We were thrilled to be one of the sponsors of NBA legend Julius Erving's 60th birthday party. The event was held this weekend at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ. Here are some shots from the event. Happy Birthday Doc!

“People ask me what I do in the winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”
—Rogers Hornsby

Pitchers and catchers are reporting to spring training today and following closely behind are the positon players, who are required to report in two weeks. We thought we'd kick off the beginning of spring training with the release of the Mitchell & Ness No Hitter Tee! Check out some of your favorite teams below:

On this date in history, two Philadelphia baseball legends were born…about 82 years apart.  These men held crucial roles in both the development and success of professional baseball in Philadelphia. 

December 22, 1862:  Cornelius McGillicuddy, or Connie Mack, as he is better known, was born in Massachusetts.  Despite having a 10-season catching career, Mack’s legacy was constructed throughout his 53 years as a manager and team executive.  After managing the Pittsburgh Pirates (1894-1896) and the Milwaukee Brewers (1897-1900), Mack landed in Philadelphia, where he would remain for more than 50 years.  From 1901 through 1950, Connie Mack was the manager and part-owner of the Philadelphia Athletics (he became a full owner and partner to Ben Shibe in 1913 and became sole owner of the team in 1936). Throughout his tenure, Connie racked up an amazing list of accomplishments.  Although there are many more, here is a brief list of his career highlights and awards:

·    Won nine American League Pennants

·    Appeared in eight World Series, winning five (1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, 1930)

·    Most managerial wins, losses and games managed in major league history

·    Known as the ‘Tall Tactician’ for his intelligent and innovative managing style

·    Managed renowned players such as Eddie Plank, Eddie Collins, Ty Cobb, Al Simmons and Jimmie Foxx

·    The Philadelphia stadium, Shibe Park, was renamed Connie Mack Stadium in 1953 and remained so even after the A’s departure to Kansas City, making Connie Mack Stadium the home of the Philadelphia Phillies until 1970

·    Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937  

December 22, 1944:  Steve Carlton was born in Miami.  Carlton first signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965 and stayed with the team before being traded to Philadelphia before the 1972 season for pitcher Rick Wise.  He remained with the Phillies until 1986 and stayed in the league for another three seasons.  As a Phillie, Carlton was a fan-favorite and quickly became known as ‘Lefty’.  He set numerous records and is regarded as one of the best pitchers in Phillies’ history.  Here are some of his accomplishments:

·    Ten-time All-Star (1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982)

·    Two-time World Series Champion (1967 with the Cardinals and 1980 as a Phillie)

·    Gold Glove Award Winner (1981)

·    Four-time National League Cy Young Award winner (1972, 1977, 1980, 1982)

·    Number 32 retired by the Phillies in 1989

·    In 1999, he ranked number 30 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players

·    Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994

We can’t think of a better way to honor these two Philadelphia favorites than by owning a piece of their legacy with an authentic Mitchell & Ness jersey!

Earlier this summer some local Philadelphia filmmakers and serious baseball fans embarked on a month long journey to visit 30 ballparks in 30 days.  You may have seen them at your stadium sometime between April 18^th and May 17^th, or en-route in their rented mini-van driving across the country.   The goal of their trip was to raise awareness and funds for the Boys and Girls Club of America, the official charity of Major League Baseball and document you, the fans, enjoying your love common love of baseball.

Mitchell & Ness would love to congratulate Tom, Travis, Joey & Pedro on completing their trip. We are glad we could be of help along the way!   To read more about their trip and see photos of all the great ballparks across the country visit:  www.30ballparks30days.com.

Three weeks after his passing we are still mourning the death of beloved Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas.  It has been said that Philadelphia fans can be uncompromising and tough to win over.  Well, despite this, Harry not only stole our hearts, he kept them for the entire 38 years that he spent in our city.  It can be said with confidence that he will remain in our hearts for years and years to come.

In a time of you tube, HDTV, xm and Sirius, one may not notice the vanishing of a.m. radio, as it gets lost in the shuffle of current day media.  This is not true when it comes to baseball, especially baseball in Philadelphia. The passing of Harry Kalas has left a void on our airwaves that will not go unnoticed. Whether it’s while sitting in traffic on the Atlantic City Expressway or listening to the game in the office, his dulcet voice resonates in our minds and we can’t help but wonder ‘how Harry woulda called it’.

Here is a video we found that captures some of our favorite moments in Phillies history as called by Harry Kalas.  Let us know yours.