rtenpin
01-14-2007, 09:34 AM
Back in 1996 I worked at the Gold Club in Atlanta as the VIP manager.
If you are not familiar with the Gold Club and it's notariety then you can look through these links:
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/LAW/08/27/gold.club.case/index.html
http://panachereport.com/website%20channel%20documents/hip%20hop%20gallery/SportsSexTheMob.htm
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_32_225/ai_77227855
As you can surmise, I became aquainted with dozens upon dozens of professional athletes during the time I was employed there.
I would regularly get autographs from athletes to give to my son.
I am still sitting on one from Tom Glavine and another from Trevor Hoffman that I have not given to him yet. (probably won't either ;) )
Is there any value in these given the location they were signed in and scandal?
One of my favorites I got for him was from Kerry Woods during his rookie year w/ the Cubs.
Any how...
In Game 1 of the 1996 World Series on October 20, 1996, Jones connected for two home runs to left field on his first two at-bats as the Braves routed the New York Yankees 12-1. Jones became the youngest player ever to homer in the World Series (breaking Mickey Mantle's record.)
That following winter (feb 97) Andruw Jones and I were chatting upstairs in VIP when I noticed an Arizona Cardinals football player (can't remember who) coming upstairs..I told Andruw that I was gonna go and get an autograph for my son and Andruw was offended! He asked why I had never asked HIM for an autograph and I told him bluntly that since he was such a regular at the club that I thought he'd be offended if I did...
He said to get him a piece of paper and so I grabbed a sheet and handed it to him.
He asked my son's name and then as he was signing he stopped, wadded up the paper tossed it and said, "Nope--I can do you something better than this..you'll see."
About 2 weeks later just as spring training was about to start Andruw's roommate comes into the club and says he has something for me and asks if I can come outside.
We go out into the parking lot to his car and he gets out a baseball bat saying Andruw wanted you to have this.
It's a signed bat that also has #25 below the autograph and has Game 1, 2 HR on it.
Awesome!
It's shaved/sanded at the handle (no laquer) has a short taped grip.
It's a 125 Louisville Slugger "Genuine Model C243 Pro Stock" and the end has been bored out with a cup.
The handle also is marked with the number 13 on the bottom in marker which is odd to me. I cannot find a jersey number 13 for the 96 or 97 roster. (any clues?)
So, given the history and so forth...what is this bat worth?
If you are not familiar with the Gold Club and it's notariety then you can look through these links:
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/LAW/08/27/gold.club.case/index.html
http://panachereport.com/website%20channel%20documents/hip%20hop%20gallery/SportsSexTheMob.htm
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_32_225/ai_77227855
As you can surmise, I became aquainted with dozens upon dozens of professional athletes during the time I was employed there.
I would regularly get autographs from athletes to give to my son.
I am still sitting on one from Tom Glavine and another from Trevor Hoffman that I have not given to him yet. (probably won't either ;) )
Is there any value in these given the location they were signed in and scandal?
One of my favorites I got for him was from Kerry Woods during his rookie year w/ the Cubs.
Any how...
In Game 1 of the 1996 World Series on October 20, 1996, Jones connected for two home runs to left field on his first two at-bats as the Braves routed the New York Yankees 12-1. Jones became the youngest player ever to homer in the World Series (breaking Mickey Mantle's record.)
That following winter (feb 97) Andruw Jones and I were chatting upstairs in VIP when I noticed an Arizona Cardinals football player (can't remember who) coming upstairs..I told Andruw that I was gonna go and get an autograph for my son and Andruw was offended! He asked why I had never asked HIM for an autograph and I told him bluntly that since he was such a regular at the club that I thought he'd be offended if I did...
He said to get him a piece of paper and so I grabbed a sheet and handed it to him.
He asked my son's name and then as he was signing he stopped, wadded up the paper tossed it and said, "Nope--I can do you something better than this..you'll see."
About 2 weeks later just as spring training was about to start Andruw's roommate comes into the club and says he has something for me and asks if I can come outside.
We go out into the parking lot to his car and he gets out a baseball bat saying Andruw wanted you to have this.
It's a signed bat that also has #25 below the autograph and has Game 1, 2 HR on it.
Awesome!
It's shaved/sanded at the handle (no laquer) has a short taped grip.
It's a 125 Louisville Slugger "Genuine Model C243 Pro Stock" and the end has been bored out with a cup.
The handle also is marked with the number 13 on the bottom in marker which is odd to me. I cannot find a jersey number 13 for the 96 or 97 roster. (any clues?)
So, given the history and so forth...what is this bat worth?