which, come to think of it, would have made an amazing walk-up song if I'd ever made it past t-ball. But seriously, ever since I was a young child, I've loved baseball. One of my earliest memories in playing baseball was getting cracked on the head with a bat and waking up thinking, yep, this is the sport for me.
John Stapp:Nothing like mild head trauma to lock in a lifetime passion. Classic origin story, I think it's a Y chromosome thing.
Lynn Dimick:But here's the thing I didn't just love playing baseball, I loved understanding baseball. And baseball, my friend, is a sport of numbers Pure, glorious, slightly confusing numbers.
John Stapp:Sports and math. You're saying baseball is basically sports. Math Doesn't get any better than that.
Lynn Dimick:Correct, but with spitting and sunflower seeds, sports math, and while most of it makes sense, some of it really doesn't. Take this as an example In 2002, the Angels won the World Series. Yay, anaheim, or Angels of LA, or whoever you are. But here's the weird part the Angels scored 41 runs in their games and the Giants scored 44 runs, and yet the Angels won the series. Explain that.
John Stapp:Hmm, I don't know, Did they bribe the scorekeeper? Slip him a free churro or something?
Lynn Dimick:Sorry this time there's no churros conspiracy, but it gets weirder. In last season's World Series the Dodgers won four games to one over the Yankees, but the total runs was Dodgers 25 and Yankees 24. Over the five-game series there was one run difference total.
John Stapp:Okay, so winning baseball games isn't about scoring more runs. My brain hurts Mine too.
Lynn Dimick:But raw scores don't tell the whole story, and that's where our friend the box score comes in.
John Stapp:Ah yes, the nerdy cousin of the scoreboard.
Lynn Dimick:That's a pretty good way to describe it. Today we're diving into the history of baseball box scores, which is a small grid of numbers that's been telling baseball story for over a century. So grab your peanuts and your Cracker Jackjack and let's go back in time. All right, picture it the mid-1800s Baseball was less about stats and more about vibes. The crowd cheered, players ran around and scorekeeping was well. We can best describe it as casual.
John Stapp:So like, yeah, I, carl, scored a run, or maybe two, but who's counting?
Lynn Dimick:pass me a root beer to be honest, it's not really that different than little league games today, where they pretend to not keep score but the parents do anyway. The earliest form of baseball records were just handwritten notes, mostly tracking runs and a few other basics. There were no standardized stats, no fancy abbreviations and certainly no OPS Plus.
John Stapp:OPS Plus. I have no idea what that is, but it sounds like a cheat code.
Lynn Dimick:I like that. It's definitely a cheat code, but let's jump up to the late 1800s, when baseball was growing, newspapers were growing and someone had the bright idea hey, let's summarize these games in print. Baseball or journalism's finest hour, the best thing newspapers have ever done. John, I completely agree with you. The earliest box score was well pretty basic. Final score New York 7, boston 5. Maybe a couple of player names, that's it. But then drum roll please. On May 7, 1887, the New York Times dropped what we now consider the first modern box score.
John Stapp:A grid of lines, numbers, columns.
Lynn Dimick:It was a thing of beauty Runs, hits, errors, all laid out neatly and honestly. It was a game changer. Fans could finally see what happened in a game, even if they weren't there.
John Stapp:Like early baseball FOMO prevention.
Lynn Dimick:Precisely Now. Let's fast forward to the early 1900s. Box scores were evolving. We started seeing stats like batting averages, earned run averages or ERA for the cool kids and pitching stats.
John Stapp:So fans could argue not just about who won, but about why they won. I think that's the whole point of modern baseball, exactly.
Lynn Dimick:Newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and the Boston Globe started printing these box scores daily, and fans ate it up. You'd grab your paper, check the scores and boom, you were up to date.
John Stapp:Ah, the original ESPN app.
Lynn Dimick:I like that. Now we hit the mid-20th century, baseball's golden era. Tv had arrived, but most games weren't broadcast, so box scores were still essential.
