Cracked v. Uncracked Bats

[BULBUS]

Re: Saying no to crack?

I agree with Jeff. I prefer a 'used till dead' bat. Especially from a player that played before the "game used" craze. Most players will tell you that they used their bats till they cracked and if it is uncracked it was stolen.

I know that players today will use a bat a few times and then sell it uncracked, but I still prefer one that is cracked and well used. That tells me the player really like the bat and took it to the plate as much as he could.

-Chris

[coxfan]

Re: Saying no to crack?

You Atlanta folks can correct me if wrong, but it seems to me from my few visits to the Braves' Clubhouse Store that they sold uncracked bats of minor players ( such as Pete Orr) after they either went to the minors or were traded. Plus, I think sometimes players change their preference on bat types, so the rejected bats are more likely to wind up for sale even if uncracked. So is an uncracked bat sold by a team not genuine?

[CampWest]

Re: Saying no to crack?

I don't really care if a bat is cracked, split apart, or in three pieces, as long as its got great use.

Uncracked bats are fine, if they have great use - I agree that most players use bats til they're unusable - at least the guys I collect. Mostly I think legit uncrackeds either came about because of superstition - ie 1 fer 20 streak... a change to the player's preferred model or length/weight... or the end of the season. Any way you cut it, there just are not many heavy use uncracked bats out there of my players. With the new MLB guidelines it sure seems like fewer bats are breaking, so maybe this niche will have more inventory going forward.

I don't repair bats. I like to see the story. I dont want to alter it from the player's last use. I've seen some great photo-matches to halved bats, and I think that detracts from the coolness if you have an awesome broken-in-two match, that has been expertly repaired and is near invisible.

I also think we'll look back at the wicked maple bat breaks from a couple years ago and want to see that piece of baseball history...

Extreme example but... Would anyone want to repair this Piazza Bat???







Still stunned he didnt get ejected... Umpires were afraid and too stunned to react... Roid rage? "I thought it was the ball"... so they must've been playing kickball since he threw it at Piazza...

Anyhow... back on topic. I like to preserve it as it was, unaltered, and I have to collect broken because my players have little to no heavily-used, uncracked bats.

[CampWest]

Re: Saying no to crack?

Sorry a little OT, but this gosh, this is just my absolute favorite baseball picture of all time. I wish Topps or Upper Deck would have used this in a baseball card... Maybe someday. I hope to find a good high res image to print an 8x10 and see if I can get Clemens to sign it maybe he'll even add something like, "DIE PIAZZA. DIE" or "I thought it was the ball". That would be awesome.

[bigtruck260]

Re: Saying no to crack?

There are many ways to look at this. For example, the Cardinals sell only cracked bats. If you want a Cardinals bat, then, do you buy a legit one that's cracked, or an uncracked one of unknown origin? I'll take the cracked one with the team LOA.

Many players use bats until they're no longer able to be used -- whether they're cracked or have deadwood. McGwire is a great example. If you come across a McGwire bat that can still be used, then Mac probably didn't use it. I'll take the cracked one.

Really, in just about any case, you have to ask yourself, "If this bat is still usable, why isn't the player using it?" Personally, I believe many uncracked bats in the hobby likely were acquired via dishonest means (stolen from clubhouses, etc.) or are issued bats with "staged" use (fake ball marks, tar, etc., applied after the fact). Sure, there are legit, uncracked bats out there... especially bats that belonged to players who didn't hit much (pitchers, bench guys, etc.). And even superstars have used, uncracked bats left over at the end of the season. But, by and large, I am suspicious of uncracked bats unless every use characteristic is spot-on perfect and/or the source is ideal -- the player, the team or a player's charity.

Obviously, I use Jeff's logic as a rule of thumb - and I have always liked cracked bats as long as I can repair them myself. I don't want to have to send one out and pay someone else to fix a $100 bat.

I only have a few cracked bats nowadays, but they are solid and displayable. I don't really care as long as the bat carries correct player traits and came from a good source.

D

[AWA85]

Re: Saying no to crack?

Great points by everyone. i think Jeff's post has me a little hesitant on going 100% uncracked now that I think about it. Does seem like most players like using bats till they break, and makes a person wonder a bit when these uncracked ones hit the market.

May have to think this collection shift over a little bit before I go for it. Thanks for the insight!

[suave1477]

Re: Saying no to crack?

I agree with Whatupyos and BirdBats.

I think they both said it best.

But for my personal opinion I don't mind a cracked bat as in my eyes I believe the player used it till he couldn't any more. Which is what I like my bats to show.

[allstarsplus]

Re: Saying no to crack?

Sorry a little OT, but this gosh, this is just my absolute favorite baseball picture of all time. I wish Topps or Upper Deck would have used this in a baseball card... Maybe someday. I hope to find a good high res image to print an 8x10 and see if I can get Clemens to sign it maybe he'll even add something like, "DIE PIAZZA. DIE" or "I thought it was the ball". That would be awesome.

Clemens had no problem signing on my Piazza cracked (repaired) bat and we had a great laugh about it. Now then, the mistake I made was having Clemens sign first because when my buddy took it to Piazza he told my buddy to tell me to shove it up my a$$.




