Lenny Dykstra 93 NL CHAMPS Philadelphie Phillies OML dédicacé baseball COA

THIS ONE IS A BEAUTY!!

Great looking, single signed baseball by former 1993 NL Champion Philadelphia Phillie...Lenny Dykstra.

Lenny, whose nickname was "NAILS", began his career in 1985 with the New York Mets.  He played for the Mets 1985-89 amd Philadelphia Phillies 1989-96.  During his career, he played in 1278 games and pounded out 1298 hits (including 281 doubles, 43 triples and 81 HR's) in 4559 at bats for a .285 career batting average.  He also drew 640 walks, drove in 404 runs and scored another 802 runs.  Lenny was a 3x Phillies All-Star (1990, 1994, 1995), won the Silver Slugger Award in 1993 and was a member of both the 1993 NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies as well as the 1986 World Champion New York Mets.  Lenny signed the sweet spot of this OML Allan H. Selig baseball with a blue ballpoint pen and he also inscribed on the ball, "93 N.L. CHAMPS", to note his affiliation with the great team.  Lenny signed this OML Allan H. Selig baseball on Sunday November 27, 2011.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia... Leonard Kyle "Lenny" Dykstra (  / ˈ d aɪ k s t r ə / ; born February 10, 1963 in Santa Ana , California ), nicknamed "Nails" and "Dude", is a former Major League Baseball center fielder . Dykstra played for the New York Mets during the late 1980s before playing for the Philadelphia Phillies during the early 1990s.

New York Mets

Dykstra was signed by the Mets as a 13th round draft pick in 1981 . A star in the minors , in 1983 he led the Carolina League in at-bats , runs , hits , triples , batting average , and stolen bases with 105, which was a league record for 17 years. That season, he batted .358 with 8 HR, 81 RBI, and 105 stolen bases while recording 107 walks against just 35 strikeouts. He was consequently named the Carolina League 's MVP. Dykstra soon emerged as one of the Mets' prized prospects, and while playing in AA in 1984, he befriended fellow outfielder and teammate Billy Beane . Beane would later say that Dykstra was "perfectly designed, emotionally" to play baseball and that he had "no concept of failure." According to Beane, his first comments upon seeing Steve Carlton warming up on the mound were, "Shit, I'll stick him."[ 1]

In 1985 , Dykstra was deemed ready for the Major Leagues, and he was promoted to the Mets when the team's starting center fielder , Mookie Wilson , was forced to the disabled list. Dykstra's play and energy were a big boost to a Mets team that surged to a 98-win season and narrowly missed out on the NL East crown. The following season, Dykstra was slated to serve as part of a center field platoon with Wilson, but when Wilson suffered a severe eye injury during spring training, Dykstra began the season as the outright starter and leadoff hitter. Later that season, the Mets would release left fielder George Foster , with Wilson moving over to play left. Mets fans soon nicknamed Dykstra "Nails" for his tough-as-nails personality and fearless play. In 1986, he even removed his shirt to pose for a "beefcake" poster under the "Nails" nickname. Moreover, Dykstra and #2 hitter Wally Backman were termed the "Wild Boys" for their scrappy play and propensity to serve as the spark plugs for a star-studded lineup.

1986 season

With Dykstra batting in the lead-off spot, the 1986 Mets coasted to the division crown, outlasting the second-place Philadelphia Phillies by 21.5 games, en route to a 108–54 season. The Mets would eventually head to the World Series after a hard-fought victory over the NL West Champion Houston Astros in the 1986 NLCS . Dykstra will forever be remembered for his walk off home run in Game 3, which is considered one of the biggest hits in Mets franchise history and the definitive moment of Dykstra's career. Dykstra would bat .304 in the 1986 NLCS and later hit .296 in the World Series against the Boston Red Sox . However, it was Dykstra's lead off home run in Game 3 of the World Series at Fenway Park that served as the spark for a Mets team that had fallen behind 2 games to none. The home run made him the 3rd Met in team history (along with Tommie Agee and Wayne Garrett , both of whose home runs also came in a Game 3, in the 1969 and 1973 World Series respectively) to hit a leadoff home run in the World Series. Following Dykstra's home run, the Mets rallied to defeat the Red Sox in seven games in one of the most memorable World Series of all time.

