Deducting grading points for showing use??

[suave1477]

I found this to be interesting and odd at the same time.

On another thread a member had pointed out to another member a Cal Ripken Jr Game Used Bat in the upcoming Goldin Auctions. So I was reading through the thread and wanted to check out the auction itself and was impressed with the bat and the paperwork on it until it go to the end of the description, it's funny because as I was nearing the end I was thinking to myself why would this bat get an 8.5 grading and not a 9.5 or 10. When I got to the end of the description it said "1 point deducted for the crack"

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat????

Wait a minute your deducting a point of its validity of being game used because it has a crack in it (hence being used) because of aesthetic purposes? If thats the case why not deduct points for ball marks? Rack Marks? Leather transfers? Seam imprints?

None of those marks were put there when the bat was manufactured. So why stop at the crack?

[PwKw13]

If thats the case why not deduct points for ball marks? Rack Marks? Leather transfers? Seam imprints?

Actually, that is being done. I have a Derek Jeter bat where a half-point was deducted because part of the engraved signature was worn off from use. As a result, the bat was graded a 9.5 rather than a 10. The paperwork says the wear "obscures part of the player name".

[legaleagle92481]

Many bat collectors only collect "uncracked" bats and such are rarer in the hobby since player's usually don't discard a bat until it is cracked so I can see the rational for deducting a point if the bat is cracked. I used to collect bats and when I sold them I found that many collectors refused to buy a bat if it was cracked.

[trsent]

This is a very common and old practice. It is a simple concept - They deduct points for flaws with the item such as rubbed off names or cracks that are flaws. It's a grading system and authenticity included in one package.

Just because an item is an 8.5 doesn't mean it isn't genuine. It loses points for issues that make it not perfect and not just not game used.

[PwKw13]

However, if a player commonly hits the ball on the front barrel (like Jeter), and this is a trait that a collector would want to see, why would it grade lower the more he hits the ball on the front barrel? It doesn't really make sense from either the viewpoint of authenticity or desirability as an example of that player. I can see it grading lower only if the wear wasn't from the player actually using the bat.

[nickacs]

Funny you bring this up because I've seen the same with older baseball jerseys where the letter will deduct a point or .5 due to "staining" on areas of it. Huh? I like to see "use" on my game worn jerseys?!
And the stains are very faint and not obscuring the player's NOB/team logo or anything.

Just find it strange I guess... The more use, the better IMO!

[commando]

However, if a player commonly hits the ball on the front barrel (like Jeter), and this is a trait that a collector would want to see, why would it grade lower the more he hits the ball on the front barrel? It doesn't really make sense from either the viewpoint of authenticity or desirability as an example of that player. I can see it grading lower only if the wear wasn't from the player actually using the bat.

I like MEARS. As far as companies go, I feel they've done more to standardize and archive information for the game-used hobby more than anyone else. With that being said, their grading system has always bugged me for the very reason you've stated. Deducting points for game use seems counter-intuitive to me.

I can understand that they want to keep things simple and streamlined by issuing just one grade.... But in a perfect world, you'd have two grades... One for authenticity (correct tagging, style, supplier, numeral font, etc.), and another grade for game use characteristics.

[jppopma]

One of my favorite jerseys is a 1970 Brewers jersey that had points deducted from the team logo change from Pilots to Brewers. To me the history of the Pilots move to Milwaukee is what makes the jersey so special.

Can't complain as I would have likely been way outbid if it had been graded higher.

[Birdbats]

Bat grading is a ridiculous concept, created (I assume) to appease card collectors who had shifted to game-used items and were used to graded cards. Deducting for cracks is a perfect example of why grading is meaningless. For example, McGwire collectors know that Mark used a bat until it cracked (or had deadwood) -- and that if you are offered an uncracked McGwire bat, you should be suspicious unless there is unquestionable provenance. But, a cracked McGwire bat would grade lower than a comparable, uncracked bat. Deducting for missing foil stamping -- the result of the bat striking the ball -- also is dumb, especially now that the center brand placement on maple bats results in many players hitting the ball on the stamped side of the barrel. If you're evaluating retail bats, where the value is based on condition, grading makes sense. But, if you're evaluating game-used bats, where the value is based on use, grading is worthless.

[gorilla777]

The difficulty in grading is the subjective nature to some of it. But I would say if it is purely based on the level of use, degree of provenance, along with the number of player specific characteristics (Griffey bats with tape style, O'Neill bats with heavy cleat marks, Brett bats with heavy and correct pine tar, Duke Snider bats with handle tape, etc.), then it is going to make a big difference in connecting that bat to that player. And the nicer examples, the better examples, have been fetching much higher prices from collectors over the last few years.
The deduction for a handle crack is purely for aesthetics and I don't really agree with it. I know it is done because there are many collectors that for whatever reason will not buy cracked bats. It seems silly to me, as it signifies some level of game use. And as one example, if you have an uncracked Ripken bat, he likely didn't use it. I guess it is accounted for based on the feedback from the collectors of uncracked bats. But like it or not, the grade on a bat matters when it is time to value it.