"Where did you get this bat!!??"

[stasman]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

I have a set of A J Pierzynski's White Sox game used chest protector and shin guards. When I asked him to sign them he asked " where did I get them?" I told him off EBay and he seemed upset, but did sign all 3 pieces "game used".

[Mark17]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

I went to a Roger Maris Memorial golf tournament in Fargo a few years ago and had a very nice visit with Rich Rollins and Bernie Allen. They have been lifelong friends since breaking in with the Twins in 1962, and two of the nicest guys you'd ever be able to meet. I had gamers for each of them to sign.

When I handed Rich is bat, he looked it over and asked where I got it. I told him some memorabilia dealer from California, but he didn't seem to care too much, he was just fascinated by the bat. I asked him about the sanded-down barrel end, if that was something he used to do.

Bernie Allen laughed at that and said, "This guy had a workshop to work on his bats!" And then Rich proceeded to tell me how he'd doctor his bats, by using a bottle cap to score the barrel, then pour resin on it to make the hitting surface harder, and so on. In the middle of him saying all this, he paused and said, "Of course this was all illegal..." I asked him about the model - D89, and he remembered using them. He also explained that he didn't have a contract with H&B and that's why his name was in block letter.

About a year earlier, I had mailed Bernie a different one of his gamers to sign, which he had done for me. I reminded him of that, and thanked him again, and asked if he'd sign this other one too, which he did. Then he talked baseball for awhile, about how the first time he played with Aurelio Rodriguez he was so impressed with his throwing arm. The ball got down there fast, and accurate, which gave him plenty of time to make the play at second and get out of harm's way. Then he said, "That was the worst trade in baseball, ever... who was that guy...?" And I replied "McLain." And Bernie said, oh, that's right, and he went into what a miserable deal it was, trading a 20 game winner (Coleman) for a 20 game loser who was also a jerk, and throwing in a great left side of the infield too (Rodriguez and Brinkman.)

Anyway, both Rich and Bernie were delighted to see their bats, and even happier that fans still remember and care about their playing days. Rich had mentioned that he had been given a gamer at one of his All Star games, by a guy who's in the Hall of Fame, but that Rich has no intention of selling it. Anyway, after I got home I wrote a letter to Rich, thanking him again (I had caught Bernie as I was leaving the tourney to say goodbye and give him thanks) and to suggest he prepare a Letter of Authenticity for that bat, with his firsthand story of how he got it. I also suggested he make an audio tape or CD with some of his reminiscenses, including the story of the bat, as a sort of audio LOA, as well as a fascinating history to pass down through his family over the years and generations. He wrote me back, a very nice handwritten letter, telling me he enjoyed our visit, hoped to see me again at the golf tourney, and thanking ME for showing him the D89.

[cfern023]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

Figured I'd add-

Much different experiences with Giancarlo Stanton- such a cool dude. He looks over what I've shown and gotten signed by him- and seems really interested in what's attached to it- game photos and personal photos I took of him usin the stuff.

Coolest things I've gotten signed was a bat I photographed him breaking myself, and a helmet.

[cfern023]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

Sorry to dredge up an old post- but I had wanted to see some Gwynn Gmers.

Didn't happen to me personally, but I've heard about Hanley Ramirez being a **** to collectors.

The story I've heard most- from multiple people with the team and fans of the team was once at a season ticket holder event, when presented with a bat to sign that came from the charity foundation he refused.

Only after someone from the team pleading to sign for the fan, did he......

"Hanley Ramirez- not for sale"

Well it read really "H2R Not for sale" but you get the idea.

He always seemed like a prick to me- this didn't surprise me much the first time I heard it.

[toddhead]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

When I presented Garin Cecchini with his USA 18U jersey his face lit up. He held it up, looked it over, and said he had heard they had sold them without even washing them. He then asked if he could take it back into the clubhouse to show Sean Coyle who was on the team with him. He came back out and told us he had his picture taken with it and then we talked for about two minutes on where he should sign it. After he signed it we talked about the team and the other players who were on it... Harper, Machado, etc...