1987–1989

Following the Mets' World Championship, Dykstra would continue to serve as the team's sparkplug for several seasons. In the 1988 NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers , Dykstra continued his post season success by hitting .429 in a losing effort. However, Dykstra was traded to the Phillies on June 18, 1989, along with pitcher Roger McDowell and minor-league player Tom Edens for second baseman Juan Samuel .[ 2] Teammate Keith Hernandez later said in his book Pure Baseball that Dykstra was "on the wild and crazy side", which he cites as one of the reasons the Mets chose to trade him and the Phillies chose to acquire him.[ 3]

Philadelphia Phillies

Dykstra was initially upset over the trade as he enjoyed playing in New York; nevertheless, he was well liked in Philadelphia and soon became a fan favorite there as well. (According to former general manager Frank Cashen, the Phillies offered Dykstra back to the Mets after the 1989 season, but the Mets refused.) He was known for his trademark cheek full of tobacco and hard play.[ 4] With the Phillies, Dykstra's career was marked by incredible highs and lows. In 1990 , he started in the All Star Game , led the league in hits, and finished fourth in batting average. He was batting over .400 into June.

Dykstra's next two seasons were marred by injury . In 1991 , while driving drunk , he crashed his car into a tree on Darby-Paoli Road in Radnor Township . Teammate Darren Daulton , who was with him during the drunken incident, was also injured. Dykstra suffered fractured ribs , a broken cheekbone , and a fractured collarbone , which cost him two months. In late August of that year, Dykstra broke his collarbone again while playing in Cincinnati by running into the outfield wall and ended up missing the remainder of the season.

On Opening Day 1992 , Dykstra was hit by a pitch that broke his hand. In all he played in just 145 of 324 possible games in the 1991 and 1992 seasons.

In 1993 , it all seemed to come together for Dykstra and the Phillies . The team, which had been rebuilding since its last playoff appearance ten years previous , returned to the top of the National League East . He played in 161 games, setting a Major League record with 773 plate appearances. Despite being overlooked for the 1993 All-Star team, Dykstra led the league in runs, hits, walks , and at-bats, and was runner-up to Barry Bonds in voting for the Most Valuable Player of the National League. Dykstra's spark led the Phillies to the World Series , where they faced the Toronto Blue Jays . In the series, Dykstra batted .348 and hit four home runs , including two in a 15–14 Phillies loss in Game 4. The Phillies ultimately lost the series in six games.

Retirement

Injuries plagued Dykstra for the rest of his career. He last played in the 1996 season, and launched one final comeback attempt in Spring Training in 1998 before retiring at the age of 35. After his retirement, Dykstra ran a car wash in Simi Valley, California , but sold this in 2007.[ 5]

Dykstra was sued in relation to the car wash in 2005. The lawsuit, filed by former business partner Lindsay Jones, alleged that Dykstra used steroids and told Jones to place bets on Phillies games in 1993, when Dykstra was on the team. Dykstra denied the allegations.[ 6] Dykstra was also identified by others as using steroids during his career.[ 7]

Dykstra managed a stock portfolio, and served as president of several of his privately held companies, including car washes; a partnership with Castrol in "Team Dykstra" Quick Lube Centers; a ConocoPhillips fueling facility; a real estate development company; and a venture to develop several "I Sold It on eBay" stores throughout high-demographic areas of Southern California . He also appeared on Fox News Channel 's The Cost of Freedom business shows and his stock picking skills were even mentioned by Jim Cramer , who had Dykstra write an investing column for TheStreet .

Dykstra purchased Wayne Gretzky's $17 million estate with the hopes of flipping it, but was unsuccessful. At one point, Dykstra owed more than $13 million on the house, and Lake Sherwood security guards were eventually told to keep Dykstra away from the property due to Dykstra stripping the house of over $51,000 worth of items (counter-tops, an oven, and hardwood flooring) and Dykstra allowing the homeowners' insurance to lapse on the property.[ 8] The home was eventually sold in January 2011 for "an undisclosed amount". Jeff Smith, the second lienholder on the former Gretzky mansion, said the property was listed on the market for $10.5 million. Sources interviewed by CNBC said that Smith "did very well" with the sale.[ 9]

In 2000, Dykstra and members of the 1986 World Championship team threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 5 of the World Series at Shea Stadium against the New York Yankees .[ 10] [ 11] In 2002, Dykstra made a much-anticipated return to New York when he was elected as part of the Mets' 40th Anniversary All-Amazin Team.

In 2006, Dykstra also returned to Shea Stadium as the Mets honored the 20th Anniversary of the 1986 World Championship team. Dykstra has recently voiced a greater desire to get back involved in baseball, and his name has been mentioned as a possible coach or manager for the Mets; and Dykstra has also recently served as a part-time instructor at Mets' spring training at their camp in Port St. Lucie .

