#Pudge Johnson

[beetl-burgur]

something special for the tumbly…

[gatsby-system-folks]

The sketches I might fix or finish lol, they didn't turn out perfect. 2 of Dakota because he's my favorite fucking guy.

Lily as Noodle isn't character analysis, I just wanted to draw her too. Pudge as 2d works pretty well, and Dakota is very, very murdoc.

[xxliliana-screamsxx]

SALLY FACE HCs #2🎭

FEM! READER

(Author note: I'm feeling a lil sad n lonely so I'ma make something fluffy 🥹 I'm one sad MF I swear 😭💀) also these headcanons only include Larry and sal, I would include Ashley but I suck at writing F/F relationship HCs😭 quite shocking coming from the pansexual gal ik. Plz don't hate me if these HCs are choppy I can't write worth shit plus it's 1 in the morning and I'm tired as hell but I don't wanna disappoint you all 🥲 ANYWAYS ENJOY ❣️

(headcanon description: This is more of how they would react to you being distant from them and insecure about yourself)

Sal Fisher🎭

He's used to your normal bubbly personality and kind heart but he noticed something different..

He won't stop asking what's wrong bc he's afraid that he may be the cause of your distance (same 🥲)

Ofc since you're not talking to him he'll give random gifts left n right to apologize for whatever he did even if he didn't do anything to you🥹

Eventually when you tell him why you're being distant he immediately comforts you and does everything in his own power to make you feel better ❤️

He was a tad bit upset that you didn't tell him what was wrong sooner but he can't stay upset when it comes to you 💕

Though you may think you're ugly and imperfect he thinks otherwise

"I don't understand, how could you love someone like me? You said while looking in the mirror observing your body. "What do you mean? What's not to love about you". "Well for one, my thighs are too big, I have a belly pudge, and my acne scars are ugly" you say in disgust of yourself. "Hey, no matter what, I will always love you and besides who cares about your belly pudge? The bigger the woman the more woman to love ❤️"

He absolutely adores you and shows it whether it's through gifts or physical contact 💕

If you have Belly chub Oh my lord he's head over heels and will make sure you know it 🥰

He will love you til all those insecurities and negative thoughts are gone❤️

(if you ever came across those memes that say "fuck it, wrap me in a blanket, feed me cake and tell me I'm pretty" he'd most definitely do exactly that😚)

Larry Johnson 🚬

This man almost IMMEDIATELY catches on with your distance between you and him

He'll sit you down and talk to you and ask what's wrong and when you reply he'll hug you and hold on to you like you're gonna turn to dust if he doesn't lol

He understands your insecurities and will do everything he can to help you get into a better mindset 💕

He doesn't like seeing you upset so ofc the constant love and affection is a normal routine for him, he'll do anything to keep you happy 🥹❤️(I'm sobbing rn)

As much as you hate your body, he loves it. And I don't mean in a sexual way but more of a loving way ya know?

He hates seeing you cry, he'll hold you and for hours maybe even days if he has to, just to get you smiling again 💕

(ya know those long ass love letters you see on TikTok, he'd take the time out of his day to make you one of those❤️)

I'm truly sorry to whoever requested this 😭 I forgot their @ but hopefully they see it 😭🙏 also sorry for the crappy writing 😞

[sleepdeprivedsimp234]

Really long headcanon post for the stuff that I’ve posted on Wattpad :3

Massachusetts:

-Mans is my height, 5'6, and he hates being bullied about being the shortest of his brothers lmao

-Is twins with New Jersey, though Jersey makes fun of him cuz he's five minutes younger

-he has reddish brown shoulder-length wavy hair and hazel eyes

-mf is built like the Dwayne Johnson though he's just missing the height

-TRANSMASC MASS SUPREMACY 🛐🛐

-this man acts all tough until the cramps come along. Then he's dead.

-doctor of the statehouse, along with Texas. He deals with sickness/illness whilst Texas deals with injuries. Though he can do both cuz we love that.

-tried learning how to make flower crowns cuz NY would always make them for everyone when they were younger. He tried his best, and he's actually kinda okay at it, so him and any will just hang out and make flower crowns.

-^he has put a spell on every single flower crown that he's ever given or received so that they never shrivel up and die

-OCD, autism, and ADHD

-loves rock, metal, and punk music. Especially FFDP (THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING THAT FRICKIN' GOOD LIKE WHAT-)

-friends with the OG13 (no dip Sherlock-), Maine, Texas, and Louisiana.

-REFUSES TO ADMIT HE HAS A SOFT SPOT FOR NEW YORK. EVEN IF HE'S ACTIVELY HUGGING HIM. HE WILL DENY IT TILL THE DAY HE DIES. HE WILL DO ANYTHING FOR THIS DAMN KID.

-^the moment he met New York, he was filled with the urge to take him away from England immediately. He does pick favorite brothers btw. And it's New York.

-sharp lil canines like he's a friggin vampire smh

Sippi:

-he is a squishy boy and we love that <3 it just makes him better for cuddling

-he's not short, not tall, he's only 5'8.

-he's a pathetic loser tbh but we still love him

-sippi loves stuffed animals, but his favorite is a teddy bear that was given to him by New York (fun fact, teddy bears were invented in Brooklyn, and were named after the president that refused to shoot a bear!).

-he named it Mr. Cuddles, and it is the most beat up stuffed animal that he owns (as in, its ear had to be sewn back on, one of its eyes has been replaced by a button, and it has random stitches and patches all over) but he still loves it and cherishes it to this day.

-friends with (omg he has friends????) Texas, Louisiana, Florida, New York, South Carolina and Georgia

-yes yes he is but a cuddly marshmallow. Until you hurt someone he loves. Then you're dead.

-he SCREAMS whenever there's a bug. Strangely though, he likes ants, moths, and butterflies.

-mans is colorblind

-he doesn't like his squishy-ness and has tried to starve himself on numerous occasions :(

-I think that the fact that he's been owned by 3 different countries is grounds to give him abandonment issues right? Okay.

-if it weren't for his friends just simply existing, he would've been long gone by now. (same tho- I mean what?)

-I'm not gonna say he's hurt himself before, but I'm not gonna say he hasn't either 👁️👁️

-bro thinks that anybody he gets close to is gonna leave him :[

-if he gets hurt, he's not gonna bother telling anyone cuz he doesn't wanna feel like a failure for not being able to defend himself

Texas:

-this man is T A L L- he's 6'5 (not as tall as Alaska though so HA-)

-I imagine him to be very slim and fit, but he has a tiny bit of pudge around his lower stomach and hips and thighs.

-he LOVES animals so, so much. More than humans tbh.

