So Maybe Arod did use Blonde Bats in games in 2003...

[matt]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300245287402&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=020

Here is a 2003 "AROD HR Bat" with a PSA/DNA Grade of 7. It's the G174 that is commonly expected to be a BP bat after 2001 or so. So what do we all think of this? There has always been speculation as to when Arod stopped using these in games.

I am biased as I own a G174 bat just like this, and signed as "game used 2002" with a Mill Creek COA. Like this one on eBay, mine looks like it has been dipped multiple times, as it is more shiny than usual.

Possible reactions:

1. Fake sig and inscription
2. Once in a while Arod used these in games through 2002 and 2003
3. I am bored with this topic

Matt

[scottanservitz]

Well, we have the HR # and the year. I guess with some research that somebody can come up with a date. Then you need to go to Getty or Corbis and start looking for pictures. But wouldn't somebody have done this by now? I sold my G174 a year and a half ago. I'd need a black LS or a blonde Old Hickory. He used those when I was calling Mill Creek and complaining about my G174 being a bp bat. Oh well.....you know the story.

Scott

[mariner_gamers]

http://a430.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/75/l_23aa85915f7f28192afc2d1badb7e0bd.jpg
HR 34 August 2003
http://a197.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/116/l_1ba23446e35509737553b3876de671b4.jpg

Another blond bat August 2003. These were all I could with blond bats around the time of the bat on ebay.

[jetersbatboy]

Arod does you blonde bats for games ,but I think its only Old Hickory bats. He defiantly used them in 04 there are a lot of images on getty showing that. The picture from 03 show Old Hickory also not LS.

[joelsabi]

HR#325 8/2/03 cleveland at texas

[3arod13]

HR#325 8/2/03 cleveland at texas

Couldn't find any pictures.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/event_hr.cgi?n1=rodrial01&type=b
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX200308020.shtml

[Vintagedeputy]

Arod does you blonde bats for games ,but I think its only Old Hickory bats. He defiantly used them in 04 there are a lot of images on getty showing that. The picture from 03 show Old Hickory also not LS.

Why was he being defiant?

[sylbry]

To me the fact that there are two different styles of the number 2 used in the inscription is a red flag.

[joelsabi]

To me the fact that there are two different styles of the number 2 used in the inscription is a red flag.

Are you thinking its a game used bat where someone added more inscription to look like a HR game used back? Anyone else see it that way? i wonder what the original source of the bat is now.

[CollectGU]

I acually bought the mentioned bat from Emil Bodenstein of Locker Room memorabilia (David Wrights's company) 3 years ago, and then sold it at auction. Here is the history on the bat as told by Emil to me. Also, I actually found pictures from a guy that went to that game and took photos because it was an important pre game ceremony that game inducting former manager Johnny Oates and former players Nolan Ryan, Jim Sundberg and Charlie Hough were the first inductees into the new Rangers Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, the pictures are from far away but in them you can see he is definitely using a blond bat. I will try and find the pictures:

David,
This bat was consigned to Locker Room Memorabilia by Shawn (deleted last name). Shawn became friends with Alex Rodriguez when he was the Mariner Moose in Seattle during Alex's early years with the Mariners. Shawn and I met when he was Raymond, the mascot for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, about two years ago. He asked us to help him sell two Alex Rodriguez Home Run bats he received from Alex. You purchased one and one was sold at the Mike Alsott Foundation Charity Event. Based on our experience the signature of the bat looks authentic. The bat is also consistent with models Alex used as a member of the Rangers. Locker Room Memorabilia was not present when the bat was signed. For more information please contact Emil Bodenstein at 877-TEAM-LRM.
Thanks,
Emil Bodenstein
Locker Room Memorabilia
http://www.lrmemo.com (http://www.lrmemo.com)
emil@lrmemo.com (emil@lrmemo.com)

[CollectGU]

Here is a link to the photos from that game showing Alex with a blond bat. I don't know if the pictures open up anymore:

http://www.rangerfans.com/pictures/hof2003.html

[sylbry]

Are you thinking its a game used bat where someone added more inscription to look like a HR game used back?

I wouldn't say that. However, at first glance you wonder why there are two different styles of the number "2" written on the bat. For something that is supposedly written at the same time that is odd and would be a red flag until researched and cleared.