John Stapp:But they had a problem. Oh no, was there a stat shortage?
Lynn Dimick:Not quite, but you're on the right track. There were simply too many meaningless stats. Era, for example, is fine, but it doesn't really tell you how a game played out by the 1970s fans and analysts wanted more. Enter Sabermatics. Da-da-da-da, the nerds are coming and they brought graphs, spreadsheets and a suspicious amount of enthusiasm for acronym Stats like on-base percentage, obp, slugging percentage, slg and, eventually, war wins above replacement started showing up everywhere. These new stats gave fans and teams better tools to understand player performance.
John Stapp:So the box score went from a basic arithmetic tool to like advanced calculus and now we live in the data age.
Lynn Dimick:Box scores are instant, live updating and packed with stats like exit velocity, launch angle and spin rate, which no longer applies to just news stories.
John Stapp:Baseballs are like test subjects in a physics lab.
Lynn Dimick:Interesting that you say physics, because physics goes a long ways towards explaining a lot about baseball. But we're not talking about physics, we're talking about stats. But through all the evolution, one thing stayed true the box score remains the game's shorthand.
John Stapp:The summary story and numbers and yet it still can't explain how the Angels won, with fewer runs, I guess some mysteries are just meant to remain unsolved.
Lynn Dimick:And speaking of unsolved mysteries, let's jump into another one. One is near and dear to my heart. First, base coaching. You know the unsung heroes of baseball that just seem to take up space on the diamond.
John Stapp:Heroes. I'd call them traffic cops in cleats. Stop go, maybe turn left. Sometimes they'd even wave their arms in the air like they just don't care. It sure seems like.
Lynn Dimick:no one is really quite sure what it is that they're trying to do out there, but there's actually a lot more to it than just arm swinging. First base coaches have a checklist in their head at all times, and today we're going to break down a few of the rules so even middle schoolers can follow along.
John Stapp:Hopefully not just middle schoolers, but finally, maybe I'll know what's going on. All right, where do we start?
Lynn Dimick:Rule number one don't argue with the umpire. If you disagree with the call, just zip it. That's the head coach's job. You know, I really don't like calling that one a rule, because there are times when the first base coach has to argue on behalf of the player until the manager can get out there to do his job half of the player until the manager can get out there to do his job. Okay, so no yelling no dramatic glove throws and definitely no kicking dirt on the umpire's shoes. Keep it classy.
John Stapp:Your focus is on the runner, not the argument. Okay, got it All right, what's next?
Lynn Dimick:Rule two know the left fielder's arm strength. If a ball gets hit towards third base, you're the guide, but if it's hit anywhere to the right or to the shortstop, the runner is on their own.
John Stapp:So if the ball is on the left side, I'm like Siri giving driving directions. If it's on the right side, good luck baby.
Lynn Dimick:You got it. Next, pick a good spot in the coach's box. Stand deep enough so the runner can see you as they approach first base. Closer to the line means better visibility.
John Stapp:So I stand where they can see me, but not so close that I'm in danger of being roadkill. You got it.
Lynn Dimick:Now be sure to use clear hand signals. There are three main ones. The first is no signal which tells the runner to run straight through the base ones. The first is no signal which tells the runner to run straight through the base. The second one is arms up in the air, meaning round the base and find the ball, and finally, arms waving in a circle, go for second base.
John Stapp:Okay, and these signals should happen about 45 feet down the baseline right.
Lynn Dimick:Yeah, about there Any later and the runner's going to have a hard time picking up the signal in time to react.
John Stapp:All right. What about taking risks? Are we talking Mission Impossible level risk here?
Lynn Dimick:Probably not quite to the level of Tom Cruise. Next rule be smart about risks. Know when to push for second and when to play it safe. Also, know your team. Some runners are cheetahs, others are tortoises.
John Stapp:So know, your cheetahs and tortoises Got it Next and this one seems counterintuitive.
Lynn Dimick:Don't help on overthrows or miscatches at first base. If the ball gets by the first baseman, let the runner react on their own.