-he has a horse (Ranger), 5 dogs (Rosco, Daisy, Cassy, Billie, and Maria. Rosco and Cassy are German Shepherds, Daisy and Billie are heelers, and Maria is a demonic chihuahua), 3 cats (Mittens, Sassy, and Milo), and 2 snakes (Spot and Harvey).

-^thats just at the statehouse. Back home, he has an animal sanctuary where he takes care of animals, takes them in, nurses them back to health, ect... It's very adorable and I love it.

-speaking of animals, he cannot, I repeat, CANNOT keep it together if an animal dies or gets hurt in a movie. Homeward Bound? Mans was not okay. Hachi? He wasn't ballin', he was bawling ��.

-I BELIEVE IN TRANSMASC TEXAS SUPREMACY 🛐

-he still wears a binder cuz he doesn't trust the doctors to perform top surgery on him.

-ADHD for DAYS- don't give him an energy drink unless you want a 6'5 chihuahua on cocaine to be following you around.

-ADHD, autism, ocd, depression, anxiety, and ptsd. Idk if daddy issues counts, but he has those for sure.

-this bitch has fallen off of so many things that he no longer takes fall damage

-Mexico was such an asshole to poor Texas...... I wanna skin him alive :)

-Texas CANNOT handle someone raising their hand or voice at him. He can't. He will flinch and/or cry. Which he hates. Cuz he's supposed to have this reputation as the big strong Lone Star State.

-he has SH scars on his wrists, sides, and thighs. They vary from blade marks, to cigarette burns, to even scratches.

-he hates all of his scars so, so much and sees them as nothing but a sign of his weakness and inability to defend himself.

-Texas is also kinda insecure about the little bit of pudge on his lower belly, hips, and thighs. What makes it worse is that he can't really help it. Especially the stomach pudge cuz that's just where his uterus is. Does he know this? Yes. Is he still insecure? Yes.

-he often binds too long or forgets that he has his binder on until it's too late and there is severe bruising and even minor bleeding underneath the band. Along with breathing difficulties.

-^to make the breathing difficulties thing worse, he has asthma :)

——————

[healthychildrenbook]

The Joy of Listening: Exploring Children Books with Audio

In today’s fast-paced digital world, children's literature has evolved significantly, incorporating audio elements that enhance the reading experience. The rise of Children Books with Audio has transformed the way young readers engage with stories, enhancing their reading experience while catering to diverse learning styles.  This blog post delves into the benefits of audiobooks for children, highlights popular titles, and offers guidance on selecting the right audiobooks to enrich your child's literary journey.

Why Children Books with Audio Matter

1. Accessibility and Inclusivity

Audiobooks serve as an invaluable resource for children who may struggle with traditional reading methods. For young readers with dyslexia, visual impairments, or other learning challenges, audiobooks offer an alternative way to enjoy stories without the barriers of text. This accessibility allows children to explore a broader range of literature, including complex narratives that they might not yet be able to read independently.

2. Enhancing Listening Skills

Listening to audiobooks helps children develop critical listening skills. They learn to focus on the spoken word, which can improve their comprehension and retention abilities. This auditory engagement is essential for early literacy development as it helps children connect sounds with words and understand narrative structures.

3. Stimulating Imagination

Audiobooks encourage children to visualize characters and settings in their minds, fostering creativity and imagination. Unlike print books that provide illustrations, audiobooks prompt listeners to create their own mental images based on the narrative, enhancing their imaginative capabilities.

4. Supporting Language Development

Exposure to audiobooks enriches children's vocabulary and language skills. They hear fluent reading models that demonstrate proper pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. This exposure not only boosts their vocabulary but also aids in developing their oral reading fluency.

5. Building Lifelong Love for Stories

Audiobooks might instill a lifelong love for stories in children by rendering tales more interesting and within arm's reach. Invariably, children enjoy listening to the same story repeatedly, which enforces their knowledge of story lines and themes while creating the process of reading a lot of fun rather than burdensome24.

Popular Children Books with Audio

The market for children's audiobooks has expanded dramatically, with various titles catering to different interests and age groups. Some standout selections that have really worked well with young listeners include:

1. Chub B. Bear: Walk With a Friend

This happy story tells the adventures of Chub B. Bear, which especially emphasizes friendship and company. The interesting way of telling the story also makes this heartwarming to listen to, especially for the young.

2. Eddy the Ape: Tells How He Lost His Weight

Eddy's story to becoming healthy and fit is exciting and insightful. This audiobook teaches children fun, healthy ways to begin the journey towards a more active lifestyle by listening to a great storyline.

3. Floppy Flamingo: At Last She Grows Feathers

This story helps in showing persistence and believes that one could do just that. Its enthusiastic voice tells this engaging story of cheering little victories for this child.

4. Gloria Gator: Slow But Steady Wins The Race

This is the amazing story of Gloria Gator, that being slow but steady indeed wins the race. Gloria Gator is an exciting audiobook, narrated with vigor and full of important lessons in life.

5. Invasion of The Pudge

This comic tale about the difficulties to be encountered is a great and exciting read for kids which helps them understand how resilience is a tool and adapting ability is necessary.

6. Norman Slopoke Johnson: How To Live a Healthy Life

Norman Slopoke Johnson: the fun-filled narration that shows a practical life to healthy living is quite interesting to a child. The audio will lead the child to select appropriate choices for daily life.

7. Rodney the Raccoon: Don't Take What's Not Yours

Rodney's activities illustrate the value of honesty and respect in friendships for young readers. The use of engaging storytelling makes this important lesson memorable for children to learn.

8. Vinny the Fish: Swims For a Healthy Dish

In Vinny's aquatic journey, children learn healthy food choices in an entertaining way by making nutrition more accessible through storytelling for them.

9. Woodrow the Woodchuck: Take Good Care of Your Teeth

Woodrow's dental adventures educate children on oral hygiene in an exciting and easy-to-relate way, helping them have good oral care as they enjoy the book.

Selecting the Best Audiobook

Here are some key factors to keep in mind when selecting the best audiobooks for your child:

1. Age Suitability

Choose a suitable age for your child; most audiobooks will state the age recommendation to choose the best book.

2. Interests and Genres

Engage your child's interests by exploring genres they enjoy—be it adventure, fantasy, or educational content—and select audiobooks that resonate with these preferences.

3. Narration Quality

The success of an audiobook sometimes depends on its narration quality. Look for titles narrated by professional voice actors or authors themselves; captivating narration can significantly enhance the listening experience.

4. Length and Format

Choose books based on what fits your child's listening attention span and habit. A short story will definitely do for young children. Longer stories may engage kids longer when they have quiet time at home or in prolonged travels.

