Comments on Albert Pujols hat up for auction?

[rangersfan1214]

I hate starting another thread over a similar thing but the auction ends tonight and I need opinions. Do you guys think the Pujols hat on ebay is real? It is a size 7 3/8 which worries me. Thanks again!

Here is the link..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALBERT-PUJOLS-SIGNED-GAME-USED-HAT-ST-LOUIS-CARDINALS-MLB-AND-PUJOLS-HOLOGRAM-/230713758701?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b79c93ed

[yankees506]

As far as pujols items go, it does not get any better than an item with pujols holo and cert, I'd say 100% legit.

[rangersfan1214]

But my concern is that the certificates both state signed. Neither say game used

[yankees506]

True, but the "game used" insc is in Albert's hand so you can draw a conclusion from that.

[xpress34]

My 'observations' are as follows:

Every Pujols hat I have seen (I own two - a 2001 Rookie Gamer and his 2003 Big League Challenge cap) are Sz 7 1/4. This hat is a 7 3/8 another 1/4 larger size... ?

The auto looks like a later AU and I can't say that I have ever seen Albert put GAME USED on any of his items except a few bats.

Being that the AU looks later, where is the usual WWJD by his 5 under the bill?

It does have an MLB hologram under the bill, but I can't read the number on the Pujols Foundation sticker on the hat oron the Pujols Family cert. MLB ONLY certs the Auto:


Hologram number FJ870492 was located in the MLB Authentication Database under AUTOGRAPHED CAP.
Session Product Description: RED NEW ERA ST. LOUIS CARDINAL CAP
Session Name: ALBERT PUJOLS SIGNING - STEINER SPORTS
Session Date: November 17, 2011
Autographer: ALBERT PUJOLS
Authenticator: AUTHENTICATORS, INC.


That's all I can provide.

- Smitty

[slam]

There always the 8D auction one, if you would feel more comfortable with that loa

[Rob L]

It does have an MLB hologram under the bill, but I can't read the number on the Pujols Foundation sticker on the hat oron the Pujols Family cert.
- Smitty


It appears that the Pujols sticker is 01883.

[rangersfan1214]

So that leaves us with the question has Pujols ever worn a size 7 3/8 hat? And also does anyone know how to search the Pujols Foundation sticker code on their site? Because I am having trouble finding a hologram spot on their site. Also does the use on the hat look real or "forged"? Thanks, and still open to opinions on authenticity.

[ChrisCavalier]

There always the 8D auction one, if you would feel more comfortable with that loa
I think that is a wonderful suggestion :) .

Btw, here is a link to the item if it helps:

http://8dauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=270&searchby=0&searchvalue=None&page=0&sortby=0&displayby=2&lotsperpage=50&category=1&seo=Albert-Pujols-2005-Gamed-Used-and-Autographed-Cap-from-MVP-Season-(Pujols-Foundation-LOA)

Regards,
Chris

[spartanservitto]

The hand writing is alberts, as is the 5 under the brim. This hat is likely from 2010.

-Tony

[spartanservitto]

The hat is also sourced from Albert, see the post Jeff Scott posted last year about the Albert signing in December of 2010.

-Tony

[frikativ54]

I think that is a wonderful suggestion :) .

Btw, here is a link to the item if it helps:

http://8dauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=270&searchby=0&searchvalue=None&page=0&sortby=0&displayby=2&lotsperpage=50&category=1&seo=Albert-Pujols-2005-Gamed-Used-and-Autographed-Cap-from-MVP-Season-(Pujols-Foundation-LOA)

Regards,
Chris

I would trust the 8D Auctions hat much more than that of the seller 13alexrodriguez. A well known glove authenticator once told me that the eBay seller had a very shady history with "game-used" gloves. For that reason, I don't buy anything from 13alexrodriguez.

[frikativ54]

The hand writing is alberts, as is the 5 under the brim. This hat is likely from 2010.

-Tony

"GAME USED" is Pujols's handwriting too? Can you explain why the certification is only for the autograph and not for the hat's being game used? Also, can you give reasons for why it is a 2010 gamer? I am not an expert on Albert's items, so I am interested in a possible explanation.

[spartanservitto]

"GAME USED" is Pujols's handwriting too? Can you explain why the certification is only for the autograph and not for the hat's being game used? Also, can you give reasons for why it is a 2010 gamer? I am not an expert on Albert's items, so I am interested in a possible explanation.

Albert, wrote "Game" on the bottom of his bats in the early days, hence the 2002 gamer owned by a fellow forum member. He also wrote the like you see on the brim of that hat on numerous sam bat/ old hickory bat knobs that he used ( those were the easiest to tell the similarity), but as Jeff Scott and many other Pujols collectors have noted, Albert never had continuity in his bat knobs until Marucci. Here is an example of Albert's handwriting: (I took this picture from a fellow forum member who I consider to be friends with).

-Tony

[rangersfan1214]

Also Spartanservitto, do you think the hat being a size 7 3/8 is no reason to worry? Just curious because most hats I have seen were size 7 1/2 or 7 1/4.

