Forget sitting around the Hot Stove discussing Spring Training and the upcoming baseball season! I want to sit around the Haute Stove and talk baseball….fashion!

A few days ago I started a Best Dressed Athletes Series in honor of New York’s Fashion Week. So far we’ve gone over the most stylish ballers in the NBA and the sexiest style stars of the NFL.

Now it’s time to check out the Best Dressed Baseball Players in the MLB!

For the record, this post took the longest of all them…combined. It took over three hours to compile. Golf took 15 minutes. Apparently baseball players never take off their uniforms because it was almost impossible to find pictures of them!

Feel free to leave me a comment below or shoot me a tweet @stilettosportsj to give me your input on who you think deserves to be on the lists!

• 3B Alex Rodriquez
• SS Derek Jeter
• 3B David Wright
• 3B: Evan Longoria
• Catcher: Joe mauer
• RF: Ichiro Suzuki
• LF: Manny Ramirez
• CF: Curtis Granderson
• DH/1B: David Ortiz
• Pitcher: Cole hamels

Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees)

Even in spite of all the scandals, stories and negative hoopla around A-Rod, there is no denying he is one of the most fashionable baseball players…ever. He’s graced the covers of  all the men’s fashion mags like GQ, Esquire, Details, Sports Illustrated…..

Even when he was giving his big apology speech for his drug use, the only thing I could focus on (besides his use of the terms “loosey goosey era….) was the fact that his blue sweater of sincerity was the exact same shade of his eyes and made him look amazing!

Derek Jeter (New York Yankees)

In the Best Dressed NBA players post I mentioned that there isn’t a “best of NBA” list that Kobe Bryant is not on. The same this goes for Jeter and a “best of MLB” list. Like Tom Brady, Jeter is an ambassador (fancy name for “face of”) for Movado. Only the most elite, most stylish people get that high honor!

and I’m going to break the rules a little since this list is about athletes off the field or court but, Jeter makes these pinstripes look sooooooo good:

Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Rays)

Evan has become the baby-faced sensation of the Tampa Bay Rays. His rookie season, the Rays had an amazing Cinderella season and went all the way to the World Series. Off the field, Evan’s cool, comfy casual style has become a trend setting hit!

David Wright (New York Mets)

Mr. David Wright is the reason that I just declared myself a Mets fan (yes, as well as a Yankees, Red Sox and Rays fan…..) This man would look good in anything. As my Yankees loving friend said “I’ll admit, he makes even a Mets jersey look hot. ” They say a picture is worth a thousand words, well, here are 6,000 words about how hot and fashionable David Wright is. Drool.

Joe Mauer (Minnesota Twins)

Some claim Joe is the best catcher in the MLB. Others say without Joe, the Twins wouldn’t be a playoff worthy team. I say, Hot Damn, Joe is F-I-N-E! Since catchers spend most of hteir time all bundled up in pads on their knees in the dirt, it’s hard to see how tall and muscular and beautiful they can be! Out of his catcher’s gear, Joe’s 6′5 body makes dress wear and casual clothes look amazing!

Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners)

Ichiro Suzuki is one of the most famous people in Japan. They say people can send him mail in Japan just addressed to “Ichiro” and it will get to him. They absolutely adore him! They’ve even created a museum in his honor already! With such a big spotlight and so many eyes trained right on him at all times, Ichiro has to look put together at all times.

Manny Ramirez (L.A. Dodgers)

Manny will always be Manny. Loud, boisterous, full of himself and full of style! You never really know what to expect from Manny but you do know when it comes to what he is wearing, he’s going to be pretty fabulous!

Curtis Granderson (Detroit Tigers….)

Er…. Curtis is now a New York Yankee. Apparently on December 9, the Yanks heard that Curtis was one of the leagues best dressed players and there was no way Detroit could become more stylish than the boys in blue!

Curtis is known for his custom tailored suits. Curtis on his style: ““I try not to spend too much on clothes. I’m usually looking for something that doesn’t cost too much. But I do have some expensive things. I like wearing what everybody else isn’t wearing. Right now, I’m really into unique T-shirts. I usually wear them with MEK Jeans, because fit is important to me.  I like wearing suits and ties. That’s the way I dress when I travel and for speaking engagements. I have my suits and shirts custom-made from Douglass Wayne out of Atlanta.” MLive.com

David Ortiz (Boston Red Sox)

Big Papi has Big Style! and is big on the Bling Bling! Ortiz is known for his flashy “go big or go home” style but he’s also known for being perfectly put together and fashion forward!

Cole Hamels (Philadelphia Phillies)

I think Cole’s wife Heidi Strobel gets all the credit for his style. Without her super model fashion sense, Cole would most likely be just a tall doofy white boy with no fashion sense. Lucky for us, Heidi has imparted her wisdom! The star pitcher for the Phillies looks great in suits and rocking his Affliction gear.

Still to come, the Best Dressed Golfers and if we can find some, the Most Stylish Hockey players!

Haute Stove: The Best Dressed MLB Baseball Players is a post from: Stiletto Sports

**originally published on GuysGirl.com. Republished on Stiletto Sports with consent from the author Ms. Blythe Brumleve!

A couple days after the Super Bowl is the start of the worst time of year.

Long since the October days have passed that we as sports fans have had all the major sports to follow. For the next few weeks, ESPN will not consume my life and it freaking sucks.

College Basketball has no interest to me unless its March Madness. And both the NBA and NHL’s playoffs are so long, I don’t really start paying attention until April.

Luckily for baseball fans, our feeling of sports emptiness will soon be over as pitchers and catchers now report for spring training.

This still leaves at least another month until opening day but it’s my light at the end of the tunnel dammit and I’m gazin away.

To curve my fix for baseball information, we will start posting the favorite baseball customs and traditions that make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

First up, the theme song to baseball: Take Me Out To the Ball Game

Harry Caray- The Man, No Myth, Just Legend

Of course you cannot mention this famous song with out mentioning Hall of Fame Sports Caster Harry Caray. For those who do not know, Caray was responsible for making the singing of the song a 7th inning tradition with fans.

