Michael Jordan Louisville Slugger Professional Model Autographed, Used Bat MEARS A10

[Auction robot]

On October 6, 1993, Michael Jordan, the best professional basketball player in history, Jordan announced his retirement, citing a loss of desire to play the game. Jordan later stated that the murder of his father earlier in the year shaped his decision. Jordan's announcement sent shock waves throughout the NBA and appeared on the front pages of newspapers around the world. Jordan then further surprised the sports world by signing a minor league baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox. He reported to spring training and was assigned to the team's minor league system on March 31, 1994. Jordan has stated this decision was made to pursue the dream of his late father, who had always envisioned his son as a major league baseball player. The White Sox were another team owned by Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who continued to honor Jordan's basketball contract during the years he played baseball. He had an unspectacular professional baseball career for the Birmingham Barons, a Chicago White Sox farm team, batting .202 with 3 HR, 51 RBI, 30 SB, and 11 errors. He also appeared for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the 1994 Arizona Fall League.

This bat is accompanied by a Letter of Provenance from John Simkins (pictured above with Jordan on the golf course), a classmate of Jordan's at the University of North Carolina, and personal friend. The letter states, in part:

"As a personal friend of Michael Jordan this baseball bat was signed and given to me while visiting him in Birmingham, Alabama. After a game he signed this bat and gave it to me. Since our days together at UNC Michael and I have been very close and personal friends. It is documented in the 1984 Golf Program that I taught Michael how to play golf. I also caddied for him during the 1999 Bob Hope Classic. <signed> John Simkins 4/20/99"

This bat has been authenticated by MEARS and has been graded A10 as a "Professional Model BP / Exhibition Bat (1st bat)." MEARS comments that "Louisville Slugger factory records show Jordan first ordered this type of P72 bat in 1989, with another order sent to baseball promotions. Other orders in 1994 were 34.5'. This bat is the first factory recorded Jordan sent in 1989. MEARS' certification number 300702 is affixed to the barrel end of this bat.

This bat was manufactured by Hillerich & Bradsby and has Michael 'Air" Jordan's name on the barrel in block letters. The bat has what is commonly referred to as 1986-89 labeling, however it is documented that bats with this professional labeling were being sent to minor league teams into 1994. This bat has model number P72 stamped into the barrel end, and is 34 inches in length and weighs approximately 31.5 ounces. The bat exhibits heavy use, with light pine tar remnants, heavy ball marks, and light stitch marks present. The bat is uncracked. The number 45 appears on the knob in silver marker. Jordan has signed this bat in black marker on the sweet spot, which has faded a bit. The signature is approximately 6 inches in length.

This bat comes with the Mears certification and provenance letter from John Simkins. It was consigned to the auction by Rob Steinmetz.View Lot Detail page

[DRILLINDK]

Re: Michael Jordan Louisville Slugger Professional Model Autographed Game Used Bat MEARS A10

I love this bat, but the poor sig is a turnoff. Would it be detrimental to remove that sig. Is it even possible? Any comments would be appreciated.

-Rick

[chakes89]

Re: Michael Jordan Louisville Slugger Professional Model Autographed Game Used Bat MEARS A10

2 things real fast

1) Why did Jordan need bats in 1989?

2) What poor schlubs gave up the 3 HRs?

[BMH]

Re: Michael Jordan Louisville Slugger Professional Model Autographed Game Used Bat MEARS A10

His first order of only one bat in 1989 was a promo bat.

[CollectGU]

Re: Michael Jordan Louisville Slugger Professional Model Autographed Game Used Bat MEARS A10

So this bat matches factory records as a baseball promotion/souvenir bat only? Doesn't that mean it more likely than not was not used by Jordan in a game? Why does MEARS certify it as a BP bat? Also, has the autograph ever been submitted to PSA for authentication?

Thanks,
Dave

[ChrisCavalier]

Re: Michael Jordan Louisville Slugger Professional Model Autographed Game Used Bat MEARS A10

Hello Everyone,

We are currently seeking additional information on this bat directly from Hillerich & Bradsby as well as MEARS relative to the certification. We will let you know as soon as we receive any reply.

[bigtruck260]

Re: Michael Jordan Louisville Slugger Professional Model Autographed Game Used Bat MEARS A10

Hey guys -

I distinctly remember watching ESPN in around 1989/1990 and seeing Jordan taking batting practice with the MLB White Sox. If I remember correctly, he hit a few out of the park at Old Comiskey.

For what it's worth. It is also the first thing I thought of when I saw this bat. Didn't want to jump the gun without any other info.

Regards,

[bigtruck260]

Re: Michael Jordan Louisville Slugger Professional Model Autographed Game Used Bat MEARS A10

Here is a baseball card from Upper Deck in 1990 that validates my claim...
Don't card companies generally use the photos for a year prior? In this case, it would be 1989 - note that bat he is using is blonde and probably a LS as there is no ring.