Future of Audiobooks to Children

The future of children's audiobooks looks bright as the advancement of technology continues. The more accessible these resources are, the brighter this future is. With thousands of titles available through Audible, there's never been an easier time for parents to discover quality audiobooks for their children.

Moreover, enhanced audiobooks are being produced by many publishers that combine narration with sound effects and music, making them even more immersive for young listeners24. As educational institutions increasingly incorporate audiobooks into their curricula, there is growing recognition of their value as essential learning tools rather than just entertainment options.

Conclusion

Children's books with audio represent a great leap forward in how we share stories with young readers today. They enhance listening skills, foster imagination, support independent reading habits, and provide accessibility for all children—regardless of their reading abilities.

With popular titles like "Chub B. Bear: Walk With a Friend" and "Eddy the Ape: Shows How He Lost His Weight," there's no shortage of engaging content for kids to explore via audiobooks. By embracing this format as part of your child's reading journey, you open a world full of possibilities that enrich the literary experience and nurture a lifelong love for stories.For families eager to discover more of this wonderful world, Healthy Children Books will provide an excellent audio book selection for their young listeners, ensuring every little one can enjoy listening to and learning from stories.

[holidaytorment]

saw the nationals beat the yankees tonight which was very good (fuck the yankees). the nationals have a nice park which was neat to see and i did enjoy the fact that it was also in dc proper (went to the commanders game on sunday out in landover and it was a bad time at a bad stadium)

but wandering around the park did make me think some thoughts:

the washington nationals fly four flags at the park, each representing a pennant won by a washington baseball team: the 2019 national league pennant won by the nationals, and three american league pennants won by the washington senators (1927, 1929, and 1933). to me this seems like the nationals are trying to claim the senators' pennants, which to me is trifling at best, especially considering the senators are still around (as the minnesota twins). that they don't claim either the 1927 and 1929 world series wins i would say means that they think they can get away with it.

the nationals also have a ring of honor, which is standard for many sports teams in north america as a way of acknowledging the impact of certain people (usually players, but often including a team's first/longest (and probably most racist) owner). the nationals include frank robinson (as manager) and ivan "pudge" rodriguez in this ring of honor, despite both only being with the team for one year. the other three people from the nationals in the ring of honor include ted lerner (former owner, see earlier), jayson werth, and ryan zimmerman (who actually got his number retired). no comment on these three because their inclusion is understandable. frank robinson and pudge are great but i don't understand why they're there.

also included in the ring of honor are the following montreal expos players; gary carter, andre dawson, tim raines. these players played a combined zero games in washington dc. tim raines had never even visited the city until he was added. to me this is a kick in the dick to any expos fans that still remain out there. the nationals also sell expos merchandise in the team store

also included in the ring of honor are ten players from the washington senators (1901-1960) and two players from the washington senators (1961-1971). i am not planning to check but i would bet a significant amount of money that most of these players were dead by the time the nationals first started playing (harmon killebrew was still alive at the time for sure). none of their numbers are retired (and some of the earlier players, such as walter johnson, predated numbering players) but this seems trifling as well.

and included in the ring of honor are six players from the homestead grays of various negro leagues from the early 20th century. i don't think this is trifling. i flatly just think this is insulting.

i think the nationals would be well suited to building a "museum of dc baseball" adjacent or attached to the park. it would allow them to talk about the history of baseball in dc (and why two teams moved in quick succession) while allowing them to feel like part of that history. including the homestead grays in this museum would not feel as patronizing, either.

[slaughter-books]

My November, 2021 book haul!

❤🧡💛💚💙💜

[spencerlouis]

Could you do one where its moreid and Morgan didn't really notice Spencer had gotten chubby throughout the years of them dating. And when he does notice (maybe someone mentions it to him), he accidentally makes Spencer insecure

Morgan laughed as he joked with a couple fellow agents as they left the gym. 

“Next time you should bring that boyfriend of yours,” Agent Johnson joked.

Morgan furrowed his brows, “Spencer? Why? He hates this kind of stuff.” 

Agent Riley laughed, “yeah, we can tell. He could use the exercise.”

At that Morgan stopped walking, “what are you talking about?” 

“Come on, man. Don’t pretend you haven't noticed that he’s gotten pretty chunky,” Johnson said as they reached his car and waved goodbye to him. 

Morgan entered his car after saying a quick goodbye and began the drive home, his thoughts running wild. What did they mean Spencer had gotten chunky? Morgan hadn’t noticed Spencer gaining any weight. 

Morgan arrived home, “Spencer!” he called out, receiving no reply. He knew this meant Spencer was probably absorbed in something in his library/office. Morgan opened the door to Spencer’s library, he was right. Spencer was hovered over the desk, flipping through a book and taking notes, his brows furrowed. Morgan took this opportunity to study Spencer’s body, he hadn’t for a long time and he was shocked. Spencer had a plush tummy that was pressed snugly against his sweater vest, thick thighs, and rounded cheeks. Morgan wanted to feel Spencer and see him without a shirt, so he could truly take in how much his body had changed. How could he have not noticed? Morgan kept questioning in his head. Maybe it was because he saw Spencer everyday so he didn’t notice him slowly gaining weight overtime. 

Morgan walked over and gave his boyfriend's shoulder a little squeeze, “Spencer,” he whispered. Spencer jumped and turned to glare at him. Morgan chuckled, “I called you.” 

Spencer blushed, “I didn’t hear you. I was caught up in researching some stuff.”

“Of course you were.” Morgan shook his head fondly and placed his hands on Spencer’s hips, feeling his love handles. Spencer’s cheeks turned slightly pink at the placement of his boyfriend's hands. 

~

Over the next few weeks Morgan couldn’t help but stare at Spencer’s body and pinch at his pudge. Spencer had noticed this and began to wonder if maybe Morgan was trying to hint at him that he wanted him to lose some weight. 

One day Morgan came up to him and said, “Come on, Oinkie, dinner’s ready.” The nickname had slipped out without Morgan even realizing it, but Spencer did. He froze and ducked his head.

“Spence, what’s wrong?” Morgan asked when Spencer didn’t follow him. 

“If you wanted me to lose weight you could have just said so,” Spencer mumbled, crossing his arms over his chubby tummy and avoiding Morgan’s eyes.

Morgan’s eyes widened, “why would you think I wanted you to lose weight? I love your body.” 

“Then why do you keep pinching at my chub and staring at my belly,” Sp[encer asked, insecurly. 

Morgan chuckled, “maybe, because I love your body so much, I can't keep my hands off of you.” He emphasized his point by giving Spencer’s tummy a jiggle. 

Spencer blushed, “are you sure? I mean I can go on a diet.” 

