As promised, I'm enclosing a picture of Cal Ripken Jr. using a bat with tape. You'll note that the taping "criss cross" pattern is very similar to the one on the bat that was offerred on eBay. This picture is from a 1990 USA TODAY promotional item (although the actual picture they used is from 1989).

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1.../ebay008-1.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...72/ebay011.jpg