Monday, March 31, 2014

Pirates Opening Day Win

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 on a walk-off home run by Neil Walker in the bottom of the 10th inning.


Sunday, March 30, 2014

Final Four Match-ups

Saturday at 6:09 PM on TBS

#7 UConn (30-8) vs. #1 Florida (36-2)

Saturday at 8:49 PM on TBS

#8 Kentucky (28-10) vs. #2 Wisconsin (30-7)

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Naval Academy Midshipman Will McKamey Passes Away

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Midshipman Fourth Class (freshman) Will McKamey, 19, of Knoxville, Tenn., passed away while in a coma Tuesday at Baltimore Shock Trauma. 

The death comes three days after Midshipman McKamey collapsed during football practice on Saturday morning.  Since then, his family has been at his bedside and they have been overwhelmed with support from classmates, teammates, coaching staff and Naval Academy leadership.

“We are all so very heartbroken by the death of Midshipman Will McKamey,” said Naval Academy Superintendent VADM Mike Miller.  “This is devastating news for his family, his classmates, his teammates and the entire Naval Academy family. We offer our deepest condolences to Will's family, friends and shipmates in the wake of this tragedy.”

Midn McKamey was an Oceanography major in 3rdCompany, and he was member of the varsity football team. 

 “During this most difficult of times, first and foremost, our prayers and thoughts turn to Randy, Kara and their beautiful family,” said Ken Niumatalolo, USNA Head Football Coach.  “Our deepest and most sincere condolences go out to their entire family and friends.  As our Navy football family mourns the loss of one of our brothers, we also celebrate and honor his life. He loved his family, his friends and his teammates.  The Brotherhood loves you!  Keep the ball "high and tight" in Heaven.”

Funeral arrangements are pending, and more information will be provided as it becomes available. 

The Naval Academy will continue to support Will’s family, friends, and loved ones during this time of grief. 

Grief counseling services and support are available to midshipmen, faculty and staff through chains of command, our chaplains, and the Midshipmen Development Center. 

Monday, March 24, 2014

NCAA Sweet 16 Preview

The field has been narrowed from 66 to 16 in a matter of four days.  Just three number 1 seeds remain, two number 2 seeds are still playing, only one number 3 seed is in the hunt, and all the number 4 seeds have made it to the Sweet 16.  The lowest seeds remaining are number 11 seeds Dayton and Tennessee.

Thursday night the battles will continue. 


SOUTH REGION (Thursday in Memphis)
No. 11 Dayton (25-10) at No. 10 Stanford (23-12), 7:15 pm (CBS)
No. 4 UCLA (28-8) at No. 1 Florida (34-2), 9:45 pm (CBS)
EAST REGION (Friday in New York)
No. 3 Iowa State (28-7) vs. No. 7 Connecticut (28-8), 7:27 p.m., TBS
No. 4 Michigan State (28-8) vs. No. 1 Virginia (30-6), 9:57 p.m., TBA
WEST REGION (Thursday in Anaheim, Calif.)
No. 2 Wisconsin (26-7) vs. No. 6 Baylor (23-11), 7:27 p.m., TBS
No. 1 Arizona (30-4) vs. No. 4 San Diego State (29-4), 10:17 p.m., TBS
MIDWEST (Friday in Indianapolis)
No. 11 Tennessee (21-12) at No. 2 Michigan (25-8) , 7:15 p.m., CBS
No. 8 Kentucky(24-10) at No. 4 Louisville (29-5), 9:45 p.m., CBS

Update from Navy Football Player, Will McKamey's Family

To the thousands of you out there worrying and praying...we send our most sincere thanks! Today Will's condition is very much the same as yesterday. We are counting this as a blessing due to the fact that the brain is very slow in the healing process. We are in for a long road. Please understand that "no change" is still expected and seen as a blessing at this point. We are taking it day at a time. I will be working on a caring bridge site to help keep everyone informed as much as possible.

One thing I want you all to know is that Will did not sustain a bad hit or unusual or extreme contact in practice Saturday. The Navy coaches have poured through the films of practice and seen nothing more than Will carrying the football normally, doing what he truly loves. Since his prior accident in 2012 Will has been seen by four different neurosurgeons, and had 4-6 CAT scans and MRI's to rule out any issue and clear him for contact. After his prior incident he went without any contact for over nine months to just be safe. We feel obviously there is more going on in his brain than we could have ever detected. I want to be clear that the Navy football program nor us as his parents would have ever allowed him to be in a dangerous situation. We don't know why this happened, we can only have faith that God's plan is the perfect plan and only He can be the ultimate healer and source of comfort for all of us during this time! 

Please continue to pray for our son, please know we are still overcome and amazed at the power William Dean McKamey has over our world through the hands of God!

Sunday, March 23, 2014

1953 Topps

1953 Topps Pittsburgh Pirates

In the midst of a last place 50-104 season Outfielder Ralph Kiner is traded to the Chicago Cubs, by General Manager Branch Rickey. Kiner had earlier had a contract squabble with Rickey who told the star Outfielder that the Pirates could still finish in last place without him.


