Fantasy Baseball Bible

Signatures of popular baseball players have always had great appeal to collectors. Autographs of baseball hall of famers such as Babe Ruth, Tee Cobb, Roberto Clement and Lou Geri top the list of the most sought-after collectibles. Even autographs of other baseball players who did not make the Hall of Fame but had outstanding careers, such as Roger Mares, Thurman Munson and Tony Consigliore, are also wonderful additions to a collection.

Where to find baseball autographs

Baseball autographs can be found in almost all baseball memorabilia (such as baseballs, caps, jerseys, etc), but checks, documents and letters signed by the players themselves are high in terms of collectible value. Autographed photographs are also scarce and highly valuable.

Fakes

Authenticity is the major concern of all autograph collectors. Recognized dealers have the expertise in determining and establishing the authenticity of an item, so try to buy only from them. The internet is especially full of fake vendors, so be very cautious.

One can almost always trust the authenticity of the signatures from old autograph books, because the original collector was probably fortunate enough to get an instant autograph. There is still a risk, however – forgers can easily find an old blank autograph book and fake signatures.

It is wise to have your baseball autographs authenticated. Authentication by special audit groups (such as Arthur Anderson) can get quite pricey, so go to trusted individual authenticators who have worked as auditors for a more affordable quote. Authentication can range from $20 to $150, depending on the rarity and overall condition of the autograph.

Collecting baseball signatures as a hobby has a lot of drawbacks, but it can also be very rewarding. Be sure to do your research and buy only from trusted vendors, and keep yourself informed of the latest trends in collecting so you can grow your own collection wisely.

By: Kristy Annely

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The assumption here is that you have either found the title of this article amusing to some extent, or you are looking for information on how to become more mentally tough as an athlete. Maybe both, which would be a bonus for you. Now, a little group participation… I want you to stop reading for a minute after you read the following question. Don’t read past until you have an answer.

The Question: What did you do differently this season (compared to last) to prepare yourself for a successful experience in baseball?

If your answer is nothing, many athletes have since passed you and have consequently helped improve their chances of getting to the next level, whatever that may be for them. However, if you have added something else to your game, then the opposite is true.

In order to become a mentally strong athlete, players must develop two types of skills.

A. Physical skills: those that help you throw, run, pitch, hit, and field more effectively.

B. Mental skills: those that help you in dealing with failure, build confidence, get you in “the zone”, keep you out of slumps, etc.

The problem is that there is consistently more importance placed on physical development over mental. There are a few reasons physical skills are taught far more than mental skills.

1. Physical skills are more easily taught through the ease of information access in videos, books, and private baseball instruction.

2. The fixation on massive home runs and big power numbers fuel athletes’ desire to improve and learn the skill of hitting a baseball 400ft like the guys in the Bigs.

3. The results can often be noticed by everyone right away. Therefore, there is more of an immediate feeling of improvement with physical skill work through baseball drills, etc.

The mental side of baseball is taught far less for a multitude of reasons. Some include:

1. There are simply fewer resources available on the topic of sports psychology and mental training.

2. Many sports psychology and mental training information is written in a complex fashion making it difficult for a reader to comprehend the information.

3. Practice time is limited for many teams. Therefore, fewer coaches can afford to carve out the time to work on the mental game (assuming they know how to teach it).

So how do you begin to work on the mental game? You’re doing it now. Read, listen, and search for pieces of information on the topic. Post-game interviews from professional athletes are a good source. Countless players like Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken have devoted time to writing some of their thoughts on the subject. Buy their books or find them at a library.

Why should you develop you mental baseball skills? The answer to this question is lengthy and is a topic for another article at another time. But the simple answer is that you will be noticed by more college and professional scouts because they look for indicators of a strong mental game. And secondly, it will help to cut out slumps that linger and take away from consistent performance.