[MSpecht]

Re: Michael Jordan Louisville Slugger Professional Model Autographed Game Used Bat MEARS A10

In response to the posted questions. here is the information provided today by both Hillerich & Bradsby and MEARS rregarding this 1989 Michael Jordan bat. Significant "Thanks" are due to both Brian Hillerich at H & B and Troy Kinunen at MEARS for their timely responses and significant efforts.


1) Is this a professional model or promotional model bat ?

According to H & B factory records, the single bat produced for Jordan in 1989 was listed as "Baseball Promotions." .This same notation appears on the first 10 bats on Jordan's H & B records, from 9/13/89 through 12/6/93. Three H & B employes that worked in 'special brands' at the time (and are still with the company) only remember the black bats with silver foil, which first show up in the H & B records in 1993. They do not recall the bat documented 9/13/89 in the H & B records. According to Brian Hillerich, " I'm not saying he never used the bat. Albert Pujols on one occasion used one of the promo bats we sent him for autographing in a game because he liked the way it felt. And I'm not saying we didn't make the bat as shown. I'll try finding some records for our SB department from then but those are scattered worse than pro records."

MEARS spoke with with Chuck Shuppe, the pro player rep from H&B, who is usually the first person to deal with the athletes. Troy Kinunen notes, " When a super star or a highly touted rookie is being courted to use a H&B bat, they usually go through Shuppe. In the case of Michael Jordan, Shuppe would have been the one to deal with Jordan in regards to securing a bat deal with H&B. If you check with Shuppe regarding Arod and Jeter, you will see that some of their first orders were listed as Promotional. Typically we think of promotional entries as bats being sent for autograph signings and marketing deals, -- this is often true later in an established players career. But early on, Shuppe and H&B would record the first orders as promotional. From 1989 to 1993, Michael Jordan was not professionally playing baseball. There were no signings for him that bats would have been made. His first bats were simply recorded as promotional."

In addition, Troy spoke with Bob Rosenberg, the White Sox statitician . "He was on the the field the day Jordan took practice with the Sox. I was in his home and saw the photograph of him and Jordan by the batting cage. In the photo you could see Jordan using an H&B bat. Jordan also took BP at other times that were not publicized, so a bat would have been available to him."


Conclusion: This bat, although noted as " Baseball Promotions " in Jordan's H & B records, was most likely not promotional in the traditional sense of a multiple production run for a signing or promotional event. A single bat that appears in Jordan's records was likely sent to him as he requested, for some specific purpose. Also, it is noted that while the first 6 bats shipped as "Baseball Promotions" did not have specific weights noted, four subsequent orders to "Baseball Promotions" did have specified weights, which presumes manufacture for professional use.

2) Is this a game-used bat ?

Jordan did not play in a game as a professional baseball player until 1994, several years after the production of this bat. Use by Jordan would be limited to work-outs, batting practice, or exhibition games, likely with the Chicago White Sox or a Sox farm club such as Birmingham. This term would be consistent with Vince Malta's accepted definition of the term 'game used' ("a generic term denoting a bat that has evidence of player use characteristics") but, upon our review, a more appropriate term for this bat would be "used" rather than "game used." Resultingly, the term has been changed in the Lot Title. It is noted that MEARS, in the LOA, qualifies the use as Batting Practice / Exhibition.

3) What about the Jordan autograph?

The bat was not submitted to PSA/DNA for autograph authentication. In clarification of the bat being described as 'autographed' in the MEARS LOA, Troy Kinunen notes that "as a very experienced autograph collector and somebody that grew up obtaining and collecting Michael Jordan autographs from 1988-1998, I am very familiar with his signature. The autograph on the bat is a true gem in terms of in-person autographs. Whenever you met Jordan and he signed a bat, basketball, jersey, etc, this was the version of the signature that he gave. From my experience, the signature was obtained in person, thus putting the bat in Jordan's hand. This was important as the version of the signature was not the version that was obtained through UDA signings, thus I felt the signature was more consistent with what may have been obtained at the ballpark."



4) Additional provenance

As part of the GUU review process, Michael Jordan's relationship with John Simpkins was verified through a 2002 interview with Jordan in which he stated, " I started playing (golf) the summer of 1984. I had just committed to go pro. And I went out and played some holes at North Carolina. I went with a good friend of mine. John Simpkins, who was on the golf team at the time with Al Wood, and we played 18 holes with Davis Love III, who was attending North Carolina at the time. I parred one of the 18 holes, and I've been hooked ever since." The entire interview can be found at http://forum.e-basket.pl/viewtopic.php?t=19758&view=previous&sid=95938f24a5 484178f4bd7189a43fcec3

5) MEARS Letter of Opinion review

In a review of the accompanying MEARS Letter of Opinion, Troy Kinunen states, " Based on my own personal experience, I feel this is the bat from that first order and quite significant. If you note the actually shipping ledgers, there is no reference of weight. There is only a reference to 34" and model, P72. Again, our evaluation was based on the totality of the circumstances and our own interpretations of the records...I am very comfortable with the bat based on the totality of circumstances of examining the bat, interviewing an on-field witness, reviewing the provenance, and having experience with vintage in person equipment autographs."

Good Luck.

Mike jackitout7@aol.com