Apparently Caray was so enthusiastic about singing the song, his radio producer at the time  turned on Caray’s mic without his knowledge and thus the fan favorite tradition was born. (early 1970’s)

During his tenure with 4 MLB franchises (White Sox, Cubs, Cardinals and A’s),  Harry Caray made the song famous by inserting the home team’s name for “the home team” in the song’s lyric, a ritual practiced by many baseball fans around the country.

Coincidentally, the year the song was written (1908) is the last year the Cubs won the World Series.

Honestly I’m surprised Harry has returned from the grave to strangle some of the people who have butchered the classic song.

I don’t blame you if you don’t listen, It was hard for me to do the research of finding the “good videos” of people stinkin up the famous song.

Mike Ditka- To be honest, Ditka to me like Chuck Norris to people who don’t know who Mike Ditka is. Because he is awesome at everything he does, this rendition is pure magic.

To others? Not so much…

Other Hilarious Rendentions of Take Me Out to the Ball Game….

Mr. T Rendention–I have no words…simply amazing and everything I imagined.

Ozzy Ozbourne–A simple song such as this is a little too much for Ozzy and the meds.

Jeff Gordon-- He was doomed when he said Wrigley “Stadium” instead of Field but he didn’t even have the balls to sing out the song. He deserved the boo’s.

Quick Facts:

• At Dodgers stadium the song’s chorus is played and sung twice, but the second time is done a half-step higher.

• During the April 17, 2008 Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres 22 inning game, the song was played at the 14th Inning Stretch and once again at the PETCO Park unprecedented 21st Inning Stretch.

• On January 1, 2009, the NHL held the Winter Classic outdoor game at Wrigley Field including a version of Take Me Out to the Ball Game performed half-way through the third period by Ryne Sandberg, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Denis Savard. The lyrics were altered in reference to ice hockey rather than baseball. (“Root Root Root for the Blackhawks”)

History of Take Me Out to the Ball Game

• Was originally written in 1908 by Jack Norworth

• Another version was written in 1927 by Norworth as well.

• The “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” as we know it today, was actually the chorus of the original songs. The following are the versions from 1908 and 1927 side by side for comparison

Simply amazing isn’t it? Gives me goosebumps just listening to it!

As much as I hate all things Yankee, Bernie Williams has a beautiful guitar rendition of the song. Skip through the first 17 seconds of Yankee PR garbage to get to the song but once it starts just close your eyes and listen.

Plus you don’t want the images of Bernie and the old Yankee stadium to ruin a perfectly good song.

Baseball Traditions: Take me Out to the Ball Game is a post from: Stiletto Sports

For me, nothing says “I love you” or “I know you” then giving me the perfect must-read book. Maybe that’s because I’m a book junkie. But I’m going to use the super cheesy like “books are a gift that keeps on giving” because I truly believe that. There are some books that have stayed with me for over 25 years!

Sports books are even more likely to strike a powerful chord with the receipient because most of them are very inspirational and full of “overcoming the odds” stories that make you feel like You Can Do Anything!

Here is my list of Must-Read Sports Books for 2009 that I have either read (and cried to) or I have on my holiday wish list! (keep in mind this is just the ‘09 list! Also check out the Stiletto Sports Bookshelf for other great sports reads)

• Open: An Autobiography Andre Agassi (Read the Reviews) This is definitely the must-read book of the season. Agassi’s book hit the stands only a few weeks ago and was at the top of the list before it even debuted. I hate to quote someone else here but I couldn’t say it better myself: After 20 pages, I knew that this was unlike any other biography I had ever read. Couldn’t put it down. Couldn’t stop thinking about it. Agassi dug deeper inside than most of us ever will have to, to get to core of what made him so powerful as a player and so conflicted as a person. It is all conspicuously real: The small moments, the outlandish triumphs and the friendships that sustained him and/or corrupted him. The gauntlet he had to run through to arrive at the balance and joy he has today. It’s transformative. –H.S. Brice via Amazon Reviews

• When The Game Was Ours Larry Bird & Earvin “Magic” Johnson (Read the Reviews)This is the must-read book of the season in my house! The book, written by digs deep into the past of on-court rivals Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The two were the fiercest of competitors for nearly . This book takes you on their journey through those pivotal games, key moments and highlights and better yet, gives us a glimpse of what was really going on, what they really thought. This should go down as one of the most intriguing and best reads about pro basketball and even sports”
  
• The Yankee Years Joe Torre (Read the Reviews) Ask any Yankees fan what he or she did on Feb. 3, 2009 and a majority of them could probably answer “Bought Joe Torre’s book,” (except of course those who had preordered it!) This was one of the most highly anticipated sports books of all time. It almost reached Harry Potter or Twilight release levels of excitement. Yankees fans, haters and even those bored by baseball were dying to know what was in this book. And it lived up to the hype. Not only does it recount amazing memories about America’s beloved team but also “The Yankee Years chronicles the end of an era in baseball, a more innocent time before steroid scandals, big money and executive decisions based on advanced statistical analysis.”
  
• The Blind Side The Michael Oher Story (Read the Reviews) Written by Michael Williams The Sandra Bullock The Blind Side has been getting rave reviews in the theaters and the book the movie is based on is just as good. However…..it is very different from the Disney-esque movie version (note: the movie was not done by Disney, just has that feel-good vibe, ya know?) which focuses more on the the inspirational family aspect of the story. The book still delves into Michael’s story and shows how truly remarkable his upbringing and raise to fame really is, but the book is so much more. It shows great insight into sports and American society and the evolution of both. Highly recommend.
  
• Hard Work: My Life on and Off the Court Roy Williams(Read the Review)I’ve been a huge Roy Williams fan since his coaching days at Kansas. He’s always radiated class and sound philosophies. This book details just how much hard work and struggle he had to go through to get to where he is today: the coach of the National Champion North Carolina Tar Heels. But shows you that with hard work and perserverance, you can accomplish anything.
• 
• Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance Tony Dungy(Read the Review) The motivational words behind former NFL coach Tony Dungy’s book, and his life, are simple: “Success is uncommon, therefore not to be enjoyed by the common man. I’m looking for uncommon people.” In this follow-up book to Quiet Strength, Dungy explains the foundations of how he lives his life and how to become uncommon. The book is a wonderful mix of autobiographical tales, self-help, inspiration and football.
• 
• First Things First: The Rules of Being a Warner Kurt Warner (Read the Review) In a sense, this is the sequel to All Things Possible: My Faith, Football and The Miracle Season, which I also highly recommend. The story of Kurt’s struggling rise to fame will make you truly believe that all things are possible. They are the perfect books for the holiday season–and during these difficult times.

