The Fat Man is on His Way -- Hope You Were Good!

 

 

 

 

 

"The Fresh Prince of the Honeymooners" or "Did Art Carney Invent Rap?"

From 1954

My Top Five Christmas Songs

Here's my short list of favorite Christmas songs.  Are any of these on your list?  What are your favorites-(song or performance)?

A Charlie Brown Christmas Theme

Santa Baby!

Carol of the Bells

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Jingle Bell Rock

Song for a Sunday Night -- Alfie

I was flipping channels this afternoon and came across a re-airing of The Gershwin Prize for Hal David.  I stayed for a few of the performances including Stevie Wonder doing "Alfie".

This is the original version which came out as a single before the release of the movie starring Michael Caine.  It did not appear in the movie at all.

For the US release, this version, sung by Cher was added.

What's it all about, alfie?
Is it just for the moment we live?
What's it all about when you sort it out, alfie?
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?
And if only fools are kind, alfie,
Then I guess it's wise to be cruel.
And if life belongs only to the strong, alfie,
What will you lend on an old golden rule?
As sure as I believe there's a heaven above, alfie,
I know there's something much more,
Something even non-believers can believe in.
I believe in love, alfie.
Without true love we just exist, alfie.
Until you find the love you've missed you're nothing, alfie.
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you'll find love any day, alfie, alfie.

Here's a later video featuring Burt Bacharach performing with Cilla Black:

Song for a Sunday Night

I don't know about you but the combination of holiday stress and especially this prolonged arctic cold snap is making me crave junk food.  It brings to mind this novelty song from 1976.   Written and performed by Larry Groce it actually made it to #9 on Billboard's Top 100.

This was the B-side of the 45:

eBay Bargains -- Names

Maybe because my name is as plain as it gets that I love collecting cards of guys with more colorful ones.
All of these were $.16 or less with free shipping.

Card of the Day

Here's another  recent eBay bargain pickup -- 6 cents shipped.

 Lots to love about this 1991 Upper Deck offering.  First off there's Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk.  Second former Sox 3rd baseman and current field manager Rockin Robin Ventura.  Third, they're wearing what I assume are 1919 throwback uniforms.  Lastly, they're standing in the unifinished Cellular Field.  Wouldn't you like to know exactly what Pudge is saying as he gestures with his bat?

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

How Do You Know You Don't Have It If You've Never Seen It

Regular readers will know that I fully admit to being only a semi-organized collector.  That goes for my collection as a whole and also for my main player collection, Cubs legend and Hall of Famer Ron Santo.  I'm lucky if from time to time I have his cards all in the same box (which I don't now).  I do not have any kind of database or checklist.  I do have a good idea of what I have but as the title of this post indicates I don't really know all the cards I'm missing.

This is a card I've had for a long time, in fact I have a couple.

If you have a player collection you're probably like me in that you check eBay on a regular basis looking for either new cards or cards you don't have.  I look at least every few days.  A couple of weeks ago I saw the card below with this title, RON SANTO 2005 DONRUSS SIGNATURE #6/25 GOLD CENTURY SP" I would have skipped right over it if I hadn't noticed the end part.  I know I've never seen this one before.  Now if the starting bid had been say ten bucks I might have put it in a watch list but that would have been it.  Instead, the seller started it off at $1.00.  I can sure play in that ballpark!  I've already forgotten if I just put in the minimum or maybe a few bucks.  No matter.  Believe it or not this one slipped by everyone but me and I came away with it as the only bidder.

I

I do like autographed cards but in this case between the small design change at the top and without the intrusive sticker (which covers up Santo's #10) I think it's a much nicer looking card.  Add that it's serial numbered to just 25 and I think I'd take it over the auto version.  So the moral of this story is, keep a sharp eye out when you're hunting for cards.  You never know what might come up.