AMI: Billy Ripken Batting Helmet

[ironmanfan]

The most recent AMI Auction is offering a "Billy Ripken Game Used Batting Helmet" with a letter from an "assistant" Major League equipment manager (and the "100 % Authentic Team").

The only problem with this helmet is that Billy returned to play for the Orioles in 1996 after three years with other clubs, and while 1996 was the last season he played in Baltimore, the Oriole bird "logo" (fuller bird) on the AMI offered helmet wasn't introduced until 1998. Also in 1996, the Orioles did not sport uniform numbers on their batting helmets (brim or rear).

http://www.americanmemorabilia.com/Auction_Item.asp?Auction_ID=51703&aucsearch=ripken&AucListType=open&TitleDesc=0&period=


http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k172/whhp72/abcbilly.jpg

[hblakewolf]

The most recent AMI Auction is offering a "Billy Ripken Game Used Batting Helmet" with a letter from an "assistant" Major League equipment manager (and the "100 % Authentic Team").

The only problem with this helmet is that Billy returned to play for the Orioles in 1996 after three years with other clubs, and while 1996 was the last season he played in Baltimore, the Oriole bird "logo" (fuller bird) on the AMI offered helmet wasn't introduced until 1998. Also in 1996, the Orioles did not sport uniform numbers on their batting helmets (brim or rear).

http://www.americanmemorabilia.com/Auction_Item.asp?Auction_ID=51703&aucsearch=ripken&AucListType=open&TitleDesc=0&period=


http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k172/whhp72/abcbilly.jpg

Note the # style on all of the helmets in question, and the years noted in each description-this style of # was not even used during the years noted!!! It was used several years after these players left the O's. Either someone put numbers (and the incorrect style for the time period) on the helmets to make them the desired player or they are being offered incorrectly. I purchased dozens of late 1980's and early 1990's O's helmets from a team source including Brady Anderson, Baines, Cal Ripken Jr. etc. and all had the correct style numbers and date on the interior manufacturing wheel for the time frame used.

The Ripken and other AMI helmets should have the manufactuiring wheel inside. Have you sent AMI an email or called seeking this informaiton? It would also be interesting to learn more and actually view one of these LOA's from the "assistant" equipment manager. I've never seen an O's helmet offered with an "assistant" equipment managers LOA. Furthermore, what "assistant" (and from what team-the O's???) was able to obtain/sell these and how was the time frame/player determined?

Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@comcast.net

[ironmanfan]

Howard:

Good call on their other Orioles helmets in the auction. To be honest with you, I only saw the Bill Ripken one (only typed "Ripken" in their Search Field).

I am not going to contact them as I have no interest in acquiring any of them and my post was more of a warning to other potential bidders who may have had interest in the Bill Ripken one.

Thanks