Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

[Klattsy]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

I've been looking for a Trent Oeltjen bat from when he was with the Diamondbacks last year. Really sorry to see him leave. I think he's with the Dodgers, now. I met him at a signing, and he was saying "G'day!" to everyone who walked up to the table; I wanted to ask him if he really said that so much in real life, or if he was just doing it because Americans expected it.

Mate, we literally say it all day. Down here its always a "good day"

There was a Oeltjen DBacks jersey on ebay that went for about $150 from a starting bid of $140 I think...not much love there!

He is with Dodgers, i'm keeping an eye on mlb auctions to see if any of his stuff turns up there.

Mark.

[godwulf]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

FWIW - i'm focusing on Aussie born guys...very common to you guys I guess.

Not only because they are Australian, but I figure they will be the only players I will probably ever meet in my life and that way I can get things signed.

I've been looking for a Trent Oeltjen bat from when he was with the Diamondbacks last year. Really sorry to see him leave. I think he's with the Dodgers, now. I met him at a signing, and he was saying "G'day!" to everyone who walked up to the table; I wanted to ask him if he really said that so much in real life, or if he was just doing it because Americans expected it.

[gingi79]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

As a guy who collects superstars (Pavel Bure) underrated heart and soul guys (OJ McDuffie, Sami Salo, Matty Diaz) and guys no one heard of (Shawn Camp, Chris Lee) I think I have a grasp on why people collect because I have so many reasons myself.

First I love obscure players and styles. Everyone has a Jones Braves jersey, who has 7 Matt Diaz shirts? People who know me, what to see my collection because it inspires a combination of "Wow, is that real" + "How did you get that?" + "Who the hell would collect him?"

Shawn Camp threw my wife a baseball at a game once. Instantly became a hero for it. Then he ignored me and my wife even though were were wearing jerseys representative of him and his team last time we watched him play. He even sniped at me when I asked nicely after being the only person yelling to him. I just realized I haven't searched for his items on the boards or eBay since.

Salo was cheap when I started collecting him ($175-$295) and he played the game right. Is my collection worth half what I paid for it? Hellllll no. Am I proud of the most complete collection of his jerseys in known creation? Helllll yes.

I have been waiting 17 years to get the McDuffie shirt I just picked up. He mailed me back a signed card on his dime during his rookie season within 2 weeks of my request. He was just amazing to chat with at an autograph show in 1999. He will always be the most underrated receiver in my mind and the biggest Pro Bowl snub ever after he led the league in receptions in 1998 and wasn't even close to making it. Outside Miami, the average fan has no idea who he is. To me? Truly a superstar.

Matty Diaz is one stupid finger injury away from being the starting left fielder in Atlanta. When he is hot, man he is smoking the ball. Problem is, when he is cold, he hits .200. I just like the fact he is humble and steroid free and plays with heart. I know I will never feel like I am supporting a cheater while wearing his jersey.

As a Canucks fan, I am damn proud to own a Trevor Linden, a Pavel Bure and a Roberto Luongo. As a Braves Fan, I own a Smoltz. I haven't owned anything from a Dolphins player that would rival them however.

As a collector, the joy of owning a jersey from a player that just inspires you by his play even though no one else gives him the acolades, makes your collection unique and special to you.

[Klattsy]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

FWIW - i'm focusing on Aussie born guys...very common to you guys I guess.

Not only because they are Australian, but I figure they will be the only players I will probably ever meet in my life and that way I can get things signed.

Although Grant Balfour and Peter Moylan have been performing well which is getting recognition in the states. Still not household names down here though!

Plus the items are cheaper by FAR!

Not that i'd say no to a Puljos/Jeter bat!

Mark.

[mbrieve]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

I can tell you that many Tigers fans have fond memories of Matt Nokes. His 1987 rookie season was impressive and he was named to the All-Star team. Also, 1987 was the last time the Tigers won the division.

I remembered this thread when I received this bat. I figured I would post it in here since no Matt Nokes examples were shared in this thread and you never know when somebody might be doing some research and come across this thread...

