I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

[dplettn]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

On June 11 of 2011, the Reds were visiting the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants. Their game was part of the Fox Saturday Baseball national telecast. Reining NL MVP Joey Votto hit this ball in the 5th inning for his 337th RBI and 129th career double. It was this hit that chased two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum from the game. The Reds won 10-2.

Please note the photograph of Votto below is attributed to the correct game, but it is unknown what AB was being photographed. While the ball pictured alone is MLB authenticated to the Votto double, it is uncertain whether the ball was retired from the game before or after a ball was returned to the mound.

Joey Vottos 129th double, 337th RBI

[dplettn]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

Time to add to the Votto thread with this gamer. Picked up his jersey which was used for his #22 Home Run of 2013 and career bomb #155.

Gorgeous and special jersey, Adam. Congratulations.

Votto's 155th HR (in your jersey) was a game winner! Chappy would come in for a 4th consecutive day and nailed down the save by striking out Puig, Gonzalez, and Ramirez. The Great Eight Reunion and Postgame Fireworks certainly didn't dampen the evening. One of the best experiences at GABP I can remember in 2013... The Reds rode the wave and went on to walk off against the Dodgers the next two games for a sweep.

Very happy you ended up with this stellar jersey, Adam. Congratulations!

[AWA85]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

Time to add to the Votto thread with this gamer. Picked up his jersey which was used for his #22 Home Run of 2013 and career bomb #155.

[rchimes13@yahoo.com]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

SOOOO with nervous excitement I am posting my 2012 NLDS GU Votto bat (thank you Eversole for great deal) in hopes to channel a little Reds-Magic for tonights Wild Card game vs. Pirates! Grabbed this bat for what I am calling a TRUE PC of Votto--Personal in that I am trying to collect Votto items that have Personal meaning to me. This one...my pops and I attended the 2012 NLDS game 3 in Cincy when Votto broke this bat. GO REDS!

[dplettn]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

For many who talk baseball the glass is often half empty. Joey Votto has endured adversity (again) in 2013. In fact, Votto endured his worst batting slump since coming up to the Reds. He is discarded in MVP talk. But Votto has stayed the course. He has played in every Reds game this year following knee surgery. Twice. His OBP leads his league and he ranks 5th in hits, just behind Paul Goldschmidt.

There have been times Votto has been bested by his competition. Carlos Gomez leaping over the wall to rob Votto of a game changing 9th inning home run comes to mind. But the biggest challenge to Votto's stats has been that pitchers do show the respect which is absent frequently among those who just talk baseball. Votto has been avoided (walked) 132 times already. That's more than 25% above the highest in baseball outside of the Reds clubhouse (Mike Trout, 105). Votto has set the table for his team. Like Votto, Jay Bruce attracts minimal respect from the talking crowd. Bruce is 2nd in their league in RBI; 1st among those headed to the Playoffs. Bruce is a great player, but his RBI total is not possible without Votto.

The Reds have reached the playoffs in 3 of the last 4 seasons. With three regular season games to play the only uncertainty is whether they'll play in Tuesday's Wild Card at GABP or PNC. In hindsight, Gomez' robbery affected nothing but Votto's stats. Makes it a lot easier to smile when looking at Votto's 929th hit. People may not remember the hit which did land that day. Such selective memory is common among the folks who criticize the athlete who is "Vottomatic". He crushed the 1st inning ball too. Look where it went after smashing into the opposing first baseman.

Career Hit 929, July 8 2013

[dplettn]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

Dplettn - Looks like Votto's Father's Day 2013 jersey was just on MLB auction this past week. Didn't meet the reserve, so not sure if it will go back on the auction site in the near future or if it can be bought straight from the team?

Looks like it would compliment your baseball's from that day nicely!

Thanks nickacs. While not strongest personal affinity, I do find jerseys exciting. Seeing Himes' 100th HR jersey here on this thread is incredible.

For anyone else who is interested in the jersey for their own item to memorialize Fathers Day 2013, the person to contact with the Reds is Jon Cline (jcline@reds.com). Proceeds of Reds Authentics' sales benefit the Reds Community Fund. The Community Fund pays for youth programs including one for which I volunteer, Reds Rookie Success League. The cause this jersey will further is a good one.

Joey Votto Fathers Day 2013 Cincinnati Reds Jersey

[nickacs]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

Dplettn - Looks like Votto's Father's Day 2013 jersey was just on MLB auction this past week. Didn't meet the reserve, so not sure if it will go back on the auction site in the near future or if it can be bought straight from the team?

Looks like it would compliment your baseball's from that day nicely!

http://auction.mlb.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=14643336&prmenbr=33072944&aunbr=14643336

[dplettn]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

I certainly hope not to change the standard of this thread which has given each item the attention it deserves independently. But these two hit balls are appropriate for an exception. They are career hits 904 (left) and 905 (right), which both took place on Father's Day 2013.