“Of course I’m sure,” Morgan assured him, “I love your body no matter what and would never want you to change it,” he said, bringing Spencer close to him and smiling when Spencer’s soft stomach touched his toned one.

If anyone wants to send me chubby Louis Tomlinson or chubby Spencer Reid concepts, ideas, or requests you can. The only thing I don’t want is anything with full on s3x and outright f33derism. Any ship is fine as well.

Also feel free to ask me questions as long as they are respectful

[theultimatefan]

Iconic, Award-Winning Sports Pop Culture Artist John Costacos Unveils New Blockchain-based Digital Collectibles Company

Iconic, award-winning pop culture artist John Costacos, who established a genre of sports art with his famed sports personality poster creations, along with co-founder and CEO Justin Moorad and Digital Art Director Mike Campau, today unveiled a new blockchain-based digital collectibles company, the Costacos Collection.

The Costacos Collection is partnering with an initial lineup of legendary NFL, MLB, and NBA players and their charitable foundations, including Warren Moon, Troy Aikman, Pudge Rodriguez, Jim McMahon, Roger Clemens, Will Clark, and others to be announced in the coming weeks. The Costacos Collection - the predecessor of which sold over 30,000,000 posters from 1986-96 - utilizes the blockchain medium to help the world’s greatest athletes capture their most significant moments, tell their most meaningful stories, and create new digital experiences to connect with fan communities. In addition to re-imagining John’s revered poster art, the Costacos Collection is creating new digital art as NFTs, with the tokens serving as the ticket to the company’s upcoming Hall of Fame Metaverse.

The Topps Company will also be a partner of the Collection, drawing on content from its vast historical archives and working with Costacos to create new content with Topps’ current-athlete partners.

CostacosCollection.com will serve as the gateway to the company’s listings as well as post-sale experiences, which will include communities and experiences exclusive to NFT owners. The company plans to fill the gap where Big Tech’s social media has failed: enabling fans to connect with and support their heroes directly. Through community engagement features, museum-style social displays, games, raffles and giveaways, trading and staking based on live and AI-generated sporting events, and the bridging of the digital with physical items and events, the company is pursuing a vision not held back by any one particular partnership or association.

“We believe in the long-term power of the technology,” said CEO Justin Moorad. “With a chain-agnostic approach, we’re able to form partnerships across the ecosystem - from the highest-quality art minted securely on Ethereum, to games built on Solana, to opportunities for proprietary fungible tokens, the Costacos Collection is building technology that positions our athletes at the center of the evolving landscape.”

John Costacos’ posters included imagery, slogans, and nicknames that stuck with players for the rest of their careers, including his first poster, Kenny Easley’s “The Enforcer,” the Oakland A’s “Bash Brothers,” Charles Barkley’s “Get Off My Backboard,” Jerry Rice’s “Goldfingers,” Michael Jordan’s “Space, The Final Frontier,” Joe Montana’s “The Golden Great,” Jim McMahon’s “Mad Mac,” Walter Payton’s “Chicago Vice,” Rickey Henderson’s “Man of Steal,” Troy Aikman’s “Strong Arm of the Law,” and many others with athletes such as Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Ken Griffey Jr., Bo Jackson, John Elway, Dominique Wilkins, and Magic Johnson. In addition to working with legacy athletes, Costacos will create new digital artwork with a growing number of today’s future Hall of Famers, Rookies of the Year, and Heisman-level college athletes.

"As an athlete of color and an entrepreneur, and as someone with roots in Seattle personally and professionally, nothing exuded cool more than a Costacos poster,” said Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon. “The Costacos Collection will now be able to recapture that cool in digital art, which is going to be fun for all the veteran athletes from all sports who became part of his 'must have collection' as well as for a new generation who will be engaging with this unique artwork for the first time. It's an honor to be part of this unveiling."

“My relationship with every athlete came from listening to their creative process and thinking of what we, as fans, would want to see, and that process has never really changed over the years,” Costacos said. “The growth of digital technology gives us an exciting chance not just to offer pieces in digital form, but to take them and retell the story with the athlete’s input now 20 years later, along with all-new digital art pieces.”

“John Costacos and his artwork helped expand the reach of the most legendary athletes of a generation to fans who knew us for being in unique artwork sometimes more than what we did on the field,” said Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez. “Now being able to revisit that artwork as NFTs will open new doors for fans who can collect the pieces yet again. I know for the LatinX audience that craves connecting with its heroes, this will be a fun and unique experience that should open more opportunities for NFTs as well."

[phvrvohxo]

Birthday review.

hey guys, welcome back to my youtube channel. today were gonna review my **nd birthday that happened yesterday. Let's start off by how unenthused i am about birthdays compared to most. Either way the show must go on. Starting off with a bang hours before midnight, my state of the art smartphone, a brand everyone dies for stopped working. in an attempt to be more stoic about the situation i did some push up & figured its best if i didn't even bother to fix it & use that as motivation to make some art. An uneventful 5 hrs of dreams later i rose from the cousin of death with the never ending excruciating pain that seems to get worse day by day in my back. Made arrangements for lunch in the city, it was a quick in & out mission. back home with the day nearing to an end i decided to venture out to some bar, as i am trying to cut out substances from my life i just figured on hot dragon might seal off the day. getting out the taxi i had to admire for two seconds the mural that was outside of the bar before stepping in. in a romper filled with illustrations of ice creams sitting on a wooden stool, was the bartender.

"look deso, the menu deh pon the white board."

muddled, i told her that is a dragon mi want...

"ohhhhhhhhhhh"

she got up to go in the bar allowing me to see her round batty jaw dem fi have a staring contest with. she was about 5'3, dark complexion, two tattoos on her arm & a little belly pudge like she was pregnant recently. there was no one really in the bar so i just chopped it up with her. i knew it was demon time when she kept reaching for my hand laughing. so, i did a hesi, and made a shot. we went to the bathroom, she said there was a leakage somewhere & asked if i could look at it to figure out what was wrong. i aint no plumber but something was about to get some pipe. which brings us to todays sponson, the magic johnson trojan condoms, for when your out and about with women of the night an need an assist, magic is all you need.

just another adventure in the streets, mission accomplished. returned to base & read all through the night.

[queercomicsuniverse]

History Changing Artists Pt 2!

Hey y’all! Here is the promised part 2! There will be more parts of the history changing artists, but if you have suggestions you can send me a message or repost!

Joe Johnson USA

So, as I was trying to find the history and the life of Joe Johnson, there wasn’t really a lot of sources that talked abut his life. He was known for his amazing gag strips Miss Thing and Big Dick in the 60s and 70s. They were featured in The Advocate, the oldest LGBT-interest magazine which was founded in 1967! 

