Heritage Auctions McGwire Bat

[bigtruck260]

I am looking for a solid McGwire gamer - but something is bothering me about this one.

http://sports.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=48101&Lot_No=41104

The tar looks off - like there is not really any on the knob end of the bat. From what I can tell, the barrel does not have the kind of use I am accustomed to seeing on a MAC bat. The handwritten name and number on the knob is also different than I have seen on most Mac bats from the era.

If anyone has an opinion, I'd sure be interested in it. Thanks in advance...

[whatupyos]

Dave,

I have the same thoughts as you do as well.

Aaron

[RKGIBSON]

Attached are photos of the knob of a bat that I own. I am not making a judgement on the bat as a whole, just a observation on the handwritting on the knob. Every bat that had some real provenace has the same handwritting as the photo I provide here. The knob end of the bat seems very clean compared to other game used bats I have seen.

Roger

[Rboitano]

Here are a few examples I own. I have seen the 33 Mcgwire in two different handwritings. Im not a fan of the bat in the Heritage auction, just doesnt have the use that I would want on a Mac bat. The 2000 I have came directly from the Cardinals with the Cardinals Care COA.

[Rboitano]

Here is the 2000 again.

[Tay1038]

Hey Dave,

Here are photographs of my MAC 98' GU Bat. I would stay far away from this one offered by Heritage. First off it looks uncracked. In an article written by are very own Jeff Scott, McGwire would use a bat until it cracked. Many of McGwire's bats were either lifted from his locker or given away as gifts during the 1998 campaign. The bat also does not exhibit the usual MAC characteristics.

Taylor

[skyking26]

If anybody has interest in selling one of their 98 or 01 Mac Cards bats, please keep me posted.

Robert Koppel
skyking442@hotmail.com

[Birdbats]

The Heritage bat isn't even close. Looks like a rack bat that was (poorly) tarred up to look used. The photo below shows legit Mac Bats from 1998, 1999, 2000 (2) and 2001. Notice how consistent the pine tar pattern is.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w232/birdbats/Bats/PineTarPattern.jpg

[bigtruck260]

As I suspected.

Thanks for the input - glad I trust my gut on some things.

I guess the real question is - WHY??? Why do auction houses continue to offer this kind of product. There is no excuse for it whatsover.

[skipcarayislegend]

WHY??? Why do auction houses continue to offer this kind of product.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ :mad:

[TNTtoys]

I concur with all that's been said on this thread. I saw this one in HA a couple of wks back and my first thought was "why is there no pine tar on the handle?" The handwriting on the knob is completely different to the usual, and in my opinion, the batch (695) is extremely high; possibly one that was ordered for him very late in the season and never made it into his hands.

[Birdbats]

The batch (695) is extremely high; possibly one that was ordered for him very late in the season and never made it into his hands.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown has two 1998 McGwire bats in its collection. The bat used to hit homeruns 56-62 -- from September 1-8 -- was from batch number 769 98. And the bat used to hit homeruns 66-70 -- from September 25-27 -- was from batch number 909 98. So, the batch number is one of the few things about the bat that doesn't raise red flags.

[TNTtoys]

The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown has two 1998 McGwire bats in its collection. The bat used to hit homeruns 56-62 -- from September 1-8 -- was from batch number 769 98. And the bat used to hit homeruns 66-70 -- from September 25-27 -- was from batch number 909 98. So, the batch number is one of the few things about the bat that doesn't raise red flags.
Jeff,

Thanks for the information...that's useful info for McGwire bats in general. Since we're talking '99 on this thread and not '98 (where it is assumed many more bats were used, as it was a historical year), do you know any specs on the bat that he used to hit his 500th home run?

Nick

[Birdbats]

On August 5, 1999, McGwire hit his 500th homerun using a bat from batch number 382 99. So, if the Heritage bat was from 1999, I would share your suspicions of the high batch number. But, the Heritage bat is from 1998.

Mark McGwire Game Used Bat. The Rawlings Big Stick bat offered here was used by the most prolific hitter in the modern era during the 1998 campaign. The bat exhibits extensive game use, as well as pine tar residue extending from the knob to well past the trademark. Great ball marks all over the barrel. On the knob in in blue ink pen is "33 McGwire". Guide Value or Estimate: $500 - $1,000.

[TNTtoys]

On August 5, 1999, McGwire hit his 500th homerun using a bat from batch number 382 99. So, if the Heritage bat was from 1999, I would share your suspicions of the high batch number. But, the Heritage bat is from 1998.

Mark McGwire Game Used Bat. The Rawlings Big Stick bat offered here was used by the most prolific hitter in the modern era during the 1998 campaign. The bat exhibits extensive game use, as well as pine tar residue extending from the knob to well past the trademark. Great ball marks all over the barrel. On the knob in in blue ink pen is "33 McGwire". Guide Value or Estimate: $500 - $1,000.




Jeff,

Yes, I was basing all of my assumptions on the bat being a 1999. Not sure where I got that from, but it's obviously not correct from the description you posted.

Interestingly, the valuation you posted as part of the description states the bat value at roughly half the value of a good McGwire gamer. That in itself should be a red flag.

Nick

[trsent]

If someone contacted Heritage about their concerns with this bat Heritage may reply if they can pull their heads out of their rear ends. Then again, Heritage has their heads so far up there you may find no reply as the staff of Heritage Sports (and a few other divisions) thinks that they are better than anyone else so they do not have to deal with genuine concerns or anything similar in the world.