Heritage Auctions McGwire Bat

[TNTtoys]

I concur with all that's been said on this thread. I saw this one in HA a couple of wks back and my first thought was "why is there no pine tar on the handle?" The handwriting on the knob is completely different to the usual, and in my opinion, the batch (695) is extremely high; possibly one that was ordered for him very late in the season and never made it into his hands.

[Birdbats]

The batch (695) is extremely high; possibly one that was ordered for him very late in the season and never made it into his hands.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown has two 1998 McGwire bats in its collection. The bat used to hit homeruns 56-62 -- from September 1-8 -- was from batch number 769 98. And the bat used to hit homeruns 66-70 -- from September 25-27 -- was from batch number 909 98. So, the batch number is one of the few things about the bat that doesn't raise red flags.

[TNTtoys]

The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown has two 1998 McGwire bats in its collection. The bat used to hit homeruns 56-62 -- from September 1-8 -- was from batch number 769 98. And the bat used to hit homeruns 66-70 -- from September 25-27 -- was from batch number 909 98. So, the batch number is one of the few things about the bat that doesn't raise red flags.

Jeff,

Thanks for the information...that's useful info for McGwire bats in general. Since we're talking '99 on this thread and not '98 (where it is assumed many more bats were used, as it was a historical year), do you know any specs on the bat that he used to hit his 500th home run?

Nick

[Birdbats]

On August 5, 1999, McGwire hit his 500th homerun using a bat from batch number 382 99. So, if the Heritage bat was from 1999, I would share your suspicions of the high batch number. But, the Heritage bat is from 1998.

Mark McGwire Game Used Bat. The Rawlings Big Stick bat offered here was used by the most prolific hitter in the modern era during the 1998 campaign. The bat exhibits extensive game use, as well as pine tar residue extending from the knob to well past the trademark. Great ball marks all over the barrel. On the knob in in blue ink pen is "33 McGwire". Guide Value or Estimate: $500 - $1,000.

[TNTtoys]

On August 5, 1999, McGwire hit his 500th homerun using a bat from batch number 382 99. So, if the Heritage bat was from 1999, I would share your suspicions of the high batch number. But, the Heritage bat is from 1998.

Mark McGwire Game Used Bat. The Rawlings Big Stick bat offered here was used by the most prolific hitter in the modern era during the 1998 campaign. The bat exhibits extensive game use, as well as pine tar residue extending from the knob to well past the trademark. Great ball marks all over the barrel. On the knob in in blue ink pen is "33 McGwire". Guide Value or Estimate: $500 - $1,000.

Jeff,

Yes, I was basing all of my assumptions on the bat being a 1999. Not sure where I got that from, but it's obviously not correct from the description you posted.

Interestingly, the valuation you posted as part of the description states the bat value at roughly half the value of a good McGwire gamer. That in itself should be a red flag.

Nick

[trsent]

If someone contacted Heritage about their concerns with this bat Heritage may reply if they can pull their heads out of their rear ends. Then again, Heritage has their heads so far up there you may find no reply as the staff of Heritage Sports (and a few other divisions) thinks that they are better than anyone else so they do not have to deal with genuine concerns or anything similar in the world.