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yankees159
07-28-2007, 10:40 AM
Mears claims it offers a grade of 5 when a bat matches factory records. Check this bat out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/BABE-RUTH-GAME-USED-BAT-GRADED-MEARS-A5-50k_W0QQitemZ200134231454QQihZ010QQcategoryZ50125Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

What's conerns me is that this bat doesn't match factory records. So either:

A. Mears is not qualified to authenticate bats.
B. Dishonest.

Troy and Dave what's the story with this? You could have got the information on Ruth Bat specs on this website.

Todd

JimCaravello
07-29-2007, 08:06 AM
Hi Todd - Interesting post to say the least.........

In reviewing Ruth's records, Ruth never ordered signature models less than 34.5" and that was only in 1932 - and those bats were 38 ounces and 39 ounces. The bat in question is 33.75" long and weighs 33.6 ounces and clearly does not match any factory records pertaining to Ruth. The MEARS worksheets are clear that the bat matches factory records, but they deduct points for ( -1 for non-standard length ) and ( -1 for weight ). If the bat has non-standard length and weight, how can you say it matches factory records and assign it a base grade of 5 and then deduct minor points for that??

In reviewing MEARS own grading criteria on their site - they indicate that A5 is an "Authenticated Bat with Noted Evaluation of Usage and / or Player Characteristics" - Factory production details of the bat have been compared to known records and have been determined to match recorded length ( +/- 1/4" ), weight ( +/- 1 to 4 ounces ), model, and correspond with proper labeling period from point in examined players records".

The bat is clearly more than 1/4" shorter than anything Ruth ever ordered and weighs less than 4 ounces than any 34.5" bat Ruth ever ordered. In addition, the bat on ebay is from the 21-31 labeling period and during that period, Ruth never ordered bats less than 35" in length.

On the MEARS site, they continue to speak under the A5 designation as follows: "The exact use may or may not be specifically attributed to an examined player due to incomplete or lack of factory records. When a bat, known to be issued for professional use, but factory records can not be verified, is assigned the A5 designation, it possesses qualities and physical characterisitcs of a professional model bat intended for professional use, was issued to professional player or team, or was similar to those models available for retail sale. In these instances, when the player traits of known examples are examind and matched to those of the bat being evaluated, it will receive a grade of A5".

When was the last time you saw a "Real" Babe Ruth game used bat with an "S" carved into the knob? Is this the use characteristic that allows MEARS to grade the bat an A5, because it clearly does not match factory records?

MEARS has clearly disregarded their own grading criteria in coming up with an A5 grade for this bat. What is even more amazing, is that they deducted -1/2 points for the chipped knob and for the carved knob and if they had not done that, this bat would have graded an A6.

Some may call this an attempt to discredit MEARS, but I am trying to learn - so please tell me what I am missing - this is a posting of factual information from both the ebay auction and the MEARS site.

The final grade and grading criteria seem to be in conflict with each other. The seller of the bat on ebay indicated that he bought this bat in a Heritage Auction for over $19,000 - probably relying on the MEARS grade. Another conflict is that they title this bat a "Professional Model Bat" without calling it Game Used in the Title but clearly indicate on the worksheets that this was issued and used during the regular season.

This poor winner who is now trying to sell the bat I am sure relied on the Worksheets that indicate that the bat matches factory records when it doesn't. He'll be lucky to get $5,000 for this bat over time...........

MEARS - let me know what I am missing and I'll be glad to "eat crow"............

Jim

JimCaravello
07-29-2007, 09:06 AM
The seller ended the original auction and has re-listed the bat with a Buy It Now - here is the new link..........

http://cgi.ebay.com/BABE-RUTH-GAME-USED-BAT-GRADED-MEARS-A5-HEAVY-GAME-USE_W0QQitemZ200135091253QQihZ010QQcategoryZ60596Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

sammy
07-29-2007, 12:26 PM
This is from the HA website showing the final price for this bat. Feel sorry for this guy.

Perhaps he should go back to MEARS for a refund, as the bat is not what it is purported to be.


Sold for: $16,132.50 (includes BPhttp://sports.ha.com/common/images/Questionmark.gif) Bid Source: Live: Phone Ended:Oct 27, 2006

JimCaravello
07-29-2007, 05:11 PM
Here is the Heritage Auction description for this bat.........you have to love the comment that the "S" in the knob was probably put there by whoever received the bat from Ruth. The description also reads that the bat matches factory records, which we have already shown it does not......I guess at least 3/4" - 1" are tolerable length varainces to say it matches factory records - not to mention the over 4 ounce weight differential...........now, it is possible that Ruth used less than 34.5" bats during his career - and maybe one as short as 33.75" - but you can't say it matches factory records if it doesn't match and assign 5 points for the base grade!!! It is a real shame this bat sold for over $19,000.......

What do other Forum members think of all this?? Jim

1921-31 Babe Ruth Game Used Bat.</I> Picasso had his paintbrush. Jimi Hendrix had his guitar. Babe Ruth created his masterpieces with a Hillerich & Bradsby, a fine example of which we're privileged to present here. Dating from the ten-year stretch that saw Ruth hit over 500 of his career 714 home runs, this sculpted wood represents one of the most desirable artifacts in the sports collecting hobby. The ownership of a Babe Ruth game used bat sets the elite collector apart from the masses, and makes him curator of a piece of true Americana. The legend of the Babe is far more than a sports story--it's an integral part of our national heritage.

The first thing one will notice when holding this bat in his hands is the tremendous use that is evident to the touch. The impacts of many baseballs, and the spikes on Ruth's shoes, have left their unmistakable marks in the aged wood, which exhibits slight grain separation from the abuse. A minor handle crack, spelling the end of a long tour of duty, has been expertly restored so as to be all but invisible. The resulting solid look and feel transports us back to an age when the Babe was delivering more home runs per season than many other entire teams.

Only in the issue of provenance does this bat not earn full points on the base ten point scale, though this absence of direct provenance is typical of any bat of this era without factory side writing or written/photographic documentation (in other words, 98% of period examples). The authenticator's worksheet gives the full five out of five for matching factory records, and three out of three for use. A variation from typical factory weight--this bat weighs 33.6 ounces--results in a point deduction, though the authenticator notes that three ounces could have been lost to the natural aging process of the wood. The length of 33.75" causes another point deduction, though, again, minor variations in bat length are not particularly unusual for this era. A chip and a hand carved letter "S" in the knob, likely the mark of the person who received this bat from Ruth, account for a third deducted point for an ultimate rating of A5.

With a Babe Ruth bat one of the three pieces of sports memorabilia to date to cross the million-dollar threshold at auction, it is clear that this market in one on the rise. While the pleasure of owning a Ruth gamer is surely its own reward, one can't overlook the investment potential here. Few collectibles in any genre have seen the sharp and steady upward value surge of Ruth game used material, and there's no sign that this will change any time soon. Portfolio diversification has never been more appealing. LOA from Dave Bushing.</B>