Looking for opinions/advice - Rick Ankiel game-used bat

[cekirsch129]

Ok guys - Just picked up game-used bat #2 for my Cardinals collection, and its from my all-time favorite former Cardinal, Rick Ankiel. Picked this up for $75, which I felt was a good price for an un-cracked Ankiel gamer... even if its a little too much, he's my guy so I don't mind to pay extra. I don't know much about game-used bats, but the Rawlings Big Stick bats are consistent with some of the bats he used with the Cardinals.

Unfortunately, I broke my own golden rule of not buying anything without legitimate authenticity (until I get a better eye for fakes), however, I feel somewhat good about this. One of the main things that makes me feel comfortable about this purchase is the "24" on the bat knob. I know this doesn't mean much as anyone could write 24 to pass it on as Ankiel, but the font looks very similar to several IP autographs I have of him, as he would always add his jersey number. Also, the tape sequence seems to be consistent with images I've pulled from him

I'm currently in contact with the seller to get some more back-story on the bat, but wanted to see what you guys thought. Was I right to trust my gut, or am I screwed?

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/cekirsch129/ankiel1.jpg (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cekirsch129/media/ankiel1.jpg.html)

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/cekirsch129/ankiel2.jpg (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cekirsch129/media/ankiel2.jpg.html)

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/cekirsch129/ankiel3.jpg (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cekirsch129/media/ankiel3.jpg.html)

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/cekirsch129/ankiel4.jpg (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cekirsch129/media/ankiel4.jpg.html)

[cekirsch129]

Also, these are the seller's pics... I will add more once the bat is received

[cekirsch129]

Received a response from the seller that the bat was obtained from the winter warm-up from the Cardinals care store.

...still looking for opinions as I you can never be too sure. The updated information makes me feel pretty good about it, but I guess any good counterfitter that is worth his salt will know the right things to say to a potential buyer.

[onlyalbert]

Received a response from the seller that the bat was obtained from the winter warm-up from the Cardinals care store.

...still looking for opinions as I you can never be too sure. The updated information makes me feel pretty good about it, but I guess any good counterfitter that is worth his salt will know the right things to say to a potential buyer.

Ankiel did use some tape and the font of the 24 on the knob looks to be legit to me. I'm not sure about uncracked bats being sold by the team. Never heard of that before. Usually they only get them when they are broken. But for $75 you can't get hurt at that price.

[cekirsch129]

Ankiel did use some tape and the font of the 24 on the knob looks to be legit to me. I'm not sure about uncracked bats being sold by the team. Never heard of that before. Usually they only get them when they are broken. But for $75 you can't get hurt at that price.


I may have actually misspoken about it being uncracked... The seller didn't put much detail in the description and from the pics, I couldn't discern a crack. I don't care either way, so I didn't ask. It very well may be cracked. I purchased this from ebay and would be happy to provide a link to the auction, but I don't want to violate any forum rules

[Sotystl]

Great price, it likely has a small crack you cant see in the pictures. Definitely his model of choice, and with those markings you should be able to find a photo match.

[cekirsch129]

Great price, it likely has a small crack you cant see in the pictures. Definitely his model of choice, and with those markings you should be able to find a photo match.

That's what I was thinking... The seller doesn't seem to be much of a dealer of game used items, as he only sells items once in a blue moon on ebay, and most recently a So Taguchi gamer with an LOA from Cardinals Care. Definitely doesn't seem like someone who's trying to scam game-used gear.

I can't wait to get the bat in person and do some detective work. I feel a little silly with buying it so quickly without getting all my ducks in a row, but since Ankiel still has a decent following, I wanted to lock it up before someone else hit the BIN. I've been looking for a good Ankiel gamer recently, and the fact that this one is from his Cardinals days carries an extra premium to me, being a Cards fan.

[cekirsch129]

Ankiel did use some tape and the font of the 24 on the knob looks to be legit to me. I'm not sure about uncracked bats being sold by the team. Never heard of that before. Usually they only get them when they are broken. But for $75 you can't get hurt at that price.