Dykstra returned to Flushing on September 28, 2008 for the Farewell to Shea Stadium ceremony held after the final game of the season.

In May 2011, Dykstra was sentenced to house arrest after a bankruptcy fraud indictment. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Dykstra has been allowed to leave the house under the conditions of work, going to church, and mandatory drug-testing.[ 12] Following his June 10 hearing for drug possession and grand theft auto, Dykstra has been in jail awaiting trial due his inability to post the $500,000 bail. He has also been appointed a public defender .[ 13] On October 19, Dykstra pleaded no contest to three grand theft auto charges and one count of filing a false financial report. He will be sentenced on January 20, 2012.[ 14]

Personal life

Family

His son, Cutter Dykstra, was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft .[ 15] He currently plays for the Washington Nationals organization.[ 16] His uncles Pete , Jack and Tony Leswick all played in the National Hockey League .

Lenny's wife, Terri, filed for divorce in April 2009.[ 17]

Business affairs and bankruptcy

In September 2008, Dykstra began a high-end jet charter company and magazine marketed towards professional athletes known as Player's Club ,[ 18] LLC. The magazine was part of a business plan to offer financial advice to professional athletes, according to a profile article in the New Yorker magazine,[ 19] Dykstra has a website "Nails Investments" [ 20] with information about his investment ideas.

In early 2009 stories and evidence began to emerge that indicated Dykstra's financial empire was in a tailspin. A GQ article by Kevin P. Coughlin , a former photo editor for the New York Post , detailed Coughlin's 67-day employment with Dykstra producing The Players Club , a magazine geared toward athletes and their expensive lifestyles. It portrayed Dykstra in an unflattering light, as Coughlin detailed incidents accusing Dykstra of credit card fraud , failure to pay rent on the magazine's Park Avenue offices, bounced checks , lawsuits, and Dykstra's refusal to pay printing costs.[ 21]

An extensive article about an ESPN.com investigation in April 2009 went into greater detail, noting Dykstra has been the subject of at least two dozen legal actions since 2007.[ 22]

In July 2009, Dykstra, whose net worth was estimated at $58 million in 2008, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy , listing less than $50,000 in assets against $10 million to $50 million in liabilities. Dykstra claimed to be a victim of mortgage fraud and lost a house purchased for $17.5 million from Wayne Gretzky to foreclosure.[ 23] The house is located at 1072 Newbern Court, Thousand Oaks, CA in the Sherwood Country Club development in Southern California. [ 24] 34°7′48.64″N 118°53′24.8″W  /  34.1301778°N 118.890222°W  / 34.1301778; -118.890222

According to the July 7, 2009 petition in the Bankruptcy Court in the Central District of California [ 25] Dykstra's debts and creditors include: $12.9mm to Washington Mutual (unsecured), $4 mm to Countrywide Financial /Bank of America (unsecured), $3.5mm to Rockbridge Bank of Atlanta, $2.5mm to David and Teresa Litt,[ 26] $1.5mm to K&L Gates (a large law firm), and smaller amounts to others.

In August 2009, Dykstra was living out of his car and in hotel lobbies. The estate purchased from Gretzky was riddled with water damage, torn up flooring, missing toilets, among other things. His second home, also inside Sherwood Country Club , was vacant due to mold problems. Dykstra became involved in a dispute with his insurance company to fix the problems with his homes. The Fireman's Fund insurance company provided Mr. and Mrs. Dykstra with a temporary residence pending resolution of issues with the homes.[ 27] According to court papers the Dykstra house was in "unshowable" condition as "the home was littered throughout with empty beer bottles, trash, dog feces and urine and other unmentionables." Raw sewage had been leaking inside the home and electrical wiring had been damaged or removed by vandals.[ 28] [ 29]

On Sept. 13, 2009 it was announced that Dykstra's 1986 New York Mets World Series championship ring and trophy would be sold off. Auctioneers said they plan to sell a trove of memorabilia the former All-Star left unclaimed at a pawnshop in Beverly Hills. Each could sell for $20,000 or more. On October 6, 2009 the Wall Street Journal reported that Dykstra's World Series ring had been auctioned off for $56,762 "to help pay the former major-leaguer's $31 million debt."[ 30] On November 20, 2009 the case was converted to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy to liquidate the estate and pay creditors.[ 31]

