New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

[BoneRubbedBat]

I knew it would only be a matter of time before we would start seeing it. We have already had to deal with forged autographs, contrived game-use, sewing creativity on jerseys, and undisclosed repairs on items. It now appears that some unscrupulous individuals are obtaining legitimate early blank-barreled bats, and placing their own H&B factory "sidewriting" on them. A couple of "stars" are on e-bay right now. The handwriting style, placement, and instrument used do not appear consistent with any examples I have ever seen. While these forgeries are laughable to the majority of vintage bat collectors, the sellers of these bats are marketing them in a way as to deceive buyers, but have chosen their verbage very carefully in their descriptions.

What bothers me the most is not that the bats are being sold, but the fact that some very nice vintage bats had to be ruined in the process. What a shame.

[sportscentury]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

Marcus,

I saw a Joe Jackson bat that I questioned with respect to this issue - is this one of the bats to which you are referring.

Thanks for your post.
Reid

[brianborsch]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

What about the Joe Sewell bat on ebay? It is froma reputable source, but it has name etched, it just says Joe sewell and some date. How can you tell if this was an actual bat used to make Joe Sewells bats?

Brian B

[BoneRubbedBat]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

Reid,

I didn't name names yet because I am awaiting responses from the sellers per forum rules, but you are on the right track.



Brian,

The Sewell bat is a great bat, and not one of the ones in question. As a general rule, I don't question anything that Left Field Collectibles/Art Jaffe is selling. Art is one of the most knowledgeable and honest guys in the business. Art has forgotten more about vintage bats than most of us could ever strive to know. The handwriting on the Sewell bat is consistent with other H&B factory bats. Some of the lathe and master bats do not have any stampings on them, as they were not being prepared for player use, only for internal usage in reproducing those player model bats. The bats that Art has originated from the H&B factory "find", so the source is as good as it gets.

[sportscentury]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

What about the Joe Sewell bat on ebay? It is froma reputable source, but it has name etched, it just says Joe sewell and some date. How can you tell if this was an actual bat used to make Joe Sewells bats?

Brian B

Brian and Marcus,

Would you please post (or email me) the link to the Sewell bat? I could not find it. Thank you.

And Marcus, thanks for your responses.

Reid

[sportscentury]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

Never mind. Found it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Bat-joe-Sewell-era-circa-1935-Yankees_W0QQitemZ270014938155

Marcus,

Is this a gamer? Interesting bat. Side-writing but no factory markings at all ... a homemade bat, I presume.

Reid

[BoneRubbedBat]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

Reid,

I can't tell without seeing the ends of the bat, but I do have some examples like this in my collection, with and without lathe "nubs" on the ends. All are unused and have no stamping on them, just sidewriting. H&B used these as "masters" for creating new bats for the player sidewritten on the master. I am fairly certain that they were produced internally by H&B just for this purpose.

[sicollector1954@insightbb.com]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

If you are correct--someone just spent A LOT of money for about a $100.00 to $200.00 bat! Best offer of $3200.00 plus was just taken.

[suave1477]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

Well I would say that bat is worth a lot more then $100 to $200. I have seen lathe bats go for very high, not to mention vintage Yankees bats.

[corsairs25]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

In reference to that Joe Jackson bat---in addition to noting the anomaloous side writing, I checked the seller's feedback transactions and found that the seller bought a dash--dot--dash LS bat back on Aug. 6 that looks a lot like the Jackson bat---except it didn't seem to have any sidewriting back then. If only every suspicious item were so easy to trace. Mark.

[sicollector1954@insightbb.com]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

What did he pay for it without any sidewriting? Just curious.

[karamaxjoe]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

This is about as blatant a ripoff as it gets. The seller paid $177.50 in an ebay auction in August and forged the sidewriting on the bat. The pictures match up perfectly. It incredible how by writing Joe Jackson on a bat will make you about $3000.00 Here's the link which tells the whole story:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=60596&item=300012904725

[b.heagy]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

Looks like a match to me. Amazing how the grease writing went from barely legible to clearly legible in a matter of a month .

"The bat has the usual grease pencil marking on the side of the bat that is quite faint. I can’t make out what it says and I think it would be difficult for anyone to read it." as stated in the original listing when it was bought for the $177.50

Would it be possible to carefully clean the surface to enhance the grease pencil writing?

[brianborsch]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

So is anyone going to try to contact the seller before he pays?

This is ridiculous! What shiesty sellers there are out there! I feel sorry for the guy...

[karamaxjoe]

Re: New scam -- forged sidewriting on vintage bats

The buyer claims he cancelled his offer and I reported the transaction to ebay.