[ironmanfan]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

The only story I have that even comes close to this was back in 2011 (at a paid signing) I had Brady Anderson sign a 1989 Orioles GU LVS bat that I had acquired via a club employee (who is now deceased) & the first thing he said when he saw it was "You had to have stolen this out of my locker, because I never would have given this good a piece of lumber away!" When I told him who it originated it from, he just shook his head & signed it.....Fortunately, this took place in the back room prior to him going out to the public area, but I was still somewhat embarrassed by it all.

[TwinLakesPark]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

I like digging up some of these old posts, 4 years later...

I had an encounter with Steve Sax in either 92 or 93. I had purchased one of his bats through an auction (before ebay when you bid via fax and telephone). After a game, I was in the players parking lot and approached him with the bat to sign. He started grilling me about where and how I got the bat. After appeasing him, he seemed quite interested in the idea of his stuff being in an auction, although he gave me a weird look when I told him I paid $65!

[redoctober]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

I`ve shown several Bats to Tony Gwynn Sr. The one BP Bat he signed he asked where I got it & how much I paid. The first thing he did was look at the Knob/Brl writing. I`ve also shown him a Bat (of his) that was not used by Him. He signed it & asked sternly that I not sell it as his. I still have it. He`s been nice to me. I`ve bought a few more since this Pic.
Sean

May I ask... which one in the picture did he not use????

[10thMan]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

I`ve shown several Bats to Tony Gwynn Sr. The one BP Bat he signed he asked where I got it & how much I paid. The first thing he did was look at the Knob/Brl writing. I`ve also shown him a Bat (of his) that was not used by Him. He signed it & asked sternly that I not sell it as his. I still have it. He`s been nice to me. I`ve bought a few more since this Pic.
Sean

[soxbats]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

Tom, I am still holding out hope that you will release some of the great (obscure) bats in your collection so that I can complete mine. Heise told me that he is keeping his bats (understandably) for his grandkids! Of course I joke, but I still need about 18 sox to complete my run.

I am trying to get a bat from each guy who played for the sox from 1960 to the present, non pitcher. I have never really tried to get them autographed because I could never get them done. However, when the 67 and 75 dick Gordon reunion shows were held in the last several years, I bundled the bats together in a large military duffel and hauled the bats to the show. The 67 sox were amazed. As I started to pull some of the obscure bats out the autograph line stopped. Petrocelli and tartabull took their bats and swung them, confirming they were genuine. Lynn looked at two bats I had from his rookie season, confirmed they were his and said that he always wondered what happened to these bats. My wife deadpanned that they end up in our house. Cargo announced that his bat was corked to everyone on line. George Scott walked over and asked if I had one of his bats. The most appreciative guys were the older obscure guys who were genuinely happy to see their old lumber. Luckily no one asked if they could have their bat, that would have been tough. (mark Macon did that to me on a gu jersey once)

I have always f

[godwulf]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

It's always great when one of the older players seems to really get a kick out of seeing one of their old gamers. In my experience, the older Cooper bats seem to evoke a lot of nostalgia. I remember Steve Finley standing up from the signing table to take some cuts with one of his old Coopers, probably from his early days in Baltimore, and waxing nostalgic about how great they were. Damon Berryhill was managing in the Arizona Fall League a couple of years ago, and he took the old Cooper I had asked him to sign and showed it to some of his coaches and players, talking about what a great bat it was.

[jshortt]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

Great stories so far. I've really only had one bad experience, and everything else has been either funny or really nice. We'll start with the bad.

