Daily Conlon: #168 Fred Snodgrass - How We Won the Pennant

Here is the Daily Conlon card numbered #168 of Fred Snodgrass as he tells about how his New York Giants won the pennants from 1911 to 1913. Surprisingly, it is entirely attributed to a good luck charm named Charles Victory Faust. Read the description on the card back below. Feel free to click on the pick to embiggen. In the meantime, I'll put up a snippet of Faust's biograph at the SABR biography project.

In the annals of baseball history, the tale of Charles Victor "Victory" Faust is virtually unmatched for sheer strangeness and improbability. Arguably the least athletic person apart from Eddie Gaedel to play in the major leagues, Faust pitched in two games for the 1911 New York Giants and contributed two stolen bases to their record-setting total of 347. Before those game appearances, however, Faust made his mark as John McGraw's good-luck charm and mascot. His invincible jinxing powers inspired the Giants to win the National League pennants of 1911 and 1912, after which his luck ran out and he faded into oblivion for a half-century.

As you might expect from a Giant tale of superstition and good luck, Charlie Faust would later be institutionalized in Oregon and Washington from hebephrenia- a type of schizophrenia. Later in 1914 he would die of a pulmonary tuberculosis, which also happens to be the year Charlie was not on the team after a 3 year run. Without his presence that year the Giants would end up in last place.

Blog Kiosk: 7/12/2011

Andre Ethier, Rob Flippo (BP pitcher) and Matt Kemp are captured together during the All-Star Home Run Derby. (pic link: yfrog @Dodgers)

• The Texas Rangers have set up an fund to help out Shannon Stone, who recently died at a Rangers game. Go here to help out.
  
• Every Hall of Famer draws former Brooklynite Max Carey.
• Bill Chuck at Baseball Analytics looks at Kemp and discovers what makes him a better hitter this year when compared to last year. Check it out here.
  
• I hope this is true. from a Bill Shaikin Tweet.
• Nomo's Sushi Platter was at the Mike Scioscia and Mark Trumbo signing in Irvine this past weekend, and has pictures to prove it.
  
• Check out Roberto's pics from FanFest in Arizona. He's got a bunch, so I definitely recommend clicking through and seeing them all. He also has some video of Kemp, Kershaw and Ethier being interviewed yesterday, here.
  
• Ned Colletti has McCourt's support, via LA Times.

  "Any rumors about Ned being replaced are inaccurate, false and utterly unfounded," said the statement issued by Steve Sugerman, a spokesman for McCourt. "He has Frank's support."

• The Mojo Beard pulls a fast one by creating several totally convincing mock-ups for a Topps Monopoly Baseball card set. It's brilliant, and actually has some collectors wishing they were real- myself included. The cards look great.
  
• Here are some great photos from Kings Development Camp happening right now.
  

eBay: Vintage LA Snapshots

I haven't been a very active buyer on eBay over the past several years. Sure, from time to time I'll snag a inexpensive card, but I haven't really been active like in years past. So, when I do come across something that I really fancy I tend take a more serious run than I normally would do.

Sometimes I come out the victor, but in this case I ended up waddling in the wake of a more aggressive bidder. And I gotta tell ya, I'm a little disappointed. The more I look at these the more I wish I had bid again. Check out these great circa 1972 (although, I think they likely come from 1973) fan taken photographic snapshots of an afternoon game at Dodger Stadium. The Cincinnati Reds are in town along with some special guest. This group of pics sold for $44.00.

Do you recognize any of the players? If you do, please let me know.
Wow, Tony Perez and Dave Concepion are below, along with Dodger coach Jim Gilliam.
Hey, look at that, the Team USA College All-Stars are in town also. Check out Walter Alston and USC coach (now Team USA coach) Rod Dedeaux chatting below. I'm pretty sure that's Steve Yeager on the bottom left. Also, the auction listing indicated that a youthful Fred Lynn is also in the pictures, but I have yet to spot him.
You certainly can't go wrong with cheerleaders. The USC Cheerleaders are in the house.

(Auction Link)