Former New York Yankees pitcher David Wells is so obsessed with the great Babe Ruth, he got himself a tattoo of the Bambino across his pitching arm.

Wells' infatuation with the Babe is famous -- he once wore a $35,000 Babe Ruth hat while pitching in an MLB game -- and last night outside of Boa, we got a peek at the art ...  a depiction of Wells pitching to The Babe.

The death certificate for former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu has been filed in Los Angeles ... in which his official cause of death is listed as "hanging ... self-inflicted with rope."

42-year-old Irabu was found dead in his California home last month.

According to the certificate, the Japanese-born ball player was married at the time of his death. He also had two children.

Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu was found dead yesterday in his California home -- and law enforcement sources tell TMZ, it appears he committed suicide by hanging himself. We're told a friend found him.

L.A. County Coroner is still trying to locate next of kin.

Hideki played for the Yankees, Expos, and Rangers -- last pitching in the big leagues in 2002. He won World Series rings with the Yanks in 1998 and 1999.

Irabu was 42.

Story developing ...

Usually it's considered common courtesy to give up your seat to a woman -- but Rudy Giuliani was reportedly none too pleased when he had to vacate his prized spot at Yankee Stadium ... to the First Lady.



The former mayor of New York City always sits near the Yankee dugout, but according to Page Six he was relegated to sit behind the photographers' box for Game 1 of the World Series because Michelle Obama was given the seats instead.

The paper says it was the White House that didn't want Giuliani near Obama, but get this: Michelle didn't even sit in the seats because of the weather and they remained unoccupied for the whole game.

Giuliani got his seat back for Game 2, which the Yankees won.

The Phillies dominated the Yankees last night -- and according to this PA congressman, not even the combined powers of Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kate Hudson and all the celebrity Yankees fans in the universe can help them pull ahead.



We got Robert Brady (D-PA) -- the same guy who issued The Mohawk Challenge -- today in DC, where he said having hardcore athletic support from celebs is great and all, but "How many home runs did Kate Hudson hit?"

The man has a point...

With tonight's game just hours away, Congressman Robert Brady (D - PA) is looking to make a last minute bet in tonight's Yankees vs. Phillies showdown ... and he's willing to risk most of the hair on his head.


We got the Phillies phan on Capitol Hill today -- where he said he couldn't find a single NY fan with enough "guts" to meet his high-risk wager. The stakes: The loser would have to get a mohawk!

Any takers?

There's no crying in baseball -- and according to Jerry Seinfeld, there shouldn't be any designated hitters either.


The notorious Mets fan was at Chateau Marmont last night, where he couldn't resist taking a shot at the Yankees ... and every other pitcher who never picks up a bat.

Alex Rodriguez just apologized to his teammates for the nasty performance-enhancing drugs scandal he's now embroiled in -- but dude's quivering lip was distracting.

The Yankees didn't even make it to the post season, but that didn't stop one of their star pitchers from losing anyway.

Joba Chamberlain was arrested for DUI at around 1 AM on Saturday morning after being pulled over for speeding near his hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska. The Yank's pitcher allegedly had an open container of booze in the car.

Joba was booked for DUI, speeding and having an open container in his car -- he will be formally charged on Monday.

Chamberlain has since apologized for his "error in judgment."

Dodgers legend Steve Garvey cleverly dodged A-Rod's off the field troubles -- we think.

In sports, yelling "you suck" just doesn't cut it anymore.

Now that Alex Rodriguez and Madonna are forever linked, the highest paid man in baseball is now the easiest fodder -- and Toronto Blue Jays fans took full advantage on Friday by hoisting photos of Madge before he went up to the plate.

The Blue Jays skunked the Yanks 5-0.