He was an inspiration for Howard Cruse, Donelan, Sean, and many more! 

Mary Wings USA (1949)

Mary Wings is the lesbian icon for the comic world. She created her own comics to combat the heterosexism in feminist underground comics. She self published the first lesbian comic book in 1973 called Come Out Comix for Wimmen’s Comix, which was created to give a platform to women in the heavily male-dominated comic world. 

She yearned from feminine freedom and moved to San Francisco where the queer scene was booming! Her biggest inspiration for creating the lesbian experience written by and for lesbians was after reading Trina Robbins Sandy Come Out (1970) and realized how absolutely dry Sandy’s coming out process was. It was simplified and was portrayed like an easy decision, when in fact it is not. Her comic was described as the first queer comic that wasn’t erotic or derogatory which was a big step!

She is best known for her detective series showing Emma Victor who is the lesbian protagonist called Divine Victim (1992). 

She became a big inspiration for more queer female artists to produce their own comics. Like Roberta Gregory’s Dynamite Damsels (1976) and Lee Mars The Further Fattening Adventures of Pudge, Girl Blimp (1975) which featured the first openly bisexual character! We love representation!

Stay tuned for the next two artists!

Bye Bi!

-(❁´◡`❁)

Sources:

Joe Johnson

http://gaycomicslist.free.fr/blog/index.php/2005/01/a-sean-interview.html

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Johnson_(cartoonist)

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1960s-joe-johnson-gay-1883493866

https://bookriot.com/2016/05/05/beyond-bechdel-a-brief-history-of-queer-comics/

https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2017/12/11/rise-queer-comics/

image: http://www.postmodernbarney.com/2005/03/i-went-to-palm-springs-for-weekend.html

Mary Wings

https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2017/12/11/rise-queer-comics/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mary-wings-created-first-lesbian-comic-book_n_5b23d937e4b0d4fc01fdd783

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/w/mary-wings/

image: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mary-wings-created-first-lesbian-comic-book_n_5b23d937e4b0d4fc01fdd783

[withlovecyrine]

Let It Snow

Last weekend.

About 3-4 Autums ago, I bought my very own copy of Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle from Kyobo — the largest and one of the popular bookstores in South Korea. But I didn’t start reading right away; I waited for Winter. Just imagine my giddiness when snow was finally falling! Hahaha!

When it snowed outside, I made sure that my room was warm enough so that I could leave the window ajar to let the Winter’s chilly breeze in while I read. Lakas makapacosy diba? Hahaha! Hilason ug very very light. LOL!

Unlike Paper Towns, the movie version of Let It Snow did not disappoint me. I watched the entire movie without skipping scenes.

(Is it just me or boring/dragging scenes would make you wanna kill the fastforward button?)

Although I was excited to watch the movie version of the book that’s co-authored by my favorite YA writer, John Green, I didn’t get my hopes up when I saw the trailer on Facebook because I didn’t want to go back to how I felt after watching Paper Towns. But I had faith that Netflix won’t screw this up so 50/50 lang akong pagka-excite. And boy, I LOVED IT. Would I watch it again? No. Charot! OF COURSE I WOULD!

I haven’t seen Looking for Alaska yet. I watched the teaser when it came out and… I don’t know what to feel about it. I can sense that I won’t watch the miniseries. Maybe because I want to preserve the book-version universe of Pudge and Alaska inside my head when I first read it. I guess I do not want it to be replaced with how the miniseries portrayed their world. Or maybe I’d change my mind and download it. I’m a little bit fickle minded sometimes, you know. Haha!

Again, I will not set my expectations too high. Yet I am hoping that I’m not gonna cry out of frustration and great disappointment when the credits would start rolling in the end.

[gatsby-system-folks]

Been meaning to do this for a while, but here's a bunch of Sanguine art

[dtbookworm]

“We will die flinging ourselves at each other. But it might be that we will both burn hotly and happily and throughly until there’s nothing left of us.” A wonderful set of short stories by Barb Johnson. Delia, Pudge, Dooley, and Luis will have you in awe, leave you waiting for their chance to experience a different world than their own. #bookstagram #book #books #writingcommunity #writing #bookaholic #bookworm #booknerd #bibliophile #shortstories #fiction #fictionbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CDg3VQhlHe1/?igshid=14vraouft3dw1

[chromium-siren]

Phasma and Hux drabble. Their first holiday meal together is a disaster. The main dish is charred. The cats have gotten into the one of the side dishes. Another side dish is undercooked. Family and friends either canceled last minute or arrive late, and at least one is unquestionably tipsy. And to top it of, in a flash, Pudge runs past with part of the decoration in his mouth knocking over a vase.