• The Catch: One Play, Two Dynasties, and the Game That Changed the NFL Gary Myers (Read the Review) Gary takes one of the most famous moments in NFL history
  “The Catch” in the endzone and brings the story to light from both sides in this tale of Two Dynasites. A must read for any football fan–or any sports fan for that matter—since it is based on an iconic moment in sports history.
• 
• Safe at Home: Confessions of a Baseball Fanatic Alyssa Milano (Read the Review) I have been dying to read this book for months now (hint hint for all those shopping for me!) First, I’m a huge Alyssa fan—follow her on Twitter and watch old episodes of Charmed pretty much every night! So if she loves baseball, that’s a pretty good way to get me—and any anti-baseball girl— to love it too. Once again, the book is just about her life or her love of the Dodgers. Her book illustrates how sports are the last real social interation and connection we have today.
• 
• On the Line Serena Williams (Read the Review) Originally I had this book higher up on my list—and in my wish list cart in amazon—because it hit the best seller list and I thought, hmmm, she’s a sports figure I’d love to know more about. However, the reviews for the book have been so ….well, so-so….that I’ve shoved the book to the bottom of my list. Apparently the book doesn’t really even scratch the surface of Serena, on or off the court. But hey, if you are a tennis or Serena fan, then check it out and let me know what you think!
• 

Have you read any of these or have them on your wish list? Leave me a comment below! I’d love to know what you think. Also, don’t forget to check out the Stiletto Sports Bookshelf Archive which features other amazing sports books that make great reads and even better gifts!

10 Must-Read Sports Books for Any Sports Fan is a post from: Stiletto Sports

Looking for awesome gift ideas for the Yankees lovers in your life? Well, look no further! I’ve complied a list of over 100 of the best, most unique gifts that any New York Yankees lover would love to have. From 2009 World Championship apparel and novelties to classic Yankees Stadium memorabilia and collectibles, this list will give you an idea for every Yankees fanatic on your list!

Okay, so maybe the list is only at 89 right now, but I will add more! Please let me know if there is something you think should be added to the list. Also, let me know what you are hoping Santa (or the Holiday Armadillo) is bringing you this year! Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @StilettoSportsJ. Or if you are a fan of Stiletto Sports on Facebook, drop me a comment over there! Not a fan? Become a Stiletto Sports Fan now!

Because the post is so long, I sub-categoried all the Yankees gifts. So click on any picture and it will jump you to that category/section.

Great Yankees Stocking Stuffers

Yankees Gifts For Her

Yankees Custom Gift Baskets

Yankees World Champions Gear

Yankees Coffee Mugs and Glassware

Yankees Golf Gifts

Yankees Tailgating Party Gear

Yankees Collectibles and Memorabilia

Ultimate Yankees Gifts

Yankees Books, Movies and Calendars

Yankees Baseball Jerseys

TAILGATING & PARTY GIFTS

1. Yankees Grill Covers: The perfect way to show off your team loyalty to all your next door neighbors and tailgate party-comers!
2. New York Yankees Grill BBQ Utensil Set: A true Yankees fan knows burgers taste so much better when flipped with a New York flipper thingy.
3. NY Yankees 1 Gallon Tailgating Jug: A tailgate party isn’t the same without drinks and this 1 Gallon Jug stores plenty of party cocktails. Need a great drink to fill it with? Check out these NY Yankees Inspired Cocktail Recipes! Include them with the jug and you have an ultimate Yankees fan gift!
4. New York Yankees MLB Baseball Tailgate Beer Pong Table: Do I really need to say more? It’s a Beer Pong Table! With Yankees on it!
5. New York Yankees Keg-A-Que Propane Grill: See that cool photo above? That’s this guy. A Yankees propane grill in the shape of a keg! Best idea ever!

Books

1. The Yankee Years Joe Torre. One of the most highly anticipated books of the year other than something in the Twilight series.
2. Yankees Century: 100 years: Documents the ups and downs through the decades with photographs, essays and real accounts.
3. Last Night of the Yankees Dynasty: While fans will argue that the dynasty is far from over, this book takes a look at the changes in the team after 2001
4. The Yankees 365 Don’t be fooled by the title. This book isn’t a daily calendar or even 365 pages! It’s actually 744 pages compiled by the Associated Press with a forward by legendary Don Mattingly!
5. New York Yankees 100 Years Retrospective Coffee Table Book: Beautiful display book that reflects on the remarkable history of the Yanks.
6. Blood Feud: The Red Sox, the Yankees, and the Struggle of Good versus Evil: The name kinda says it all! The story of the bitterest rivalry in baseball!
7. Yankee Stadium: The Official Retrospect
8. Yankee Stadium Tribute: Includes a dvd and is a poignant tribute to the history of the stadium.
9. Yankee Stadium Scrapbook: All sorts of goodies to remember the original stadium.
10. Remembering Yankee Stadium: A look back at the most iconic stadium in baseball before it was rudely demolished!

2010 CALENDARS

1. Yankee Stadium 2010 Calendar Historic Images of the iconic stadium from 1923-2008
2. Yankees 2010 Team Wall Calendar Every month a new favorite Yankees player!
3. Yankees World Champion Team Calendar: Celebrate with the team all year with this 12-month wall calendar that pays tribute to the 2009 World Series Championship win
4. New York Yankees 2010 Box Calendar 365 days of Yankees! The best gift for any true NY fan!
5. Derek Jeter Wall Calendar with Sound. Yes, with sound! The calendar is full of action shots of Jeter and it also plays audio from a segment of play during a game! It features a Bonus Page and the Player Bio is featured each month

