6ix Baggers — №75: Always Cover First
The Dodgers came alive in Game 5 thanks to series of sloppy plays by the Yankees to take the series. Now I can sleep again until Spring Training.
Dear 6ix Baggers Baseball Appreciators (and the wonderful Drink Cart Newsletter Alumni)
It’s been fun circling back on doing some exclusive baseball content over the last week. We have cranked out four special edition newsletters to mostly entertain myself. But some of you seemed to enjoy this bonus. It was completely worth it simply to enjoy the total meltdown of the New York Yankees in the fifth inning, where errors and failing to cover first base cost the team a trip back to LA for game 6. This says it all:
Everything happened so fast, The Spirit Halloween was open by the 8th inning. And the New York newspapers got to work on some of the most savage sports covers I’ve ever seen. Headlines of, “End of an Error”, “Fright Night” and “The E-E-E-ND” were all a terrible reminder of just how hard it is to make it New York, despite what Frank Sinatra tells you.
It was also worth it to see former Blue Jay Teoscar Hernández - who added World Series Champion to his trophy case to pair with his winning the home run derby - rush the field in celebration and flash that signature smile. It was also great to see Kevin Kiermaier cash it in and get his ring before he hangs up his gold gloves. I can’t believe in Cavan Biggio is getting a ring too.
I’m not going to get into anymore the weeds of the game, but I was struck by this break down of how the Los Angeles Dodgers used analytics to become baseballs most feared team. It seems to be working, “the team’s valuation has increased from $2.15 billion in 2012 to $6.3 billion today, according to Sportico.”
“[Baseball] breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. “The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall all alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.”
-A. Bartlett Giamatti
Games Over, Instant Ads
The credit-rolling Dodgers victory ad that dropped was excellent but all three of these foot ware ads for New Balance, Jordan and Nike that popped up on social shortly after the win were all really good. Under Armour joined the party to with their deal with Freddie Freeman and i love the addition of the “hometown kid” and a “Lifetime of work.”
Officially Licensed Lanyards
MLB merch sales are up 68% this October. No wonder Fanatics was very quick to unleash both new baseball cards from Topps Now and the World Series merch instantly after the game ended. What I don’t understand is this World Series Gift Box. Hat, ugly but cool. Pennant, amazing. Lanyard? Why would you want a stupid lanyard?
Instead I’d go for the Teoscar signed baseball. Anways I looked at every single item in the store so you don’t have to. I think thee maybe 648 World Series items. It’s insane. You know, despite the nearly 650 items, there isn’t any Decoy merch? That seems kind of suspect given there are rice patties in Japan celebrating the good boy and his owner.
Here’s 5 Random World Series Merch Items I enjoyed:
Not gonna lie, I’m kind of intrigued by the Champions Crystal Baseball with Game-Used Dirt option though.
Fresh from the Guy Fieri collection there’s a random and ridiculous Tommy Bahama tropical explosion sweatshirt.
If I did live in New York and still loathed the Yankees, getting a super petty lawn sign would be ideal.
For the fan that has everything else. Get this absolutely ridiculous thick Fan Chain. Or perhaps the classier necklace.
I’d like the meet any person who actually purchases the Dodger Dog World Championship Bobblehead.
The Ohtani Dream Board
Shohei Ohtani didn’t have the dominant World Series debut he probably wanted. That said, he won his first championship and played every game despite partially separating his shoulder. He can check another thing off his bucket list.
While he was in high school he wrote down his Life Plan. He’s checked off a bunch of his goals already. I can’t wait for his “Age 40: Farewell game, pitch a no-hitter.” I’m disapointed that a dog wasn’t on his list. But we did get our first post World Series victory Decoy photos.
Baseball is hard
The day after the World Series and the business of baseball just keeps moving along. Players are traded. Mutual options are not taken. The odds for next year’s Fall Classic are up too. But I was super surprised to read about former first round pick and Minnesota Twins player Alex Kirilloff retiring at 26 this week. Four years of injury plagued seasons got to be too much.
"I've always believed that playing this game requires 110% effort, and anything less would not do justice to my teammates, coaches, fans or the game itself." It must be so defeating to have to get so close to a great career and have to call it on account of your body just not being up for the ride.
Walkoffs
A few more quick fastballs for you to enjoy until next season.
The Aftermath
You really don’t ever want to see what the clubhouse looks like post-celebration.
Old time baseball
An absolutely gorgeous black and white shot from Game 7 of the 1955 World Series featuring Yankee catcher Yogi Berra and Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella.
This is how you want people to look at your OOH ads
I’ll always remember working with a creative who when he was doing sketches always wanted to put someone admiring the stunt or ad. It makes sense, you want to make something that makes people look at your billboard like this.
The Will Smith Rule
I would 100% be signing someone named Will Smith to win a World Series at this rate.
Holiday Cards
Topps also launched holiday baseball cards on cue for November 1st, including an all new Holiday Advent Calendar that sold out too rapidly to even think about scoring.
Until next season
Don’t worry, we’ll be back from time to time in 2025. Unless the Blue Jays do something crazy like sign Juan Soto. See you next week with The Drink Cart’s previously scheduled programming.