This was the bat and case before I got it autographed.

[allstarsplus]

Re: Saying no to crack?

I agree with Whatupyos and BirdBats.

I think they both said it best.

But for my personal opinion I don't mind a cracked bat as in my eyes I believe the player used it till he couldn't any more. Which is what I like my bats to show.

I will take well used bats with player characteristics and will take them uncracked, cracked, or if broken in 2 pieces i will get them repaired.

[whatupyos]

Re: Saying no to crack?

There are many ways to look at this. For example, the Cardinals sell only cracked bats. If you want a Cardinals bat, then, do you buy a legit one that's cracked, or an uncracked one of unknown origin? I'll take the cracked one with the team LOA.

Many players use bats until they're no longer able to be used -- whether they're cracked or have deadwood. McGwire is a great example. If you come across a McGwire bat that can still be used, then Mac probably didn't use it. I'll take the cracked one.

Really, in just about any case, you have to ask yourself, "If this bat is still usable, why isn't the player using it?" Personally, I believe many uncracked bats in the hobby likely were acquired via dishonest means (stolen from clubhouses, etc.) or are issued bats with "staged" use (fake ball marks, tar, etc., applied after the fact). Sure, there are legit, uncracked bats out there... especially bats that belonged to players who didn't hit much (pitchers, bench guys, etc.). And even superstars have used, uncracked bats left over at the end of the season. But, by and large, I am suspicious of uncracked bats unless every use characteristic is spot-on perfect and/or the source is ideal -- the player, the team or a player's charity.

Isn't it true that Mac gave a lot of bats away that either were issued and or staged for use but saw little if any action?

[joelsabi]

Re: Saying no to crack?

Clemens had no problem signing on my Piazza cracked (repaired) bat and we had a great laugh about it. Now then, the mistake I made was having Clemens sign first because when my buddy took it to Piazza he told my buddy to tell me to shove it up my a$$.


[ATTACH]30426[/ATTACH]

This was the bat and case before I got it autographed.

[ATTACH]30427[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]30428[/ATTACH]

andrew,

thats one nice bat with a awesome story.

how did you get the bat put back together. it looks uncracked.

[allstarsplus]

Re: Saying no to crack?

andrew,

thats one nice bat with a awesome story.

how did you get the bat put back together. it looks uncracked.

A buddy of mine glued it together. There is 1 small piece missing. Very clean break on it.

Just wish Mike Piazza would have signed it.

[CampWest]

Re: Saying no to crack?

As always, great stuff Andrew. Thats a great piece as is... My initial thought would have been to leave the handle and barrell separate, have Piazza sign the handle and Clemens the barrell, to mimic pieces they were holding in the picture you used in your display...

Still fantastic though and I love Piazza's response.

Oughta try it again some day with a little innocent 5yo girl asking Mike... see if he caves then.

Clemens had no problem signing on my Piazza cracked (repaired) bat and we had a great laugh about it. Now then, the mistake I made was having Clemens sign first because when my buddy took it to Piazza he told my buddy to tell me to shove it up my a$$.

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: Saying no to crack?

Clemens had no problem signing on my Piazza cracked (repaired) bat and we had a great laugh about it. Now then, the mistake I made was having Clemens sign first because when my buddy took it to Piazza he told my buddy to tell me to shove it up my a$$.

This was the bat and case before I got it autographed.

Andrew.....was your bat THE bat from the Series???? If so, how and where did you get it? That's quite an item to have!!!

That's what I refer to as the most girly-girl response in the history of the World Series. At the point that happened, the Yanks were spanking the holy begeezuz out of the hapless Mets, and Mike Piazza had the PERFECT opportunity to man up, charge the mound for a take down and subsequent slugfest, and potentially change the whole make-up of the series by getting his team fired up. Instead, he wimped out and put on his make-up like a little girl. The Mets were done the very next game. Series over.

So if that's the bat, Andrew, you got yourself a keeper there....congrats!!

Oh, and if you ever run into Mike, you can tell him YOUR FRIEND Steve say that HE SHOULD HAVE SHOVED THAT BROKEN BAT PIECE UP ROGER CLEMENS A$$.

[frikativ54]

Re: Saying no to crack?

Andrew.....was your bat THE bat from the Series???? If so, how and where did you get it? That's quite an item to have!!!

That's what I refer to as the most girly-girl response in the history of the World Series. At the point that happened, the Yanks were spanking the holy begeezuz out of the hapless Mets, and Mike Piazza had the PERFECT opportunity to man up, charge the mound for a take down and subsequent slugfest, and potentially change the whole make-up of the series by getting his team fired up. Instead, he wimped out and put on his make-up like a little girl. The Mets were done the very next game. Series over.

So if that's the bat, Andrew, you got yourself a keeper there....congrats!!

Oh, and if you ever run into Mike, you can tell him YOUR FRIEND Steve say that HE SHOULD HAVE SHOVED THAT BROKEN BAT PIECE UP ROGER CLEMENS A$$.

Can you please cut the sexism?