OMG, this is going to be fun! It was here. The eleventh hour. The one they had prepared for all month. The reckoning. Christmas Day. While Bing Crosby played softly in the background, and lights from the Christmas tree softly danced on the surface of the piano, the living room looked like a calm, all-American scene Norman Rockwell would've painted. The kitchen, on the other hand, was a hot mess. Phasma was in a panic, shoving mashed potatoes into the microwave with an agility that defies description, while calling out to Hux, who opened the oven to find their ham was charred. "Darling, Mitaka's still in Hawaii, and Ren has the flu. And, oh God, my cousin Angelica is coming. I hope she doesn't show up drunk," she said, pressing buttons rapidly as Millicent hopped onto the kitchen counter. "Don't worry, darling, we can work it out- Millicent, no! Bad kitty!" Milly and Pudge managed to get into the stuffing, much to Hux's dismay. It seemed that the smell of the sausage lured the cats onto the counter and into the stuffing. Fortunately, there was a Plan B- precooked stuffing! Thank goodness it could be whipped up in five minutes, so Phasma stopped the microwave and sent the stuffing flying in. Fortunately, there were only a few minor things to clean up around the dining room area. Hux packed up his saxophone and ran the case and stand up to the bedroom (he prayed that no one would demand a concert, he just did not want to play), and decided to display the wedding and honeymoon pictures instead. Sure enough, the doorbell rang, and the microwave beeped. They were here. Phasma mumbled a silent prayer and opened the door."Alright, ladies, let's get freaky!!!" someone yelled. In through the door stumbled another tall blonde, but with wavy hair in uneven pink streaks and wearing a tacky fake (we hope it was fake) fur coat and Betsey Johnson knockoff sunglasses. In one hand, she carried a Betsey Johnson purse and in the other was half a bottle of rosé. Behind her came a portly redhaired man, grumbling softly to himself, followed by a slender woman who looked like she did not want to be there. Two more people, a handsome gentleman and a lady who looked like an elderly Marilyn Monroe (Phasma's parents), walked right in, along with another redheaded young man (Techie)."Merry Christmas, everyone!" Hux said, almost hesitantly as they came in. "Hey sexy," the tacky blonde said, cozying up to Hux. "I'm Angelica, Gwen's cousin. Wanna get drunk?" she slurred, offering the bottle to him. "Tempting, but no thanks," he said, pushing her slightly away before hurrying back to the kitchen. "Are the potatoes ready?" he asked desperately. "Yes, thank God. I'll get the ham," Phasma said, getting out the new batch of stuffing and the ham, balancing them precariously. Once again, the redhaired man began to grumble. "Armitage, this ham is charred! What sort of nonsense is this?!" "B-but Dad, it's-" "Hush, now, Techie, I was speaking to Armitage!" "Don't fret, son, we can resolve this," the older Marilyn Monroe said, patting Hux's shoulder. He smiled slightly- at least Phasma's parents had sympathy for him. Phasma set down the potatoes, and clapped her hands together, relieved to finally get the meal ready. "Dinner is served!" she said, half triumphant, half exhausted. Unfortunately, the mashed potatoes were undercooked- made obvious by the potato flakes in it! The dinner went on normally, until there was a loud CRASH! from the living room. With a start, Hux got up- and found none other than Pudge barrelling through the dining room- and straight into a porcelain vase! Immediately, he grabbed the broom and began cleaning it up, as the cat, terrified from the loud noise, hopped onto the couch for safety. Angelica laughed loudly and took another swig of wine, which made Phasma wonder how the hell she got to their house anyway. "Hey Huxy, ya gonna play somethin'?" she slurred, which caused Phasma to shoot a glare at her. Their first Christmas as a married couple turned out to be a huge fluke. She just admitted defeat and crashed onto the couch, giving herself in to watching the cartoon Grinch, the OG Grinch, steal stuff of a Christmas tree on the TV. "Love? Are you okay?" "Babe, I hoped this Christmas would be perfect, but it's ruined. A disaster!" she wailed, burying her tear-streaked face into his forest green sweater. "Doll, listen to me. I don't care about how the dinner turned out, or any of that crap. All that matters is that we're all together as a family, and I'm here with you. Gwen, you are the best thing that ever happened to me. Honest. And besides- the peach cobbler is intact!" he said, smiling at her as the oven dinged, filling the kitchen with the fragrant scent of peaches. So, even if the dinner turned out to be a flop, at least the dessert was a success.

[lendurr]

Tan Ball Bonus sets

All of our G bonus teams & leagues. Gold.

From the Specialists & SOM. These releases are, just like the official G releases & made by that same cast, "major league equivalent" so you can confidently incorporate these G teams historically with the relevant ML or G teams, play them as stand-alone, or in whatever way you please. A comment or expression of interest wouldn’t be amiss.

1900 Giants (2)

Around the (previous) turn of century the 2 premier teams of black ball were true Giants, Cuban-X & Page Fence.

A snapshot of these players from a few contiguous years surrounding the turn of the 20th century. Not enough game data & lore survives to restrict our facsimile to a single year, but this is not is a "hero" version of these players' career. Some of these men are captured in the flush of tender youth, with more to be seen of them in the 1908 set. Some are long in the tooth in baseball years, having spent their majority in the 1880s & earlier 1890s. Those men are as they were circa 1900, so for some not near their best. But for many, we're finally able to see them for the exceptionally skilled athletes they truly were.

http://pc.cd/UfGctalK

* This 1900 release requires the 1900 ML season authorization code. The 1900 ML league is great value- it includes the AL.

http://www.strat-o-matic.com/product/1900-baseball-season-roster/

1906 Grand Central Giants

Frank Grant, post 40, could still draw a crowd in NY & could still hold his own with the young ‘uns, if no longer dominate them. He’s joined by Jesse Bragg & Bill Land in giving the strong Philadelphia & Boston town teams some tough competition.

http://u.pc.cd/dkk7

Please move the cards in FA to the 190698.

1911 Barnstormers

Baseball pioneers, this "team" shines a light on a bunch of players who plied their trade outside of the then small group of the blackball "mainstream."

http://pc.cd/3BbctalK

1914 Barnstormers

Some interesting names are included. The best of the All Nations- John Donaldson and Jose Mendez and Frank Blattner, are here.

http://pc.cd/jHQotalK

The 1915 Florida Hotel League

Ed, who’s never stayed in The Breakers, provides this companion piece. Cyclone Joe, Spot Poles, Lyons, Donaldson, Santop, Hall, Handy, & 3 Taylor brothers.

http://pc.cd/2BV

You need 1915G to authorize.

1916 Columbus Easters

Another of our Barnstormers. Hurley McNair, Edgar Wesley, Joe Scotland, & Jack Marshall are a few of these featured “near-westerners” who plied their trade outside the more well known outfits of the day, from Ohio to parts further west & south. 32 players exclusive to this team.

                                      + PLUS +

The 1916 Florida Hotel League

The Purple Moose compiled this baseball clash of the ritzy Palm Beach hotels, post season. Rube, Pop, Oscar, Spots, Bingo, John Preston, Zack, Smoke, Cannonball & String, plus a ton more right off the 1916G playing fields. 

http://pc.cd/Nho

You need 1916G & 1917G to authorize the FHL.

The 1917 Florida Hotel League

Much of the same cast as in ‘16 appear. While the tournament was a treat for those fortunate enough to relax in the splendorous surroundings, for the players this was no busman’s holiday. Money was at stake, never mind reputation. The participants were expected to go at the opposition full tilt.

http://pc.cd/ne3

You need 1916G, 1917G & 1920G to authorize the FHL.

1918 Leland Giants

There was so much baseball being played around the heartland that there was plenty of talent for a 2nd & competitive Giants. Bennett, Blackwell, Beckwith, McAdoo, Gatewood, Drake, School Boy.

http://u.pc.cd/HQprtalK

Please move the cards in FA to the 191898.

1919 Barnstormers

We know you’ll want this as it includes the legendary 25th Wreckers army ballclub. Cap Rogan, Cooper, Johnson, McNair, Moore all not in the main set as they served. But you didn’t want to be without these stars. Here they face off with the Jewels of Beckwith, Jeffries, Pudge & The Rabbit.

http://u.pc.cd/PSF7

Please copy the Bullet Rogan batting card to the 191998 “league.”

1921 Barnstormers

Homestead Grays had been around for ‘bout a decade, with the early 20′s the time they began to raise their profile & their talent level above local town & company teams. Cum Posey was always a better basketballer than outfielder; he was an even better organizer & promoter. He had a keen eye for talented ballplayers, & Western PA was loaded back then: Oscar Owens, Lefty Williams, Mo Harris & Jap Washington feature.