[spartanservitto]

And Again:

-Tony

[spartanservitto]

Also Spartanservitto, do you think the hat being a size 7 3/8 is no reason to worry? Just curious because most hats I have seen were size 7 1/2 or 7 1/4.

I dont really know the specifications of any current hats, pretty much because I haven't seen any for sale. I know Pujols sourced a ton of stuff, and by pure "naked eye" his head does look bigger. But dont trust me on that. I just know his bats and his hand writing.

-Tony

[rangersfan1214]

What do you mean by "sourced" stuff?

[spartanservitto]

What do you mean by "sourced" stuff?

Credit Jeff Scott for this info... (www.birdbats.com)

January 11, 2011. The mystery is over. The company behind the 12/4 Pujols signing is KLF Sports Investments out of Florida, which is run by Kevin Freistat. I spoke with Kevin on the phone last night and he helped clear up the confusion shared my many collectors. For example, KLF is not MLB licensed, so Kevin uses Steiner Sports as his conduit to MLB -- that's why Steiner's name is attached to every item in the MLB database instead of KLF's name. Other tidbits from our conversation:

The new Pujols hologram belongs to Albert and his agent, not KLF (or the Pujols Family Foundation, as discussed yesterday). Not sure who will manage the database of hologram numbers or how that person can be contacted if collectors want to confirm authentication using the hologram number.
KLF's name and contact information is not on any of the LOAs from the signing, which Kevin admitted was an oversight on his part. He also agreed that including the two URLs directing people to the PFF could be misleading.
According to Kevin, the game-used items were supplied by Albert and are now owned by KLF.
Kevin wouldn't confirm amounts, but said there were far fewer than 35 game-used bats signed during the session (so not every bat from FJ 293635-71 is a gamer). He also said the two jerseys were not worn, but that one fielding glove (already sold) was used for an entire season.
KLF is primarily a wholesaler, which is why most of the items signed on 12/4 are being distributed by companies like sportsmemorabilia.com and sportsintegrity.com.
KLF will be doing another session with Albert, though Kevin says that will be mostly balls and photos; no bats.
I assume that should answer most collectors' questions about the signing... The auction items from the upcoming Winter Warm Up have been posted on the Cardinals' website. No Pujols-used jerseys or bats in the live auctions this year. The big-ticket auctions seem to have moved away from high-end memorabilia toward experiences, like "broadcaster for a day" and "guest of the GM." Also interesting how no item is described as "game used," even though many surely are. As we've discussed here before, the team doesn't do LOAs anymore, opting for MLB authentication on everything. And, unless a MLB representative sees the item in use, he cannot call it "game used." So, when you look down the list of auction items, it's probably safe to assume that when you see the word "issued," the item probably was used.

[xpress34]

So, when you look down the list of auction items, it's probably safe to assume that when you see the word "issued," the item probably was used.

Spartan -

No disrespect to you or Jeff, but that last line leaves me scratching my head...

In a hobby where we have just seen 6 dealers charged and where everyone says they need 'iron clad' proof, do you really think it's wise to say,

"it's probably safe to assume that when you see the word "issued," the item probably was used"

I understand these items are from the Cardinals, etc, but the argument has been made that even if it looks Used and MLB tags it as Issued, you can't just claim that it was GU.

Just my opinion....

[spartanservitto]

Spartan -

No disrespect to you or Jeff, but that last line leaves me scratching my head...

In a hobby where we have just seen 6 dealers charged and where everyone says they need 'iron clad' proof, do you really think it's wise to say,

"it's probably safe to assume that when you see the word "issued," the item probably was used"

I understand these items are from the Cardinals, etc, but the argument has been made that even if it looks Used and MLB tags it as Issued, you can't just claim that it was GU.

Just my opinion....

No I agree,

But unless you want to trust a bat with just characteristics today, or something that has some source of documentation, signed by him etc. Im going with the second option... as we have seen with anything, almost any company cares little to less on when/ how a bat was used in case of ball players. Do you think every bat that steiner distributed of Jeter was used in the "regular season", doubt it. I doubt they ever kept track of anything before MLB. The question becomes minimize your chances of a bogus item, and for Albert, this was as close as it got next to the PFF... The reason Im currently selling my item is I really cant stand the comments his wife made on the radio, off the record.

-Tony

[rj_lucas]

The reason Im currently selling my item is I really cant stand the comments his wife made on the radio, off the record.


You want to keep it off the record, then keep it to yourself. On the record, I think your comment is pathetic.

[spartanservitto]

The bigger issue is the disorganization of these signings or companies that distribute items. I have had at least 3-4 instances the past year where I have purchased an Item I was contacted about.... sent photos, called, confirmed a purchase... and was sent the wrong item in which, when I sent the other item back... it was no longer available. No joke, 3-4 times this year...

Nothing surprises me anymore.

-Tony


Spartan -

No disrespect to you or Jeff, but that last line leaves me scratching my head...

In a hobby where we have just seen 6 dealers charged and where everyone says they need 'iron clad' proof, do you really think it's wise to say,

"it's probably safe to assume that when you see the word "issued," the item probably was used"

I understand these items are from the Cardinals, etc, but the argument has been made that even if it looks Used and MLB tags it as Issued, you can't just claim that it was GU.