John Stapp:So no shouting, go, go, go if the ball's bouncing around into the dugout. Okay, I got it. So once they're passed, first do I start offering life advice, or what Well, actually you probably shouldn't overcoach at first.
Lynn Dimick:Base Runners should know the inning, the outs, the scores and all of that. Only remind them if they're completely zoned out. I remember coaching first base one time and I was talking to the runner trying to remind him of all those things and he couldn't hear me very well with his helmet on, so he stepped off the base to ask me what I was saying just as the ball came over and he was picked off.
John Stapp:So basically, if they're staring at the butterflies in the outfield, and then I can step in.
Lynn Dimick:Yeah, and sometimes that happens Also know your team's signs. You should know them better than anyone. So if the runner's confused, you can clarify.
John Stapp:And no screaming get back if there's a pickoff attempt, right, yes, and this one surprised me Don't yell, get back on pickoffs.
Lynn Dimick:That's the runner's responsibility. Unless the first baseman is playing far back, then you can help.
John Stapp:And I'm supposed to yell back, back, back, if things get.
Lynn Dimick:Dicey, you got it also watch out for the hidden ball trick. If the first baseman is getting sneaky, make sure your runners don't fall for it ah, the classic hidden ball trick yeah, you know the one performed nightly by dads with quarters behind ears and first baseman with too much free time it's like a magician's act, but with grass tangs.
John Stapp:And while you're at it, share pitcher and catcher habits.
Lynn Dimick:If you notice a predictable pickoff move or the catcher being sneaky, let your runner know.
John Stapp:So spy on the pitcher and catcher Got it.
Lynn Dimick:And if the pitcher keeps throwing low and the ball's bouncing, remind the runner that there might be a chance to steal second base. Dirt ball, equal green lights. Check and lastly, pay attention on walks or pass balls. If the batter walks or the ball gets by the catcher, wave them on to second. If it's a good gamble, if they're going to give you a free base, take it.
John Stapp:So sometimes it's green light, sometimes it's red light.
Lynn Dimick:That's it. Oh, and if there's a play at the plate on another runner, tell your batter runner there's a wonderful term, batter runner to make the throw go through to home plate. That way they don't get tagged out at second base.
John Stapp:So basically I'm part traffic cop, part secret agent and part cheerleader.
Lynn Dimick:Well, that's one way to put it. Actually, that's pretty accurate. And there you have it. First, base coaching 101. And now we're going to tell you how they are much more than just traffic cop and secret agents. Now let's move on and talk about one of the most exciting parts of baseball stolen bases. In 2024, shohei Otana gave us a masterclass in base stealing.
John Stapp:Oh yeah, the guy swiped like 59 bases, 59 bases, and this wasn't just for show. It generally changed the way the Dodgers played the game. So why is this number important?
Lynn Dimick:Why are stolen bases as important? Well, as a general rule, a successful stolen base increases the chance of scoring a run by about 25%. Now it would be easy to say Otani added about 15 runs to the Dodgers total in 2024, but, John, you and I both know baseball is never quite that simple.
John Stapp:Nope, every stolen base is like shaking a snow globe it changes everything. First, the base runner is suddenly 90 feet closer to scoring. Second, you take away the double play, which can change how the defense sets up. And third, the first baseman doesn't have to stay glued to the bag anymore, so he can cover more ground on balls hit to the right side.
Lynn Dimick:Exactly. And here's the thing A stolen base attempt is considered a good play only if the runner is successful at least 75% of the time. That's why your ton of success rate 93.7%. Oh, I love those numbers. 93.7% was oh so valuable.
John Stapp:That's about how many stolen bases I get when I play video games. That's pretty good. How do the Dodgers set them up for that kind of success?
Lynn Dimick:I am so glad you asked, enter the stopwatch, every first base coach's secret weapon. The next time you go to a game, keep an eye on the first base coach and when a runner is on base particularly if it's a runner who might try to steal a base you should see the coach reach into his pocket and pull out at least one stopwatch. If not, more.
