Steiner LOA = Game Used ----NOT!!!!

[allstarsplus]

First let me say this is just my opinion and I am not accusing this seller of any wrongdoing. I sent him an email too so hopefully I get a response.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Alfonse-Soriano-01-Yankees-Rookie-season-Game-Used-Bat_W0QQitemZ220278876974QQihZ012QQcategoryZ60596Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This appears to me to be an Alfonso Soriano game issued SAM Bat from 2001. The bat possesses no characteristics of game use except the seller claims A few ball marks and ball stitch marks are visible on the right and backside of the barrel. Ball marks include blue ink marks and stitch marks.
There is no tape on the handle or pine tar which would be consistent with a Soriano gamer BUT does have a legitimate LOA from Steiner saying GAME USED.

My guess is a mistake got made by someone along the way or someone did something more devious and took a legit LOA from a Soriano game used bat and put it up with this bat. There is no way to guarantee this LOA belongs with this particular bat.

14355

[mvandor]

There is no way to guarantee this LOA belongs with this particular bat.
Looks like a numbered hologram on the bat, wouldn't it match the LOA from Steiner?

[markfd]

Andrew,

I agree I saw the same bat this morning and was going to post it. Definitely a bat ordered by Soriano but nothing more than that, I have never seen one so clean. I wonder if the seller would send the number off the bat and the LOA if asked or better yet a photo of each number. The sadder thing is people are bidding on this item....15 bids so far!!!

Mark

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markfd@hotmail.com
Always Collecting Yankees and National Game Used Items

[TFig27]

Looks like a numbered hologram on the bat, wouldn't it match the LOA from Steiner?

No that's not their numbered hologram. That looks like an older hologram, just stating that it's a Steiner item.

[allstarsplus]

Here is the seller's response: Bat was purchased direct from Steiner. Not sure if Steiner made mistake or not, but the LOA states it is "Game Used".

Like I said, I am not accusing the seller of anything unethical, and appreciate his response.

On the good side, a game issued 2001 Soriano Yankees SAM bat is probably worth $400+

I will also send this to Bob Malandro at Steiner.

[markfd]

Andrew,

I just got a similar response from the seller, he bought it before Steiner started using numbered holograms.

Mark

---------------
markfd@hotmail.com
Always Collecting Yankees and Nationals Game Used Items

[allstarsplus]

Andrew,

I agree I saw the same bat this morning and was going to post it. Definitely a bat ordered by Soriano but nothing more than that, I have never seen one so clean. I wonder if the seller would send the number off the bat and the LOA if asked or better yet a photo of each number. The sadder thing is people are bidding on this item....15 bids so far!!!

Mark


Mark - I agree, and although I can't see any game use the other explanation could be it was used for an at-bat or two by another player who wanted to try out his bat.

I can say the entire year Alfonso was with the Nationals in 2006 I had never seen him allow anyone use his SAM bats, but I can also say I never asked him if he allowed other players use his bats which is not uncommon in the MLB. ;)

[orioles03]

Mark - I agree, and although I can't see any game use the other explanation could be it was used for an at-bat or two by another player who wanted to try out his bat.

I can say the entire year Alfonso was with the Nationals in 2006 I had never seen him allow anyone use his SAM bats, but I can also say I never asked him if he allowed other players use his bats which is not uncommon in the MLB. ;)
when soriano was with the yankees melvin mora brought back a dozen soriano sam bats in 2002 brand new they would trade bats all the time melvin gave me one of the bats

[allstarsplus]

Final price $461 won by epatch03 (http://myworld.ebay.com/epatch03/)http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif( 0 (http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=epatch03&iid=220278876974&ftab=FeedbackAsBuyer) ) http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/s.gif