Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

[kylehess10]

Has anybody here ever had any success with getting game used equipment at games (during the regular season)? I thought that asking the bat boys was the best way but someone told me that the player's are the right people to ask instead of the bat boys. Does anybody know if this is true?

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

When I was 14, I went to a White Sox game at old Comiskey Park in 1984.

Anyway, Scott Fletcher the Shortstop came up to sign autographs and I asked him if I could have a bat. I even offered him $20 for one of his bats. Hey $20 is a lot of money to a 14 year old! Anyway, he politely refused but still signed my card. I'm sure now I could buy a game used Fletcher bat on ebay for $20.

I still have the autographed card by the way.

[stkmtimo]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

I have never asked but I know people who have and have gotten stuff. I have gotten game worn wristbands from college football players, including one that I am friends with. They're very cool collectibles.

Good luck,

Tim

[rose14]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

Back in the mid 1980's I used to attend St. Louis Cardinals games on a regular basis. One series against the Mets a friend and I were talking to the Mets Equipment Manager, his name was Charlie if I remember correctly and we told him we could fix him up with one of the ushers that he had taking a liking to. We asked him for a couple of bats and next thing I know two bats are being given to me. I didn't even look as I got them and I handed the first one to my friend, a Wally Backman gamer. The second one which I had was well the best you could have gotten back then, Darryl Strawberry. Boy was my friend pissed. They were both great looking with a ton of use on both. I'm sure now the Strawberry isn't worth much more than the Backman. It turned out the usher wouldn't go out with him, but hey we did get a couple of nice bats, at least we thought back then.

[jake33]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

Being such a Big Devil Rays HONK that I am I go to all their games when they play the twins and over the last 3 years I have gotten these

Jonny goems game used batting gloves
Julio Lugo game used hat
Jorge cantu game used hat
Tino Martinez game used batting gloves
and Every year that I go I bring about 20 game used jersey cards and I usually leave witha bout 18 of them signed

At Bucs games I got
Shelton Quarles game used Glove
Jermaine Phillips game used gloves
josh bidwell game used wristband
Tim Rattay's game worn hat from the sidelines

[skipcareyisfat]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

I got a bat from Nick Esasky and a batting glove from Darryl Strawberry. Neither really fit into my collection anymore, but I'll always keep them.

[grenda12]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

How do you bring yourself to ask the player if you can have something of theres?

[godwulf]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

If I seriously wanted to get a game-used item from a player, I'd take my 20-year-old daughter to the game and let her ask.

[Lokee]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

I have gotten a few items from select players over the years at Safeco Field and at the old Kingdome.

These came from players or employees directly:

Paul Sorrento Game Bat Signed
Jay Buhner Game Bat Signed
John Olerud Game Bat Signed
Dan Wilson Arm Band Signed
Randy Winn Wristbands Signed
Jamie Moyer Used Cleats Signed
Norm Charlton Fielders Glove Signed ( I had some convincing to do for this one)
Mike Cameron Game Used Jersey
Greg Colbrun Game Used Jersey
Mac Suzuki Game Used Jersey
Brent Gates Game Used Jersey

Then I have some BP jerseys and stuff.

My best friend for 10 years is employed by the Mariners and has incredible access to items not usually available to the public.

Then I have a bunch of baseballs and cracked bats from various players.

The coolest thing I got was last year when Bartolo Colon was with Boston. Bartolo and Luis Alicea where chowing down on some McDonalds cheese burgers (the last thing Mr Colon needs to be honest) they had a bag full there must have been 20 of them in there. I politely asked if they had any extras (being the fat kid iam myself) and Luis muttered something in Spanish and they threw me one and laughed.

[grenda12]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

If I seriously wanted to get a game-used item from a player, I'd take my 20-year-old daughter to the game and let her ask.

Now come on. Im only 22.

I guess the more I think about it. Last year at Spring Training Harold Baines was throwing balls to the kids and my boyfriend was bound and determined to get a ball. It wasnt working for him. He finally left to get food and when he came back he had found that I had a ball.

I yelled Harold, he looked at me. Then I asked for a ball. I got it. The people behind me were amazed, they thought I knew the guy personally. My boyfriend asked how I got it. He was amazed.

Girls do have more advantage for asking for items then guys do. Baseball players are so use to having guys/boys ask for autographs and what not

It works. Ill have to agree with you.

[oakesc8855]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

It is challenging to get stuff from players at games but heres some tips

You can always stand with everyone trying to get auto's get one, and then try and start a convo and at some point slip in at some point how big of a fan you are and if they have any extra batting gloves or cracked bats or anything you'd love that.

2nd after alot of players break bats they give them away, either right after the game or when walking back to the dugout. So you can take note when a player breaks a bat during a game and then afterwards holler at them by name and ask for it.

Carrying on conversations is always the best though some players would give u the shirt off their back and some players wont even give u a smile just gotta find those fan friendly type guys and go for it... Of course this is REALLY easy in my opinion at minor league games and players and alot harder at the Major League level...

Hope this helps good luck.

[1986&2004Bosox]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

Direct From Player

Shea hillebrand game used and signed bat @ fenway
Bichette Game used and signed bat @ fenway
lou merloni Game used and signed bat @ fenway

All 2001 season 3 days in a row.

[spartakid]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

Has anyone ever gotten anything in Oakland? Ricardo

[frikativ54]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

Now come on. Im only 22.

I guess the more I think about it. Last year at Spring Training Harold Baines was throwing balls to the kids and my boyfriend was bound and determined to get a ball. It wasnt working for him. He finally left to get food and when he came back he had found that I had a ball.

I yelled Harold, he looked at me. Then I asked for a ball. I got it. The people behind me were amazed, they thought I knew the guy personally. My boyfriend asked how I got it. He was amazed.

Girls do have more advantage for asking for items then guys do. Baseball players are so use to having guys/boys ask for autographs and what not

It works. Ill have to agree with you.

Not if you're obese. Nothing turns ballplayers off worse than fat women. I happen to have multiple medical conditions, the only medications for which have caused me to gain 100+ lbs. And since I have gained weight, it's been harder to gain sympathy with ballplayers. They don't see that the acne on my face, the weight on my hips, etc. is caused by medication I have to take. And thus they pass me by for thinner, prettier women. Of course, none of them would say that to my face, but the subtext is pretty obvious. It's like I am sorry I am not beautiful, I am sorry I don't look like I could pose in the Swimsuit Edition of SI, I am sorry I am not a model. But other than that, ballplayers have no interest in giving anything to a true fan like me. Life's rough enough with multiple health problems that affect one's daily functioning; it's even worse when athletes judge you by your looks alone, instead of your love for baseball.

[chakes89]

Re: Getting Game Used Equipment At Games........

I have gotten 2-3 bats and a pair of batting gloves by asking at minor league games

Couldn't tell ya who used the bats but the pair of batting gloves came from Reds Minor League C/SS/3B Justin Tordi

(Yeah I said C/SS because he is that bada** )

*If anyone has a Justin Tordi bat please let me know. I asked him for a bat after getting the gloves and he said "I will have to look into it" or something along those lines but I never got to see him again to ask or get one.


The first player I ever asked for anything game used was Jay Bruce in 2006

I asked him for a pair of batting gloves and he said he couldn't give me any because he needed them for fall ball