Just received word from the seller that there are a couple cracked by the name plate and also the logo. So, not an uncracked gamer like my first thought, but this gives a little more validation to his story of purchasing it from Cardinals Care. I'm feeling good! :)

[Hoosier39]

Just received word from the seller that there are a couple cracked by the name plate and also the logo. So, not an uncracked gamer like my first thought, but this gives a little more validation to his story of purchasing it from Cardinals Care. I'm feeling good! :)

Yeah, I doubt someone out there is making fake Ankiel bats.

[cekirsch129]

Yeah, I doubt someone out there is making fake Ankiel bats.

I agree, but I've seen/dealt with a lot of slimy people in all facets of life, so nothing surprises me these days.

[cekirsch129]

Alright guys, the bat just came in the mail today and I am absolutely thrilled with it! To the naked eye, it seems like an uncracked bat. The only flaws are some wood separation on the barrel and one more on the rawlings logo. Handle still has all the original tape with a good amount of tar over the top of it. Lots of game used action on the barrel.

I was looking at the serial numbers on the knob and it reads "456B" and underneath it reads "020" and then "09"

I am assuming this may be a bat from 2009, based on the numbers, but that is just my best guess. Any additional insight on what these numbers mean would be great. Here are some updated pics in higher detail. I'm off to do some investigating to see if I can locate a match. Please let me know what you guys think!

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/cekirsch129/ankiel3-1.jpg (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cekirsch129/media/ankiel3-1.jpg.html)

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/cekirsch129/ankiel2-1.jpg (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cekirsch129/media/ankiel2-1.jpg.html)

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/cekirsch129/ankiel1-1.jpg (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cekirsch129/media/ankiel1-1.jpg.html)

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/cekirsch129/ankiel6.jpg (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cekirsch129/media/ankiel6.jpg.html)

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/cekirsch129/ankiel5.jpg (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cekirsch129/media/ankiel5.jpg.html)

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/cekirsch129/ankiel4-1.jpg (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cekirsch129/media/ankiel4-1.jpg.html)

[Birdbats]

You are correct -- the "09" refers to 2009. The "020" means that bat was part of the 20th order produced by Rawlings in 2009 -- likely an early January order made for spring training and the upcoming season. That 20th order apparently came from the Cardinals and may have included bats for more than one player. The Cardinals had several Rawlings users in 2009, so it wouldn't surprise me to find bats with that same code belonging to Chris Duncan, Matt Holliday, Ryan Ludwick, Troy Glaus, Khalil Greene, Tyler Greene, Skip Schumaker or Joel Pinerio.

[cekirsch129]

You are correct -- the "09" refers to 2009. The "020" means that bat was part of the 20th order produced by Rawlings in 2009 -- likely an early January order made for spring training and the upcoming season. That 20th order apparently came from the Cardinals and may have included bats for more than one player. The Cardinals had several Rawlings users in 2009, so it wouldn't surprise me to find bats with that same code belonging to Chris Duncan, Matt Holliday, Ryan Ludwick, Troy Glaus, Khalil Greene, Tyler Greene, Skip Schumaker or Joel Pinerio.

Awesome, thank you for the info! I've searched on getty images and unfortunately, there are only a few images of Ankiel batting from 09 ST. Hopefully I can find some more elsewhere.

[cekirsch129]

here's an image from ST 09 that looks pretty close. It's hard for me to tell if its a match or not... what do you guys think?

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/cekirsch129/ankielpossibility.jpg (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cekirsch129/media/ankielpossibility.jpg.html)

[Juan Gris]

here's an image from ST 09 that looks pretty close. It's hard for me to tell if its a match or not... what do you guys think?

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg611/cekirsch129/ankielpossibility.jpg (http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cekirsch129/media/ankielpossibility.jpg.html)
Everything seems to match up to my eyes. Maybe you could contact Michael DeHoog/Sports Imagery about buying a high quality copy of the image. If you had that you could match the wood grain as well as the black markings. Nice find.