Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

[schubert1970]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

Corked bat myth - When I am not authenticating jerseys or selling them I am bat rep for MaxBats and have been now for 2.5 years. We have over 700 professional ball players using our bats and we make over 200 models.

With that said I discussed at length about a year ago about corked bats and if there was any advantage in using them. We concluded that once someone drills into the bat and takes mass out of the bat you are weakening the bat overall. Hence the ball will not travel as far corked compared to a normal bat. The more mass/density behind the swing coming through the hitting zone will result in balls that go further. We always recommend to the younger ball players to swing as heavy a bat as they can for this very reason.

Once you start getting past that minus 2 differential of weight to length, a bat manufacturer must dry out the bat, again making the bat weaker. Its really about moisture content in the bat that gives the bats it's weight and its strength also in accordance to the number of grain lines in the bat, even though not totally proven about grain lines. But some major league ball players want less grain lines.

Corking does one thing for the hitter it makes the bat lighter which would let the hitter get through the zone quicker and that's it.

I do understand why Rose would clean his bats after games, it makes perfect sense in what he explains. We see a lot of major league ball players look at their bats and see where they are making contact. Some ball players also liked their bats unfinished so they can bone the bat. Which is actually compressing about 1/16" of the bat surface, making the surface harder and less susceptible to surface damage hence baseball lace impressions left on the bat.

This is a very cool story and bat.

Rich - Txs for the expert opinion and great info. Maybe the whole point of doing this was to get the through the zone quicker as you stated, especially if he didn't belive he could keep up.

Bill

[Mark17]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

I thought about everything you asked in the period of about 3 months after I discovered my bat was corked. Now that almost three years has passed, I can answer with a much more constructive answer.

First off, I think Pete, possessing the wreckless personality he has, probably felt that the guys he gave these bats to were "safe". I mean, I'm fairly sure he didn't just hand them out to anyone who asked. He probably felt giving one to Bobby Wine, the interim manager of the Braves in last September just after he broke Ty Cobb's record was a safe bet. After all, what would his old coach do, give it away? Hell no.

But much to Pete's dismay, he did apparently sell it. And if he didn't sell it, he must have given it away to someone who did. So Pete made an error in judgement.

That was my first thought when you mentioned how upset he ws that the bat had been given away. Maybe part of the reason was that it was a bummer to hear that a gift to a friend had later been sold for money, but also, perhaps he was concerned about the idea of one of his corked bats being out in general circulation.

Pete's still hopeful of making the HOF. Last thing he needs is another scandal involving his career, so seeing that kind of evidence floating around must've been somewhat disturbing to him.

[ironmanfan]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

Pete's still hopeful of making the HOF. Last thing he needs is another scandal involving his career, so seeing that kind of evidence floating around must've been somewhat disturbing to him.

Rose could have added lead to his bats to make them heavier and he still wouldn't have a prayer's chance at enshrinement.............

[33bird]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

Every game used item I've shown to Pete he acts like it's fake and does his best to make you feel like you bought something stupid and HE NEVER gave anything away or sold anything either. He's full of crap. I think he wishes he would have kept everything for himself so he could be selling it all right now instead of signing autographs 4 days a week at a mall. Just my 2 cents.

[CowboyJohn]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

Have you guys seen what Pete Rose is selling in Lelands July 9th auction?

How about his record setting last hit bat, #4256?

Starting bid.....$75,000.

I just don't understand why he would want to let that piece go. I know unloaded a lot of "stuff" in years past to pay off gambling debts. I sure hope that's not what this is about. This bat is a priceless piece of history. I am sad to see Pete is selling it. That bat should always belong to him, or someone in his family. It just doesn't feel right that he's selling it. But that's just me.

[skinsfan0521]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

Have you guys seen what Pete Rose is selling in Lelands July 9th auction?

How about his record setting last hit bat, #4256?

Starting bid.....$75,000.

I just don't understand why he would want to let that piece go. I know unloaded a lot of "stuff" in years past to pay off gambling debts. I sure hope that's not what this is about. This bat is a priceless piece of history. I am sad to see Pete is selling it. That bat should always belong to him, or someone in his family. It just doesn't feel right that he's selling it. But that's just me.

Or at least in the HOF if nobody in his family owns it. That is sad, but I'm sure that somebody will end up with an amazing piece of memorabilia.

Now, the winner needs to x-ray that bat! haha

[CowboyJohn]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

Well.....things just got real serious.

Check out the link below.

"DEADSPIN.COM" just put out a lenghthy article. God only knows where this goes from here.

http://deadspin.com/5555714/this-is-pete-roses-corked-bat

[tacprc]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

Have you guys seen what Pete Rose is selling in Lelands July 9th auction?

I know unloaded a lot of "stuff" in years past to pay off gambling debts. I sure hope that's not what this is about. This bat is a priceless piece of history. I am sad to see Pete is selling it. That bat should always belong to him, or someone in his family. It just doesn't feel right that he's selling it. But that's just me.

How do you know he was selling his property to pay off gambling debts, and not to buy a car or a house or pay some other household expense?

[Rob L]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

Well.....things just got real serious.

Check out the link below.

