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.

[kingjammy24]

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?

interesting pic of arod using a paul sorrento bat:


i also found a pic of arod using a blonde LVS in a game (not BP) in 1996.

anyway, i think it's important to put all of this in perspective. it's not like tony's bat is fake. tony confirmed that rawlings shipped the bat to arod during 1996 and i think that it's overwhelmingly likely that arod used the bat in 1996. it's still a legit arod gamer. i just don't think the inscription is accurate and i don't think it was used to hit that specific home run. not a terrible outcome, relatively speaking.

this isn't like it's the first time arod's word has been found to be garbage.

rudy.

[Rboitano]

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

It is still a nice bat, still the only Rawlings from that era that I have ever seen. Good luck Tony, I hope the video will give you more information.

[dodgersfan]

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

The Blonde bat looks like a Mizuno.
I might be wrong?
What do you guys think?


Rudy

interesting pic of arod using a paul sorrento bat:


i also found a pic of arod using a blonde LVS in a game (not BP) in 1996.

anyway, i think it's important to put all of this in perspective. it's not like tony's bat is fake. tony confirmed that rawlings shipped the bat to arod during 1996 and i think that it's overwhelmingly likely that arod used the bat in 1996. it's still a legit arod gamer. i just don't think the inscription is accurate and i don't think it was used to hit that specific home run. not a terrible outcome, relatively speaking.

this isn't like it's the first time arod's word has been found to be garbage.

rudy.

[yanks12025]

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

Who wore number 44 in that bottom photo.

Where did you get the letter and bat from. Because you never know someone could have wrote homerun and 15?

[kingjammy24]

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

perhaps a part of the problem may lie with "arod authenticated". "arod authenticated" was a venture set up by former ASI co-owner and current ESM pres. scot monette.
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Rodriguez, the Yankees' third baseman, became the first player ever to drive in 10 runs in a game at Yankee Stadium in a 12-4 victory over the Angels on Tuesday.
By Thursday, the company, A-Rod Authenticated, was running radio advertisements for signed baseballs commemorating that performance, with a price of $399.
Rodriguez said yesterday that he never signed any baseballs, and that he was never approached about marketing his performance.
He said that his feelings about Tuesday's game are "very special and very sincere" and that he would not try to cash in on it.
"It's just not part of what I'm doing," Rodriguez said, "and it's upsetting to me that someone would take action before even coming to me, or promote something I had nothing to do with."
Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, said Rodriguez had terminated his relationship with A-Rod Authenticated and its president, Scot Monette. Boras said that his company, Impact Sports, would handle Rodriguez's memorabilia business.
"This is something that was just unconscionable, in regard to a player that committed to what he does" Boras said. "
There were advertisements out there that he did not know about. He was approached on Tuesday and asked if he wanted to do anything in regard to this, and he said "no".
Monette did not return calls seeking comment. The Web site for the company, based in Clearwater, Fla., features little more than an advertisement for Rodriguez's "V.I.P. Meet and Greet" event with Barry Bonds in December. Fans paid $7,500 then to spend time with the players, and Rodriguez donated his money to charity.
Rodriguez said he did most of his organized autograph signings in the off-season or during spring training. He said that although A-Rod Authenticated had "generic signed baseballs" of his, he questioned the legality of the company linking those balls to his three-homer game.
"They can't do that" Rodriguez said. "That wouldn't even be legal. That's impossible."
Before this season, the Yankees formed a partnership with Steiner Sports, a memorabilia company that has two billboards at Yankee Stadium. Under the agreement, Steiner Sports sells bats used in games, jerseys and uniform pants of Yankee players.
There were no Rodriguez items that were used in games available on the company's Web site yesterday, and Rodriguez said he declined the company's request for his bat and jersey from Tuesday's game.
"I'm keeping everything, are you kidding me?" said Rodriguez, who then showed reporters the bat he used and the jersey he wore on Tuesday.
"This is my daughter's jersey at some point, you know?"
Rodriguez said he was still using the bat from Tuesday, and was not even sure he would give it up if the Hall of Fame
were to ask.
"I don't mess with my equipment, especially if I'm playing with it" he said.
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AROD Authenticated is the brand name for the service, which is managed by Authentic Sports Investments, the Florida-based company that has been working with Rodriguez for memorabilia deals for the past four years.
"This is a separate company, operating under our corporate umbrella, to handle Alex’s memorabilia needs” said Scot Monette, president of ASI.
Monette founded ASI with Brad Wells in 1999.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NYDAILYNEWS:
Alex Rodriguez yesterday abruptly cut ties with a memorabilia company attempting to sell autographed baseballs commemorating his three-homer, 10-RBI game against the Angels on Tuesday, claiming he never had given permission for such a venture.
The company, known as "A-Rod Authenticated," is a division of Elite Sports Marketing and advertised the "once in a lifetime" opportunity on the radio in New York. The asking price was $399 for the balls, which had A-Rod's signature and his stat line from the game. They were not actually used in the game.
"I reached the people and I said, 'If you're trying to do things without me, that's not right" A-Rod said. "I'm very upset about it. ... To go out and sell this crap - that's BS."
Scott Monette, president of Elite, declined comment yesterday. But when a caller posing as a potential customer inquired about the balls, she was told that a "presale" was currently being conducted; A-Rod, according to the sales representative, would sign the balls on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
"Obviously that isn't going to happen" Rodriguez said when told of the claims.
Rodriguez has worked with the company in the past, most notably on "The Ultimate Event," which was a $7,500-per-ticket private function held over the winter at which he appeared with Barry Bonds. Elite has had issues with authenticity (it was formerly known as Authentic Sports Investments), but A-Rod did not comment on any previous problems he may have had with the company, saying only that he was pleased to be free of it and was not pursuing a new memorabilia partner.
"I think there's a lesson to be learned and I've learned it," he said. "There's no relationship with anyone right now, and I'll probably stay idle for a while."
He added that he currently isn't planning to pursue any legal action against Elite because "this should be enough of a sting."
Rodriguez was skewered by fans and talk-show hosts yesterday after a mention of the advertisement appeared in the Daily News, and Gary Sheffield alerted him to the criticism early in the afternoon. A-Rod said he discussed the situation with his representatives and that his agent, Scott Boras, dealt with Elite.
"Once we had knowledge of the situation, we took action" Boras said. "There is a time and place for this sort of thing, and it's not during the season."
A-Rod added that he "doesn't enjoy" signing and donates much of the money made from memorabilia sales to charity. He said he didn't know how much money he stood to lose by ending his relationship with Elite.
Rodriguez said he does most of his memorabilia signing during spring training or after the season. In a request unrelated to Elite, Steiner Sports Marketing & Memorabilia - which has a partnership with the Yankees - inquired about authenticating A-Rod's jersey and bat from the game. Rodriguez declined, saying he is still using the bat ("I'm not that superstitious, but come on!" he said) and wasn't interested in parting with his pinstripes. "That night I want to remember forever as a very special night" he said. "It's certainly not something I want to capitalize on. ... It's not who I am."
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i love that last line about arod not wanting to capitalize on things because it's "not who he is".

