Mears 'Authentic'

[Runscott]

I'm seeing bats with a designation of 'Mears Authentic', as opposed to the usual A1-A10. What does a simple 'Authentic' designation mean?

Also, if Mears states that it is 'game used', has that term fallen to the status of ebay sellers, meaning: "it was used to hit a ball, probably in a game of some sort, pick-up or otherwise."

[drcy]

I think those are their 'auction' LOAs, like the old PSA/DNA and JSA autograph auction LOAs. Though by Mears auction LOAs I mean for their own auctions, not for other auction houses. As far as I know.

It's not a 'reject' grade as with SGC/PSA and baseball cards. I think it's just quick and dirty certificate for consigned items.

Also MEARS only gives 1-10 grades to jerseys and bats. Hats, shoes, etc will just get an Authentic grade.

[Runscott]

Thanks.

Okay, but I'm looking at the Mears auction that ends tonight. All the bats that I have checked simply have an 'authentic' grade. If Mears is the grader, and it's a Mears auction, why have they decided to stop putting the numeric grades on their bats?

As a prospective buyer, I like to know what they really think - 'authentic' doesn't tell me much.

[ruth-gehrig]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Thanks.

Okay, but I'm looking at the Mears auction that ends tonight. All the bats that I have checked simply have an 'authentic' grade. If Mears is the grader, and it's a Mears auction, why have they decided to stop putting the numeric grades on their bats?

As a prospective buyer, I like to know what they really think - 'authentic' doesn't tell me much.

+1

[Runscott]

Weird that the legendary one went for $3500 with the juice. I thought Ruth gamers were $20,000 or more?

Am I asking about double secret probation stuff?

[Westsiders]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Weird that the legendary one went for $3500 with the juice. I thought Ruth gamers were $20,000 or more?

Am I asking about double secret probation stuff?

Just saw that one....although the bat is short at 34 1/4", still a great pick up for $3500 (hopefully someone here picked it up).

[Runscott]

Thanks, now I get it: 2 short bats

[kengoldin]

The reason those bats went so cheaply, and the reason for the "'auth" grade is it is incredibly unlikely those bats were used by babe Ruth or ever held by babe Ruth.
You wil rarely see Ruth bats that are true " gamers" with good provenance and solid LOAs go for under $75000
The best ones, 36 inches and 40+ ounces for early-mid 1920 s will be 150,000-300,000 and the top top of the line ones, the PSA 10 s with the unquestionable provenance and the ones with special attribution will sell 250,000 into the millions.
The ones you see that are short, light, no provenance, no grade even though sent to a TPA are " fools gold"

To further illustrate this point, I point you to Hunts fanfest auction this past July. They had three "professional model" Ruth bats for sale

With BP, lots
640 36 inch 40+ ounce bat with provenance sold for $166,000
643 short bat not found on orders, and with a MEARS "a5" sold for $9200
818 a signed game used bat with psa and MEARS LOAs sold for $87000

I was the buyer of lots 640 and 818. One I will keep in my 500 home run collection forever,one I will sell at some point in the future .
I PASSED on lot 643 because I would not be comfortable ever selling it as a " Ruth game used bat"


Sorry if anyone finds this post too blunt. I ft it important based on the questions raised t make sure those who intend to "dabble " in A Ruth game used bat purchase have some facts and know whether you are spending $3000 or $300,000 you know exactly what it is you are buying.



Ken goldin

[Mark]

This seems like a sensible approach to high end bats. But going back to the OP's question, Mears has been auctioning a lot of relatively inexpensive bats as authentic. I wonder if, in many cases, they are unwilling to grade because the grading service costs $100-300 but the bat is not going to get more that $150 in the auction.

[Runscott]

Ken, your response was very straight-forward and answered my questions perfectly. There is too much tap-dancing when it comes to issues like this, so hearing a response like this was refreshing and very much appreciated - thanks.

edited to add: it sounds like the two Ruth bats I posted were very misleading and could very well have been sold to people who thought they were buying bats actually used in games by Babe Ruth. That really sucks.