Red Sox Series Trophies Displayed At Manchester VA

Two World Series trophies and a former Red Sox pitcher were at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Manchester on Monday.

Former relief pitcher Skip Lockwood was on hand to sign autographs while veterans and staff took pictures with the trophies and the team mascot, Wally.

The baseball trophies were from the Red Sox World Series championship teams in 2004 and 2007.

The event was part of the Red Sox campaign 100 Acts of Kindness. The team is doing 100 events across New England to celebrate the 100th birthday of Fenway Park.

The baseball trophies are being taken to seven VA hospitals before the May 20 Race to Home fundraiser, which will raise money for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Great Talent in Baseball’s 2012 Rookie Class

Remember those cool little trophies that Topps has put on baseball cards of the previous year’s best rookies? The card company began the practice in 1960 honoring the best rookies from 1959 — a group that included the likes of Pumpsie Green and Hall of Famer Willie McCovey.


Since that time, Topps has forsaken the trophies in a few years, but has continued to select an All-Rookie Team. Topps usually honors eight position players and two pitchers, one right-handed, one lefty. We prefer four starters and a closer.

Here’s our lineup of the top 2012 rookies we believe will be honored by Topps at the end of the season. Some are still in the minors, but you will know their names by the end of the summer.

Catcher: Hector Sanchez, San Francisco

First Base: Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs

Second Base: Freddy Galvis, Philadelphia

Third Base: Nolan Arenado, Colorado

Shortstop: Tyler Pastornicky, Atlanta

Outfield: Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland; Bryce Harper, Washington; Brett Jackson, Chicago Cubs

Designated Hitter: Jesus Montero, Seattle

Starting Pitcher: Yu Darvish, Texas; Matt Moore, Tampa Bay; Tom Milone, Oakland; Manny Banuelos, N.Y. Yankees

Relief Pitcher: Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox

Yankees’ Posada Retires After 17 Season

Flanked by his wife and children, with five World Series trophies sitting on a table to his right, Jorge Posada announced his retirement Tuesday. The five-time All-Star catcher ends his major league career after 17 seasons, all with the New York Yankees. The 40-year-old Posada finished with a .273 career batting average, 275 home runs and 1,065 RBI. Shifted to designated hitter last year, his playing time diminished.

Posada joins Bernie Williams and Andy Pettitte in retirement, leaving only 37-year-old Derek Jeter and 42-year-old Mariano Rivera from the core group that led the Yankees to four World Series title trophies in five years from 1996-2000.

With Rivera and CC Sabathia looking on, Posada began by quoting Joe DiMaggio: "I want to thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee." "I could never wear another uniform," he said. "I will forever be a Yankee." Posada's voice broke up, especially when he spoke in Spanish. He thanked his teammates, rubbing his chin three times and wiping his eyes. "Hopefully you won't miss me that much," he said.

Diana Munson, wife of the late Yankees catcher Thurman Munson, spoke about how Posada helped revive her interest in baseball, which had disappeared after her husband's death. "I think he and Thurman definitely would have been best buds," she said.

Replica Super Bowl Trophies to be Auctioned

Godfrey Myles' three replica Vince Lombardi Trophies -- estimated to sell between $15,000 to $20,000 each -- will be auctioned off Tuesday.

Myles, a linebacker with the Cowboys during Super Bowl wins in 1993, 1994 and 1996, died after suffering a massive stroke on June 10. The trophies -- 15.5-inch miniatures -- were obtained by Nate D. Sanders Auctions just a month before Myles' death, as he needed money to pay for a back operation.

Myles, who was drafted in the third round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Cowboys, was indicted on 11 counts of charges related to mortgage fraud in March. Myles started 11 games for the 1995 Cowboys before tearing his ACL in Super Bowl XXX.

Myles’ trophies will be showcased to the public at the 32nd Annual National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago from Aug. 3-7. They come with a certificate of authenticity from Myles.

Any College Football Championship Repeats?

For the past five years the dominant conference in college football has no doubt been the Southeastern Conference. America's premiere athletic conference has seen four different programs ascend to college football's highest level. The Florida Gators claimed championships in 2006 and 2008. LSU took home the title in 2007. The state of Alabama claimed two crystal awards in the form of national championship trophies with the Alabama Crimson Tide winning it all in 2009 before Auburn last season.

Can Auburn repeat as national champions in 2011? It's is an interesting question, and a look back at years gone by showed just how many teams have claimed two consecutive unanimous national titles.

Whether you are a Crimson Tide fan, a War Eagle, a Bulldog or a Gator, the question has become easier to answer since the emergence of the BCS Championship Series in 1998. The answer is no one.

Preseason Honors Flow for Bulldogs' DT Harrell

Fresno State defensive tackle Logan Harrell, whose 3 1/2 sacks in the 2010 season opener against Cincinnati signaled his arrival as a Bulldogs star, continues to pile up preseason notice for 2011. Harrell, entering his senior year, was named Friday to the watch lists for the Outland and Nagurski trophies – two of the nation's more prestigious college football postseason awards.

The Outland honors the best interior lineman, while the Nagurski goes to the best overall defensive player. Also on the Nagurski list are USC safety T.J. McDonald and Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris, both former stars at Fresno's Edison High, and Cal linebacker Mychal Kendricks (Hoover).

Cal and Fresno State will meet in the Sept. 3 season opener at Candlestick Park.
The 6-foot-2, 275-pound Harrell, who prepped at Santa Margarita High-Rancho Santa Margarita, enjoyed a breakout junior campaign after starting just three of 24 games in his first two seasons.

The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists off the Football Writers All-America team and honored Dec. 8. There are 65 players on the watch list. Five finalists off the All-America team are chosen for the Nagurski Trophy, with the winner honored Dec. 12. Eighty-seven players are on the watch list. Contenders for both trophies can be added to both lists as the season progresses.