Well, it has been a year, and it's all your fault......

[TFig27]

So, it has been a year since I officially became a Game Used Collector. Prior to collecting and finding this site, this was the only game used item I had:
David Cone Game Used Autographed Fielding Glove - Acquired through Upper Deck Sweet Spot Redemption

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/100_0016.jpg

Then, last September, Steiner sent an email about a Game Used Bat Lotto they were having. Well for $200, I took a shot and got this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/IMG_1588.jpg

Mark Whiten Game Used Bat. Probably threw away $175 on that ;) . Don't worry, I make up for that later. Keep reading.

So the bat started to get me interested in game used items. What did I do next, went on a little game used pants buying spree.

Clete Boyer and Pat Kelly Pants
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/IMG_1648.jpg


and Kevin Mass Pants
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/maaspants2small.jpg

I thought how can I go wrong getting game used items from Yankees for such a relavtively good price compared to game used cards.

Then, I got an email about a special price for game used bases, $199. So, I was able to pick up a game used first base from 9/27/2006, my birthday. I later found out that Chien Ming Wang set the all time win record for an Asian born player that game.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/IMG_1658_small.jpg

Then, I decided I would get a nice game used bat of a player I liked:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/IMG_1664.jpg
Tino Martinez Game Used Bat

Then, I came across this bat:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/IMG_1709.jpg
Robin Ventura Bat. I picked it up because my dad actually caught a robin ventura homerun ball, so its a neat piece to put with the ball.

Thanks to Jeff(Birdbats) I was able to pick up another Tino Bat:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/Martinez03.jpg

I was able to get a cheap Pat Kelly bat to go along with that pair of pants:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/IMG_1763.jpg

I then started to realize that I needed to focus my collection and go after certain player.

Some of those players: Tino Martinez, Johnny Damon, Aaron Boone

Heres Tino's ST Jersey with black armband:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/IMG_1745.jpg

Tino's Wristband:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/img4679043med.jpg

Then, thanks to John Taube, I was able to get a blond Tino Bat, with great use:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/Tino_web.jpg

Tino wasnt my first favorite first baseman. I grew up with Donnie Baseball. But something from his playing days would probably be too costly. But when I had the chance to get a pair of his road pants. I took it. I even think I was able to photomatch a repair on the pants:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/IMG_1811.jpg

and for my Boone collection I picked up an Indians bat:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/7b67_1_sbl.jpg

At this point, I didn't have a Game used hat in my collection and was able to pick up a Karim Garcia Flag Patch hat up for a pretty good price:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/3ce9_1.jpg

Then Steiner decided to do another Bat Lotto (this is where I make up for that $200 Whiten)
This lotto was $100 a chance, so I took four chances:
Miguel Cairo Bat
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/cairoM9.jpg

Jason Giambi Bat
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/giambiM9.jpg

[TFig27]

Johnny Damon Used Giambi Model Bat:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/giambiLS.jpg

Jorge Posada 2007 Game Used Bat from Clemens 350th Win:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/posada.jpg

I think I did pretty well with those 4 bats :D

Next thing I picked up was a helmet of a former Yankee, Ricky Ledee:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/IMG_2242.jpg

Then, a Scott Brosuis Bat:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/78d9_1.jpg

Then I went on a little game used cleat spree:
Harry "peanuts" Lowrey Cleats:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/5f97_1.jpg

Terrence Long Cleats:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/0062_1_sbl.jpg

Raul Mondesi Cleats:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/9d1f_1_sbl.jpg

Marlon Byrd Cleats:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/87eb_1_sbl.jpg

Then, I found a vintage item that interested me.
Frank Grube 1936 Game Used Pants and Belt with great use:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/4ea6_1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/4ed9_1.jpg

Thanks to Kyle, I was able to add a new type of game used items, locker room nameplates: (all except Wise)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/S3011153-1.jpg

Next, Erubiel Durazo Game Used Bat, only reason i picked this up is because of the #44 on the barrel. That is "my number" and it was cheap:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/Gamers005.jpg


Then i returned back to my player focus:

Aaron Boone 2003 Game Used Hat
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/img5515815.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/img5515814.jpg

and Boone autographed gu 2006 batting gloves:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/boone.jpg

and with help from Jon pointing me in the right direction, I got this great Johnny Damon bat:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/tfig27/damonall-1.jpg

If you are still reading this, I am impressed. But I would like to thank everyone on this site for adding to my collection in some way. Whether it be selling me something, pointing me in the right direction, or helping me with any questions I had, I appreciate it. Let's see if year 2 of game used collecting can top this one.

Tom

[both-teams-played-hard]

Nice collection. If you made it past the first year without a divorce, then expect a lifetime of collecting bliss!