Matt Nokes GU Louisville Slugger from 1990 - due to knob markings, it was most likely used while he was with the Tigers before he was traded to the Yankees:

[woodbat]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

Don -

Thanks for posting photos of those outstanding, hard to find bats. This is EXACTLY why people collect things of certain players...they are completists...you, my friend, are much appreciated. Without you, one would never be able to see such things

Dave

Thank you....

woodbat@bellsouth.net
stlbats

[bigtruck260]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

Don -

Thanks for posting photos of those outstanding, hard to find bats. This is EXACTLY why people collect things of certain players...they are completists...you, my friend, are much appreciated. Without you, one would never be able to see such things

Dave

[woodbat]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

I think I have always been amazed at how some guys in the majors have little to no plate discipline...yet, when some of these dudes unleashed a swing, it was going a country mile...

There are a few guys who hit batting practice homers as Cardinals that have more power than anyone...they just rarely center the ball during a game:

Russell Branyan
Phil Plantier
Jack Clark - the best of them all
Felix Jose

Just to name a few...

IF ANYONE HAS A PHIL PLANTIER CARDINALS BAT - PLEASE EMAIL ME

Dave,
Finally located my Plantier bat, was in the wrong pew!!!! Also you mentioned Rex Hudler. Here are photos of both these players from their Cardinal days. The Hudler is from 1991 and the Phil Plantier is from 1997 as he was traded from SD to StL on 13 June 1997 with Scott Livingstone and Fernando Valenzuela for Rich Batchelor, Mark Sweeney and Danny Jackson. Phil picked up #23 that was worn by Mark Sweeney. Phil also did some time at AAA Louisville in 1997. As you can see the bat has seen better days, but till or if I find a better one, will make due with what I got. Don't remember ever seeing another bat of his from the Cardinals.

Don
woodbat@bellsouth.net
stlbats

[soxbats]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

In putting together my red sox collection I have collected both hall of famers and common guys (like plantier) and I find myself wondering in many ways why people collect the superstars. While it is thrilling to have a Yaz or a Rice I also have a lot of concern about authenticity, forgery, false use and then there is the price to find a bat that relieves all those concerns. (Before I get strafed for this comment by literalists, it is a bit tounge in cheek).

Who is out there faking a Plantier or Nokes? Sure, you run the risk that the bat might not have been used by these guys but how much have you invested? No threat of a team index bat or something fresh off the branding iron at LVS.

I like the common players because while sometimes rare, they are obtainable (particularly the newer guys) and they are cheap so you can buy more.

An authentic Ted Williams bat would be a fantastic addition to my collection (and one of the 18 I need to complete it) and I might have found a highly graded one for 5-10K at one time, but I was never really tempted. Instead I purchased hundreds of common and minor star bats to build my collection.

Also, For those of you who have larger collections that you show to friends you also may have experienced the following: the first question about what you have is always about the stars but the biggest thrill is pulling out that obscure guy that just blows people away or having the bat of a player who you visitor has some special memory of.

Of course, if you have the cash, I have no doubt that amassing an authentic HOF bat collection is a thrilling and rewarding experience. I just know that I got just as big a thrill tracking down a Rodger LaFrancois bat as I did my Carlton Fisk bat.

soxbats@aol.com

Looking for the following bats: Luis Alvarado; Marlan Coughtry; Carmen Fanzone; Chuck Goggin; Bobby Heise; Ron Jackson; Marty Keough; Felix Mantilla; Roman Mejias; Syd O'Brien; Ken Poulsen; George Smith; Willie Tasby; Ray Webster

[Buster]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

LET ME TELL YOU MY STORY OF MATT NOKES - A GOOD ONE

I met Matt back a couple of years ago one of the coolest guys I ever met. I was shocked for some reason in mind I had an assumption of him he was a hardass. Boy was I wrong!!

One of the coolest guys I ever had an experience with!!

Are you keeping something from us? It sounds like you might have gone back to his hotel room and dropped trou?

[bigtruck260]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

Here's another one...