John Stapp:Ah, the humble stopwatch. It's like the Swiss army knife of base running strategy.
Lynn Dimick:So here's how it works. An elite runner can get from first to second base in about 3.0 seconds, can get from first to second base in about 3.0 seconds. If they hit 3.1 seconds, that's still considered above average. Now, during those three seconds, the pitcher has to deliver the ball, the catcher has to receive it and the infielder has to make a tag. There's no margin for error, zero. The coaches are timing the pitches to measure how long it takes for the pitcher to deliver a pitch from the stretch to the catcher's glove. The magic number 1.3 seconds. If a pitcher is slower, let's say 1.4 seconds. That's basically a green light for the runner. But if the pitcher speeds up to 1.2 seconds, it's like a flashing neon sign do not run.
John Stapp:That's so wild. So baseball is not just a game of inches, like they say, it's a game of milliseconds.
Lynn Dimick:And some pitchers are basically fortresses. Take Mark Hamburger man. Just saying that makes me hungry. What a great name from the American Association. His delivery time was a ridiculous 1.1 seconds, basically a slide step for every pitch Over 257 innings. No one even attempted to steal a base against him Not one.
John Stapp:That's unreal. It's like everyone collectively said yeah, it's not worth it. That's the power of the stopwatch.
Lynn Dimick:Now, catchers also play a huge role and they sometimes get blamed for some of the pitcher's mistakes. Their pop time the time it takes to catch the ball and throw it to second is another stopwatch metric. The greats like Yadier Molina clocked in at 1.8 seconds in their prime. But here's the thing Pop times are harder to measure in live games because there are fewer steal attempts.
John Stapp:Let's not forget those dirt balls Len.
Lynn Dimick:Dirt balls. I hope you mean the pitches. Anyway, when a pitcher throws low and the ball bounces, the catcher has to drop to his knees to block it. Even if he successfully stops the ball, it takes longer to pop up from his knees than from a regular squat.
John Stapp:So it's not just speed, it's timing scouting and knowing when the odds are stacked in your favor.
Lynn Dimick:then Speaking of odds, let's bring up Paul O'Neill and Bernie Williams Back in 2001,. Bernie Williams was faster, younger and a gold glove center fielder. He stole 15 bases. Meanwhile, 38-year-old Paul O'Neill stole 22 bases.
John Stapp:Wait, the older guy stole more bases. Did he have a jetpack or?
Lynn Dimick:something, not exactly a jetpack, just smart. O'neill was an intelligent player who probably spotted pitchers with slower deliveries and capitalized on them. That's the beauty of base running it's not always about raw speed. And remember that Otani is also a pitcher and has a sound understanding of the mechanics and nuances of pitching.
John Stapp:So what we've learned today is that stolen bases are about way more than just quick feet. It's about strategy, timing and, yes, the trusty stopwatch.
Lynn Dimick:Well said, John. And with Otani stealing 59 bases at a 93.7% success rate, you can bet that stopwatch worked.
John Stapp:So next time you see a first base coach with a stopwatch, just know they're not timing their lunch break. They're unlocking the secrets of the game. Hey everybody, welcome back. Let me ask you have you ever heard of magic mud? Sounds like something out of the baseball fairy tale, right?
Lynn Dimick:Magic mud. You're telling me that baseball has an official mud. I've heard just about everything now?
John Stapp:Yeah, believe it or not, it's true. This special mud is rubbed on every major league baseball before a game to help pitchers grip the ball. And here's the kicker it all comes from one secret spot in New Jersey, Wait every ball on MLB gets some mud rubbed down Makes my skincare routine look basic.
Lynn Dimick:Who figured?
John Stapp:this out Well. It started in 1930 with a coach named Lena Blackburn. He realized the fresh baseballs were too slick. Players tried everything tobacco, juice, dirt, shoe polish but nothing worked. Then Blackburn found a perfect mud near his hometown. It was smooth, not too sticky and took the shine off without damaging the ball.