DVDs

1. The New York Yankees: Essential Games of Yankee Stadium- Perfect Games and No Hitters: Includes: Don Larsen’s perfect game (10/8/56), Dave Righetti’s no-hitter (7/4/83), Jim Abbott’s no-hitter (9/4/93), Dwight Gooden’s no-hitter (5/14/96), David Wells’ perfect game (5/17/98), David Cone’s perfect game (7/18/99)
2. Yankeeography Mega-Set: This must-own collection features over 40 hours of the most memorable names and unforgettable moments of Yankees history. It was done in 2007 though so it doesn’t have this exciting year!
3. 2009 World Series Highlights Film: Get all the drama, game action, behind-the-scenes access and in-depth interviews a Yankees fan could want. The Official 2009 World Series Film on DVD features an adrenaline-filled feature-length film, highlights from the entire postseason and incisive bonus features.
4. The New York Yankees 2009 World Series Collector’s Edition: Each definitive 2009 World Series game is presented uncut in this action-packed 8-DVD set, preserving the complete, unedited footage of every must-have 2009 World Series game and key playoff gameplus exclusive celebratory footage and interviews. BEGINS SHIPPING DECEMBER 15th, 2009 but you can pre-order now!
5. Yankeeography Captain’s Collection: This special edition Yankeeography two-DVD collection salutes seven Captains from Lou Gehrig to Derek Jeter. Culled from the Emmy® award- winning Yankeeography series, these seven player profiles span the eras of Yankees greatness, generations of fandom, and acknowledge the role each played for their teams.
6. Yankee Stadium: Baseball’s Cathedral This amazing tribute to the most iconic baseball stadium in the world also comes with Collectable Ticket & gold coin.
7. The Official World Series Collector’s Edition: This video is actually good for all baseball lovers, not just Yankees fans. But I figured since the Yanks have appeared in so many World Championships, this would be an awesome gift!

FASHION & ACCESSORIES ***will be adding to this section, don’t worry! watches

1. Legend Series Watch This is the top of the line gift for any Yankees loving guy. Each watch is custom designed and set with lots of shiny diamonds and gold accents.
2. New York Yankees Ladies Legend Series Watch: This smaller version is perfect for the Yanks’ female fans. Sparkling with diamonds and the gold NY Yankees logo.
3. New York Yankees Hall of Fame Watch: I love the sleek design of this watch with its blue Yankees logo in the middle. Very metro and modern.

Apparel

1. Yankees PJs Boxers Etc: Guaranteed to give you sweet dreams of the Yankees winning…. or of Jeter’s tushy!

Jerseys

1. Yankees World Series Jerseys
2. See also Stiletto Sports Top 15 MLB Jerseys for 2009. The top spots go to Jeter, A-Rod, C.C., and Tex.

YANKEES GOLFING GIFTS

1. Yankees Golf Gifts : Choose from Golf tees, club covers, custom golf balls and even a Yankees Golf bag!
2. Yankees Golf Gift Basket: Can’t choose? That’s okay! There’s a special Yankees Golfer Gift basket that combines it all!

COLLECTIBLES Collectibles are highly coveted gifts. One thing to keep in mind is to make sure you purchase them from a credible source that is going to offer authenticity. You don’t want to be shelling out oodles of cash on something that turns out to be fake. All these items are linked to Amazon

1. New York Yankees Framed World Series Coin Collection 30 coins done in brilliant 24kt Gold in a stunning collector’s piece for true Yankees Fans.
2. New Yankee Stadium Baseball Replica : I think stadium replicas are the coolest thing! This one is for the new stadium but they have ones for the old or you could get one of each!
3. Yankee Stadium Final Season – 24KT Gold and Infield Dirt Coin Photo Mint: Shows the final season of Yankees stadium in gorgeous color and a black and white shot from 1923. Also has a gold coin and dirt from the infield. I think it’s hysterical to give someone dirt!
4. NY Yankees Opening Day 2009 Commemorative Baseball – Limited Edition Celebrate the opening day of the new Yankees stadium April 16. 2009. Sure to be a collectors item 100 years from now!
5. New York Yankees New Stadium Official Baseball Set: This is a set of 2 baseballs to commemorate the opening of the new stadium.
6. New York Yankees snow globes: Who doesn’t love snowglobes?!?!?!!? There are ones with the new and the old stadium, globes set inside baseball gloves, snow balls featuring the NY skyline and even musical ones that play “Take me Out to The Ball Game!” I want them all!

ULTIMATE GIFTS

1. New York Yankees Executive Leather Office Chair And if you pick up one of these, add an extra for me too because this looks ridiculously comfortable and I know accomplish so much more with a chair like this!
2. New York Yankees Counter Top Refrigerator: Perfect gift for Yankees fans in college dorms!
3. New York Yankees Carpet: Before purchasing this for your Yankees loving buddy, be sure to check with his or her significant other. Not everyone would really appreciate a Yankees carpet interrupting their decor.
4. New York Yankees Recliner/Dreamseat Home Theater Actually, forget the leather office chair, I want this!!!
5. Yankees Spring Training VIP Package: Okay so I don’t have a link for this but the general concept would be to head over to Southwest and get some cheap airfare to Tampa in the spring. Then use whatever ticket company you like to get some Yankees Spring Training tickets. And then shoot me an email. If you get me one, I’ll give you the inside tips on where the Yanks hang out after their games when they are in town since I’m right down the road! PS–you can get Yankees/Red Sox tickets for pretty reasonable price!
6. The Ultimate Yankees Fan Gift of All Time: Steiner Sports Yankee Stadium Seat Pair and Derek Jeter Autographed Bat Combo. That’s right, for the reasonable price of $2,499, you can give the gift of old chairs. And a bat. Just kidding. This gift is seriously the best thing you can give a true Yankees fan. Seats from the iconic stadium and a Jeter signed baseball bat would get you anything you want for the rest of your life.

