September pick-ups

[Eric]

Hey Todd-

Where did you get the Portis?
Eric

[Birdbats]

I was fortunate to pick up a Rick Ankiel game-used bat from the Cardinals Authentics Store at the stadium. As you probably know, Rick debuted as an outfielder on 8/9 after a career as a pitcher (and a long, improbable climb back through the minors, which was hampered by injury). Rick hit a HR that first game and then hit two more on 8/11 on a nationally televised game. Based on the handle tape pattern, I think my bat may be the one he used in those games.

[Birdbats]

I was fortunate to pick up a Rick Ankiel game-used bat from the Cardinals Authentics Store at the stadium. As you probably know, Rick debuted as an outfielder on 8/9 after a career as a pitcher (and a long, improbable climb back through the minors, which was hampered by injury). Rick hit a HR that first game and then hit two more on 8/11 on a nationally televised game. Based on the handle tape pattern, I think my bat may be the one he used in those games.

Was at Busch Stadium last Friday and saw the new Cardinals Gameday magazine had a photo of Ankiel on the cover hitting the HR in his comeback game. I purchased it and brought it home to compare to my bat. Not only does the tape pattern match, but other consistent characteristics (ball marks, ink transfer, weight ring, etc.) also are obvious. I think I can now say with certainty that I have THE bat he used that day.

[gameused]

Was at Busch Stadium last Friday and saw the new Cardinals Gameday magazine had a photo of Ankiel on the cover hitting the HR in his comeback game. I purchased it and brought it home to compare to my bat. Not only does the tape pattern match, but other consistent characteristics (ball marks, ink transfer, weight ring, etc.) also are obvious. I think I can now say with certainty that I have THE bat he used that day.

Jeff,

Nice bat & photo match! I give Ankiel a lot of credit, his career was over as a pitcher but he never gave up and got back to the big leagues as an outfielder and he can hit too!

Bobby

[Carlevv]

Astrocollector, Hey funny note on the first bat on your pictures, Mike Simms. I was standing next to Will Clarks locker while Simms and Clark were teamates with the Rangers. Clark was using Simms rose colored bats at the time and Will Clark yelled at Simms to come to his locker. He pulled out one of Simm's bats and asked him in the best lousiana accent "why in the hell is there a star next to your name on this bat?" Simms laughed and told the story where Louisville Slugger asked him to sign his name three times and put a star next to the best signature for them to use on the bat. Well, if you look at the Simms bat you see Louisville included the star next to Simms name. Pretty funny stuff i thought. Cool collection.

[AstrosCollector]

Astrocollector, Hey funny note on the first bat on your pictures, Mike Simms. I was standing next to Will Clarks locker while Simms and Clark were teamates with the Rangers. Clark was using Simms rose colored bats at the time and Will Clark yelled at Simms to come to his locker. He pulled out one of Simm's bats and asked him in the best lousiana accent "why in the hell is there a star next to your name on this bat?" Simms laughed and told the story where Louisville Slugger asked him to sign his name three times and put a star next to the best signature for them to use on the bat. Well, if you look at the Simms bat you see Louisville included the star next to Simms name. Pretty funny stuff i thought. Cool collection.

Carlevv - Thanks for the story! I own about 5 of Simms' Astros bats and all of them have the star imprinted on them! I always wondered why the star was on his signature branded into the bat, but he didn't sign his autograph with the star.

Funny stuff!

Thanks,
Andy

[dcrules01]

[toddhead]

Hey Todd-

Where did you get the Portis?
Eric

I bought it off a board member on extremeskins.com. He bought it from PSI and had is signed by Portis. I almost paid $1800.00 for an unwashed one last year that was used during the Jacksonville OT win, but got this one for much less and it has great wear.

[Eric]

Todd-

It looks like you have a pretty rare piece there. From what I can tell, the only regular season game where the Redskins wore the red jersey was 11-13-05 versus Tampa Bay

5 photos of Portis from that game are located here
http://www.viewimages.com/Search.asp...partner=Google

Type in 2005 Clinton Portis Tampa to see the photos

Do the marks in these photos match the ones on your jersey?

[toddhead]

Todd-

It looks like you have a pretty rare piece there. From what I can tell, the only regular season game where the Redskins wore the red jersey was 11-13-05 versus Tampa Bay

5 photos of Portis from that game are located here
http://www.viewimages.com/Search.asp...partner=Google

Type in 2005 Clinton Portis Tampa to see the photos

Do the marks in these photos match the ones on your jersey?

Thanks for looking it up for me. The team repair is located right where I put the circle. You can't see a rip in the picture, but I would say that it looks like a mtch. What do you think?