Spending the day with my family and seeing a Reds 5-1 victory was plenty enough, so it was no big deal that we missed out on the gym bag giveaway. Hit 904 was removed from play four pitches later on a pitch in the dirt to Brandon Phillips. I was fortunate to take that one home on Father's Day in lieu of a gym bag. 905 was similarly authenticated without relevance, this time removed on a Brandon Phillips grounder.

One 2013 Votto hit ball to hand down to each son someday!

Still working on that Joey Votto collection. I'd love to see what hit balls, bats, etc others have. Please e-mail plettner at fuse dot net. Also, contributions to this thread may be anonymous.

Credit for the photograph of the 905th hit swing (not watermarked as displayed here) goes to Joseph Fuqua II of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Fathers Day 2013
Joey Votto Career Hits 904 and 905

[dplettn]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

Grammar notwithstanding, you mean to say that Votto's socks may have cost him Player of the Month?

Am I reading you correctly?

Of course not. Just trying to be funny.

[frikativ54]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

Did the socks reward Joey? Although the surprise of Dominic Brown earned Player of the Month honors in the NL, Votto followed April with some leading numbers on the diamond. Perhaps Votto didn't get the award because somebody was upset how the face had wore his pants. Regardless, I won't mind seeing whether the power in these red socks May harness some eye popping numbers yet again.

Grammar notwithstanding, you mean to say that Votto's socks may have cost him Player of the Month?

Am I reading you correctly?

[dplettn]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

Excuse the oddball humor in advance... Last night Boston scored 20 runs in just eight home innings against the Tigers. Perhaps an opportune time to harness the good fortunes of Joey Votto's red socks.

When Votto closed April 2013 sporting the same style as a newly arrived teammate, he seemed to embrace Shin Soo Choo more than his title of "Face of MLB"... an admirable thing in my eyes for one of a team's leaders.

Did the socks reward Joey? Although the surprise of Dominic Brown earned Player of the Month honors in the NL, Votto followed April with some leading numbers on the diamond. Perhaps Votto didn't get the award because somebody was upset how the face had wore his pants. Regardless, I won't mind seeing whether the power in these red socks May harness some eye popping numbers yet again.

Joey Votto Career Hit #852

[dplettn]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

As Himes' 2007 Spring Training bat shows, Votto wasn't always as clean with his equipment as he is at present. The '08 bat shown below is very unique among Votto's M356 bats I've seen. Obviously it is not MLB authenticated to verify Votto's personal use. A fellow forum member cautioned me about the knob's surface scratching (1st picture). Even with the bat coming from a prior owner I trust, I wrestled with fears about the bat being too messy until finally seeing another M356 with similar game preparation photographed by the Cincinnati Enquirer, in use by Votto. Also, I found relative comfort with the surface scratching on the knob because the "19" is below the surface scratching.

All other things being equal I prefer MLB authenticated bats in the GU database which remove any fears that a bat was used by an alternate player, etc. But, this bat's tremendous use warranted entry to the collection regardless. While its possible that it was used during the regular season, my best guess is that it was used in '08 Spring Training based on the prior owner.

Joey Votto Rookie M356 Bat

[dplettn]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

Its a good thing when a guy leads his league at getting on base (OBP) even when he's not looking his personal best. The toughness Votto has shown while playing with limited off days coming back from an injury is pretty impressive. Votto playing through this stretch may speak to the team's resiliency among tough peers. Here is a 2013 ball I particularly enjoy because of respect for this season's competition. The Diamondbacks featuring the other NL All Star First Baseman have showed tremendous will in playing inspired ball in some of this season's most memorable games, league wide. Paul Goldschmidt brings Joey Votto circa 2010 to mind. Joey will likely look to raise his game with intentions of defending his All Star starting honors next year.

I believe this ball will help me look back and remember much of what has made 2013 baseball special. The ball from Joey Votto's career hit# 913 off Wade Miley is displayed below. It remained in play for two additional pitches while Joey Votto and Paul Goldschmidt shared space at 1st. They would get more time together as this was Votto's first of three hits on the night.

[rchimes13@yahoo.com]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

Hoping my continuous posting on this thread will send some "good vibes" to get Votto kick started for last month of season...looks uncomfortable over the last couple weeks Here is a bat I picked up from another GUU member, 2007 GU spring training bat with TREMENDOUS use and also photo-matched to several 2008 Topps cards of Votto's.

[rchimes13@yahoo.com]

Re: I Collect Joey Votto Game Used Bats, Hit Balls, Jerseys, Gloves, etc

This is the very first glove I purchased for my collection. Bought it from Sports Investments in Cincinnati following the 2008 season and came directly from Reds Clubhouse. It is a game issued Joey Votto 2008 Rawlings outfielders glove signed nicely on back in gold paint pen.