Pujols 2001 Rawlings Big Stick

[FightonTrojans]

This bat was on here recently and I just purchased it.

I wanted to share some more close up photos of it for you guys to look at and make some opinions.

Please let me know what you think. This bat in my eyes was a GAME ISSUED Pujols bat in 2001. It was definitely used by a few people, probably even Pujols at some point. It has #27 on it, meaning it was used by Placido Polanco.

Please check out the pics:

-Brad




The impressions on the bat are insane. You can almost make out the entire Rawlings logo!

Here is the knob of the bat.
Under the big numbers are 07 25 01 (even though the 1 is faint, you can still see it if you look closely)



The high pine tar shows that this was used by someone other than Pujols as he does not ever use this much tar. This bat had been used A LOT.

The seem impressions on the bat are insane as well! You can even see the MLB logo as well as the laces!




I plan on bringing this bat to PSA soon and will update you.

[JPD10]

Re: Pujols 2001 Rawlings Big Stick

If you ever plan to sell that please let me know!!

[bigtruck260]

Re: Pujols 2001 Rawlings Big Stick

If it is the same bat...

I remember getting the story about the exact day it was used, and after looking up the records and conferring with another (or two) other Cards collectors finding out that the story was impossible.

Regardless, it is a nice Pujols issued bat with use from another very good player (Polanco). I would not have bought it as a Pujols gamer - and the price the seller wanted was reflective of it being just that.

If you are happy about it, and are confident in the history, the seller and the story (and the use characteristics) - then I am glad you picked it up.

Maybe you can photo match it. The Rawlings Pujols models are tricky...anyone who collects Pujols bats will tell you that. Unless you saw him use it, can photomatch it - or it comes with a team letter, nobody really knows for sure, right? That is the case with all bats thought.

Thanks for posting more photos!

[70to66]

Re: Pujols 2001 Rawlings Big Stick

JPD10 Drop me an e-mail, I have this model if you want pics.
jaythorpe@sbcglobal.net

[fromcooperstowntohollywood]

Re: Pujols 2001 Rawlings Big Stick

fightontrojans
Please e-mail me at mjames5@live.com
thanks

[FightonTrojans]

Re: Pujols 2001 Rawlings Big Stick

Taube PSAed the bat at the National Convention, so it is a genuine Pujols bat.

Any questions can be emailed to me if youd like. xxmrk0rnxx@aol.com

-Brad

[costas]

Re: Pujols 2001 Rawlings Big Stick

how reliable is PSA when it comes to authenticating game used material, and what did he use to subtantiante the authenticity (like with a photomatch?)

[BIGSTIG]

Re: Pujols 2001 Rawlings Big Stick

I think what Brad meant to say, since I was there with him is that Taube confirmed it was a LEGIT Pujols bat, this was Alberts bat from his rookie year, but it was used by a few different players. Possibly including Pujols. Who knows without solid proof.

[bigtruck260]

Re: Pujols 2001 Rawlings Big Stick

PSA also "authenticated" this bat:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250287269741

Notice that they never say it was used by Pujols - or used by anyone in a game. They simply state that it is a Pujols model professional bat.

In the case of the bat (Rawlings) that you all are speaking of, I would trust a Cardinals bat expert like Jeff Scott before I would trust PSA. Jeff has reviewed close to (if not all) of Albert's major league at bats and if he says that he would pass on it - I would pass too.

Fortunately for the owner of the Rawlings bat, Albert did use Rawlings early in his career - and even a bat that was potentially used by Albert still has decent value. My buddy Bert has an LS C243 that was used by Tino Martinez that is pretty vlauable to him (and me). The fact that Polanco used your Rawlings is an added bonus - because he is a great player, and Cards fans appreciated him while he was here.

As for the Carolina Clubs bat that I linked above, I do not know of any time Albert used one in a MLB game. Could have used it for BP - as the number on the knob looks good.

[bscott]

Re: Pujols 2001 Rawlings Big Stick

I think in fairness to PSA/DNA and John Taube, they offer two types of letters of authenticity: one a basic letter and the other a letter that has a numeric grade (on a scale of 1-10).
Questions of ambiguity may arise when a letter simply states that a bat is "authentic." But if you look at the bats that PSA/DNA gives numeric grades to, I think Taube is quite fair at assessing true provenance.

If this bat were given a numeric grade on the psa/dna scale, I wonder what it would be?

Any ideas?

-bscott

[bigtruck260]

Re: Pujols 2001 Rawlings Big Stick

I think in fairness to PSA/DNA and John Taube, they offer two types of letters of authenticity: one a basic letter and the other a letter that has a numeric grade (on a scale of 1-10).
Questions of ambiguity may arise when a letter simply states that a bat is "authentic." But if you look at the bats that PSA/DNA gives numeric grades to, I think Taube is quite fair at assessing true provenance.

If this bat were given a numeric grade on the psa/dna scale, I wonder what it would be?

Any ideas?

-bscott

No idea.

Is it a cool piece regardless. I wish there was a way to see through number changes on bat knobs...is there?

[FightonTrojans]

Re: Pujols 2001 Rawlings Big Stick

I rarely get on this site but here is what Taube gave me:




It is stated that it cannot be confirmed that the bat WAS used by Pujols. Although this bat was ordered by Pujols in 2001, its use by him (regardless of his number being on the bat) cannot be garunteed.