Any thoughts on this Ichiro bat?

[anatfan09]

Does this bat appear to have any big flaws? How would you tell what year it is from?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280530585000

[spartakid]

I may be mistaken, but I though that the only thing that Ichiro bats had on the knob were a 51, which is covered in a silver foil....

[anatfan09]

From the few auction results I have seen, one from AMI & one from Lelands both had the 51 A on the knob. From photos on Getty Images it looks like this is from 2002-2003. The style of "Mizuno Pro" was different in 2001 & in 2004 I think the "Seattle Mariners" was no longer on his bat.
I imagine he eventually dropped the "A" from the knob?

[hippo916]

The "A" represents "Ash."

But the knob end should be heavily lacquered so that there is no grain showing; not the case here. So, in my modest opinion, at best, this is a bat from Ichiro's VIP/player/charity request/giveaway supply.

[anatfan09]

Kind of a tough call on this one? Not a bp bat or game bat? What would that make this one, a step above retail?

-This auction result looks almost identical:
http://www.americanmemorabilia.com/Auction_Item.asp?Auction_ID=6470&qf=0&t=Closed&q=ichiro&offset=10&p=0

[gnishiyama]

This bat is not a game-used Ichiro bat. Its not even a game-issued bat. Its
just a lower grade bat given out by Mizuno as souvenir bats. There were
tons of these sold by ASI and others at the time as "game used."
Hippo is correct when he says all Ichiro bats should be heavily lacquered and
you should not be able to see the grain of the wood on his bats.

Hope this helps.

Goh Nishiyama

[gnishiyama]

here's a pic of the knob from an AUTHENTIC Ichiro 2001 game bat.
I've handled over 30 Ichiro game used bats and every single one
was signed. Not to say there aren't legitimate un-signed gamers
out there but Ichiro guards his bats with his life and having a signed
one with his #51 is kind of an endorsement to its authenticity as its at
least an issued bat. Ichiro bats, as with most players, show a distinct use
pattern which I won't discuss but most of the gamers I see on Ebay do not show them.

From what I've seen 2001- parts of 2003 Ichiro had 51A engraved into
the bat and parts of 2003 and 2004 bats have just 51 engraved into the
knob. You can tell his rookie gamers from subtle differences in the font
of the writing on the barrel from the rest of this bats. Only way to
distinguish 2003 and 2004 gamers is by his autograph style which changes
every year. (although last few years has been subtle) Anything 2005~
should have 51 LASER ENGRAVED into the knob after the bat has been
lacquered which leaves the number looking kind of goldish/brown.

Goh Nishiyama
gnishiyama@gmail.com

[anatfan09]

Now I see why when asking for a paypal refund I get no response.