The HOVG 2016 Holiday Gift Guide

holiday-gift-guide

We’re weeks away from Christmas and you still have presents to buy. Worse yet…you still need to get something for that hard-to-buy-for baseball fan in your life.

Is he (or she) a Boston Red Sox fan? You have no idea.

Does this person read? Are they even literate?!? Both good questions.

Regardless of team affiliation (and any sort of affinity toward words)…here are some last-minute gift ideas any self-respecting baseball fan would love.

what-to-wear

“Me and the Boys Boppin” Shirt [Homage]

Ask anyone on the street and they’ll all agree…there ain’t nothing wrong with wearing a shirt honoring should-be Hall of Famer Dave Parker.

Big Papi Ugly Christmas Sweater [Teespring]

Remember that time David Ortiz dropped an “f-bomb” in front of a sold out Fenway Park? Of course you do and now you can wear it (kinda) on a Christmas sweater. The best part…all proceeds go to charity.

The Hall of Very Good™ San Diego Chicken Shirt [Zazzle]

In 2014, The Hall of Very Good made the San Diego Chicken its inaugural celebrity inductee. And here’s a picture of the Chicken on a shirt! Click the link…there is other HOVG merch available too.

what-to-read

Kings of Queens: Life Beyond Baseball with the ’86 Mets by Erik Sherman

On this, the 30th anniversary of their World Series win, King of Queens is probably the definitive book of the 1986 New York Mets. The stories inside are fantastic.

House of Nails: A Memoir of Life on the Edge by Lenny Dykstra

If Kings of Queens is the definitive book about the 1986 Mets…House of Nails is the definitive book written by a member of the the 1986 Mets. Sorry, Ron Darling.

Ahead of the Curve: Inside the Baseball Revolution by Brian Kenny

If you’re one of these guys who likes Brian Kenny’s annual efforts to “kill the win”…this book is for you. Seriously, Kenny knows his stuff and this is a great read.

Fastball John by John D’Acquisto and David Jordan

A perfect memoir of 1970s baseball.

God Almighty Hisself: The Life and Legacy of Dick Allen by Mitchell Nathanson

“An excellent and unflinching examination of the tragedy that ensued when the first baseball superstar insistent on full racial equality joined one of the last baseball teams to integrate.” — Keith Olbermann

Bucky F*cking Dent: A Novel by David Duchovny

I’m not really sure what this book is about but, hey…it’s by David Duchovny and we’re really, really, really trying to get him on The HOVG Podcast. Really.

other-cool-stuff

2016 World Series Champions: The Chicago Cubs [Blu-ray]

I don’t fancy myself a Cubs fan, but let’s face it…this year’s World Series was pretty dope. And, yeah, you’re going to want to relive the thing over and over. Lucky for you…this Blu-ray exists!

Out of the Park Baseball 17

Hands down the best baseball strategy game ever made. Ever.

Palomino Blackwing Pencils

If you’re not scoring the next baseball game you go to with  a Blackwing pencil…I’m not sure we can be friends. In all seriousness, Blackwing has an entire line of pencils dedicated to Joe DiMaggio’s legendary 56-game hitting streak. True story.

Bertman Ball Park Mustard [Bertman]

Ball. Park. Mustard. Period. Seriously, outside of sauerkraut, what else are putting on your brat?

Jose Altuve Minifigure [OYO Sports]

C’mon…who wouldn’t want a life-sized Jose Altuve on their desk at work? Don’t love Altuve for some reason, OYO has plenty of other minifigures you can buy. And you should.

Everybody Wants Some!! [Blu-ray]

The best thing about Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some!! isn’t that it is super funny…it’s that the actors actually look like they know how to play baseball.

Spaceman [Blu-ray]

The only (potentially) free thing on this list, Spaceman is currently available via Amazon Prime. Go start your free trial today and watch this thing. Oh…and you get to see Josh Duhamel’s ass. You’re welcome.

If you’re into baseball art at all, please check out our friends from Gypsy Oak, Ballpark Blueprints, Prinstant Replays and Punk Rock Paint. I can guarantee that you will be more than happy with whatever you find there.

Several of the items above include Amazon affiliate links. Feel free to go to Amazon and do your shopping via those links. All proceeds will go toward The Hall of Very Good website and podcast.

Happy holidays!

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