In June 2010, a court-appointed federal trustee in Dykstra's bankruptcy case charged that Dykstra had lied under oath, improperly hid and sold assets, and repeatedly acted in a "fraudulent and deceitful manner" during his ongoing bankruptcy case. The trustee asked that the bankruptcy court deny Dykstra's request to have his bankruptcy discharged due to his actions.[ 32]

On April 13, 2011 Lenny Dykstra was arrested for investigation of grand theft, a day after he was charged with a federal bankruptcy crime. Dykstra was arrested by Los Angeles police at his Encino home on suspicion of trying to buy a stolen car. His arrest came a day after Dykstra, in an unrelated federal complaint, was charged with embezzling from a bankruptcy estate. He faces up to five years in federal prison if convicted. Federal prosecutors contend that after filing for bankruptcy, Dykstra hid, sold or destroyed more than $400,000 worth of items from the $18.5 million mansion without permission of a bankruptcy trustee. The items allegedly ranged from sports memorabilia to a $50,000 sink. At one point, he sold “a truckload of furnishing and fixtures” for cash at a consignment store, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office.[ 33] On June 13, 2011 Dykstra appeared in Federal bankruptcy court to plead not guilty to thirteen charges. He was represented by a public defender. The trial was set to begin August 9. [ 34] Dykstra faces up to 80 years in prison if convicted of all charges relating to embezzlement, obstruction of justice , bankruptcy fraud , making false statements to bankruptcy court, and concealing property from the bankruptcy court.[ 35]

Incidents

At approximately 1AM on May 7, 1991, Dykstra crashed his red Mercedes-Benz SL 500 [ 36] into a tree on Darby-Paoli Road in Radnor Township , Pennsylvania after attending the bachelor party of teammate John Kruk . Dykstra suffered broken ribs, a broken collarbone , and a broken facial bone. He also received second-degree burns on his left arm and lower back. Darren Daulton (also a former teammate) was a passenger in the car at the time and his injuries included an injured eye and a broken facial bone. According to Radnor Township Police, Dykstra's blood alcohol content was measured at 0.179 percent at the time of the crash.[ 37]

In 1999, he was arrested for sexual harassment of a 17-year-old woman who worked at his car wash, but the criminal charges were later dropped.[ 38]

In March 2009, press reports alleged that Dykstra's businesses were facing financial ruin and that he had used offensive terms when speaking about Blacks, women, and homosexuals.[ 39]

In September 2009, Lenny Dykstra was banned from both of his foreclosed multi-million dollar properties in Lake Sherwood. Security officers have been instructed to deny access to Dykstra. He was accused of vandalizing the properties and not maintaining home owners' insurance on the properties. A trustee was assigned by the courts to manage the properties.[ 40]

In December 2010, Dykstra was accused of hiring a female escort, then writing the escort a bad $1,000 check. Adult film star and escort Monica Foster claimed that he purchased her escort service on December 13, 2010 then wrote her a check that bounced. Monica Foster later posted a copy of the bounced check on her blog.[ 41] [ 42]

In January 2011, Dykstra was accused of sexual assault by his housekeeper. A female housekeeper alleged Dykstra would force her to give him oral sex on Saturdays. The woman told investigators she “needed the job and the money so she went along with the suspect’s requests rather than lose her job,” according to the filing, and “returned to work in the suspect’s home with knowledge that she obtained from the Internet of a claim of sexual assault by another woman.”[ 43]

On April 14, 2011, Dykstra was arrested and charged with bankruptcy fraud. Also The Los Angeles Police Department Commercial Crimes Division arrested Dykstra on separate grand theft charges related to the purchase of vehicles. He was held on $500,000 bail.[ 44]

On June 6, 2011, Dykstra was arrested and charged with 25 misdemeanor and felony counts of grand theft auto , identity theft , filing false financial statements, and possession of cocaine , ecstasy , and the human growth hormone, Somatropin .[ 45] He pleaded not guilty to the charges on June 16, with a pre-trial date set of September 13. [ 46] Dykstra's co-defendants both entered no contest pleas in exchange for their testimony against him. In addition, prosecutors added a new charge that, if convicted, Dykstra would have to spend his time in state prison , as opposed to county jail .[ 47] He faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted of all 25 counts.[ 48]

On August 25, 2011, Dykstra was charged with indecent exposure . The Los Angeles City Attorney accuses Dykstra of placing ads on Craigslist requesting a personal assistant or housekeeping services. The victims allege when they arrived, they were informed that the job also required massage service and then Dykstra would disrobe and he would expose himself. [ 49]