Madame Alexander is a renowned American doll maker who has created numerous iconic dolls over the years. One of her most well-known creations is the Wicked Witch of the East doll. The inspiration for this doll comes from L. Frank Baum's famous novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". In the novel, the Wicked Witch of the East is one of the primary antagonists. She is the ruler of the Munchkin Country in the Land of Oz and holds considerable power over the Munchkins.
Thirty years ago, it was a big deal, perhaps the biggest, for weeks and weeks and weeks. It was a furor that caused my mom to grab her 11-year-old in one hand and her pocketbook in another. It was on local news broadcasts and in national newspapers. Bill Ripken’s baseball card had a swear on it, and nothing was going to be the same.
This was just before I wandered away from baseball cards, never to return, and there s at least a tiny part of this whole ordeal that whispered, This stuff ain t for you, kid. While introducing his brother at the March of Dimes Man of the Year Award luncheon in New York, Ripken impressed Tony Petitti, who was in attendance and would go on to be the first president of the network.
She is the ruler of the Munchkin Country in the Land of Oz and holds considerable power over the Munchkins. The character makes her first appearance when her house falls on top of Dorothy's farmhouse, leading to the start of Dorothy's adventure in Oz. Madame Alexander's Wicked Witch of the East doll captures the essence of this iconic character.
Billy Ripken Obscenity Bat: He Finally Talks 20 Years Later
Had Billy Ripken not received a shipment of less than ideal Louisville Slugger R161 models that year.
Had Billy Ripken not decided to use one of those bats for batting practice that year. Had Billy Ripken not elected to mark that bat in a unique way that year.
Had the photographer, taking the picture for his Fleer baseball card, not asked him to pose for a shot in between batting practice with that bat.
Had the folks at Fleer caught what was written on the bat. it's extremely unlikely that we'd be talking about the 20th anniversary of any moment in the baseball career of Billy Ripken.
After all, the son of Cal Sr., once his manager, and the brother of Cal Jr., his teammate, was known more for his glove in a 12-year Major League Baseball career than for his bat. His batting average was .247 and he knocked in a total of 220 RBI.
But in January of 1989, Billy Ripken, scheduled to be a five cent common in the 1989 Fleer set, ignited the hobby already entering its prime with the debut of the very first Upper Deck set. Packs of Fleer hit hobby stores right after New Year's and, within two weeks, everyone had to have their hands on card No. 616, Billy Ripken.
Source: snopes.com Billy Ripken CardIt was the bat that he designated to use only in batting practice. It was the bat that had "F--K FACE" written on the knob, the obscenity in its full four-letter glory.
ESPN's Tim Kurkjian, then working for the Baltimore Sun, got to Ripken and Fleer first. Fleer's president Vincent Murray claimed that hadn't seen it before and that the company was doing all it could to correct the error immediately. Ripken told Kurkjian he was angry and disappointed.
"It appears I was targeted (by teammates)," Ripken told Kurkjian. "I know I'm kind of a jerk at times. I know I'm a little off. But this is going too far."
What ensued was absolute chaos and—as the "error" card's price rose to nearly $500—there were some amazing stories. A kid, who happened to be a fan of Ripken, had purchased a huge lot of No. 616's from a dealer for $50. When the curse was found, the new worth of the cards was closer to $20,000. There was the story of one kid who sued another kid for convincing him to sell his Billy Ripken for $1, without knowing the curse was on the bat. And the tale of the Geraldo show entitled "Men who write bad things in public places," when an audience member claimed it was he who wrote the obscenity on Ripken's bat.
For nearly 20 years, Billy Ripken hasn't told the whole story. That is, until he revealed to me how it all went down:
"I got a dozen bats in front of my locker during the 1988 season. I pulled the bats out, model R161, and noticed--because of the grain patterns--that they were too heavy. But I decided I'd use one of them, at the very least, for my batting practice bat."
"Now I had to write something on the bat. At Memorial Stadium, the bat room was not too close to the clubhouse, so I wanted to write something that I could find immediately if I looked up and it was 4:44 and I had to get out there on the field a minute later and not be late. There were five big grocery carts full of bats in there and if I wrote my number 3, it could be too confusing. So I wrote 'F--k' Face on it."
