Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

[WadeInBmore]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

Update number 2 for today!

Another jersey to complete his major league team run. This jersey will take us to Big Franks time as a Blue Jay. This charcoal black Cool Base 1 button neck jersey features the fancy Toronto logo on the front in blue, black, and silver. On the back features a matching blue and silver 35 (NNOB on this style). The MLB logo is sewn above. Majestic logo in white is on the left sleeve. White inserst are sewn under each arm (white = home, grey = away).

Blue Jays player Lyle Overbay also wore the number 35 during this time period (changed his number to 17 when Frank arrived), BUT he is/was definately not wearing a size 52 jersey. So rest assured this is Big Franks.

This is a 3 year style jersey that was worn for the 07-09 seasons and came purchased direct from the Blue Jays. This ST/BP style jersey shows good use (that which would be expected from a Dh) and displays all the proper tagging including the 0068 pro-coded curled washing tag.

[WadeInBmore]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

A couple busy days at work and no update!!! I've got some catching up to do.

The first item that I would like to share today is an item that was sourced direct from the team. I was beside myself when a fellow collector offered me this piece and was very happy to purchase it. Complete with paperwork from the Oakland Athletics I present to you this very beautiful game used green alternate jersey of Frank Thomas.

It displays incredibly well showing excellent use, puckering and softening of patches, as well as a couple loose threads here and there. Dated and tagged as a Set 2 jersey from the 2006 season (Thomas's comeback player of the year award year) this size 52 jersey is a monster!!!!

I have seen only one other Thomas gamer from this season offered, but it didn't have the paperwork to accompany it nor did it have the set tagging as shown below.

Pics definately do not to this item justice. When I have the time I will shoot some higher res photos to share, but for now, these will have to do.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

Wade:

Good choice.

You (and othetrs) might get a laugh out of this story: in the early 1990s, a dealer showed me a C243 LS bat with THOMAS on the barrel, but the number 14 written on the knob. His "story" was that the bat was Frank's from the minor leagues. Reserach showed that the bat was actually a MLB bat...of ANDRES Thomas, a player with Atlanta who wore #14 in the late 1980s.

Dave Miedema

[gorilla777]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

1991 Frank Thomas signed LVS


Ben

[WadeInBmore]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

Today's update goes out to Dave. So by special request here's today's update!

For your viewing pleasure I present this 1995 game worn away jersey. It shows good use with fading, piling, and loose threads. Believe you me pics do not do this jersey justice. Patches are soft...this jersey was well loved.

[WadeInBmore]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

Copy that Dave. I'll begin posting a jersey tomorrow...a sox jersey. Forcing my hand early.

Really glad that so many people are digging this thread!

Wade

[sox83cubs84]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

Wade:

The Big Hurt items are excellent. Let's see some GU jerseys (especially Sox)!

'Dave Miedema

[anthony3133]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

Wade -
I look forward to your updates, cool idea and spectacular collection, my man.
Hats off to one of the finest gentlemen I've had the pleasure to meet and deal with in the hobby!
Keep it up and keep them coming!
Anthony

[WadeInBmore]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

Hope everyone had a great holiday! I'm going to take us right back into the mid-90's right smack dab in the thick of Reebok's contract with Frank Thomas. I picked this pair up from Craigslist. These might be my favorite pair of Thomas spikes that I have in my collection...I'm nostalgic and remember them "pumps"!!! They are both auto'd and show great use. Happy to share these with you guys.

[WadeInBmore]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!

Todays post is of one of the more intriguing items in my Frank Thomas collection. I purchased this bat more as a trophy bat than anything else, but it appears to be more than that...let me explain.

For years I had watched this GU Rawlings All-Star game bat, but the asking price was way to high for a couple of reasons (again, I'll be getting to that). Eventually, like all items, this particular bat ended up at an auction and I was able to purchase it for a much more reasonable amount of money. Here is the interesting part...the bat shows light use and is graded as such. Quite a pleasant surprise IMO. BUT, Frank wasn't swinging Rawlings at this point in his career; he was still swinging Worth!!!!!