STOCKING STUFFERS

1. New York Yankees Official Ornaments: World Series Champs ornaments, cute NY Yankees caps and uniforms, even Yankees candy cane ornaments!
2. Yankees Key Chains: There are literally hundreds of different kinds of Yankees keychains. There are World Series and ALCS key rings, bottle openers, ones with Yankees NY Logo, Yankees Hat Logo, baseball gloves, some have the NY skyline and the logos, some even talk to you! The hardest part will be picking just one!
3. NY Yankees Bottle Openers: Again, there are tons of different kinds of openers. My two personal faves: The Tailgating Hitch Opener and the Belt Buckle Bottle Opener. Yes, belt buckle. With the words “open here” and arrows pointing….Quite the mental image, I know. Just remember, it’s not nice to give an opener without a case of beer! How else will the recipient know it works correctly! It’s like giving an electronic toy without the batteries! Tease!
4. Yankees Hats: There are so many kinds, you could get a different one for every day of the month!
5. Yankees Pez: A stocking is not complete without Pez!
6. Yankees Wallets & Money Clips: Sabathia and Texiera’s salaries not included.
7. Yankees Jewelry: Necklaces, Cuff Links, etc: Who doesn’t love finding shiny objects in their stockings? I know I do
8. Yankees Magnets Everything from fridge magnets in every shape & style imaginable to car magnets and magentic decals to show the world “I Love the Yankees!” Warning: do not purchase car magnets for fans in Boston. That will not end well. I really loved the Uniform Progression magnets that show the transformation of the Yankees uniforms through time. Very unique.

GIFTS JUST FOR HER

1. Confessions of a She-Fan: The Course of True Love with the New York Yankees by Jane Heller. I’m adding this to my Must Read Book List because it sounds like every female, Yankees fan or hater, needs to check it out. Especially if they think baseball sucks. Here is a clip of one review: “It is a funny, funny look at the life of a female Yankee fan, that I think most female Yankee fans will identify with. Jane Heller explains why she loves baseball in a few perfect paragraphs that I am tempted to copy and carry with me for reference when confronted with anyone, male or female, who claims that baseball is boring.”
2. Yankees Apparel: Everything from World Champs gear and pinstripe replica jerseys to pink and fashion tees to support your team!
3. Yankees Purses & Handbags! Don’t know what to get her? You can never go wrong with a purse. Ever. I have a closet full of them and always looking for more. And these Yankees bags are unique and fashionable!
4. New York Yankees Ladies “What’s Not To Love Here” T-shirt Cheeky and fun, this navy blue tee has the saying “what’s not to love here” across with it with a big red NY Yankees heart!
5. New York Yankees Women’s Denim Jeans – by Alyssa Milano Alyssa may be a die hard Dodgers fan but she still makes fantastic Go Yankees clothing for women! These jeans actually have the NY Yankees logo embroidered on the back pockets! Super cute, super chic, and super team loyalty all in one!
6. New York Yankees Women’s Reversible Satin Jacket – by Alyssa Milano Alyssa takes the classic satin baseball jacket and kicks it up with a modern twist for 2010. Sleek, sassy, reversible and just for Yankees fans!
7. Yankees 2009 World Series Champions Ladies Baseball Jersey. Majestic (designer of awesome baseball gear) produced this white pinstripe home jersey to honor the World Champs. This #2 Derek Jeter jersey has the 2009 World Series logo on the sleeve!

CUPS, MUGS, GLASSES

1. New York Yankees 2009 World Series Champs Travel & Ceramic Mug Set This two pack has a 16oz to-go coffee cup and a 15 oz ceramic mug boasting the Yankees championship!
2. Yankees World Champs GameBall Ceramic Mug: Comes with 2 15oz ceramic mugs that look like a baseball! And in the baseball there is a world champs logo and the World Series trophy. THis is great gift for someone who wants a cup for work and office!
3. New York Yankees Sculpted Pinstripe Coffee Mug 15oz. Mug in the classic blue and white pinstripe motife
4. NY Yankees Stainless Steel Macho Travel Mug Yes, macho. Because this bad boy can hold 52 ounces of coffee!
5. New York Yankees 2009 World Series Champions 1 Liter Aluminum Water Bottle: Sleek, stylish, and good for the environment!
6. Yankees World Series Soda/Beer Pint Glass:
7. New York Yankees 2 Piece Wine Glass Set: This wine glasses are definitely a great gift for all Yankees fans, but especially the female ones. Very classy!
8. Yankess Tervis Tumbler World Series Set: Don’t know what a Tervis Tumbler is? Well, clearly you don’t live in Florida because they are everywhere here. They are indestructable plastic cups. And they somehow keep your beverages cool. And these guys pay tribute to the big 27th win!
9. Yankees Glass gift set: Comes with a ping glass, a coffee mug and a shot glass! Perfect!

TOYS, GAMES and UNIQUE MERCH

1. Yankees/Red Sox Connect Four: Go for the Glory, go for the score, go for it, Connect 4!
2. Yankees Monopoly: I am a huge fan of custom monopoly games. In this Yankees edition you can buy, sell and trade all star Yankees players like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez. The six collectible pewter tokens are a Yankees cap, batter, pitcher, and ball in glove, World Series trophy and catcher’s mask.
3. Yankees 2009 World Champion Monopoly: This one is specific to the 2009 championship!
4. Yankees Mr Potato Head: Funnest Yankees fan gift ever!
5. Yankees Mrs. Potato Head Love that she is decked out in Pink gear to go with her man!
6. Yankees Jenga Play Jenga a fun new way with New York Yankees blocks and Yankees dice that add excitement to the game! Build your tower with Yankees blue and white blocks. Custom Yankees Jenga rules throw each player a curve ball and make the game even more challenging and fun! Roll the dice and make the play. Safe reverses the direction of play; Single allows you to remove any piece and an RBI means you remove only a blue block. The last player to remove a block without tumbling the tower wins the game!
7. Yankees Scrabble: Play scrabble on a baseball time with the Yankees logo!
8. Yankees versus Red Sox Chess Set: The two rivals battle it out across the chess board
9. I also want to mention Yankees Yahtzee and Yankees Subway Series Chess but for some reason, every time I try to add any more detail or links about them, I lose this entire post!

YANKEES GIFT BASKETS & GOURMET FOOD

1. New York Yankees Gift Basket Any NY Yankees fan would appreciate this great gift box filled with gourmet snacks and a keepsake gifts:
   • Tortilla Chips
   • Yankees Logo Nacho Cheese Sauce
   • Yankees Logo Salsa
   • Yankees Logo Peanuts
   • Yankees Logo Frosted Vanilla Cookie
   • Yankees Logo Rubik’s Cube Puzzle
   • 8×13 Hardcover Yankees Subway Series Book. (12oz)
2. NY Yankees Deluxe Gift Basket from Jackie’s Basket This high quality, hand crafted team wicker basket features

• Yankees Logo Cap
• Team Logo Sports Towel,
• 11oz. Marbelized Ceramic Mug w/Pewter Team Logo Ingot,
• 12″ MLB Logo Pillow,
• Yankees Logo Money clip,
• Yankees logo key chain,
• Yankees Logo Bumper Strip!