Rex "The Wonder Dog" Hudler

He always hustled and played like he wanted to be there - 150% all the time. He's a good color commentary guy too. Might be a journeyman to some folks, but I'd gladly take one of his Cardinals bats.

Just sayin'

[eisenreich8]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

LET ME TELL YOU MY STORY OF MATT NOKES - A GOOD ONE

I met Matt back a couple of years ago one of the coolest guys I ever met. I was shocked for some reason in mind I had an assumption of him he was a hardass. Boy was I wrong!!

He happened to be sitting next to Jim Abbott (By the way he caught Abbotts no hitter) which is another reason why people may collect Nokes.
So he was sitting there, I was about 20 to 30 feet at least away from him walking in his direction with a game used bat of his. Before I can get near him and say "Hey Matt is this one of yours?" He says out loud "Hey you got one of my war clubs!!!" - I was so excited because he recognized it by the use from a distance that it was his, before I could even show him up close. He was so excited that I had it, he turned around to Abbott and tapped him on the shoulder hard and said "Hey Jim, look this guy has one of my war clubs, wow" it made me feel good knowing what I had was undoubtbly authentic. As I walked over to him he asked me would I like it autographed. I said sure, he turned around and said what would you like i'll write whatever you want (obviously meaning if I want it personalized, like my name or something) I said just your autograph is cool with me. He then wrote his "name" - "uniform #" - "Game Used" and the "year" he used it.

I was besides myself he would take the time out to write all that. I thought that was really nice of him. Then he asked me to sit down and talked baseball with me for at least 30 minutes to an hour.

One of the coolest guys I ever had an experience with!!

See Toowon, this is the kind of story that is "the rest of the story".......

[suave1477]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

LET ME TELL YOU MY STORY OF MATT NOKES - A GOOD ONE

I met Matt back a couple of years ago one of the coolest guys I ever met. I was shocked for some reason in mind I had an assumption of him he was a hardass. Boy was I wrong!!

He happened to be sitting next to Jim Abbott (By the way he caught Abbotts no hitter) which is another reason why people may collect Nokes.
So he was sitting there, I was about 20 to 30 feet at least away from him walking in his direction with a game used bat of his. Before I can get near him and say "Hey Matt is this one of yours?" He says out loud "Hey you got one of my war clubs!!!" - I was so excited because he recognized it by the use from a distance that it was his, before I could even show him up close. He was so excited that I had it, he turned around to Abbott and tapped him on the shoulder hard and said "Hey Jim, look this guy has one of my war clubs, wow" it made me feel good knowing what I had was undoubtbly authentic. As I walked over to him he asked me would I like it autographed. I said sure, he turned around and said what would you like i'll write whatever you want (obviously meaning if I want it personalized, like my name or something) I said just your autograph is cool with me. He then wrote his "name" - "uniform #" - "Game Used" and the "year" he used it.

I was besides myself he would take the time out to write all that. I thought that was really nice of him. Then he asked me to sit down and talked baseball with me for at least 30 minutes to an hour.

One of the coolest guys I ever had an experience with!!

[jays78]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

I collect Rod Barajas, we became fans of his when he came to the Jays. Always great calling a game, and great defensively. And still quite a bit of pop offensively (19 HR last year). Still an unsigned free agent this year though??

We went to a team meet and greet last year and he picked up my 3 yr old daughter and let us all get a family photo with him, a class act, after the event we actually met him out on the sidewalk outside of the stadium, we were all in our Barajas shirts, even the 3 yr old, Rod greeted us again, then said to the guy with him "these guys have the best shirts in town"

I have one GU bat each from his MLB stops: Arizona, Texas, and Philadelphia, plus two from Toronto, including last year's Mother's Day Pink LS (both Toronto ones photo matched)

My most recent pickup was his '09 batting helmet, pounded with use, and photo matched.

A player doesn't have to be a superstar to have a fan base, really, it's sometimes more fun and unique I think to follow the non-superstar.

[obpercent1]

Re: Why do people collect Phil Plantier and Matt Nokes stuff??

Please shoot me an email about a Plantier jersey I have available for sale. 04redsox@bellsouth.net. Thanks! Joe

Email sent