By: Nate Barnett

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All major league hitters have compact swings. They could not get to that level without one. What separates hitters at this level is their degree of bat quickness and bat speed. Bat quickness determines how quick they can get the bat to the ball once they decide to swing. This is one of the ingredients needed for being able to wait on the pitch as long as possible and for making contact. Bat speed determines the amount of power that a hitter will produce if solid contact is made when the ball is hit. Once again though, all major league hitters have compact baseball swings. This is vital in order to hit the speeds that major league players face.

You might ask, “If they all have compact swings, why do some strike out so much?” There are three reasons for that and one was mentioned, bat quickness. A compact swing does not guarantee a quick bat. Two, some players put more tilt in their upper body with their swing. When players collapse their back side creating un-level hips, they create more up-swing, leading to greater lift on the ball, but more misses too. Three, some players simply have better hand-eye coordination.

Developing a compact swing should be the goal of young baseball hitters too. This will be necessary if they wish to consistently hit as they move up the baseball ladder.

First, a definition of a compact swing is necessary. Compactness implies a short, tight area and this would define a good baseball swing. A compact baseball swing is one in which the bat barrel goes from hitting position (above hitter’s rear shoulder) directly to the ball as the hands descend into a palm-up, palm-down position approaching the strike zone. The bat barrel stays relatively close to the hitter’s head on the way to the ball, without taking a detour to the contact area. Why is this so necessary? The more compact the swings, the longer hitters can wait on the ball which is a huge advantage when making decisions on different speed pitches.

Following are the drills that will lead to a compact baseball swing, giving ballplayers the best chance of having baseball hitting success:

1. Place a pad under the hitters lead arm and take some swings without the pad falling out till the follow through. Hitters will develop strong quick hands and forearms with this drill and not a long arm swing.

2. Have hitters stand belly button away from a net and take swings with the edge of bat just grazing the net with a full, fast turn. This will force hitters to keep the hands close to body to avoid casting the bat.

3. Have hitter stand with net close behind them (toward catcher) and take swings missing net on way toward ball. This drill is best done with no stride and will not allow hitters to drop the bat barrel

4. Set a batting tee hip high and even height with hitter’s rear hip. Hitters take swings while missing the tee and hitting balls at any level, even knee high – best done with dropped ball drill or soft toss flipped balls.

5. Dropped ball drill – coach holds ball up in air and drops ball into the hitter’s strike zone after the hitter takes their stride. A compact swing is necessary to make solid, consistent contact.

6. Alternate fast and slow pitches until hitters learn to have the same quick swing on all pitches – when players make good contact on both speeds while hitting balls in the direction of where the pitch is located is the goal.

Finally, hitters can perform a few of these drills in combination with the other drills to challenge them further. For example, combining the glove under lead arm (# 1) and the dropped ball drill (#5) with the tee hip high(#4) at the same time can be done.

By: Jack Perconte

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There is nothing that says summer like baseball. The summer time sport of the ages, baseball is a game people flock to during the months of June, July, and August. Sitting in the sun, eating a hot dog, drinking a beer, and watching the boys of summer is a great way to spend an afternoon.

But it isn’t just summer and baseball that go together; through innings of the past, baseball and song have always gone together as well. Not only does nearly every American know the words to “Take me out to the Ballgame,” but all sorts of other music have been as much a part of the game as a box of cracker jacks. Over the years, several songs have been written directly about baseball or using baseball as a metaphor for life. The following is our list of the best baseball songs, those that belong at the top of the order.

The Boys are Back in Town: This song may not have been written about baseball, or even be about baseball, but hearing that the boys are back in town, makes so many of us think they are back with their gloves and bat. A single from the band Thin Lizzy, this song dates all the way back to 1976. Serving in more than one sports role, “The Boys Are Back in Town” is often played after football matches in the Republic of Ireland. A song that nearly everyone seems to know, it made the list of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Centerfield: This 1985 hit was among the most popular songs John Fogerty released after leaving Creedence Clearwater Revival. “Centerfield” is a song purely about a man who really wants his coach to put him in, for he is ready to play. A song that pays homage to baseball greats of yore – Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio – as well as Chuck Berry and Ernest Thayer, a writer who wrote Casey at Bat, a poem about baseball, this song talks about moments in the sun and giving the game a ride. Over two decades old, it still plays frequently in many major league ballparks.

