The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

[Juan Gris]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

Here's a black I13 Louisville Slugger inscribed to Dunn's 24th home run of the 2002 season (43rd career) in Colorado against Kent Mercker on August 8. It can be directly traced to an order for 6 black I13 model bats on 7/24/01 (4 days after Dunn's MLB debut) because of: (1) the block-letter nameplate (autograph LVS bats were first ordered by Dunn on 4/15/02) and (2) "CINCINNATI REDS" appearing underneath the name (see my previous post in this thread concerning black block-type Dunn bats). According to order records (and BMH), there could only be 6 black LVS Dunn bats to have both block-type and the team name.

[Juan Gris]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

Here’s an interesting 2013 “Dunner Custom Cut – A” Marucci bat that's a microcosm of Dunn’s “Three True Outcomes” career. The bat looks to have been used a good deal in Spring Training before making exactly 4 plate appearances in the regular season. Making its regular season debut on Opening Day (April 1, 2013), Dunn used this bat while striking out in the 8th Inning. During the 2nd game of the season (April 3, 2013), Dunn used this bat to hit a Homerun, draw a walk and hit a bat-breaking single. While waiting for the 2nd pitch during Dunn’s 6th inning at bat on April 3, the FSKC TV announcer said the following:

All Adam Dunn has to do today is strikeout and that will sum up his offensive game and his career. He already has the home run and the walk. A lot of home runs, a lot of walks, a lot of strikeouts, he doesn’t hit many singles. He breaks his bat and drops one in front of Jeff Francoeur and Dunn is 2 for 2 today.

[helf35]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

Here is a little bit of White Sox history. Its not anything of historical MLB significance but I think its still pretty cool. On August 5 Dunn became the first White Sox pitcher to bat in U.S. Cellular Field in the ninth inning after coming into pitch in the top of the ninth inning.

[Juan Gris]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

Dunn Minor League Jersey!

Nice jersey! I looked at some cards of Dunn from when he was with the Lookouts and there's a good chance this is the same jersey he's seen wearing due to pinstripe alignment.

[TG19]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

Dunn Minor League Jersey!

[Juan Gris]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

Recently got a pair of signed Adam Dunn cleats and gloves, both from his 2005 season. Not a big fan of his per se, but these were well used and at the very least easily style-matched.

Very nice! That's the first good look I've seen of that shoe style. I always enjoy seeing the different customizations Dunn took with his equipment.

[fredskinz]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

Recently got a pair of signed Adam Dunn cleats and gloves, both from his 2005 season. Not a big fan of his per se, but these were well used and at the very least easily style-matched.

[Juan Gris]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

Here is a 2002 Louisville Slugger I13M model bat I just acquired. Dunn ordered just 12 of these I13M bats (6 on 8/27/02 and 6 on 8/30/02) and this is the first example I've seen. He ordered 233 total I13 model bats and 104 total I13L model bats during his Reds career. This bat is noticeably smaller when held next to the other I13 Dunn bats in my collection (0.5 inches shorter and the circumference at the thickest part of the barrel is 0.5 inches less). I'm not sure what the "M" in "I13M" stands for but have a hunch it may be an experimental maple variety of the I13 model. I searched these forums and Google for more information on the I13M model and found very little information besides a 2002 Pujols I13M model bat that sold through Goldin Auctions in 2013. If anyone (especially BMH) could fill me in on the background of this bat model I would be very interested to hear!

[Juan Gris]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

How does one crack a helmet on a strike out? Must have thrown it down? Just curious...

Haha, some players strike out calmly and others slam their helmets down on the hard floor of a dugout or break a bat over their knee.

[skyking26]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

How does one crack a helmet on a strike out? Must have thrown it down? Just curious...

[Juan Gris]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

2012 Helmet Pictures Part 2:

[Juan Gris]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

Here is the batting helmet Adam Dunn wore during the 2nd half of his 2012 All-Star and TSN American League Comeback Player of the Year season. In Getty images from the White Sox vs. Twins game on June 26, 2012, Dunn is seen wearing an old style Rawlings helmet in the 7th inning and a CoolFlo style helmet in the 8th inning (he had worn the old style in 2012 up to this point). My guess is he cracked the old style helmet after striking out in the 7th and had to find a replacement for his next at-bat in the 8th. An impromptu in-game helmet change may explain why the number stickers on the back of this CoolFlo helmet are slightly crooked (the “2” is visibly higher than the “3”). Whatever the case may be, Dunn wore this signed helmet for the last 3 months of the 2012 season, including his 400th career home run game on August 18!

Other major identifying marks on the helmet include:
-The tar buildup on the brim;
-A portion of the white circle sticker on top of the helmet gradually gets rubbed off as the season progresses (as seen over dozens of game photos);
-A light colored streak in the plastic on the back top between air vents (this streak can even be seen inside of the helmet and was likely created during the manufacturing process);
-Light scratches/transfer marks near the right ear hole.
-Three quarters of the ear pad lining were rubbed and torn off from use. The flap of remaining lining can be seen curled up next to Dunn’s face in many head-on pictures.

[Juan Gris]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

It's up for auction on mlb currently at 380

Looks like it sold for $540. Not too shabby for a bat Dunn may have given to Jose Abreu and then Abreu gave to Ferrell to use in a single at bat due to their likeness. Hopefully the buyer can get it signed by Ferrell and/or Dunn.

[eric16841]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

Wonder if this will make the auction? Will Ferrel Dunn gamer!

It's up for auction on mlb currently at 380

[Juan Gris]

Re: The Adam Dunn Game Used Thread

Here is the black 2001 Louisville Slugger I13 model bat I picked up in the last Goldin Auction (and which was previously mentioned in this thread). It was originally attributed to Dunn's time with the Billings Mustangs in 1998 due to the barrel branding. After referencing Dunn's LVS bat order records and conferring with John Taube, it was determined to be 1 of the 3 bats ordered on 6/12/01 while Dunn was with the Louisville RiverBats. Regarding this bat, John Taube quoted Brian Hillerich as saying:

...As for the MLB/TPX logo, it might be one of the times we forgot to put it on a bat, that happened quite a bit back in the early 2000's since we did not have a "Pro" branding area. Retail and Pro went to the same area so the attention to detail was sometimes forgotten...

According to Goldin Auctions:

This bat does not have "Cincinnati Reds" branded under Dunn's name indicating that the bat was ordered by Dunn as a minor leaguer. There were two orders for Maple I13 models made by Dunn during his 2001 rookie season, one while a member of the Louisville RiverBats, and the second after Dunn was called up to the big leagues with the Reds. With no team name on the barrel, this specific bat can be placed to his order with the RiverBats.

I was pleased with how Goldin Auctions and John Taube worked with me to figure out the back-story on this bat before the auction ended. While playing with the Reds from 2001-2008, Dunn ordered nearly 300 bats with a black finish from Louisville Slugger. This is one of the first 3 black bats Dunn ever ordered and, depending on what happened to the other 2, may be the earliest surviving black Louisville Slugger Dunn bat.