Sponsor ship has sailed

ABBOTT and Costello wouldn’t be able to find work today. What once was presented as comedic farce — “How can a muddah eat its fahddah?” — is now sold at auction.

One can hear Bud Abbott telling Lou Costello how Mets and Yankees radio now identify who performed the national anthem and the name of the anthem’s commercial sponsor, to which Costello screams, “Den why don’t dey let ya hear da song?!”

So we’re left to consider this: How can there be a “Yankee Stadium Game Used Visitors Bullpen Pitching Rubber”? In what game was the visitors’ bullpen rubber called in with the reliever?

But Pinstripe Pride has become a farce, too. The Yankees and business partner Steiner Collectibles have topped themselves by now selling “Yankee Stadium Game Used Visitors Bullpen Pitching Rubbers” for the low, low price of just $200, plus (likely because of the slab’s weight and intrinsic value) $50 shipping via no-class mail.

And don’t forget all Yankees/ Steiner Collectibles come with the stench of cheesy desperation and certificates of authenticity.

So be the first on your block to own a slab of game-used rubber that, even if it wasn’t used in a game, might have been stepped on by, who knows, visiting relievers such as Alfredo Figaro, Burke Badenhop, Carter

Capps and the one, the only Al Alburquerque.

Me? I’m going into the business of game-used ballpoint pens — used while watching games. All will come with certificates of probability. But for you, I’ll throw in two — certificates, not pens.

Reader Greg Gillen has an idea: Why doesn’t MLB have a monthly or weekly award — commercially sponsored, of course — for the most ridiculous save of that period?

Gillen suggests it be named the Wes Littleton Award in honor of the Rangers reliever, who in 2007 was credited with a save in a 30-3 win.

It is a good idea, Greg, but given the number of absurd saves in just a weekend, there would be far too many deserving ones to choose from.