2003 Jose Bautista

[schubert1970]

Anyone have a pic of Jose Bautista wearing a 2003 Pirate vest with number 55 ?

I've look all over the net with no luck.

Ty

[Lokee]

His first season was 2004.

[schubert1970]

His first season was 2004.

You're correct. I ment 2004.

Ty

[sox83cubs84]

You may well not find one, either. Upon joining the Bucs in 2004 (his 4th team in his rookie season), he was issued #50, which he wore the rest of 2004 (source: Baseball Almanac website) and very early in 2005 (source: Getty Images). Unless BBA's records are incorrect or incomplete, such an animal may not exist.

Dave Miedema

[schubert1970]

The Bautista jersey I bought on evay last week is from 2003 with the number 50 (55 in my previous post was a typo).

The tag appears to be correct with the 0062.

Since his rookie year was 2004, is there any reason the jersey is from 2003?

I can only think of one reason Is it possible this jersey was from 2003 but made up for Bautista in 2004? I wasthinking maybe the name plate was put on in 2004.

Could it be from spring training in 2003?

I'm no expert when it comes to jerseys any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

[schubert1970]

Here is a picture of the tagging. No set number.

[sox83cubs84]

It's entirely possible. Back in 2004, Bautista was a rookie who made the Bucs his fourth team in his rookie season, not the feared star slugger he is today. Considering that Pittsburgh lags behind most MLB teams in terms of available funding, the idea of the team giving a then-nobody newcomer an extra jersey from the previous season is entirely believable.

Dave Miedema