Put Larry Walker’s NASCAR-Style SpongeBob Shirt in Its Own Hall of Fame

In Wednesday’s Hot Clicks: Larry Walker’s bold sartorial choice, a massive college hoops brawl and more.

Are you ready, kids?

As recently as two years ago, it seemed like there was no way Larry Walker would get elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Despite being one of the best hitters of his generation, Walker appeared on only 34.1% of writers’ ballots in 2018, well below the 75% threshold necessary for induction. With only two years remaining on the ballot, Walker looked like the longest of Cooperstown long shots. 

But many voters changed their tune last year. When the ballot-tracking project by baseball fan Ryan Thibodaux showed Walker creeping closer to the magic 75% number, he couldn’t believe it. 

After all the ballots were counted, Walker finished with 54.6% of the vote—a massive leap but still far short of enshrinement. So he wasn’t terribly optimistic that he’d make it in this time, in his 10th and final year on the ballot. Walker tweeted that he thought he’d be just short of 75%. 

Maybe that’s why Walker decided to wear a truly heinous NASCAR-style SpongeBob SquarePants shirt on what ended up being the biggest day of his professional life. He didn’t think he’d actually be appearing on TV. 

Here’s a closer look at the shirt.

Yes, it really says “Ain’t no ordinary sponge” on the front, next to a smirking SpongeBob. The back of the shirt is even more incredible. 

Amazon

Walker really is a fashion tastemaker. Since he debuted the wonderfully tacky top on MLB Network, it’s become very difficult to find. According to this tweet, you could find them on Amazon for about $20 on Tuesday night, but now they’re all sold out. It’s also out of stock at Walmart. 

But if you’re willing to roll the dice and give your credit card info to a sketchy-looking site called “mpakissale” or “wurzergoods” (which are the same website, just with different URLs), then the shirt can be yours for just $12.99 plus shipping. It’s the perfect thing to wear to Cooperstown next July. 

One vote!

One vote. That’s all that kept Derek Jeter from joining Mariano Rivera as the only players in baseball history to be elected unanimously to the Hall of Fame. (He and Larry Walker were the only two players voted in by the media this year.) New Yorkers and members of the media definitely worship Jeter more than he deserved, but there’s still no doubt he was a Hall of Fame–quality player. 

That’s why it’ll be so interesting to see whether we ever learn who the lone dissenter was. The ballots of those voters who wish to reveal them will be made public Feb. 4, but voters also have the ability to remain anonymous, so we may never learn who it was. I’m fairly certain the identity will come out, though. Because whoever did this did it to make a statement about how unanimous election should be an impossibly high bar to clear. I say it’s a 70% chance that he (and I guarantee it’s a man) will publish a column pleading his case by the end of the week.

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Around the sports world

The NFL is experimenting with an alternative to the onside kick at the Pro Bowl this weekend. ... Jadeveon Clowney’s cousin, Demon—yes, Demon—has committed to play at Ole Miss. ... The L.A. City Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution urging MLB to award the 2017 and 2018 World Series to the Dodgers. ... The cop who took that disturbing video of Delonte West has been suspended. ... Antonio Brown and his trainer are accused of battery after an incident with movers at Brown’s home.

Ugly scenes in the Sunflower Showdown

Benches emptied at the end of the Kansas State-Kansas game. pic.twitter.com/zWv46h3RJC

— ESPN (@espn) January 22, 2020

This was insanely funny, though

Prospects will arrive at the NFL draft red carpet in typical Vegas fashion

The stage for the 2020 NFL Draft in Las Vegas will be on the water at the Fountains of Bellagio. The players will be transported to the stage by boat. pic.twitter.com/8sVl8p2ZBx

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) January 21, 2020

If the owner is announcing ahead of time that the players will apologize then it will definitely be heartfelt

Astros owner Jim Crane said when the team assembles for Spring Training the players will come up with a plan to address the sign stealing saga publicly and will apologize for their role in the events that led to MLB’s sanctions. pic.twitter.com/55GzQDUgMe

— Alyson Footer (@alysonfooter) January 22, 2020

An English soccer fan gave his tickets to a homeless fan

Not fair

I’m always perplexed by families that do stuff like this

The biggest collection of soccer jerseys in the world

Not very subtle

Y’all going to the Y’alls game?

Not sports

Scientists discovered 28 new groups of viruses in a Tibetan glacier. ... Have you ever wondered who makes those bizarre illustrations on WikiHow?

Look out below!

English food is an atrocity

This guy makes the funniest, most wild videos

Not bad

A good song

Email dan.gartland@simail.com with any feedback or follow me on Twitter for approximately one half-decent baseball joke per week. Bookmark this page to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here. Visit our Extra Mustard page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.