Touch 'Em All: World Series trophy to go up for auction

It's not news to the New York Yankees, at least, that a World Series trophy can be bought.

But, guess what? Now you can do it, too.

The 1912 trophy won by the Boston Red Sox is on the auction block.

The Sox won the title in the Fall Classic a century ago, four games to three over the New York Giants, with one game called a tie on account of darkness.

It was pitchers' duel, with Boston's Smokey Joe Wood going 3-1, and the Giants' Rube Marquard 2-0.

Now, the sterling silver trophy will be auctioned Aug. 2 at Camden Yards in Baltimore during a national sports collectors convention.

The trophy's current owner, real estate broker Robert Fraser, paid $74,000 for it in 2007. It's expected to go for $300,000.

Fraser says there were two trophies made but no one knows what happened to the other one.

(Check Yankee Stadium.)

Erstwhile Chicago Cubs righthander Ryan Dempster says he is mulling some trade possibilities - and has a favorite - but will still throw some balls to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon, most likely.

The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers are both reportedly interested in Dempster, who can veto any trade because of seniority.

"I have some options, and a pretty good idea of where I want to go," Dempster said, declining to reveal that team because he's a coy charmer and has always relied on the kindness of strangers.

The baseball life: The Cleveland Indians acquired veteran utility man Brent Lillibridge from Boston for a minor-league pitcher. The Red Sox got Lillibridge on June 24 as part of the trade that sent Kevin Youkilis to the Chicago White Sox.

The Pirates acquired lefthander Wandy Rodriguez from the Houston Astros for three minor-leaguers and cash. . . . Catcher Jason Kendall retired less than a week after signing a minor-league contract with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. . . . Arizona traded infielder Ryan Roberts to the Tampa Bay Rays, ending the Diamondbacks portion of the career of a player popular as "Tat Man" for his many tattoos, if not his .250 average with six home runs and 34 RBIs this season. . . . The New York Mets demoted outfielder Lucas Duda to the triple-A Buffalo Bisons.