Lynn Dimick:And they still use the same mud today.
John Stapp:Yep. The business has stayed in the family run by Jim Blintliff. He collects filters and ages the mud before sending it to every MLB team, and the exact location of this mud it's still a closely guarded secret.
Lynn Dimick:That's wild, but has MLB ever tried to replace it?
John Stapp:Actually they have. They worked with Rawlings to develop a factory-made baseball with built-in grip. But pitchers are picky. Some say the new balls are too tacky, others say they're too slick.
Lynn Dimick:So for now, the magic mud is it, hey some traditions, especially with baseball, just can't be replaced and let's be honest, official MLB mud harvester has to be one of the strangest, coolest jobs in sports. It's got to be right up there with bat boy, bullpen catcher and whatever position it is that holds that stupid rally monkey.
John Stapp:Absolutely Wish that was my job. And a fun fact MLB uses about 240,000 baseballs per season. That's a lot of mud.
Lynn Dimick:That's more balls than a dog park on a Saturday. So next time you watch a game, just remember, before every pitch there's a little bit of Jersey dirt, making it all possible.
John Stapp:Today we learned that baseball is part speed, part coaching and part mud from the swamps of Jersey.
Lynn Dimick:John, I know you've got at least one more story to share with us, so why don't you go ahead and tell us about it?
John Stapp:Just to show that baseball is fun for the players and for the fans, I want to share this story that Richie Aspern used to tell. The story revolves around the annex of the Spanish-speaking shortstop for the Mets, elio Chacon, and his penchant for frequent near collisions with outfielders. This was especially true with Ashburn on short fly balls to center field. Ashburn realized that Chacon did not understand the English warning and I have it. So he went to a bilingual Mets player who told him that Chacon would understand the warning in Spanish. Yo la tengo. That it meant the fly ball was the center fielder's to catch. Soon enough, a short fly ball was hit and the backpedaling Chacon veered off following Ashburn's admonition in Spanish. What was unexpected was that onrushing English-only left fielder Frank Thomas completely flattened Ashburn. After pulling his center fielder off the ground, thomas asked him what's a yellow tango?
Lynn Dimick:John, thank you for joining me on Grandpa's Hymn. I do want to have you back because I know that there's a lot of rock and roll stories that you and I like to share and I'd like to go over them with you, and we'll have you back again soon. Going back to those days before John and I first met, I can remember collecting sports cards, baseball cards and football cards, and I remember one time as a 11-year-old I had all of the 263 cards needed for a full football set collection that year, except one, johnny Robinson, safety of the Kansas City Chiefs. Well, hal Norris down the street had that card and I had to have it. So he and I worked out a trade and I ended up trading him 42 cards for one to get that complete set. Now I collected baseball cards and I had a few that were full sets, but it was never quite the same. We used to do things like set out the cards to show how they would be positioned on the field. For the football ones, we would use them to draw up plays. They were a lot of fun. They didn't have a particular value beyond what we cared about.
Lynn Dimick:But things have all changed and that's what I want to talk to you about now the weird, wonderful and slightly confusing world of authenticated memorabilia. You might think it's just about jerseys and balls, but let me tell you there is a secret society under the ballparks of America. They come with holograms, detective skills and a deep love of dirt. No, not mole people. I'm talking about Major League Baseball's authentication team. Now picture this dodgers phenom. Roki susaki is standing tall on the mound in tokyo. It's his mlb debut. The crowd is electric and on his left sleeve a little patch that says hey world, it's my first game. He throws his pitches, walks off the field and, boom, that patch patch is gone. No, it wasn't stolen. It was harvested like an ancient relic by MLB's authentication team. That patch is destined for a one-of-one Topps Chrome rookie debut patch autograph card, because nothing says baseball history like removing patches and international airspace for a trading card that's shinier than a Vegas slot machine.
