TigerFest, Saturday Jan.23

[larry bourget]

Anybody in the area going?

LB

[tigerdale]

I can't make it Larry, this will be the first one I missed!!

[tigerdale]

did anyone make it to the tigerfest??

[mbrieve]

did anyone make it to the tigerfest??
I went and this was my only game used acquisition...

Just picked up this helmet from TigerFest today. I found this in the Tigers Foundation tent (as opposed to the Tigers Authentics tent). I dug through their game used helmet bin and pulled out this right-handed batter helmet with a #9 on the back of it. There is also athletic tape with 06 on the side and one of the people manning the tent said that all helmets came from the clubhouse and the athletic tape supposedly denotes the year used. So, everything points to this being a Carlos Guillen game used helmet (or Damion Easley if the year denotation is incorrect). The pictures:

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/mbriev16/Guillenhelmet01.jpg
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/mbriev16/Guillenhelmet02.jpg
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/mbriev16/Guillenhelmet03.jpg
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/mbriev16/Guillenhelmet04.jpg
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee92/mbriev16/Guillenhelmet05.jpg

Would love to hear people's thoughts if they are familiar with either Guillen or Easley helmet/hat sizes or any other way I can narrow down who used it.

[mbrieve]

I spent more time in the autograph lines than I did picking throught the game used stuff, but these are my observations.

Tigers Foundation tent:

1. 2006 Celebration champagne bottles MLB authenticated - $10
2. Assorted game-used caps - $10
3. Game used helmets - $30
4. Game used bats - $20-$30 (lots of Deivi Cruz, Matt Walbeck, Juan Encarnacion, etc.)

Tigers Authentics tent:

1. Game used helmets (looked to be 08-09 models) most were MLB authenticated, but none were stars - $80
2. Game used hats (looked to be 07-09 models - black bills) some were MLB authenticated, again, no stars - $25
3. Game used bases - $100
4. Game used bats (none were MLB authenticated) - Polanco $80, while Guillen, Ordonez, and Ivan Rodriguez were $100
5. Also had various jerseys, but didn't bother looking through them as the batting practices jerseys started at $80 and everything else was more.

They were also trying to liquidate a lot of their former players stuff (Granderson, Sheffield, Rodriguez, Polanco, etc.), but nothing blew me away price-wise as being a great deal.

Let me know if you have any questions and I will try to answer!

[tigerdale]

Hi, it sure looks like an 2006 helmet to me. I believe that the 06 athletic tape came out of the clubhouse, I've seem that before. The pinwheel date looks like 06 also, with the arrow pointing to 8, I would say made in august of 06. I would say this is a guillen hemet worn late in 2006, possibly even playoffs & world series, ya never know!! In 2007, the players went to the new style helmets I belive that they wear now. Im not sure which style they wore in spring training of 07 though, can't remember that. Id say you got an awesome helmet, getting it out of the foundation tent too...wow!! Great pick up!!

[mbrieve]

Hi, it sure looks like an 2006 helmet to me. I believe that the 06 athletic tape came out of the clubhouse, I've seem that before. The pinwheel date looks like 06 also, with the arrow pointing to 8, I would say made in august of 06. I would say this is a guillen hemet worn late in 2006, possibly even playoffs & world series, ya never know!! In 2007, the players went to the new style helmets I belive that they wear now. Im not sure which style they wore in spring training of 07 though, can't remember that. Id say you got an awesome helmet, getting it out of the foundation tent too...wow!! Great pick up!!
Thanks for your help Dale (both here and through e-mail), I really appreciate you confirming that the size (7 1/8) is correct for Guillen and the style is correct for 2006. Looks like I got a great deal at TigerFest!