"After the season was over, in early January, I got a call from our PR guy Rick Vaughn. He said, 'Billy, we have a problem.' And he told me what was written on the bat and I couldn't believe it. I went to a store and saw the card and it all came back to me. We were in Fenway Park and I had just taken my first round of BP. I threw my bat to the third base side and strolled around the bases. When I was coming back, right before I got up to hit again, I remember a guy tapping me on the shoulder asking if he could take my picture. Never once did I think about it. I posed for the shot and he took it.
"I tried to deflect it as much as I could. It was fairly easy to say that somebody got me with a joke because people think you're the scum of the earth for doing something like this. The truth is that there's a lot of words like that that are thrown around in the clubhouse. They just don't get out there."
"I can't believe the people at Fleer couldn't catch that. I mean, they certainly have to have enough proofreaders to see it. I think not only did they see it, they enhanced it. That writing on that bat is way too clear. I don't write that neat. I think they knew that once they saw it, they could use the card to create an awful lot of stir."
"I have no idea where that bat is today. If I were to guess, I would say it probably got lost after someone used it in a game. Probably a guy like Brady Anderson because he choked up so he could use a heavier bat."
"Fleer sent me some of the cards out of the goodness of their heart. I autographed them and used them for my gifts to my groomsman in my wedding (which took place that offseason). I figured, at the time, it was better than giving them a set of cufflinks. I think I devalued the cards by signing them though."
"When people recognize me, I see the look on their face. They think of the card immediately and, before they even ask, I say, 'Yeah, it was me.' I don't know if it happens daily, but, to this day, it still happens a couple of times a week."
There were at least 12 different versions of the card in various states of blackout. First reports estimated that there were about 3,000 cards featuring the full obscenity, but it is believed that there were actually more than 100,000 of them that hit the market. A man named Donovan Ryan has maintained a web site called BillRipken.com, a site that talks just about the card and has been visited about 19,000 times.
Today, the Billy Ripken 1989 Fleer obscenity card sells for about $5. The 1989 Fleer card of his Hall of Fame brother still sells for less.
“I think part of what I had to go through in the minor leagues helped me get to the big leagues,” Ripken said. “I look back at 1986 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and think it was one of the best times I ever had.”
The doll is dressed in a black witch costume, complete with a pointy hat and a cape. She has green skin, as described in the novel, and her face features a bewitching expression. The attention to detail in the doll's design is evident, and it reflects Madame Alexander's commitment to creating lifelike and high-quality dolls. The Wicked Witch of the East doll is a collector's item and is highly sought after by fans of "The Wizard of Oz". Madame Alexander's doll captures the imagination and brings to life one of the most memorable characters from the book and subsequent movie adaptations. Her dolls have become treasured possessions and are often passed down through generations. Madame Alexander's Wicked Witch of the East doll serves as a reminder of the enduring popularity of "The Wizard of Oz". The character continues to fascinate audiences, and Madame Alexander's doll allows fans to own a piece of this magical world. The attention to detail and craftsmanship make these dolls truly special, capturing the essence of the Wicked Witch of the East and bringing her to life in a tangible and visually stunning way..
Reviews for "The Magic Behind Madame Alexander's Wicked Witch of the East Doll"
1. John - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with the Madame Alexander Wicked Witch of the East doll. The quality of the doll was not up to par, with loose threads, and the dress material felt cheap. The details on the face were not as vibrant as in the promotional images, which was a major letdown. Overall, I expected better for the price I paid.
2. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for the Madame Alexander Wicked Witch of the East doll, but it was a complete disappointment. The doll looked nothing like the character from "The Wizard of Oz," and the facial features were poorly painted. The doll's hair was also messy and difficult to style. I wouldn't recommend this doll to anyone who wants an accurate representation of the Wicked Witch of the East.
3. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - I am a big collector of dolls, but the Madame Alexander Wicked Witch of the East doll did not live up to my expectations. The outfit was poorly made with cheap materials, and the shoes had glue stains on them. The doll's joints were loose, causing it to fall over easily, and the stand provided didn't effectively hold it upright. Overall, I was disappointed with the quality and craftsmanship of this doll.
4. David - 3 out of 5 stars - The Madame Alexander Wicked Witch of the East doll had some redeeming qualities, but it fell short in key areas. The details on the face and body were decent, but the clothing lacked attention to detail. Additionally, the doll had a strong off-putting odor that was hard to ignore. While the doll was not terrible, it didn't meet my expectations, especially considering the brand's reputation for quality dolls.