"DEADSPIN.COM" just put out a lenghthy article. God only knows where this goes from here.


http://deadspin.com/5555714/this-is-...ses-corked-bat

Wow, great article. It will be interesting to see if this goes anywhere.

[tacprc]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

Well.....things just got real serious.

Check out the link below.

"DEADSPIN.COM" just put out a lenghthy article. God only knows where this goes from here.


http://deadspin.com/5555714/this-is-...ses-corked-bat

We are again reminded what happens when online journalists produce a story. They went to print without getting a comment from Pete. They state that the cover photo was taken during the July 4th weekend without any evidence. They state that he actually used the bat in a game, rather than batting practice, without any evidence. etc. etc.

[tacprc]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

[quote=CowboyJohn;204062]Have you guys seen what Pete Rose is selling in Lelands July 9th auction?

How about his record setting last hit bat, #4256?

Starting bid.....$75,000.

I just don't understand why he would want to let that piece go.

The Lelands website indicates that this piece is coming from the Richard Angrist Collection not from Pete directly. It appears that Pete sold this bat to Lelands sometime in the past, and they sold it to Richard Angrist.

[CowboyJohn]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

How do you know he was selling his property to pay off gambling debts, and not to buy a car or a house or pay some other household expense?

Chuck,

I have to say, I love the fact that you are so loyal to Mr. Rose. I like him too, as stated earlier.

But the debt problems he was going through, around 1986, mainly created by mounting gambling losses, is so well documented.... in the Dowd report, in general in articles, interviews, Tommy Gioiosa's statements, understandings expressed by guys who knew Rose well like Steve Wolter...I just think there's little reason to enter into a debate over this issue. I mean, it's the whole reason behind Pete doing a lot of the things he did, IMO. I don't think a guy who is baseball royalty, about to break (and even after he broke) one of baseball greatest records....is going to consider financing a cocaine deal because he's sitting phat and happy with ton's of money in his bank accounts. He was warned by associates to write checks under $10K so they wouldn't be identified...and therfore questioned...by the IRS...ALL to pay off debts. It's all out there, just Google it.

That said, I feel a bit blue today. With his documentary coming out this summer, this should be a good time for Pete, and instead he's having to deal with another bad revelation. I hope that the general public and most who don't even follow this great sport understand that corking a bat, although against MLB rules, just doesn't amount to much in the grand scheme of his achievements on the field. As argued here, for all we know they may have detracted from them.

[CowboyJohn]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

We are again reminded what happens when online journalists produce a story. They went to print without getting a comment from Pete. They state that the cover photo was taken during the July 4th weekend without any evidence. They state that he actually used the bat in a game, rather than batting practice, without any evidence. etc. etc.

Chuck,

Please......stop.

You are speaking without knowledge.

They did a lot of research. Bill and I have remained fairly silent, because it was not our place to say anything.

They did extensive homework verifying what they had, spoke to the photographer who took that picture (as they referred to him by name in their article), stated the obvious that Pete in on deck, as that's what they were told by the photog, and he is wearing a GAME jersey, not a warm-up batting practice jersey.....I mean it's not for deadspin to answer to....the evidence is out there for all to draw their own conclusions with. The ball is now in Pete's court, with his reps, to spin out of.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

Look, I'll go as far as saying this: We are all collectors here. To any of you possibly worried about your Pete Rose items taking a hit due to another onslaught into this man's integrity....take a deep breath and rest easy. Pete Rose, and his hit record, is not going to be discredited by a few of his bats turning up corked. It's old news. But the revelation of proof isn't. So let Pete and his people state what they want. Eventually, it will blow over.

As an owner of one of these little altered gems, it's bitter-sweet. Enough said about that. But Pete's hit record, barring some genetic splice between Cal Ripken Jr. and Ty Cobb entering the baseball scene, will outlive all of us for generations to come. With the higher pressure to perform, and the immense competition to perform to even keep a major league spot on a roster in today's baseball, it's almost inconceivable anyone will break his hit record for decades....if ever. A 24+ year career as an active player who produced like Pete Rose is almost as rare as a perfect game ending and being lost on the last batter incorrectly!

[Mark17]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

As an owner of one of these little altered gems, it's bitter-sweet. Enough said about that. But Pete's hit record, barring some genetic splice between Cal Ripken Jr. and Ty Cobb entering the baseball scene, will outlive all of us for generations to come. With the higher pressure to perform, and the immense competition to perform to even keep a major league spot on a roster in today's baseball, it's almost inconceivable anyone will break his hit record for decades....if ever. A 24+ year career as an active player who produced like Pete Rose is almost as rare as a perfect game ending and being lost on the last batter incorrectly!

Going into this season, Jeter was only 15 hits behind Rose at the same age. If Derek Jeter continues his current production another 4 years, when he turns 40 he'll be somewhere around 3,600 hits. Then it will be up to him whether he wants to go for it.

Rose only averaged 130 hits for the 5 years, from age 40 to 44, then tacked on 52 more when he was 45 years old. That would be doable for Derek, who takes fantastic care of himself.

Will Jeter break the record? Probably not. But it is not inconceivable.

[woody1351]

Re: Photo matched PR4192 Rose bat with surprise!!!!

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/68288/corked_bats_reportedly_belonging_to_pete_rose_come_to_light

got on to check my fantasy nascar team and saw this.