Forum Members,
I have had private email communication with Chris Boyd (Houston Sports Investments, eBay username game-used-bat) regarding the Albert Pujols game used Louisville Slugger M9 bat he recently listed on eBay. Below, you will find the content of my original email to Chris addressing some issues with the bat in question. Following my email, you will find Chris' response to the issues I raised - which I want to address publicly in this forum.

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Chris-
A customer of mine is seeking a well used Pujols bat, and I have been on the lookout for some time. I noticed the bat you won in December on Ebay seems to now be listed again by you, however, is not being sold as the same bat.

Chris, for your reference, these are the listings for the Pujols bat in question.
Your recent Pujols bat listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Albert-Pujols-2005-Game-Used-St-Louis-Cardinals-Bat_W0QQitemZ8765528441QQcategoryZ60596QQssPageNam eZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The original eBay listing for this bat:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=60596&item=8732012 225

Below are the issues associated with this bat:

The knob. The "notch" on the knob, just above the #5, is in the exact position on both the original eBay bat and your recently listed bat. The "5" and the "4-2" are also exactly the same. Both these facts make it clear that it's the exact same bat. The only difference between the two bats is the addition of the stars that you refer to in your description. The stars were not on the bat originally, but somehow appeared between the time it was originally sold on eBay and it's most recent listing date.

The knob, part two. In your eBay description, you state the the stars on the knob were added by Albert Pujols. Since these are obviously the same bat (based on the evidence presented here), there is no way Pujols added the stars to the knob of the bat between the original eBay listing and the time you listed it.

The crack. Although obviously repaired, the crack is in the exact position on the original eBay bat and your recently listed bat (another fact that allows one to conclude that the original listed eBay bat and your bat are the same exact bat).

The ball marks. There are two distinct ball marks near the markings on the barrel that are the exact same in both the original eBay bat and your recently listed bat (a THIRD fact that allows one to conclude that the original listed eBay bat and your bat are the same exact bat). See attached photo for additional use characteristics that are EXACT matches.

When the bat was used. The original eBay listing says that the bat "was used by Albert Pujols (and broken by him) during the 2005 spring training in Florida." Your description states, "the bat was obtained by a former St. Louis Cardinals employee this past season." Although your description is vague, there is a definite difference in value between a known Spring Training bat and a bat from the regular season. This is deceptive, and should have been revealed in your description.

The crack, part two. In the original description, this bat was clearly advertised and sold as being broken in two pieces (and taped together). Per the final auction listing, it's also apparent that you were the winning bidder - therefore, you KNOW the bat was split in two and repaired.

The pine tar. Based on the photos in both auctions, it appears as though there is more pine tar on your current bat than in the original listing. Many bat repairman add pine tar after a crack is repaired to help mask the repair job. It is possible that this is the case with the bat in question?

Based on the above listed facts, I can conclude:

1) YOU were the winning bidder on the Pujols bat when originally listed on eBay.
2) The bat in the original listing and the bat recently listed by you are the same.
3) The bat appears to have had pine tar added on the handle/near the center brand.
4) The bat has had some stars added to the knob, clearly not added by Pujols.
5) The bat was cracked in two and repaired.
6) The bat was used in Spring Training, not during the regular season.

I would appreciate your comments on the above issues.

I look forward to your response.

Howard Wolf

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Howard,

...as for the Pujols bat, it is the same bat. I did realize the error in the markings, which as you pointed out where not put on by Pujols. I added them on the knob in an effort to identify the bat in the future as being repaired (or restored). It was an error on my part to the quick listing I was doing on Sunday evening, plus the use of my template I use for listing bats. You are correct, the stars were not added by Pujols. With the error, I am going to end the auction and state "Error In Listing" as the reason. Since it currently has 137 watchers (according to My eBay), I am sure I will get some response by private e-mail, in which if I decide to sell the bat I will offer full disclosure as the the repair and the markings.

I know if has been commone practice by some jersey collectors and dealers to "mark" a restored jersey. In fact, I have seen a good number of Phillies jerseys will a black sharpie mark on the inside seam near the sleeve opening. This has been attributed to a Phillies collector leaving his mark on these jerseys. Do you know who that person is? I have spoken with other Phillies collectors like Ed Dolan, Wayne Stiles, and Bob Kirk and none seemed to know about the trend. Having handled just enough Phillies jerseys I have noticed it on varios styles from the 1990s in particular.

....As mentioned, the auction will be ended immediately. If I do choose to sell my bat, I will give full disclosure in accompanying documentation. Thanks for keeping the hobby legitimate and me on my toes!

Thanks-

Chris Boyd
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Now that Chris as admitted that the bats are the same and that he made the marks on the knob (instead of Pujols himself), my questions remain:

1) In a hobby in which repairs are so accepted, why would you mark a repaired bat in this manner?
2) Why would you type up a description that states Albert himself made these markings?
3) Why would additional pine tar have been added to the bat and not be mentioned in the description?
4) Why wouldn't the fact that the bat was used in Spring Training not have been disclosed in the description?
5) If the bat was purchased in two taped together pieces, why wouldn't you have admitted that when an eBay user specifically asked if the bat was ever split in two?

Regarding Chris' reference to my marking Phillies jerseys:

When I made my team purchase of approximately 600 Phillies jersey, I took two precautions prior to the jerseys entering the hobby. First, I created red colored COA's for each jersey (red paper cannot be photo copied on a standard copier, as it turns completely black). Second, I marked each jersey with a small black dot under the left arm of each jersey. I made these marks so regardless of whether or not the jersey became separated from the COA, I would know the jersey originated from my team purchase - NOT to mark or mask any sort of alteration or restoration. In fact, less than 5% of the jerseys in that team purchase were restored or altered. When a restored shirt was sold, it was documneted on the red LOA as such. The fact that a jersey was restored was always revealed, and also provided collectors with some great Phillies names at a reduced price. Again, all retorations were noted and documneted to the buyer. Once again, EVERY jersey in that team purchase was marked for the reason mentioned above.

Folks, we all make mistakes, especially when attempting to list items on eBay in a rush. If there were one issue, or some minor typo, I wouldn't feel the need to bring these issues to a public forum. Since this Pujols bat is now likely to be sold privately, I thought it was necessary to post this information in a public forum so potential buyers might be forewarned. I encourage forum members to examine the evidence brought forth in this post and raise any questions I might have missed. I would also encourage the input of both Jeff Scott and Rob Steinmetz as well-known Cardinals/Pujols collectors. Although I have a well-documented history with Chris Boyd, this is NOT a personal attack. These issues were brought to Chris prior to my post here, and instead of addressing my concerns point-by-point, he chose to bring up my Phillies team purchase as part of his defense. It's important to note that Chris' Pujols bat was pulled from eBay last night.

Howard Wolf
hblakewolf@patmedia.net