Cuban teams became a popular touring attraction over the first 2 decades. Whoever filled the roster that year would play smart and whole hearted ball so promoters liked to book them as folks would come out to watch. These All Cubans feature Isidro Fabre,  Alejandro Oms, Jose Maria Fernandez, Ramiro Ramirez.

http://u.pc.cd/Xb8ctalK

Please move the cards in FA to the 192198.

1924 Homestead Grays

Just like our 1927 Bonus of the Grays team, though unlike in 1927 this season’s group didn’t raid the Leagues. But injuries did hinder this touring outfit so we supplement, as did Posey, with a few off the Pittsburgh Giants & Keystones ballpark.

http://u.pc.cd/6zQotalK

1927 Homestead Grays

The Homestead travelers are a worthy addition to the main set.

http://pc.cd/VWbctalK

1928 Giants (2)

Joe Green’s Giants from Chicago, & Ben Gates’ revived Giants of St. Louis. Dobie Moore dragged his busted up dead leg through who knows how painful a barrier to play the game he couldn’t let go of. He could still hit! A young Lefty Tiant hooked up for a stretch with the ‘Loos. Plenty of names here that you’ll be glad to trot out onto your field of dreams.

http://u.pc.cd/gzlrtalK

Please move the cards in FA to the 192898.

1932 Barnstormers

Brooklyn Royal Giants was a well established club, entering its 4th decade as a drawing card in the north east. No longer level with the top teams, its players could still earn decent summer wages playing for the Brooks. That’s why you find the likes of pitcher/manager Dick Redding, Huck Rile, Jake Spearman, Babe Melton, Irvin Brooks wearing the royal blue.

Cuban Stars, of course, was barnstorming again this summer. Between North America & the Carib these cats played year round. Quite a decent side with the well regarded “Oscar” (Oscar Levis), Al Oms, Cando Lopez, & led by the whip smart catcher JM Fernandez.

John Donaldson had paid his dues by playing everywhere, and with and against everyone. He assembled a star team of his own to take across  towns mid west & up into Canada, welcomed as a favorite son. Still doing double duty at 41. Joined by Lefty Ligon, Hurley McNair, Eddie Dwight & Marvin Barker.

http://u.pc.cd/yNlctalK

Please move the cards in FA to the 193298.

1933 Barnstormers

The Monarchs & the Bacharachs. Allen, Brewer, Giles, Joseph, Young, & Cooper & Rogan again for KC. Burbage, Carr, Cockrell, Stone, & Winters for the Phillies.

http://pc.cd/06jrtalK

Please copy the Bullet Rogan batting card to the 193398.

1936 Barnstormers

The NY Black Crusaders & the Philadelphia Bacharachs. Both were road teams. The Crusaders ventured further afield, while the Bacharachs (a west Philly based new iteration of the old AC set) trod the northeast playing, primarily, on the white semi-pro circuit. We sprinkle in a few of JM Fernandez’ Cuban Stars & some Mohawk Giants to allow us to roster up for an 80 game schedule. Most of the contestants will be known to the G aficionados, & of course there’s also Beckwith, Hensley, Lundy, Holloway, & old man Redding here too.

http://u.pc.cd/UqpotalK

1937 Dominican League

A reflection of the top caliber Negro & Carribean baseball hotly contested summer season in the Dominican Republic. Many of the top players went AWOL from the Negro League to contest this high stake championship series. Alongside were the best and brightest of the Carrib talent quite a few who are carded only in this package. We call this 2 team set Paige’s All Star League.

http://u.pc.cd/mWs

You must own the 1937G to use this.

1938 Barnstormers

Two mainly east coast road teams, Beckwith’s Brooklyn Royal Giants & Pompez’ Cuban Stars (Havana Cubans). The Brooks, a team with a long pedigree in black ball & still able to attract the crowds with its quality of player- Lundy, Hawk, Country Jake, Sardo, & Boss Beckwith. The Cubans were good travelers distances long & short. Sungo Carreras, Cando & Vargas provided the hits while Tiant, Poppa, & the Profesor denied.

http://u.pc.cd/bowitalK

Please copy the batting cards of Gisentaner, Diaz & Fabre to 193898.

1943 St. Louis/Harrisburg War Bond Bombers

After a shaky start in St. Louis, a patriotic Gus Greenlee reintroduced himself to the baseball scene by moving & sponsoring this war bond promoting outfit. Not the most talented side that Greenlee ever associated with, but their heart & their loyalty, if not always reciprocated by a segregated public, was admirable.

http://u.pc.cd/eqGitalK

Please move the cards in FA to the 194398.

1943 Inter-racial Barnstormers

8 games from late October/early November, played in California & featuring ML stars (Pafko, Metkovich, Stephens, Peanuts & Bobo) vs high caliber Negro stars (Satch, Buck, James Bell, Booker, Radcliffe, Ankleball).

http://u.pc.cd/idirtalK

Ed includes a Read with background, & notifies that you must own the following to use: 1933ML, 1935ML, 1937ML, 1938ML,1942ML, 1942G, 1943 ML,1943G,1945G, 1945ML, 1947G, 1949ML

1944 Pittsburgh Crawfords

Gus Greenlee’s attempt at a real comeback after his serious money and health issues. In 1945 he’d margin his Craws into the Rickey/Greenlee USL, which we feature at the Bonus page. In 1944 he had the Craws storming around the east. As his pocketbook started to refill he would spend some of that flush on pinching players from other League teams. His adversarial relationship with many of those nobs still strong.

http://pc.cd/VHQotalK

Along with 4 new cards we borrow heavily from the 1945G set for players, so you’ll need to own the 1945G set as well as the 1944G.

1945 United States League

Messrs. Branch Rickey and Gus Greenlee, impresarios. Here represented by two teams, the Pittsburgh "Brown Bombers" vs the Brooklyn "Globetrotters".

http://u.pc.cd/9ER

1945 Inter-racial Barnstormers

Ed’s recreated the 5 game series between Biz Mackey’s Negro stars vs Charlie Dressen’s ML stars. 5 games at Wrigley in LA plus 1 at Ebbets Field (BP ratings incl.)

http://u.pc.cd/idirtalK

Ed includes a Read with background, & notifies that you must own the following to use: 1943ML, 1945G, 1945ML.

Thanks very much to Todd Peterson, Retrosheet, & Ed our favorite Purple Moose.

