Mel Ott Bat Stolen at National

[packs]

Ordinarily I'd agree that Ott isn't a household name but this was the National. I'm sure 90 percent of the people in the room knew who Mel Ott was.

[Jay Wolt]

Scott, Damn!
So you didn't get to see it in person or touch it before it was nabbed, ouch!
Hopefully the lowlife will try to sell it and the authorities will nail him.

[Jlighter]

Originally Posted by packs

Ordinarily I'd agree that Ott isn't a household name but this was the National. I'm sure 90 percent of the people in the room knew who Mel Ott was.

I was just saying that this was most likely premeditated, not just some random street mugger. You don't just go into a show and then realize, hey I want to steal that bat.

[travrosty]

Insurance won't necessarily cover it if "reasonable care" was not taken to secure the bat from those who would wish to steal it.

Insurance companies often require that valuables are locked up and reasonable care taken to secure the items before they will issue insurance and cover the item from theft.

Shipping the item to Taube via USPS through certified mail, and if one wanted to really go the safe route, registered mail, is far, far more safe than to take it to a show where thousands of people are milling around, and distractions abound.

Harry Winston shipped the million dollar hope diamond to the Smithsonian this way. Boxed in a plain brown paper wrapper, certified mail through usps with ins.

[sporteq]

yikes... best of luck!!

aL

[Mark]

Originally Posted by travrosty

Insurance won't necessarily cover it if "reasonable care" was not taken to secure the bat from those who would wish to steal it.

Insurance companies often require that valuables are locked up and reasonable care taken to secure the items before they will issue insurance and cover the item from theft.

Shipping the item to Taube via USPS through certified mail, and if one wanted to really go the safe route, registered mail, is far, far more safe than to take it to a show where thousands of people are milling around, and distractions abound.

Harry Winston shipped the million dollar hope diamond to the Smithsonian this way. Boxed in a plain brown paper wrapper, certified mail through usps with ins.

Is it possible to ship something the size of a baseball bat vie registered mail? It was my impression that registered mail is regularly stored in small compartments and therefore it can be used only with smaller items.

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by travrosty

Insurance won't necessarily cover it if "reasonable care" was not taken to secure the bat from those who would wish to steal it.

Insurance coverage would only protect Taube. Either way, unless his customer agreed in writing that he (Taube) is not responsible for theft or loss of items, I would imagine that Taube is on the hook.

[ruth-gehrig]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Insurance coverage would only protect Taube. Either way, unless his customer agreed in writing that he (Taube) is not responsible for theft or loss of items, I would imagine that Taube is on the hook.

I agree. He received the bat and from the sounds of it failed to protect it once it entered his possession. Do you believe Taube's insurance company will cover it or will he personally be responsible? I do hope the bat show back up quickly and safe but how long would insurance wait before they pay out on the bat?(if they will)

[travrosty]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Insurance coverage would only protect Taube. Either way, unless his customer agreed in writing that he (Taube) is not responsible for theft or loss of items, I would imagine that Taube is on the hook.

I was talking about Taube's insurance, I am not sure Taube is covered by his own insurance if he did not take reasonable care. That's all I was saying.

A lot of ins. co's that deal with collectibles or high value objects have riders on the policies that state how you must store them. If not, it goes to a judge to determine if reasonable care was taken commensurate with the object in question. Since Taube could presumably have up to a 1 million dollar bat in his possession, I would think it would have to be locked up when not in his hands to be covered.

[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

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Jlighter

I was just saying that this was most likely premeditated, not just some random street mugger. You don't just go into a show and then realize, hey I want to steal that bat.

Are you saying that you think someone was aware that this particular bat would be at the show, in the booth where it was stolen? That doesn't leave a lot of people who could be the thief.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Jlighter

I was just saying that this was most likely premeditated, not just some random street mugger. You don't just go into a show and then realize, hey I want to steal that bat.

Bat collectors have known for decades that Ott bats are scarce. I'd guess that anyone who is even slightly familiar with pre-war, game used bats would know that an Ott bat is tough and super desirable.

[thebigtrain]

ROTFL at the insurance company covering it! I'm an attorney, and I often wonder why insurance companies even bothering having a claims department, since they basically never pay any claims. I haggle with these scumbags every single day over totally valid claims that they incessantly refuse to pay.

Their "policy" (pardon the pun) is merely to collect premiums, pay the CEOs tens of millions, drop a few hundred million more on advertising (geico anyone), then tell all the poor proletatians with the nerve to file a claim to go pound salt. It's like smashing your head into a brick wall trying to squeeze so much as a nickel out of them.

That said, I do feel for you, I'm a huge Mel Ott/NY Giants fan. I think Ott's early death kind of killed his legacy as a "household name," since he didn't live to see Mantle, Mays, Aaron etc. break his record and join the 500 HR club.

He also played for a forgotten team (i don't consider SF the "real" Giants), and he was overshadowed even in his prime by Dimaggio, Ruth, Williams etc).

Also he gets knocked for the "Polo Grounds" effect and that his HR were "cheap," which is NOT true.

[khkco4bls]

beat the insurance co. scummers with a gamer... I hate insurance co's. Then they want to drop you....