Just my opinion....

[spartanservitto]

You want to keep it off the record, then keep it to yourself. On the record, I think your comment is pathetic.

Did you read it?

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7346376/albert-pujols-wife-deidre-explains-why-los-angeles-angels-slugger-left-st-louis-cardinals

If you sympathize with this hardship then god bless you. I had my family doctors wife die of a sudden heart attack at the age of 50 yesterday, and then I read this? Please.

-Tony

[cammy collector]

back on topic: does anyone know how to get ahold of the seller, 13alexrodriguez? when I attempt to send him a message I get some BS standard FAQ form. help is appreciated

-Mike

[Birdbats]

Spartan -

No disrespect to you or Jeff, but that last line leaves me scratching my head...

In a hobby where we have just seen 6 dealers charged and where everyone says they need 'iron clad' proof, do you really think it's wise to say,

"it's probably safe to assume that when you see the word "issued," the item probably was used"

I understand these items are from the Cardinals, etc, but the argument has been made that even if it looks Used and MLB tags it as Issued, you can't just claim that it was GU.

Just my opinion....

You're taking this out of context. Of course, in a broader sense, you shouldn't assume "issued" means "used" just because use is evident. My blog comment pertained only to items being offered by the Cardinals in silent and live auctions at last year's Winter Warm Up, nothing more. I know the "store" at the Warm Up has sold many issued jerseys through the years, but those items selected for the auctions have historically been hand picked for a reason. The point of my comment was to tell Cardinals collectors that they're no longer going to receive letters from the team saying items were game used (as was the practice for years), but that the items will have holograms that match to a database that will likely tell them the item was "issued"... and here's reason the database won't say "used." This practice was very confusing to people when it started. I was simply trying to explain that those items once labeled "used" would no longer be called "used" because of the new practice -- so don't freak out when you enter the hologram number and see your bat or jersey is "issued."

[dcgreg25]

Guys, lets try to keep this on-topic as this is a useful conversation for collectors. If you guys want to dispute the comments made by Albert's wife, feel free to open a thread in the General Sports discussion or take it up online. Again, the purpose of the forum is to help collectors educate eachother, let's leave it at that.

[gnishiyama]

Also Spartanservitto, do you think the hat being a size 7 3/8 is no reason to worry? Just curious because most hats I have seen were size 7 1/2 or 7 1/4.I go through no less than 3-4 Yankees New Era fitted a year and I never
buy them online since each one fits VERY different even if its the same size.
I either buy a 7 1/4 or 7 3/8. I will buy a bit bigger in the summer since when
sweat dries the cap tends to shrink a bit.

I was told by the workers at LIDS that because they are hand-stitched so no
two fit exactly alike.

Hope this information helps.

[cammy collector]

Credit Jeff Scott for this info... (www.birdbats.com (http://www.birdbats.com))

January 11, 2011. The mystery is over. The company behind the 12/4 Pujols signing is KLF Sports Investments out of Florida, which is run by Kevin Freistat. I spoke with Kevin on the phone last night and he helped clear up the confusion shared my many collectors. For example, KLF is not MLB licensed, so Kevin uses Steiner Sports as his conduit to MLB -- that's why Steiner's name is attached to every item in the MLB database instead of KLF's name. Other tidbits from our conversation:

The new Pujols hologram belongs to Albert and his agent, not KLF (or the Pujols Family Foundation, as discussed yesterday). Not sure who will manage the database of hologram numbers or how that person can be contacted if collectors want to confirm authentication using the hologram number.
KLF's name and contact information is not on any of the LOAs from the signing, which Kevin admitted was an oversight on his part. He also agreed that including the two URLs directing people to the PFF could be misleading.
According to Kevin, the game-used items were supplied by Albert and are now owned by KLF.
Kevin wouldn't confirm amounts, but said there were far fewer than 35 game-used bats signed during the session (so not every bat from FJ 293635-71 is a gamer). He also said the two jerseys were not worn, but that one fielding glove (already sold) was used for an entire season.
KLF is primarily a wholesaler, which is why most of the items signed on 12/4 are being distributed by companies like sportsmemorabilia.com and sportsintegrity.com.
KLF will be doing another session with Albert, though Kevin says that will be mostly balls and photos; no bats.
I assume that should answer most collectors' questions about the signing... The auction items from the upcoming Winter Warm Up have been posted on the Cardinals' website. No Pujols-used jerseys or bats in the live auctions this year. The big-ticket auctions seem to have moved away from high-end memorabilia toward experiences, like "broadcaster for a day" and "guest of the GM." Also interesting how no item is described as "game used," even though many surely are. As we've discussed here before, the team doesn't do LOAs anymore, opting for MLB authentication on everything. And, unless a MLB representative sees the item in use, he cannot call it "game used." So, when you look down the list of auction items, it's probably safe to assume that when you see the word "issued," the item probably was used.

Does Kevin have an email where he can be reached? I need to ask a question about a current eBay item but can't get past the generic FAQ form. Thanks


-Mike