Yankees Gourmet Food!!!!

1. New York Yankees BBQ Sauce - A custom blend from Hot Sauce Harrys! This mildly sweet barbecue sauce with a great hickory smoke flavor is made with molasses, brown sugar, worcestershire sauce and chili peppers and comes in a 16 oz. jar with the New York Yankees colors and logos.
2. New York Yankees Spice Set This three spice gift set includes a Steak & Rib Rub, Sweet BBQ Rub and Yankees Cajun Seasoning (do Yankees even do cajun? Hmmm). Get your grill on!
3. New York Yankees Hot Sauce - Premium cayenne pepper sauce blend from Hot Sauce Harry!
4. NY Yankees Popcorn The New York Yankees Tin is stuffed with a three-way assortment of gourmet popcorn!

A few other bonuses without a category:

1. Yankees License Plate: No Yankees fan’s car is complete without one!
2. New York Yankees 2009 World Series Champs Clock: Celebrate the championship all day long!
3. Yankees World Champion Throw: Snuggle up and take comfort remembering the 2009 win!
4. Yankees Mailbox Cover: Just be forewarned, neighbors may not approve and may increase likelhood of your mailbox being smashed.

And…. that’s about it! What are you getting the Yankees lovers in your life? Leave me a comment below and let me know! Or if I missed a gift (although I don’t see how that is possible) shoot me a tweet @stilettosportsJ or comment below!

102 Best Gift Ideas for Yankees Fans is a post from: Stiletto Sports

MLB

One of the best gifts you can give a sports fan is a team jersey of his or her’s favorite player. But it’s not enough to just know who has the hottest, most-coveted and best selling  jerseys. Sure, that will help narrow the player search down but there are also a few other factors to consider before buying a jersey.

The best sports jerseys, MLB or other, can run you anywhere from under $50 to over $350. That’s a big spread! Here are the things to consider before picking out a MLB jersey for a holiday gift:

There are typically three different kinds of jerseys:

1. Authentic Jerseys: These are the most expensive because they are, well, authentic! Meaning players wear this kind. Heavy weight and flawless quality with all the details sewn into the jersey.
2. Premier or Swingman Jerseys: These are high-quality, brand name imitation jerseys and are mid-priced usually in the $100’s. These are usually a medium weight/texture (nylon or polyester) and the deails are usually sewn as well.
3. Replica Jerseys: These jerseys run from $20-70ish and are a great alternative if you can’t afford the authentic or premier jerseys. They are usually light-weight quality with the details screen printed on, not sewn. They won’t last as long over the years as the other kinds but they are still great gifts!

Also there are Fashion Jerseys: These are novelty jerseys, usually for women but not always. Brands like Majestic make awesome jersey-looking tees and tanks that are embellished with sparkles!

You’ll notice in the cool scrolling amazon widget at the top that there are a few of each kind so you can see the difference. Players are available in each kind of jersey, it’s just up to you on how much you want to spend, and how much your sports fan is coveting that jersey!

There are also different types of jerseys that the players themselves wear:

1. Home Jerseys: Typically when a team plays at home they wear white or light colored jerseys (except NFL and NHL because they have to be complicated).
2. Away (Road) Jerseys: On the road, teams usually wear a dark or primary colored jersey (in their team colors of course)
3. Third or Alternate Jerseys: Sometimes teams make up a third kind of jersey to increase jersey sales to make sure they always look fabulous and in style. It’s still based on their team colors but will be a secondary color instead of their primary one used for their away jerseys.
4. Throwbacks  Jerseys: Ah throwbacks. A blantant ploy by Nike, adidas, and Reebok and the teams to drive jersey sales through the roof. Throwbacks are all the rage and are very coveted by fans. Over the last few years especially, teams have been rocking old school looking jerseys called “throwbacks.” The new jerseys are designed to look like jerseys from back in the day.
5. Practice/Warm-Ups Jerseys: Jerseys that the teams warm up and practic in, not play games in.

One final note, always be careful who you order your jersey from. For the Top MLB Jersey’s I’m linking directly to Amazon.com because they offer the biggest variety and ease of shopping. But always ensure that your seller is credible!

Here are the Most Coveted, Most Popular, Best Selling, Most Big Name MLB Jerseys for the 2009 Holiday Season!

Before listing the top player jerseys, I think it’s key to mention the Top 5 MLB Team Jersey Sales, because these 5 really do dominate the numbers.

1. The New York Yankees: 27 World Championships and a long history of big name players will keep them in the top spot for years to come
2. The Boston Red Sox: The other half of one of the bitterest rivalries in all of sports and a legion of die hard fans that are passed from generation to generation…
3. The Philadelphia Phillies After a long draught, the Phillies have been on a two-year hot streak. World Series Champs last year and World Series losers this year!
4. The L.A. Dodgers The Dodgers have one of the most storied histories in the MLB and their fans have followed them from coast to coast. Plus Alyssa Milano hearts them!
5. The Chicago Cubs: I’m not sure anyone knows why the Cubs are such a fan favorite team….considereing they haven’t won a championship in 101 years, longer than any other team….but they are!

Rather than list the players in order of sales, I’m listing them by team. Of the Top 15….

Four are from The New York Yankees:

1. Derek Jeter: Team Captain, Mr. November, World’s favorite player…. you get the idea
2. Alex Rodriguez: Despite all of A-Rod’s scandals (or maybe because of them?) his performance on the field keeps his fans loving him.
3. C.C. Sabathia The team’s star pitcher. The one they paid $161 million for (in other words, highest contract for a pitcher EVER). Even though some claim he was worth it since they won the World Series and all, help them make some of their money back by purchasing his jersey.
4. Mark Teixeira (pronounced “ta-share-a.” Not” Texy-era” like some might say…) Again, very high paid contract. Help them make their money back….