See the 1953 Topps Pittsburgh Pirates

Baseball Reference

Baseball Almanac

Card Values














Team Set Checklist

1953 Topps
Card#
1953 TOPPS CLEM KOSHOREK
8
1953 TOPPS BOB DEL GRECO
48
1953 TOPPS GEORGE METKOVICH
58
1953 TOPPS TONY BARTIROME
71
1953 TOPPS JOE ROSSI
74
1953 TOPPS HOWIE POLLET
83
1953 TOPPS CAL ABRAMS
98
1953 TOPPS DANNY OCONNELL
107
1953 TOPPS DICK GROAT
154
1953 TOPPS RON KLINE
175
1953 TOPPS JIM WAUGH
178
1953 TOPPS RALPH KINER
191
1953 TOPPS FORREST MAIN
198
1953 TOPPS PAUL LAPALME
201
1953 TOPPS VIC JANOWICZ
222
1953 TOPPS JOHN OBRIEN
223
1953 TOPPS JOHNNY LINDELL
230
1953 TOPPS JOHN HETKI
235
1953 TOPPS CAL HOGUE
238
1953 TOPPS CARLOS BERNIER
243
1953 TOPPS ROY FACE
246
1953 TOPPS MIKE SANDLOCK
247
1953 TOPPS ED OBRIEN
249

1954 Topps

1954 Topps Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates pass the century mark in losses for the third straight season as they finish in last place with a record of 53-101.  Curt Roberts, the Pirates' first black player, made his major league debut as the starting second baseman on April 13, 1954.


See the 1954 Topps Pittsburgh Pirates

Baseball Reference

Baseball Almanac

Card Values















Team Set Checklist

1954 Topps
Card#
1954 TOPPS PAUL SMITH
11
1954 TOPPS VIC JANOWICZ
16
1954 TOPPS DICK GROAT
43
1954 TOPPS PRESTON WARD
72
1954 TOPPS FRED HANEY
75
1954 TOPPS DICK COLE
84
1954 TOPPS ROY FACE
87
1954 TOPPS HAL RICE
95
1954 TOPPS CAL HOGUE
134
1954 TOPPS ED O'BRIEN/JOHNNY O'BRIEN
139
1954 TOPPS JOHN HETKI
161
1954 TOPPS GAIR ALLIE
179
1954 TOPPS BOB PURKEY
202
1954 TOPPS JOHN FITZPATRICK
213
1954 TOPPS GENE HERMANSKI
228
1954 TOPPS JERRY LYNCH
234
1954 TOPPS VERN LAW
235
1954 TOPPS CURT ROBERTS
242

PIAA State Basketball Final Results

The PIAA hosted its state basketball championships on March 21 and 22 in Hershey, PA.  The results of the four boys' championship games are listed below.

A Boys - Lincoln Park 70 - Math, Civics, and Science 66 (Article)

AA Boys - Constitution 61 - Seton LaSalle 59 (Article)

AAA Boys - Neumann-Goretti 64 - Susquehanna Twp. 57 (OT) (Article)

AAAA Boys - New Castle 52 - La Salle College 39 (Article)




Sunday, March 16, 2014

1952 Topps

1952 Topps Pittsburgh Pirates

Ralph Kiner finishes the season with a league-leading 37 homers to win his seventh consecutive National League home run crown. However, the Pirates finish in the cellar with a dreadful 42-112 record.


See the 1952 Topps Pittsburgh Pirates

Baseball Reference

Baseball Almanac

Card Values














Team Set Checklist

1952 Topps
Card#
1952 TOPPS MONTY BASGALL RED BACK
12
1952 TOPPS MONTY BASGALL BLACK BACK
12
1952 TOPPS HOWIE POLLET RED BACK
63
1952 TOPPS HOWIE POLLET BLACK BACK
63
1952 TOPPS WILLIAM WERLE RED BACK
73
1952 TOPPS WILLIAM WERLE BLACK BACK
73
1952 TOPPS VERNON LAW
81
1952 TOPPS DALE COOGAN
87
1952 TOPPS TED WILKS
109
1952 TOPPS BILL MACDONALD
138
1952 TOPPS TED BEARD
150
1952 TOPPS JOE MUIR
154
1952 TOPPS PAUL LAPALME
166
1952 TOPPS BILL HOWERTON
167
1952 TOPPS GUS BELL
170
1952 TOPPS ERV DUSAK
183
1952 TOPPS GEORGE STRICKLAND
197
1952 TOPPS CLYDE MCCULLOUGH
218
1952 TOPPS JOE GARAGIOLA
227
1952 TOPPS BOB FRIEND
233
1952 TOPPS ED FITZ GERALD
236
1952 TOPPS JACK PHILLIPS
240
1952 TOPPS PETE CASTIGLIONE
260
1952 TOPPS MURRY DICKSON
266
1952 TOPPS GEORGE METKOVICH
310
1952 TOPPS TONY BARTIROME
332
1952 TOPPS BOB DEL GRECO
353
1952 TOPPS BILL POSEDEL
361
1952 TOPPS CLYDE SUKEFORTH
364
1952 TOPPS DICK GROAT
369
1952 TOPPS JACK MERSON
375
1952 TOPPS CLEM KOSHOREK
380
1952 TOPPS MILTON STOCK
381
1952 TOPPS BILLY MEYER
387
1952 TOPPS FORREST MAIN
397