Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

[spartanservitto]

Quick question:

I have an albert pujols gamer from 2002 or 2003. It is a C243 model. I have done some research and feel pretty good about it. The one problem I have is that it doesnt have the TPX logo on the back. Was this the case for Pujols gamers of this model during this time. I bought the bat from one of the most reputable dealers I have ever seen, Californiasportsinv.com. The guy Ron has amazing items, and I have always felt 100% confident purchasing from him.

Check his site: www.californiasportsinv.com.

Anyways any comments or thoughts would be appreciated.

[5kRunner]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

http://webpages.charter.net/birdbats/Birdbats/Player%20Models/pujols.htm

[5kRunner]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

Sorry, I hit enter too fast.

I'm by no means an expert on Pujols. Hopefully Jeff will reply.

But, your bat looks like its maple. According to Jeff's website, Pujols only ordered maple C243C's.

Maybe I'm not seeing something.

[spartanservitto]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

Thank you! Helps a lot, it definitely is maple, and the bottom has the right weight and ounce markings, definitely excited about this bat now.

-Tony

[spartanservitto]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

Yea that is definitely weird, if anyone else knows anything about this, it would help. Ive actually never seen a louisville with the added "C" at the end, at the C243's ive seen have been listed like mine.

-Tony

[spartanservitto]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

Its weird because it is a maple bat, but it doesn't say "Maple" by the louisville, it may be a promo bat; !?!?!?! The other characteristics appear correct, there is light to moderate pine tar, and pine tar missing where his hands would be.

The autographs is 100% legit, if anyone knows albert autographs... then they would agree.

-Tony

[5kRunner]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

Is the end cupped?

[spartanservitto]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

Yea, 5 written also.

-Tony

[spartanservitto]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

Im pretty sure, 34.5 is written at the bottom, but I can check when I get home, im at school right now.

-Tony

[spartanservitto]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

It might be 33.5 actually, not sure.

-Tony

[rj_lucas]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

The signature is legit, and appears to be vintage e.g. in 2002-2003 Albert still used the # in front of the 5 and placed the number below his name instead of embedding it within the s in Pujols as he began doing around 2004-2005, at which point he also dropped the #. In 2002-2003 he also began placing the ' after the year (as McGwire generally does). Prior to that, Pujols placed the ' before the year.

Rick
rickjlucas@gmail.com

[spartanservitto]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

Thanks for the signature details, i appreciate it. I personally this its one of the promo bats. The guy I got it from has had many pujols bats and is in TIGHT with Dodgers organization and told me that he knows a particular coach on the Cardinals where he has gotten his pujols gamers.

Im just trying to trace the model but it is weird.

-Tony

[Birdbats]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

It would help if you could post more photos -- the knob, the end, the barrel around the bat, etc.

Some things to consider:

• Albert's first LS bats had the MLB logo on the front/sweet spot. Most of his early bats, though, should have the MLB logo and TPX logo on the back. I have seen a couple legit bats (not Albert's) without the logos on the back; maybe production errors, I don't know. The lack of logos on the back, in my opinion, doesn't automatically mean the bat isn't legit.
• Most of Albert's C243C maple bats (the last C means cupped) were shipped with no finish. Your bat has a clear, natural finish. I see just two orders for natural finish C243C bats on Albert's records -- 12 total. Half are 34", 32 oz., half are 34", 31.5 oz. So, again, the natural finish is unusual, but not a deal breaker.
• If the knob has 34.5 or 33.5 written on the knob, that's cause for some concern. Whether that's a reference to the bat's length or weight, it doesn't match either. I'd expect bats from Albert's C243C natural orders to say "34-32," "4-2," "34-31.5" or "4-1.5".
  
• The pine tar on the lower part of the handle isn't typical for Albert. On his early bats, you should see a darkening of the wood on the upper handle, but most of the handle is void of tar. So, the tar is a bit of a red flag for me.

Look forward to seeing more shots.

[spartanservitto]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

Ill post more pictures, there actually is a decent amount of tar towards the middle of the bat, its hard to see in the photos I posted. Ill post the ends also.

-Tony

[rj_lucas]

Re: Albert Pujols Louisville order question (2002-2003)

Here are shots of my Pujols C243 from 2001 to illustrate some of Jeff's points.

Rick
rickjlucas@gmail.com