1996 Alex Rodriguez Game Used & Signed HR #15 Bat

[allstarsplus]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

I was thinking the same thing, I have always wondered the accuracy of the claims on modern players home run bats. I personally would not pay the premium for a home run bat, I would rather have a regular signed bat for a lot less money.

Players make honest mistakes. Collectors make honest mistakes. There is no substitute for doing homework to confirm.

I have owned many Sosa, Bonds and ARod game used bats and never wanted to purchase any with HR inscriptions on them because I found too many discrepencies. I think it greatly devalues a bat (like Tony's) when you have a HR inscription to find later that it is NOT the HR bat. With that said, I favor "no inscription" until I have proven myself that it is a HR bat.

MLB holograms I think provide a great tool for dating bats and seems to be one of the best tools on modern bats along with video and pictures to photomatch.

[3arod13]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

First, thanks for your comments.

Yes, this sucks! Hopefully the video will come today and I can see it more clearly.

I paid heavily for this bat for one reason...Rawlings bat used by Arod was rare.

I did email Scott from Millcreek Sports and this was his response: "Hi Tony, Yes, Alex Rodriguez did use Rawlings bats in 1994-1996 before switching almost exclusively to Louisville Slugger. Hope this helps. Scott"

Many thoughts going through my head right now:

- Arod signed in HR#15 1996. Could that mean career HR #15, which he hit in 1996? That would be the game Boston Red Sox at Seattle, 31 May 1996, off of Rich Garces?

With that said, the bat was authenticated by Arod when he was with Texas. That tells me that someone put the bat in front of him then. They probably at that time just looked up who he hit HR#15 off and then prepared the letter for him to sign. Possibility?

Yes, I'm not in a good place right now. But until I'm 100% sure, I'm keeping an open mind.

If it's proven for sure if it wasn't a Rawlings he hit HR#15 in that game, I will give Arod every opportunity to address this matter before it blows up to become a big media story.

Sad part is, I'm probably the biggest Arod fan out there. Yes, I'm not in a good place right now.

Regards, Tony

[Rboitano]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

The infamous HR 16 2002 bat surfaces again!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Alex-Rodriguez-Autographed-Home-Run-Game-Used-Bat_W0QQitemZ250344636525QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item250344636525&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A3%7C65%3A3%7C39%3A2%7C240%3A1318

[kingjammy24]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

are there more bats out there where he wrote the number HR he hit on the bat, if this one is questionable then what about the others?

http://www.network54.com/Forum/37997...316+bat+a+fake-

rudy.

[Rboitano]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

I was thinking the same thing, I have always wondered the accuracy of the claims on modern players home run bats. I personally would not pay the premium for a home run bat, I would rather have a regular signed bat for a lot less money.

[yankees24]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

are there more bats out there where he wrote the number HR he hit on the bat, if this one is questionable then what about the others?

[ironmanfan]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

Whew, I thought for a moment that I had to change my impression of Arod not being a guy of character...

[Vintagedeputy]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

I think the next question is...

did Arod have any orders for Black LS bats during this time?

[3arod13]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

Tony,Will Withay still get the $200 ?


Rudy

Of course! He delivered!

Tony

[Rboitano]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

I think it is somewhat conclusive that the bat in the photos pictured is not a Rawlings. Maybe their is more game footage that could give more information.

[dodgersfan]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

Tony,Will Withay still get the $200 ?


Rudy

Looking for the video or a picture of Alex Rodriguez using a Black Rawlings bat from the game between Seattle Mariners at Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, 25 June 1996

$200 to the person who finds it from that specific game
$100 to the person who finds it from any game in 1996

Regards, Tony

[allstarsplus]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

1) my personal opinion, from the pics presented here, is that it's a LVS. if that's really the case, then that really, really sucks. ultimately though, i guess i'd rather know the truth even if it's bad. maybe arod just got the HR number mixed up? personally, i'd look for pics of HRs #14, 15, and 17. maybe he just got the bats mixed up.rudy.

That sums it up well. A real shame as we were all pulling for Tony.

[kingjammy24]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it



the game photos show 2 distinct areas on the label area. (LVS and "powerized"?). where are the 2 distinct areas on tony's bat?



rudy.

[kingjammy24]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

re: the photos

rather than looking at the label, forget the label for a minute and try to locate the white rawlings ring on any of the game photos. i can't find it.

rudy.

[Rboitano]

Re: Looking for video or photo - $200 to you if you find it

Vintage Dep.
You really dont see any LS markings? Not the silver labeling? Where is the white ring on the bat?