Lynn Dimick:Mlb authenticators aren't just your average memorabilia nerds. These folks are former cops, literally the kind of people who can smell a fake jersey, like your grandma can smell a lie. They've authenticated over 10.5 million items since 2001. That's more than the number of hot dogs sold at Fenway. Well, maybe, probably. And it all started with a problem. Padres legend Tony Gwynn spotted fake signatures being sold in his own stadium. That's like finding out that your wedding ring was from a cereal box. Gwynn called it out, the FBI got involved and MLB said yep, we need a team for this. Out that your wedding ring was from a cereal box? Quinn called it out, the FBI got involved and MLB said yep, we need a team for this. Thus began baseball's version of the Secret Service.
Lynn Dimick:Spring training isn't just for rookies anymore. It's for authenticators too. Every March, these folks hit the fields like accountants with sunburns. More than 100,000 items get the hologram treatment that's balls bases. If it's not nailed down, they're logging it. They've even updated their system because of the pitch clock. Well, that sounds silly. Turns out, though, that when pitchers throw faster, authenticators can't write fast enough, so now they've got tech to help. Think of it like voice to text for baseball.
Lynn Dimick:Yankee Stadium, world Series, game 4. It's basically baseball's version of the Oscars, minus the slapping Under the dugout. Posner, mlb's authentication chief, is surrounded by rakes bases and what I assume is an emergency stash of Cracker Jacks. He rattles off items like he's listing groceries Base, from Freeman's walk-off ball, from Yamamoto's strikeout lineup card pitching rubber. It's like a, a treasure hunt, but with excellent velocity stats. And those bases, swapped mid-game and tagged with tamper-proof holograms, so secure, they make the pentagon blush. Yes, mlb authenticates dirt, that's not a metaphor. They bottle it, sticker it and sell it like it came from the moon. You too can own a chunk of Yankee Stadium, because apparently that's romantic. Now They've even embedded confetti and corn stalks in the cards Somewhere. A farmer in Iowa is very confused. I think we probably all are. Players know the game now. Guys like Miguel Carrera would hand off his bat before the ball even landed, especially if it meant career milestone number 478.
Lynn Dimick:Authenticators sit in the dugouts like baseball bouncers sit in the dugouts like baseball bouncers. They tag gear mid-game, keep stats and build one heck of a digital scrapbook. Now let's talk about the Hall of Fame's secret vault. Cooperstown has everything from cleats to corks, mookie's gloves, freeman's spikes, kershaw's champagne drench cap all stored in humidity-controlled vaults below Main Street. Even Ichiro's donating his entire personal collection. That's like Michelangelo donating his paintbrushes and snacks. The art of relic cards Trading cards aren't just cardboard anymore, they're archaeology Tops puts in green monster chunks, stadium seats and even pieces of the World Series base, and they sell out faster than Taylor Swift tickets, and probably for just as much.
Lynn Dimick:And fans, they love owning the moment, even if the moment is a sliver of second base. Now, who gets what Ownership of gear is a sliver of second base? Now, who gets what Ownership of gear is a negotiation? Jerseys belong to the club, gloves belong to the player, the dirt belongs to well, basically anybody fast enough. When history happens, everyone Hall of Fame Tops teams, everyone wants a piece. Sometimes somebody's going home without a souvenir. That's the price of greatness. Just the other day I saw online that somebody had gotten a tuft of grass from the masters which had been hit and it flew into the crowd. He took that tuft, put it into a potato chip bag, took it home and now he's growing it on his windowsill.
Lynn Dimick:Okay, the Hall of Fame houses 40,000 artifacts, 3 million documents and 14,000 hours of video, and it's not even MLB owned. Most donations come from players who know their stuff is safer there than in their garage. Plus, it won't end up on eBay next to a signed Barry Bonds toaster. So next time you see a hologram sticker on a baller jersey remember someone was hiding behind a dugout tagging that thing with the precision of a Switch watchmaker. Thanks for hanging out with me. Folks. John, thank you for being here Until next time. This is Lynn Dimmick saying if you find a bottle of dirt under your kid's bed, maybe you don't want to ask too many questions.