The Greatest: Kenny Rogers probably didn’t produce this hit with the intention that it would play in stadiums, pumping up the players as they take the field. Instead of being a “we will rock you” sports song, “The Greatest” tells the tale of a little boy playing baseball by himself. It speaks to the little boy in every grown man, the little boy who once dreamed of being a baseball star. Not only is this song heartwarming and endearing, but it also has one of the best endings of any song ever written.

Glory Days: Bruce Springstein’s 1985 hit was one of the cornerstones to his Born in the USA album, an album that was ridiculously successful. A song that talks of an ex-athlete who is no longer at the top of his game, “Glory Days” doesn’t intend to make us regret past moments; it intends to make us remember them as they happen. Knowing that “Glory Days” will pass us by, makes us want to cherish them more.

I am Here: Sports and folk music might not always seem like a dynamic duo, but in this case they are. “I am Here” by John McCutcheon is a song he wrote for a concert at the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. Written from the viewpoint of a baseball player just elected to Cooperstown, “I am Here” acknowledges all of those who aren’t here, those who never made it. Touching on everything from playing catch, to being picked last, from being a career minor leaguer to playing stickball in the street, the lyrics to this song are some of the best ever written.

By: Jennifer Jordan

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Last week, I got a call from a baseball player who plays the outfield for a Triple A team connected with a major league club. The man was concerned because he has been in a hitting slump on and off for several seasons. He wants to make it to the major leagues and he feels that time is running out on him.

Yesterday, I got a call from a mother of a college player who is also stuck in a slump. This parent happened to be a psychiatrist. Like many parents who call me for help, this worried mother said, “My son has a beautiful swing. He works with a top hitting coach. He is great in the cage, but terrible once the game starts.”

This concerned and worried mother had even tried medication to help her son perform better at the plate.

Baseball players frequently call me when they are stuck in a slump. Fortunately, over the years, I have
developed many techniques, strategies and tools for breaking slumps.

However, it is useful if players can learn how to start the season with a positive and effective mental approach to hitting. Here are a few tips to help you get your baseball season off to a good start:

1. Learn the strike zone very well and swing at strikes.
2. Know what kind of pitch you like to hit.
3. Be aware of the count and the game situation.
4. Train your mind to think of nothing or have just one thought at the plate.
5. Practice relaxation techniques.
6. Learn how to stay calm, focused, confident and relaxed at the plate.
7. Learn how to stay in the present and the here and now. The most important
pitch and swing are the next ones.
8. Watch the pitcher carefully from the dugout.
9. Try to hit the ball into the gaps. You will naturally pull some of these for homers.
10. Keep accurate records on all of the pitchers who you face. Record what they threw, what you did and what you learned about hitting against them in the past. This is extra work, but these data will pay big dividends for you.
11. Once your swing is mechanically sound, you need to master the mental aspects of hitting.

By: Jay Granat

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Pitching Tip #1- Be an Avid Student of Pitching:

It is amazing how many questions you can answer yourself by picking up great books, tapes and DVD’s about Pitching. You will be light years ahead of your competition if you spend just thirty minutes a day studying Baseball or other topics such as leadership, commitment, attitude, courage, biographies of successful pitchers, setting goals, organization etc. Learning about all of these great topics will help you reach your full potential on the mound. You can’t just throw 95 miles an hour and expect to make it far. There’s much more to pitching than that; there’s much more to you, go find it with proper research and due diligence.

Pitching Tip #2 – Set Goals:

Yes! Every successful athlete sets goals and writes them down. They understand how important it is to have a road map to success in their hands. Successful athletes break their long term goals down into daily actions to ensure they can turn their goals and dreams into a reality. For example, goals are measurable, if you want to pitch at the collegiate level and you have five years to prepare yourself for that, you should know where you need to be one year from today to be on pace to reach that goal. Then you should know what action steps you will take each and everyday to ensure that you will. Remember, no professional athlete gets where they are without having a clearly defined goal and having a clear plan of action to accomplish it!

