Dandy Daves and Davids

 My name is David.  Growing up that's all I ever remember being called.  At some point in college that changed and I started going, in greater part, by "Dave".  After that I reverted back and have always gone by the original.  The funny thing is, lots of people, particularly acquaintances and people I see in my job, automatically call me Dave. Though I find it interesting, I really don't mind.  I see it as a friendly nickname. I have no stories like that about all the guys below.  You'd have to ask them. 

Here's 3 NBA Hall of Famers.  All three were picked for both the 50th and 75th NBA Anniversary Teams.  All three were two time NBA Champs.

In 2016, Hall of Famer Dave Keon was voted the greatest Maple Leaf of all time.  He won four Stanley Cups in the 1960's.  Um, they haven't won one since.

If I'm correct there are only two baseball Hall of Famers with my given name, Dave Winfield and Dave Bancroft.  Incidentally, both of their Hall of Fame plaques list them as David.

I do have a story about Dave Winfield that relates to his name.  Click here.

This guy was sure fun to watch.  

While maybe not quite Hall worthy,  David Cone did have an outstanding career.

Sorry for the missing back.

Big Papi.  Hall of Fame?  We'll see.

You can't think about The Big Red Machine without thinking of Dave Concepcion.  You can make a Hall of Fame argument for him.  Some do.

I grew up a Cubs fan but the Orioles were on TV a lot during my childhood.  I have an affinity, particularly for the great American League teams of the era.  Dave, or Davey -- the way I think of him, comes to mind as readily as Brooks, Frank and Boog. 

Dave McNally was part of the Orioles great starting pitching staffs of the sixties and seventies.  From 1968-1973 he went 117-65 with a 2.91 ERA --and he wasn't even the ace of the team.

The Cobra was a fearsome hitter with a great arm.  Should he be in the Hall of Fame?  Talk among yourselves.

Rags had a great career, first as a starter and reliever, then as a pitching coach.

That's a lot of star power!  Who did I miss?

Thanks for reading.

2002 Topps Super Teams Relics

One focus of my return to collecting has been autographs and relics from the great World Series teams of my youth. Topps 2002 Super Teams falls nicely into this category.

#STR-RH

#STR-TM

#STR-DM

#STR-BC

#STR-SBB

Blow Out the Candles Oct 26

1971 Topps #320

Oriole great Dave Mcnally was born on this date in 1942. Dave was part of the great starting rotation for the Baltimore in the 60's and early 70's. He was 4-2 with a 2.34 ERA in 4 World Series. Lifetime, in 14 seasons he was 184-119 with a 3.24 ERA.

2006/07 Parkhurst #81

Eric Nesterenko turns 76 today. He played 16 seasons for the Blackhawks and was on their last Stanley Cup Championship in 1961.

1969-70 Topps #21

Phil Goyette also turns 76. He played 16 years in the NHL and was lucky enough to be on Stanley Cup winners with Montreal his first four. I'll have more to say about this card in a future post.


Astronaut Michael Collins turns 79 today. Mr. Collins was the command module captain on the Apollo 11 mission which landed the first men on the moon. He's one of only 24 humans who have flown to the moon and back.

Comedian Brian-Doyle Murray is celebrating his 64th birthday today. He's the older brother of Bill Murray. Of his many roles I remember him best as the bubble boy's father on Seinfeld, and the Mayor of Punxsutawney in Groundhog Day.


English poet John Keats was born in London on this date in 1795.

Check out this video. It's a little creapy but interesting.

BRIGHT STAR, WOULD I WERE STEDFAST

By John Keats

Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art--- 

Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night 

And watching, with eternal lids apart, 

Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite, 

The moving waters at their priestlike task 

Of pure ablution round earth's human shores, 

Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask 

Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--- 

No---yet still stedfast, still unchangeable, 

Pillowed upon my fair love's ripening breast, 

To feel for ever its soft fall and swell, 

Awake for ever in a sweet unrest, 

Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath, 

And so live ever---or else swoon in death. 

1819

Lastly, folk singer/songwriter, Tom Paxton turns 72 today.

Buy a Gun for Your Son

Words and Music by Tom Paxton

Hallelujah, Dads and Mommies,
Cowboys, Rebels, Yanks and Commies
Buy yourselves som real red blooded fun.
If you want to make the grade,
You've got to have a hand grenade,
And a fully automatic G.I. Gun.

[Cho:]
Buy a gun for your son right away, Sir
Shake his hand like a man and let him play, Sir.
Let his little mind expand, Place a weapon in his hand,
For the skills he learns today will someday pay, Sir.

Pound that kid into submission
'Till he's mastered Nuclear Fission
Buy him plastic warheads by the score,
Once he's got the taste of blood,
He's gonna sneak up on his buddies
Starting his own thermo-nuclear war.
[Cho.]
Buy him khakis and fatigues,
And sign him up in little leagues,
Give him calisthenics as a rule.
Once you've banished fear and dread,
Then pat his seven year-old head,
And send him off to military school.
[Cho]
Once he's grown to be a man,
He might get tired of blasting Granny,
Then you'll see a crisis coming on.
Don't get worried, don't get nervous.
Send that kid into the service,
Let him rise into the Pentagon.
[Cho]
At the Pentagon he'll rise.
The President he will advise,
His reputation growing all the while.
With his picture on the wall,
He'll get that long-awaited call,
And press the firing buttons with a smile.
[Cho]