David Ross 2013 ALCS Game 5 Hit Ball
After sitting for games 2, 3 and 4 of the 2013 ALCS and watching the Tigers even the series at 2-2, Ross strode to the plate in the second inning of pivotal game 5 in Detroit. With Gomes on third and Bogaerts on second, Ross lashed this ball on a 1-0 pitch from Anibal Sanchez into the left field corner for a double, plating a runner and helping the Red Sox win a pivotal game 4
Game used hit balls are tough to gather, it takes a heads up MLB authenticator working closely with the batboys to gather and identify such items (thanks to @DETAuthentics, some of the best in the business, for this one!). While the advent of authentication and the team stores have made these more available to collectors, only the truly dedicated and tireless collector can gather a collection focused on these. As it is a hit by a Red Sox catcher, it fits in our collection. Check out more David Ross game used gear in the CATCHERS section of the website
Game Used Perfection - Tony Pena Catcher's Glove
There is no other piece of game used gear that gets more use than a player glove, particularly that of the catcher who is involved in virtually every play. Before Tony Pena turned to the dark side as bench coach for the Yankees, he was a superb catcher for the Red Sox from 1990 to 1993. A five time All Star and four time gold glove winner, including in 1991 for the Red Sox, Pena had a very distinct catching position, virtually sitting on the ground in a split, and a cannon for an arm.
This pounded Rawlings mitt, with Pena's name largely obscured by pine tar, appears to have been used while he was with the Red Sox and thereafter, seeing duty for a period of years. There was at least one repair of strings on the mitt which may account for some differences with the picture. The pine tar likely accumulated on the mitt over years of use as Pena applied pine tar to his throwing hand so that he could grip the ball better when throwing.
A Few Game Used Bat Photomatching Tips
Hey, how do those collectors do those photomatches where they focus down to a scratch on a bat and put it in a picture with the player?
If you have collected game used bats for the last several years, you have no doubt witnessed the advent of a phenomenon called photo matching. It used to be that bat labeling, use characteristics, ordering records and knob numbering were the only ways, other than provenance, to authenticate a bat. A select few dealers and collectors had access to the Rosetta Stone of bat collecting, Louisville Slugger's shipping records, and collectors poured over these to establish players had ordered a bat of similar length, weight and model.
However, with the explosion of digital photography and MLB TV in HD online, almost every at bat by every player is accessible, sometimes from multiple angles if you look at the home and away feed on MLB TV. Further, MLB authentication often allows you to pinpoint the actual game where a bat was last used or at least taken out of use by the player. Armed with this information you can explore sites such as Getty Images, AP Images, Corbis and look at the video to see precisely when the very bat you have was used. Often MLB bats authenticated as "team issued" turn out to be actually used in a game. They are authenticated as team issued because the Authenticator did not witness the final use by the player.
A few tricks of the trade. Find a bat with clear markings that you want to match. Remember, most of the time a bat will not have less marks as time goes on. Be methodical, check Getty first to try to pinpoint a date and then work your way back through video. Know your players habits if you can, some players have 5 bats in a rotation others just one, some put down a bat for a week then pick it up again, some use game bats in BP so a bat can go from light use to heavy use overnight. Lizard Skin wraps are like a fingerprint, bat knobs with numbers or dating are great too. The simplest way to blow up an online photo with good resolution in our amateur experience is on an iPad and then copy with the screen shot function (your fingers will get a bit tangled at first). For some reason when you expand a photo on an iPad the resolution stays pretty good.
Once you have your screen shot or photo, try to take a picture of your bat and paste it into the matching photo side by side. You need to try to match your camera angle to the angle of the bat in the photo, which can be tough. Not to get too technical but you can simply rotate the matching photo in photo editing software until the bat in the picture is at 90 degrees, photos on this site were done using an ancient version of paint shop pro, paste the bat in at as close to the same size as the bat in the picture and then rotate the completed photo back. Hopefully you get something like the below shot. Good luck photo matchers
Brandon Snyder's First Red Sox Home Run
Ramon Aviles a/k/a Red Sox Moonlight Graham
It was July, 10 1977, the second game of a double header in Milwaukee. The Sox were in first place and would win 97 games that year but finish second to the Yankees. The team was loaded with All Stars and Hall of famers, including Fisk, Rice and Yaz. It was the 7th and the Sox were down by one with men on first and second and no outs. Zimmer lifted Carbo and sent Aviles to the plate, it was his Major League debut. He executed what one can imagine was a perfect bunt, moving the runners. It was his only at bat for the Red Sox. Like every all star and hall of famer, his bat has a place in the collection. Thirty-four years later his nephew, Mike Aviles would play for the Sox. Check out this and other game used red sox bats in the BAT COLLECTION section of the website.
Wes Chamberlain Game Used Bat
Had the privilege of meeting Wes Chamberlain on 2/28/16 to sign one of his Red Sox game used bats. Really nice guy and very gracious during the signing, recognized the bat as one of his gamers. Thanks Wes and good luck with your own collection!
Cody Ross Walkoff Home Run Bat
Before this bat shattered into three pieces it was used by Cody Ross to hit three three run home runs over a two day period on July 18th and 19th 2012, including a three run walkoff home run on the 19th.