If anybody has dealt with Joey Votto, then you know he can be a bit...ummm...prickly. The first game bat I got of his (when he was still in AAA), I took to Louisville in hopes of getting it signed. When I asked if he had time to please sign my bat, he motioned me over and took the bat. He looked me up and down, looked at the bat from every conceivable angle, and then said "Where did you get this?" I was floored, but politely showed him the crack in the handle and explained that I got it on Ebay from a seller based out of NC. He asked me how much I paid for it, signed it grudgingly, handed it back to me, and stormed off. I felt so badly about the whole thing that I stuck around after the game and offered to give it back to him, as well as get the seller's contact info to him. At that point his tune changed a little and he said "No that's o.k. You can keep it, but thanks for offering."

I have had several hilarious jaw on the floor moments with Jeff Keppinger, but those are in a whole other category. The three best experiences other than the ones with Kepp were with Michael Tucker (my 1st game jersey), Mike Cameron, and Dusty Baker. Tucker was amazed that I had one of his Reds gamers, and actually yelled at the ballpark security guys to leave me alone because I was with him, when they tried to make me go to my seat. He talked to me a bit about it, asked how I came across it, signed it beautifully, and thanked me for being a fan.

Mike Cameron was thrilled to see an old Reds LVS that I came across, and actually asked if I minded if he looked at it. He looked it over, talked with me about it and how long it had been since he'd seen one, then took a few practice cuts with it before signing it, complete with a '44' instead of the '25' he wears now.

I presented Dusty with one of his bats and his face lit up. He asked me where I'd gotten it, and after levelling it a few times, confirmed it was his and gave me a total rundown of the history of that particular model (it happened to be Ron Cey's personal cut). He signed it, and you could tell he was genuinely touched and pleased to see something like that.

-Josh

[italianchulo]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

I have an old Willie Randolph bat the one with the funny handle. I got it signed by him at the Yankee Fan Festival many years ago. I was a young kid. He is one of my favorite players and he handled the situation like a the great guy that he his. He asked me how did I get the bat, and he even took it and did a few practice swings n told me he loved that style bat or something like that and said wow i havent seen one like that in years. He took his time with me to talk for a little. Hes a really classy guy and a great experience for me.

[David]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

Chris, I read your Seth Smith story and thought he said when he came back from the shower and saw his clothes gone, he thought HE was sent to the minors.

[xpress34]

Re: "Where did you get this bat!!??"

I've had nothing but good luck getting game used items signed but I've heard the horror stories. Since when do the payers buy their own bats/jerseys, hats, gloves, etc. and why should they give a hoot if a fan collects discarded items or those sold by their own ball club at fan conventions/team garage sales? Perhaps you should have asked Nettles how much he paid for the bat!

EXACTLY!!! Talking to Clint Barmes during his Rookie Year with the Rockies, Clint has told me if I ever wanted a GU jersey, he would get me one but I would have to pay whatever the team charged him for it which at the time was about $200 per jersey. He was very cool about it and if my financial situation was so bad at the time, I would have one now!

Players forget that the TEAM supplies pretty much EVERYTHING they use...

Now, for a few good stories for me on getting GU items signed...

Matt Holliday and his 2000 ST Jersey (his 1st MLB Spring Training and his 1st 'Big League' Jersey)... I bought the jersey with Rockies LOA in 2002... when Matt came up in 2004 I took the jersey to to Coors Field and as Matt ran out he kept looking back at it and finally told me to stick around while he worked out. When he came over, he asked, "Where the hell did you get that?" I told him and he said he didn't ever think he'd see the jersey again (he was #84 at ST 2000 - pretty far down the pecking order). He thought it was cool and graciously signed it and has been awesome for me ever since.

I picked up one of Seth Smith's GU 2007 WS hats from the Rockies before 2008 ST and took it to Tucson with me. When I presented it to Seth to sign along with the Rockies LOA, he signed it and inscribed it Gam eUsed and then asked how I had obtained it. When I told him it was purchased directly from the Rockeis through their Dug Out Stores he laughed and said he always wondered what happened to thats tuff at the end of the season - he said last game of the season, you undress and head to the showers - you come back and all of your uniform stuff is gone. He thought they just cleaned it and sent it to the minors!

All the best -

Chris