Pitching Tip #3- Pitching Mechanics:

Find a qualified pitching instructor in your area to teach you sound mechanics. There are many pitching instructors to choose from. You can go to your local Baseball Academy and find several, but don’t just rely on the Academy to choose an instructor for you. Find out who is taking lessons from the instructors. Find out how they’ve improved. Do they enjoy the lessons? Does the instructor clearly explain what is expected of them? Make sure the pitching coach can teach! This may sound funny, they’re an instructor right? A lot of those so called instructors know about pitching, but most don’t know how to deliver a message to athletes of all age levels. Be selective in who you choose!

Pitching Tip #4 – Nutrition:

Understanding how your body performs by what you put into it is vital to your success as a pitcher. Choose a well balanced diet. What types of foods will you eat before game day? Learn what types of food will give you the energy you need throughout your workouts and practices. Balance the carbohydrates, proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals etc. Choose not to participate or become involved in Tobacco, Alcohol or performance enhancing drugs like steroids and growth hormones. They will ruin you!

Pitching Tip #5 – Be a Leader:

Pitcher’s are leaders! Think about it. A pitcher has control of the entire game. The game doesn’t start until you throw the ball. Did you know you can control the attitude of each player on your team just by your demeanor on the mound? If you show frustration on the mound that is exactly what your teammates will feel and it will show in their performance. They will tend to make more errors; I see it hundreds of times each year. On the other hand, if you are optimistic, expect to win; confident, excited etc. your team will follow your lead. Success breeds Success! That means you should study successful people right? Study the leaders before you. Learn what makes them so successful. What do they do everyday that makes them a leader? You will find that most leaders share some of the same habits. After you find what makes a leader a leader, it’s your job to work on it!

By: Dan Gazaway

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There is no shortage of information on baseball instruction within the millions of pages on the internet. Before the web days, baseball instructional information itself was greatly more valuable than that same information today. Why? Because the supply has increased dramatically. I can do a search for “baseball instruction” on Google and today I get 440,000 pages that contain pages that may have the information I’m looking for. The challenge now for the athlete, parent, or coach looking for training information is not where the information can be found, by what information should be accepted and used. Here are some general guidelines.

1. Look for credibility. Anyone can post information online. Looks for some playing and coaching credentials. Be careful however, many prior professional athletes who are no longer playing, turn their attention to coaching. The title of former professional baseball player holds little weight if that individual cannot relay information correctly. I’m just suggesting that you look past the title and look more for content. See if the person supplying training has invested some time communicating the game.

2. Cross-reference content. To avoid being sucked into some sort of baseball philosophy that is on the fringe, always cross reference your baseball instruction with other sources. Start with those whom you already trust, local coaches, athletes, etc. Next turn to online forums, article sites such as this one, and other reputable instructors to see if they are teaching similar skills and techniques.

3. Become a learner. I know quite a number of people who have not played baseball past the high school level who are outstanding coaches. They attend clinics, read books, listen to other successful coaches, and do all they can to make sure their baseball information is current.

4. Find an instructor or information that communicates within your style of learning. Many enjoy reading their information; others hate learning by reading and would much prefer to have information relayed audibly. Many love to learn by watching videos, or viewing DVD’s. Whatever your style and preference, there is a good chance an instructor with the same communication style is out there. You’ll just have to search some.

In short, the best instructors I had throughout my playing career were those who relayed information in a clear and concise manner. It was easy to understand and the concepts were not complicated. Seek out information that fits your learning style and you’ll love the baseball instruction learning process.