So, here are my exact thoughts of this bat. This was a presentation bat issued to the Big Hurt for making the All-Star game from Rawlings. When Worth stopped making bats, was Rawlings trying to scoop up their old contracts? It is a professional bat and I'm thinking they guessed on his length and weight preferences. Perhaps THIS is the first Rawlings bat that Frank ever had in his possession. The bat is a mammoth and weighs almost an ounce and a half heavier than any other bat of his that I own. Its not completely crazy to think that he could have enjoyed the feel of the bat, taken a couple of cuts with it, decided it was too heavy to use in the game...but wanted to explore their brand in the future.

This is why it gets interesting again...Frank began to use different bat brands in 1995. From what I can tell he at least tried out Kissimmee Stix and went back to LVS briefly before finally ending on Rawlings.

Attached are some images of my bat along with some images from before the All Star game and during the HR Derby (you'll notice he is swinging a Worth).

[WadeInBmore]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

A's cleats, post 2 of 2

As promised today I deliver another pair of the Big Hurts Nike cleats from 2008. It seems that this was a style that he enjoyed while wearing a Jays uni during warm-ups...so when he signed with the A's for the remainder of the 08 season I can see how he would've wanted to try these out in Oakland too.

These cleats again show light use...but that really isn't too surprising to me. While I have not found an exact style match photo for these A's spikes I have found a shot from Franks Toronto's days during spring training. Hope you enjoy em!













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[WadeInBmore]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

Todays update advances us even further into the Big Hurts career as I share the first of two pairs of team issued, game used cleats from his Oakland playing days. For me, seeing Frank in any uniform other than a Sox uni is still a bit shocking, but there was a great allure in tracking down items with colors other than black and white.

The first pair is a custom Nike high top spike that seemed to be his favorite style while donning the A's colors as he can be seen in both 2006 and 2008 wearing this style. I think one of the most interesting aspects of these cleats is that you can really see how Nike transformed a pair of high top sneakers into baseball spikes...a style choice that seemed to be a popular trend starting around 2005/2006. It would seem that this frankenstein approach to cleat design made for a more comfortable feeling shoe.

This pair exhibits light use with some dirt marks and color toning...use that I would think would be fair assessment for a DH who saw limited action in the green and gold thanks inpart to another leg injury and mid season team change. Enjoy.

[WadeInBmore]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

Todays update is going to fast forward us to the 2002 season with the Chicago White Sox. Frank clubbed 28 hrs, had 90 bb's, along with 92 rbi's, and 132 hits. Below is 1 of the estimated 3 team issued away jerseys from Frank's 02 season. It is appropriately tagged 02 48 S3 and shows excellent wear/game use.

After an injury plagued 2001 season that saw Big Frank in only 20 games, the 2002 season was one filled with challenges, hope, and frustration as he was only two years removed from his runner up performance for the al mvp award in 2000, but coming back from a very challenging leg injury. He had a lot to prove and a lot of catching up to do. Of note regarding his season, he managed to swipe 3 bases and gallop into 3B for his 10th career triple...proving to many skeptics that his leg had fully recovered and he was back on track to being that premiere ball player.

[WadeInBmore]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

Todays update is another pair of batting gloves from 1993. BUT, this time, they are white on black with white Reebok patch and white knuckles. Number written on the strap. They show good use. Another unique pair of gloves to come across.





Lets see some more items from you guys!

[WadeInBmore]

Re: Lets see your Frank Thomas GU items!

Here is my new item for the day. I didn't know what I was going to post next, but Jerry supplied me with a great segway...so without further ado, I present to you a pair of first year style Reebok batting gloves (circa 1993). Purchased from Mr Sage, thank you again. These are the more standard black on black style with white knuckles and white Reebok patch. I especially like how Big Franks number was written on the number flap...I have seen gloves with the number written and without.

Thanks for looking and enjoy!