Three are from The Boston Red Sox

1. Dustin Pedroia
2. Jonathan Papelbon: The pitcher with the craziest wind up in the league.
3. David Ortiz: So Big Poppi’s popularity has definitely taken a nose dive in the last months but he’s still on the list

Two are from The Philadelphia Phillies

1. Chase Utley: They won the World Series last year and came close to doing it againthis year. If I did that, my jersey sales would be popular too!
2. Ryan Howard

One is from The L.A. Dodgers

1. Manny Ramirez. Oh Manny, Manny, Manny….. what to even say about you….

and One is from The Chicago Cubs

1. Alfonso Soriano (Chicago Cubs)

Best of the Rest

1. Joe Mauer (Minnesota Twins) Best hitter in the league, even better than Mr Jeter
2. Tim Lincecum (San Fransisco Giants) He’s of the hottest pitchers in the league (and no, I’m not talking about his looks!)
3. Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Rays) Maybe he’s not the top in the nation in jersey sales, but he ranks pretty high here in Florida. And if someone was to buy me a jersey for Christmas (hint hint) this is the one I would want!

Top 15 MLB Player Jerseys–Holiday ‘09 Gifts for Baseball Fans is a post from: Stiletto Sports

Imagine my shock when I woke up and realized that Thanksgiving is THIS WEEK! Scary to see how quickly the holidays are approaching!

Over the next month we will be bringing you The Ultimate Gift Giving Guide for Sports Lovers. Every day a new post designed to find the perfect present for the sports fans in your life! From World Champion Yankees, Steelers and Tar Heels merchandise to the most unique tailgating gift ideas EVER, these posts will have something for everyone on your shopping list.

And not only will we tell you what to get, we’ll help you figure out where to find it!

Now most of you probably know all about Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year… the day that has retailers going to bed on Thanksgiving with visions of dollar signs dancing in their heads. But do you know about Cyber Monday? Because somehow I didn’t! Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30th and it’s the day that online retailers have insane specials!

I have a whole bunch of coupons and deals to share with you from places like Finish Line, Foot Locker, Champs, Shoes.com, Zazzle eSportsOnline, Sports Authority and Amazon.com! I’ll get those up as soon as I can!

Later this week we’ll be going through the most popular NBA, MLB, NHL, NFL, and college jerseys as well as top tailgating gifts, 10 must-read best-sellers for any sports fan, and the most unique sports gifts of the season.

But for right now, since I also have a day job in retail and it’s a big week for us there as well, I’m just going to give you a little Holiday Guide Preview by recaping & linking to all of our best Stiletto Sports Giving Guides from the last year!

Also, I’m going to send you to the Stiletto Sports Fierce and Fabulous Boutique because all of the products featured in the guides are available for easy purchase through our store, which is an Amazon.com affiliate.

Oh… and, I’m a big fan of “one for them, two for me” when it comes do gift shopping. So don’t forget to check out The Stiletto Sports Shop to pick up something cute for yourself!

*****These are all links to older posts on Stiletto Sports, NOT random websites!

Stiletto Sports Complete Gift Giving Guide for Sports Loving Moms

Stiletto Sports Complete Holiday Gift Giving Guide for Sports Fans

Great Gifts  Ideas for Basketball Fans

• Slam Dunkin’ Best Gifts for NBA Lovers
• NCAA Basketball Books
• The Best Damn Basketball Books
• The Best Damn Basketball Movies for Fans Who Love the Shake and Bake
• UNC Tar Heels National Championship Gear

Great Gift Ideas for Baseball Fans

• Fun-est Baseball Gifts EVER!
• Great Gift Ideas for Yankees Lovers
• Tales of Modern & Past Baseball: Great books for any baseball fan!
• The Best Damn Baseball Movies for Guys who JuSt Love baseball!
• The Best Damn Baseball Movies for Girls who Like Crying in Baseball

Great Gift Ideas for Football Fans

• The Best Damn Books for the Football Fanatic
• The Best Damn 5-Star Football Movies
• My Favorite Football Gift Ideas

A few More Great Gift Ideas for all sports lovers

• . The Best Damn Sports Movies: Hockey, Boxing, Golf
• Stiletto Sports Ultimate Sports Lover Gift Sets/Baskets

Holiday Preview Guide: Fabulous Gift Ideas for Sports Lovers is a post from: Stiletto Sports

Another Stiletto Sports Correspondent, Frankie, headed off to capture some more great Yankees Stadium and Opening Week Photos for us!

Luckily, he went to Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Indians where the Yanks won 7-4, not the abysmal Saturday game where New York lost 4–22.

Yes, that said 22. It was more like a football score than a baseball score much to the dismay of well, everyone I know.

Moving on so not to piss off the pinstripe lovers in my life… here are the photos!

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More Live Photos From Yankees Stadium Home Opener is a post from: Stiletto Sports

Since I couldn’t shoot up to New York to see the Yankees home opener at their brand-spanking-new stadium, I sent my buddy Stiletto Sports Special Correspondent, Chris to capture some great footage.

Well, okay….so really, he was going to the home opener for his own pleasure and he put his pics on Facebook so I poached them! But details, details…I prefer to think of him as on on-scene correspondent much like Erik was with his March Madness Final Four coverage from Detroit.

Either way, the pictures are fantastic!

The game, on the other hand, not so much. Yankees lost 10-2. Not exactly like the original Yankees Stadium Opening Day in 1923, was it?

New Yankee Stadium Home Opener, April 16, 2009

Old Yankees Stadium Opening Day, April 18, 1923

New Yankees Stadium Opening Day Replica

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Inside the Stadium & Monument Parks

Welcome to Babe Ruth Plaza at the New Yankees Stadium

Babe Ruth Plaza at New Yankees Stadium

Babe Ruth Plaza "The Called Shot" Tribute

The Babe Ruth Era

The World Series Championships

The World Series Ring

The Joe Dimaggio Era

Yankees Stadium Monument Park

Joe Dimaggio Autographed Baseball

The Perfect Game Tribute

Wall of Fame

Almost better than the Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Derek Jeter Era

Play Ball!

