Mel Ott Bat Stolen at National

[ruth-gehrig]

Any update on this situation/bat? Hope all turns out well!

[sforaker]

Michael:

Thanks for your interest.

The bat has not yet surfaced. The police investigation continues.

Scott

[MVSNYC]

Just seeing this thread now. Very sorry your bat was stolen, Scott.

I just wanted to jump in here and say that John Taube is one of the most honest people in this hobby, super knowledgable and a real gentleman.

Hope it surfaces.

[sforaker]

Dear Fellow Collectors:

First, thanks to all of you that contacted me or otherwise expressed your concern and empathy over the past year after my Mel Ott bat was stolen at last year's National.

I have some great news - the bat was recently returned! Needless to say, I am thrilled. Primarily to have the bat back, of course, but I am also thankful for the outpouring of support from fellow collectors and also that whomever was involved in taking it apparently had a change of heart and did the right thing in the end by returning it. I believe that the awareness generated by this forum and via other means may have played a role in its return.

It seems that these things rarely have a happy ending, but this one does. Thanks to you all (and particularly to Al for encouraging me to share the good news).

Scott

[ruth-gehrig]

That's awesome Scott! I'm sure you are delighted and rightfully so! Congrats!!

[khkco4bls]

Scott great news. Good luck.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by sforaker

Dear Fellow Collectors:

First, thanks to all of you that contacted me or otherwise expressed your concern and empathy over the past year after my Mel Ott bat was stolen at last year's National.

I have some great news - the bat was recently returned! Needless to say, I am thrilled. Primarily to have the bat back, of course, but I am also thankful for the outpouring of support from fellow collectors and also that whomever was involved in taking it apparently had a change of heart and did the right thing in the end by returning it. I believe that the awareness generated by this forum and via other means may have played a role in its return.

It seems that these things rarely have a happy ending, but this one does. Thanks to you all (and particularly to Al for encouraging me to share the good news).

Scott

Great news! Congrats on getting the bat back...the hobby for bats of that stature is so small I'm assuming this guy figured out that there was no way he was going to be able sell it.

[sayhey24]

That's amazing -- congratulations!


Greg

[MGHPro]

Thats great. Congrats on getting it back.
Matt

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Great news! Congrats on getting the bat back...the hobby for bats of that stature is so small I'm assuming this guy figured out that there was no way he was going to be able sell it.

Many years ago I owned a sweet shop/gift shop.
One night I had a break in and the only thing stolen was my t-shirt imprinting machine.
It was never recovered but the police did tell me that it was probably stolen to order. There are criminal rings that get orders to steal a certain thing and then they go and do it.
Though this is not my side of the board I thought, when first reading this thread, that could have been what happened with the Ott bat.
Obviously that was not the case.
Great news that the owner got it back.
Sometimes the good guys win out in the end.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

Many years ago I owned a sweet shop/gift shop.
One night I had a break in and the only thing stolen was my t-shirt imprinting machine.
It was never recovered but the police did tell me that it was probably stolen to order. There are criminal rings that get orders to steal a certain thing and then they go and do it.
Though this is not my side of the board I thought, when first reading this thread, that could have been what happened with the Ott bat.
Obviously that was not the case.
Great news that the owner got it back.
Sometimes the good guys win out in the end.

Like everyone else, I am very pleased at the return of the bat. It's hard to imagine the perverse pleasure someone would take in owning a hot bat. You couldn't show it to anyone, and if anyone who knew a little about bats were to find it in your possession, then you'd be in trouble. Maybe there's a type of person who enjoys gazing at the property that he's stolen... but it's good that whoever took the bat is not one of that type.

[batsballsbases]

Originally Posted by sforaker

Dear Fellow Collectors:

First, thanks to all of you that contacted me or otherwise expressed your concern and empathy over the past year after my Mel Ott bat was stolen at last year's National.

I have some great news - the bat was recently returned! Needless to say, I am thrilled. Primarily to have the bat back, of course, but I am also thankful for the outpouring of support from fellow collectors and also that whomever was involved in taking it apparently had a change of heart and did the right thing in the end by returning it. I believe that the awareness generated by this forum and via other means may have played a role in its return.

It seems that these things rarely have a happy ending, but this one does. Thanks to you all (and particularly to Al for encouraging me to share the good news).

Scott

Scott,
Im so glad everything worked out for you! It was getting hard for me to keep this secret when we talked a few months ago, but Im so glad you came back on the board to deliver that great news! Now dont let it out of your sight my friend!! Best of luck always! Al

[sforaker]

Thanks, Al, and to others offering their congrats. Al, took awhile to tie up all the loose ends (insurance, FBI, J.T., etc). Got a nice message from Jim today, which reminded me that it was time to share the good news. Now the bat is never leaving my sight.

Scott

[UnVme7]

That's good to hear. I'm guessing it was in the same condition?

[batsballsbases]

Originally Posted by sforaker

Thanks, Al, and to others offering their congrats. Al, took awhile to tie up all the loose ends (insurance, FBI, J.T., etc). Got a nice message from Jim today, which reminded me that it was time to share the good news. Now the bat is never leaving my sight.

Scott

Scott,
Boy it must have been a great feeling to get back something that most of us thought would be gone for a long time. It probably was a good thing that the item was such a high end piece that it would have been almost impossible to send to an auction house without throwing up a red flag. I did end up talking to alot of the auction houses that I have dealt with just in the attempt to tell them what had occured. I figured it couldnt hurt. Im so glad my friend that it worked out so well in the end.