1946 USL Stars

The United States League was a short-lived alternative to the Negro baseball establishment. This all star group is a team of players dominated by those from Allen Johnson’s Boston Blues, George Armstrong’s Brooklyn Brown Dodgers, & some of Gus Greenlee’s Pittsburgh Crawfords, who played under the watching eyes of Branch Rickey.

http://u.pc.cd/piQ

{Cut the 5 pitchers on the Pitchers to 98 “team” & paste them into the 194698 “league”. Then delete that Pitchers to 98 “team.”}

1947 Detroit Senators

Gus Welch, a pretty good ballplayer but a very sharp manager, organized this western road team. Not the most talented but able to give the American Giants & the Clowns some pretty tough contests. But never the Monarchs, a class above. If you miss Cool Papa & the Radcliffes in the main set, you’re in luck.

http://u.pc.cd/GtA

Please copy the batting cards of Gipson, Markham, Parker, & Radcliffe to 194798.

1947 Inter-racial Barnstormers

Ed’s recreated the 8 game series between the Kansas City (mostly Monarchs) Royals vs Bob Feller’s ML star team, in California. 

http://u.pc.cd/C3l7

Ed includes a Read with background, & notifies that you must own the following to use: 1946ML, 1947ML, 1945G, 1947G.

Thanks very much to Todd Peterson, Retrosheet, & Ed our favorite Purple Moose.

1948 Harlem (baseball) Globetrotters

Once there was this barnstorming baseball "brand", too. This is a hybrid team, because we added some Mexico returnees (Easterling, Clarkson) with a few vagabonds (Bell, Radcliffe).

http://u.pc.cd/23w7

1948 Inter-racial Barnstormers

Ed’s recreated the 6 game series between the Kansas City (mostly Monarchs) Royals vs a mostly ML star team (that includes Jackie Robinson & a few minor leaguers). 5 games at Wrigley in LA plus 1 at San Diego’s Lane Field (BP ratings incl.) Bob Lemon vs Satchel Paige- let’s f go!

http://u.pc.cd/RQi

Ed includes a Read with background, & notifies that you must own the following to use: 1948ML, 1948G, 1942ML. 

Thanks very much to Todd Peterson, Retrosheet, & Ed our favorite Purple Moose.

1949 Barnstormers

The Homestead Grays, Cum having passed on so under the watch of See Posey, & the Harlem Globetrotters (baseball), in an 80 game Negro American Association competition. Sprinkled in a couple of Black Yankee Travellers & New Orleans Creoles as well. Sam Bankhead’s Grays feature Leonard who is still the man @ 1B, alongside Partlow, Fields, & Josh Jr. Saperstein’s Trotters counter with the raw power of Thad Christopher, Mule Miles & Ted Strong.

                                            + PLUS +

1949 Negro Leaguers of Triple A

8 vets of Negro baseball spent all of 1949 in AAA ball without being promoted. Since it’d be a shame to overlook players of their quality, here they are, MLE’d from 3A to ML. Pee Wee Austin, Sam Jethroe, Luis Marquez, Jim Pendleton, John Ritchey, Artie Wilson, & Dan Bankhead & Dave Barnhill. Use them as you see fit; add them to the G or to the ML, or just satisfy curiosity what they would look like had there not still been barriers up because of what they looked like. 

http://pc.cd/9AXctalK

Ownership of the 1949G is required.

1950 Barnstormers

The baseball version of the Harlem Globetrotters was a nice side earner for Abe Saperstein. Much less so for the players he had recruited on sharp wages, & those players would jump his roster with frequency to play in various California leagues. Alongside elder statesmen Parnell Woods, Thad Christopher, & Paul Hardy, Herb “Briefcase” Simpson was the main attraction.

Homestead Grays kept rolling along years after the passing of Cum Posey (& Josh Gibson). See Posey & player manager Sam Bankhead now steered the Grays who featured Josh Gibson Jr &, of course, Buck Leonard. Southpaws Silent Roy Partlow, Jimmy “Squab” Hill, & Cecil Kaiser were still flinging strong.

NY’s Black Yanks had “evolved” into the Black Travelers, moderate talent marshalled by Marvin Barker & Rufus Baker. Kid pitcher Bob “Jiggs” Thweatt impressed and Curt Brown & quadragenarian Ed “Ace” Stone supplied a bit of power.

http://u.pc.cd/jDKrtalK

Please move the cards in FA to the 195098.

The 1953 Negro League

This 1953 league was a jumble of talent. The League was down to just 4 "tier one"  teams. The Majors was still using quite a restrictive quota on team rosters and, as you know, some teams kept the color barrier up. Some very good players were judged too old to be hired by the Majors. Some youngsters were being blooded to pro ball. Some were roster filler. Toni Stone and Doris Jackson were woman baseballers promoted by Indianapolis Clowns impresario Syd Pollock as crowd pleasing gate attractions, in the Clowns tradition of baseball as carnival and competition.

There was an East-West game this season, strange as that may seem for a 4 team league. Ken W, who does this for all of the official G seasons, compiled the file.

http://u.pc.cd/olK7

You must own the 1953ML (Deluxe) to authorize.

The 1954 Negro League

1954 added 2 teams to the League, Detroit & Louisville.

Expectations for Detroit were low- the team was assembled on the cheap & was enthusiastic though underfunded. It lacked competitive talent.

Louisville had the advantage of recruiting from an accomplished semi-amateur player pool in its surrounding area though struggled to find good pitchers. It got off to a decent start but by the last third of the season was run on fumes.

KC failed to adequately replace the players lost from 1953; Doc Connors was no Ernie Banks, & Hank Mason, while a good front line starter, lacked the guile of Gene Richardson. Buck O'Neil borrowed a page from Syd Pollock's playbook & brought over Toni Stone to improve the gate takings. Finding bright young talent to sell on to subsidize the team had taken a heavy toll on the iconic Monarchs.

Birmingham improved some (at the expense of the incoming teams) but, while dangerous, did not hit well enough to stay in contention into the latter part of the season. Young NY Giants loan-back Kelley Searcy was the ERA league leader.

Memphis had a big rebound. They hit with power, patience, & pitched well, leading the league in OPS & ERA. Isiah Harris had another ace-like season, & with fellow portsiders (19 year old) Whip Davis & Marshall Bridges formed a top-heavy rotation.

New Indianapolis manager Oscar Charleston ended his lengthy career as a winner. A determined man willing to ignore Syd Pollock's burlesque directives & demand solid play from his troop, the friction of the season was an element in Charleston's deteriorating health- he would pass on to the field of dreams in October. Pollock as impresario was still present- Stone was "replaced" by Miss Connie Morgan @ 2b, & Mamie "Peanut" Johnson's pitching was another attraction.

http://u.pc.cd/L0

You must own the 1954ML to authorize.

Thanks to our friends & colleagues at Strat for their help & encouragement & for allowing us to share these historical artifacts with you.