The Field

The New Yankees Dugout

Yankees Stadium Home Plate

Yankees Stadium Home Opener

New Yankees Stadium Sign

Yankees Stadium Home Opener, the Starting Line Ups

Home Opener at Yankees Stadium, the National Anthem

Yankees Stadium Home Opener, National Anthem and American Flag

Thurman Munson's locker

Live Photos from New Yankees Stadium Home Opener is a post from: Stiletto Sports

Opening Day for the 2009 MLB season was April 5 and the games are already in full swing!

Baseball’s regular season runs from April till September and there are 162 games —per team! Then the postseason starts. Unlike the college basketball postseason (tournament) that is over in 10 days of gameplay, the MLB postseason goes on until the end of October.

So, I’m asking: are you ready to Play Ball? Or, well, at least watch it?

Last year we created a ton of guides to baseball–from the basics like players, positions, terms and scoring to tips on how to watch the World Series of Boredom er, Baseball.

This year, we’ll be expanding the guides and adding more advanced teachings. There will also be team and player profiles. Anyone interested in writing/promoting their favorite team (and getting free and shameless promotion to their own sites) please email assignment_desk AT stilettoSETsports DOT com.

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Reasons to Watch Baseball

• Why Hitting a Ball With a Stick is Fun To Watch: Top Ten Reasons to Watch MLB Baseball!
• Why You Should Say “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”: Top Ten Reasons to go See A Live MLB Game

The Girls’ Guide to Baseball

• Girl’s Guide to Baseball Basics: How many players are on a team? How long is a game? What is a “good” batting average?
• Baseabll Terms to Know: Bat. Ball. Strike. Bases Loaded. Tushy. Ya know, all the important things!
• Baseball Positions: Nine Guys + Nine Different Positions = Loads of Fun. Need I say more?
• Guide to Pro Baseball: The AL and the NL of the MLB. OMG, what? LOL!
• The Objective of Baseball: aka Why Do They Sing, One, Two, Three Strikes You’re Out?:
• A Girl’s Guide to Scoring in Baseball: Football has goals and touchdowns. Soccer and hockey have goals.  Basketball has, well, baskets. So what does one score in baseball? Runs and bases, yes. but do you know the differnce between a Grand Slam, an earned run, and an RBI?

Girl’s Guide to Surviving the World Series

• How to Survive the World Series of Boredom: Fun facts and bits of trivia to wow any baseball fan. It totally freaks people out that I know that the 1989 World Series is known as the Battle of the Bay and the Earthquake Series.
• There’s Only One October: a quick guide to the MLB playoffs/postseason and how it works.
  • There’s Only One October 2008 Commercials: The commercials that actually made me want to watch baseball!

• The 2008 World Series

  • A Cinderella Story: The Tampa Bay Rays
  • Snow White’s Tale: The Philadelphia Phillies
  • Why Cinderella’s Story was Better Than Snow White’s: The Phillies won the World Series and unless you lived in Philly, no one really cared. It was all about the magical story of the Rays’ and the huge shadow Cinderella cast on the Phillies.

Other 2008-09 Baseball News and Stories

• Yankee Stadium: The 80+ year old iconic structure that was pretty much the symbol of baseball was, well, thrown the garbage like a worthless baseball card. The powers that be made a brand new Yankee Stadium that will debut this year. Trust me, it’s something you need to know about.
• A-Rod is A-Fraud: If you haven’t heard, this is a pretty key info. Alex Rodriguez  is persona non grata in the MLB world right now, much to the dismay of female fans all over the country, myself included. You can still heart him (I do) just keep it on the DL for now.

Books, Movies, Gifts and More!

• Baseball Movies for Girls who like crying in baseball and movies
  
• Baseball Movies for Boys who Just Love Baseball
• Best Baseball Books: Tales of Modern and Past Baseball
• Fabulous Gifts for the Baseball Lover

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Want to write about your favorite team and have thousands see your story? Contact Stiletto Sports to submit your piece! We are completely biased and love shamless team promotion here! Is there a guide you would like to see for the 2009 MLB series? Leave a comment or shoot me an email and we will try to get it done!

The Complete Girl’s Guide to Baseball is a post from: Stiletto Sports

Because I can’t cover all sports, all the time (I have a life), I am enlisting the help of fellow writers. Speak your mind and give a shameless plug for your own site all at the same times. It doesn’t get better than that! Well, okay, I could pay the guest columnist!

And now, with thoughts on the Alex Rodriguez steroids hoopla, Mike from Section 59: Yankees Blog

I’m sure by now, you’ve heard that earlier today Sports Illustrated broke the story that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003 when he was playing with the Texas Rangers.

Half of me is angry that another one of my heroes has been tainted. The other half wants A-Rod to get back on the juice!I really want to see what he could do in October while all hoped up on roids.

All this time, we’ve been blaming the intense media spotlight for his drop in stats from 2003 to the 2004 season when he started with the Yankees. We all owe a major apology to the media, the real reason for his decrease in productivity was that he stopped taking steroids.

I’d really hate to be A-Rod at a game now. There’s so many chants to choose from A-Fraud, A-Rod I want my money back (one of my personal favorites after too many drinks when the Yankees are losing) and who knows what chant they’re going to come up with the steroids. And that’ll be just from the Yankee fans, I’d hate to see what it’ll be like in Boston.

Just the other day I was listening to Sports Center and after the story of Barry Bonds one of the commentators said that he can’t wait to see A-Rod break the record because he was steroid free. Looks like he spoke a little too soon! I’ll admit that I’m kind of pissed about it. Using steroids is cheating and I thought he was above that. I was motivated by his work ethnic, now I’m thinking that I should take to cheating and cutting corners.

I heard some talk about what will come because the test results were supposed to be confidential information.

• I think it’ll come out that the information was leaked, stolen or from a rogue employee that’s now conveniently fired.
• It really doesn’t matter. Information like this shouldn’t be kept secret. The fans who pay these guy’s salaries from ticket sales to buying their jerseys deserve to know who was cheating and who wasn’t.

Which reminds me, I’m going to head off to Finish Line and see if they’ll let me return the Rodriguez jersey that I bought in 2004.

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To be a guest columnist for Stiletto Sports please email Jen at princessjennifer AT stilettosetsports DOT com

Guest Column: A-Rod is A-Fraud? is a post from: Stiletto Sports