By: Nate Barnett

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There are many different methodologies for teaching baseball instruction. When most folks talk about baseball instruction they talking about three things: fielding, hitting and throwing. I often wondered why there isn’t more importance put on teaching the mental aspects of baseball as well. What I’ve come to realize it that mental skills are learned, but it is an implied knowledge, meaning it’s found it to be so important that I added my “7 Essential Mental Skills” to my baseball instruction program. Here they are:

How To Keep Your Cool How To Use Visualization Confidence and Positive Thinking How to Eliminate Negative Thoughts Stay Focused – No Distractions How o Overcome Intimidation How To Prepare in pressure situations (like a sacrifice bunt)

1. How To Keep Your Cool
One of the most important things you can teach your baseball players is how to act, both on and off the field. Another hot topic is arguing with an umpire, coach or another player. Arguing can result in immediate expulsion of the game and possibly the league.

To help players deal with frustration I teach the “10 second rule”. This simply means they count to ten before talking. This is to let the rage pass. Believe it or not I have seen it work pretty well.

2. How To Use Visualizaion
Visualization is simply seeing things in your “mind’s” eye before they happen. Let’s say the hitter has a bunt sign. He can step out of the batter’s box and visualize himself successfully executing the sacrifice bunt. Now, when he steps back in the box he has a mental picture, or a blueprint so to speak, to help him execute the strategy. This is a very effective tool.

3. Confidence and Positive Thinking
Positive Thinking and confidence are an essential part of baseball instruction. Think about the game in general, think about how many times you fail. I mean a .300 batting average is great but realistically it’s being successful only 30% of the time. Think about how many outs we make, and the errors, and the mental lapses in judgements, etc. etc. There is negative and failure all around.

To promote positive thinking I use stories of incredible baseball comebacks of the past so the kids can see it’s possible to comeback from a deficit and win. To boost morale and confidence players are encouraged to root and cheer for each other. It can makes all the difference hearing it from your peers.

4. How To Eliminate Negative Thoughts
Using the confidence building and positive thinking techniques also help to eliminate those negative thoughts. You can help visualize the release of negative thoughts by breathing in deep and exhaling. At the same time visualize that negatively exiting with your breath.

5. Stay Focused – No Distractions
This is so difficult to do, especially for kids. Here is a a great fielding drill that helps them focus and avoid distractions. It uses competition as it’s catalyst.

With glove in hand, have four to eight players make a semi-circle around you. Yo will need a baseball glove and two balls. Now throw random ground balls and try to keep at least one of the balls active at all times. Any player who misses the ball or doesn’t throw the ball directly back to you sits down and is waits for the next game. Last player left is champ.

6. How to Overcome Intimidation
Sometimes games are won before they even begin. This is because a team’s appearance can intimidate a team so much that psyche themselves into thinking they have no chance. Before each game, pump your players up with accolades to boost their confidence. Another technique you can use is to huddle and give a real good pep talk.

7. How To Prepare In Pressure Situations (like a sacrifice bunt)
The use of the skills discussed above, combined, will help them prepare in pressure situations.

By: Robert Bulka

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The baseball hat, worn by team players as well as fans, is an important symbol of the game of baseball.

In 1860 there were many styles of baseball hats. The baseball hat of the late 1860’s was made of wool and ranged in price from $1.25 to $2 each. Today there are still different styles and the prices depend on where you buy and what the baseball hats are made of.

The baseball hats of today are easy to wear and feel good. They are worn by men and women, young and old. Baseball hats can be worn at any time of the year and to almost any function. Baseball hats are even made for infants.

If you have a favorite team or player you will have a huge selection of baseball hats. They are available world-wide and usually are quite reasonably priced. Many fans own several baseball hats and enjoy wearing them when their team is playing even if they can’t actually attend the game.

If you are interested in the history of baseball hats there are museums and books that will allow you to see and read about baseball hats from the past. The “pillbox” baseball hat was popular in the early 1900’s and had two revivals throughout the years. There are baseball hats that are made today that reflect the earlier styles and trends.

Maybe you are a baseball hat collector. It is a growing hobby and allows those who really enjoy baseball hats a chance to find hats from every team and player throughout all the years of baseball. Some of these baseball hats are very valuable and many are autographed.

Visit a baseball stadium or even a kid’s Little League game and see all the fans wearing baseball hats. Baseball hats unite the crowd and are a great way to cheer the team on.

By: Ken Austin

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