rudy.

[kingjammy24]

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

The Blonde bat looks like a Mizuno.
I might be wrong?
What do you guys think?

Rudy

yes.



rudy.

[CollectGU]

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

Tony,

Will you attempt to get a refund for the bat?

Regards,
Dave

[3arod13]

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

Tony,

Will you attempt to get a refund for the bat?

Regards,
Dave

Dave,

Unfortunately, I bought the bat a long time ago, so that's not an option today. Documentation was solid then, including signed by ARod. I even researched and obtained more documentation to back up even what I had when I bought the bat.

Whether companies are doing wrong or not, it's the individuals (players) responsibility to know what they are signing, and to ensure the authenticity of that item.

I emailed two people who are close to Arod. I'm hoping that Arod will have the opportunity to hear about this situation and somehow make it right.

Not sure how this happened, but I'm hoping Arod will do what he can to make this right.

Tony

[3arod13]

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

My next plan of action is to find the video from the game Boston Red Sox at Seattle Mariners on 31 May 1996.

Arod hit Career HR #15 in on this day. Arod could have signed the bat meaning it was his 15 HR of his career, which he hit in 1996.

Now, if it's proven that he didn't hit career HR #15 on this day with a Rawlings, then we definately have a serious problem.

On to my research.

Regards, Tony

[3arod13]

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

If anyone is from Boston, and can give me some media sources to contact, it would be a great help.

Thanks, Tony

[3arod13]

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

If anyone is from Boston, and can give me some media sources to contact, it would be a great help.

Thanks, Tony

Sorry, meant Seattle. I guess Boston could have covered the game also.

[3arod13]

Update on my 1996 Alex Rodriguez Rawlings Game Used Bat

I still haven't received the video from Canada (man, it takes forever).

However, I emailed a few TV stations in Seattle last night looking for a video of the game Boston Red Sox at Seattle Mariners on 31 May 1996, where Arod hit career HR #15.

I just got a call from one of those TV stations. They are Fedexing me A DVD of that game, and it will be here Monday. WOW! I can't believe it.

With that said, if this game also doesn't show him using a Rawlings, then Arod has a lot of explaining to do.

Will keep you all posted.

Regards, Tony

[yanks12025]

Re: Update on my 1996 Alex Rodriguez Rawlings Game Used Bat

Tony,
It took you forever to find video of arods 20th and then you found video of arods 15th home run game in less than 3 days. Hope it turns out to be the bat.

[harpt]

Re: Update on my 1996 Alex Rodriguez Rawlings Game Used Bat

Definately rooting for you Tony!!

A good point made earlier: No matter what happens (whether it is from a specific homerun or not), the worst case scenario is that you have a very rare A-Rod gamer.

Thanks for keeping us all up to date.