Opinions sought on Sexson bat

[godwulf]

This Richie Sexson gamer has no discernable date stamp on the knob, but I want to date it to 1999, and here's my reasoning.



The guy I bought it from, in 2004, stated that he knew for sure that the "30" indicated that Sexson had hit HR #30 with this bat...and I can't think of anything else it could mean, really. The only question is whether that would have been his 30th career HR, or the 30th in whatever season it was used.

I tend to think the latter is more likely, but either way, it had to have been 1999, because Sexson hit his 30th career HR in '99, and that was also the only year that he hit at least 30 home runs with Cleveland. (The '44', which is also on the knob, was his Cleveland number; he wore "11" in Milwaukee and Arizona, and didn't wear '44' again till the year after I bought the bat.)

I wanted to get your input on whether you thought this was a reasonable deduction, as far as dating the bat.

Here are some photos of the ball marks. The thing is just hammered with use. If you've got, or have seen, other Sexson bats, is this consistent with his other gamers?





Aside from the slight deadwood around and under all the ball marks, there's a thin crack that goes across the entire end of the barrel, and extends down about two inches on one side. Some players seem to be prone to causing this particular type of damage; a great number of Danny Bautista's bats, for instance, have that barrel end crack.

And finally, the tape job. I've located an action photo or two of Sexson batting, and as nearly as I can tell this tape job is very consistent with the way he tapes them up.

[WadeInBmore]

First let me start off by saying that I know nothing about Richie Sexton gamers. Secondly that bat shows a ridiculous amount of use and abuse...very neat, great piece!

Now thirdly As far as the number thirty goes I think it would be a hard sell to say that it represents (any) home run number 30...unless infact there are other Sexton gamers that have a number circled and that is his unique way of identifying a homer run bat. For all we know it was "Ray's" thirtieth birthday and that is why Richie gave him the bat...i mean, heck, it could me his 30th strikeout of the season. As much as I like to assume its significance as well as a home run bat...I just don't see it. Its like buying something off of ebay as game used and the sellers provenance is merely from a team source.

I think the one thing that this site has proven however is that all inscriptions arent necessarily what they seem, as some bats noted with HR inscriptions with a # aren't exactly that (sorry if that offends or touches any sore spots for any collectors here).

I think what you have is a beautiful Sexton bat, and until another homer bat of his surfaces with a similar marking style it would be tough to prove otherwise. Did you purchase the bat from "Ray" ? Maybe you can photo match it to the day that he hit his 30th HR which would elimate all doubts. Or perhaps Mr. Sexton is doing a signing and you could ask him what it all means.

I think its a great bat that has a story to tell, but its a matter of deciphering its code I truly like the look of the bat and hope more information will become available from other collectors out there. Inevitably it all is a matter of what you are comfortable with as a collector...and if the bat makes you happy.

wade

[WadeInBmore]

Okay, so i got more to add to this...hopefully it is all worth while. I found a picture from his 30th homer of the 99 season, 9-13-99...

Also found this picture of his taped handle from 99 (August)

Here is a link to is Home Run charts for his career...perhaps it was hit during another year.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...=sexsori01&t=b

Good luck, have fun. Keep us...err me posted

wade

PS sorry for the mispelling of his name...i got a little ahead of myself.

[godwulf]

Thanks for the input, Wade. I really do appreciate it!

If that top photo is of RS hitting #30 for the year, then obviously this is not that bat, as it appears to me to be a Louisville Slugger.

That just leaves - assuming that the "30" even refers to a HR total - the 30th career HR...which I see from the chart you provided a link to - thanks, again - Sexson hit on 7/27/99. I'm afraid I don't know how to look for something like that - a photo from that game, that is.

Anyway, thanks again...I'll keep trying to nail it down, if it's nailable, and am grateful for any assistance.

[OaklandAsFan]

you've got a Rawlings bat and the pic of his 30th HR it is pretty clear that is an LVS so it cannot be his 30th HR.

[godwulf]

you've got a Rawlings bat and the pic of his 30th HR it is pretty clear that is an LVS so it cannot be his 30th HR.

Thanks, OAF...I did figure that much out. (See second paragraph of my last post.) I'm hoping that if a photo of Sexson batting in the 7/27/99 game, in which he hit his 30th career HR (he hit 11 in Cleveland) surfaces, he'll be swinging a Big Stick.

[jonincleve]

can i see a picture of both the ends/knob, i might be able to help

thank you
john

[godwulf]

I've tried numerous times, but can't get a photo that is anything other than a blur.

The barrel end, which is not cupped, has no writing on it at all.

The knob has the model stamp ("155B"), but no year stamp. A handwritten "44" is just barely discernable, and below that a few marks that are probably all that's left of the bat length and weight info.