Getting excited for the start of baseball season? ME TOO! I’m like Jojo the idiot circus boy with a pretty new pet! Now the pet is my possible fantasy league winning team. So, I’ve been doing a lot of reading and research!

Let’s set the scene: I am at home on my computer searching for insightful articles when I come across a headline ‘Body by Borowski’. Say it with me people…what in the world?! Yes, they are talking about Cleveland Indians closer Joe Borowski. But he is not selling a diet plan; he’s just sharing how he has stayed fit the past couple of seasons. Joe Bo is just eating a healthy diet, cut out all junk food and doing an hour and a half cardio regiment. Nothing new, I know, but it got me thinking maybe he is shooting himself in the foot with this one. I mean, it wasn’t that long ago a baseball great told us, “If I can do it, you can do it!” Well, Tommy Lasorda did slim down, albeit temporarily. At least somewhere in Nashville some nuns got a convent.

I know Joe Bo is still young and playing the game. But baseball is one of the sports where you don’t have to be the slimmest or most chiseled man on the field. And he is playing a position that generally is known for some big boys *cough, David Wells*. Just calorie free food for thought.

Speaking of overweight pitchers, did you know somebody actually saved a partially eaten hot dog tossed aside by Babe Ruth?

PIC: Ruth's Dog

Doesn’t it look yummy?!?! After seeing this I wondered what other odd items have sports fans saved? There are a bunch of things out there but here is my list of the oddest of the odd. (The weirdest thing might be some of the items actually sold for money!)

Do you ever think about what happens to your gum when you spit it out? Well, neither did Luis Gonzalez! The bubblegum he supposedly chewed up and spit out after a 2002 spring training game in Tuscon, AZ was put up at an auction and sold for $10,000! Who knew A-B-C gum was worth so much?

Perhaps you are in the market for some new teeth to chew on your previously chewed gum? How about the teeth of a baseball legend? A daughter of a dentist decided to pay $8,000 for false teeth worn by Ty Cobb. For that kind of scratch, I would want some real chompers!

If you want the real thing, how about the hair from Tim Hudson’s chinny-chin-chin? In 2002, the right handers shavings were sold for $75. While the dirt from his cleats only brought in $50. I guess it is only fitting that DNA is worth more than dirt!

Before the old Busch Stadium was reduced to dirt, some relics from the stadium went up for auction. One item caught the eye of a urologist…a urinal. He paid $2,000 for the urinal that was in the Cardinals clubhouse. And you could see it too! Just make an appointment because it is displayed in the waiting room!

What item do you think went up for auction pitcher Joe Nelson waiting in his doctor’s office? It was actually a piece of Joe Nelson! Well pieces to be exact. Surgically removed bone chips from Nelson’s elbow were put on E-bay in 2002 with a starting bid of $250. The bidding was up to $23,600, but the auction was pulled since it is E-bay’s policy not to sell body parts. Wonder what they did with the chips?

Someone just couldn’t bring themselves to eat this chip because it bares a striking resemblance to the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

PIC: Barbaro Cheeto!

Rumor is, this Cheeto sold for $70.

Sometimes it is the little things that matter. Or in this case, a little jockstrap. Yes, a jockstrap worn by the shortest player to make a plate appearance was saved. On August 19, 1951 3 foot 7 Eddie Gaedel stepped up to the plate at Sportsman Park for the St. Louis Browns.

PIC: Little Dude at the plate

Gaedel was walked into baseball history-literally! He got four balls in a row and a substitute runner took his place on first.

Would you pay $2.8 million dollars for a baseball card? Well, you would if you want the “Holy Grail” of baseball cards. Of course I am talking about the Honus Wagner baseball card from 1910.

Other items are too priceless to be auctioned away. But if the National Baseball Hall of Fame is ever hard up for money, they could try to sell a piece of skin from the left thigh of Abner Doubleday.

Would you want to own the actual skin of the man who may have invented the sport of baseball? I am sure someone out there would pay money for it.

PIC: Doubleday's Skin

So what do you think? Money well spent or some people really need a significant other? Either way, you now have some more things to talk about around the sports water cooler!

And now the moment most of you were waiting for…the 9 Professional Sports Teams that share the same name:
1.) New York Giants/ San Francisco Giants
2.) Arizona Cardinals/ St. Louis Cardinals
3.) Sacramento Kings/ Los Angeles Kings
4.) New York Rangers/ Texas Rangers
5.) Florida Panthers/ Carolina Panthers
And teams connected with a past franchise:
6.) New York Jets/ Winnipeg Jets
7.) Edmonton Oilers/ Houston Oilers
8.) Ottawa Senators/ Washington Senators
9.) Colorado Rockies (MLB)/ Colorado Rockies (NHL)

How many did you come up with? Did I stump anyone? Let me know! I sure hope I got some conversations started and you guys had fun!