Help With Bryce Harper's AFL Champ Cap

[Basinballers]

Originally Posted by baseball tourist

I suggest posting pics of the hat on the GUU site (gameuseduniverse.com). There are a number of very knowledgable game used equipment collectors there that don't read items on this board.

Harper has been under an intense media spotlight for some time and there have been tons of images of him taken. You may get lucky and someone may have come across a pic that will help substantiate the writing on the underside of the brim. Photo matching is a speciality of a few GUU members and with the interest around Harper, I am sure there will be people that would like to help.

With regards to value (realize that you didn't ask) $500 would be a fair starting point if it could be photo matched etc.

Quick note on the price of the singed Pens hat mentioned. Not a game used item, not an item used in the playing of the sport, not really a useful comparison tool.

I did search the web hoping to find a photo but none show the under brim of his hat. Odds of getting that would be tough. I will keep looking though. Someone mentioned a bat. Are you referring to the Harper gamer in my store? It is also on consignment from the same source. We are kind of hoping that Bryce makes it back to the AFL next year and maybe we can resolve this then. As far as the Posey glove goes, can an unendorsed glove be authenticated as GU? If so, please tell me who does this.

[shimozukawa]

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[Big Six]

I think that game was shown on MLBtv...did you try to find video from the game. I see guys on GUU who post video captures all the time for bats, jerseys, etc...might be worth it to see if you can find the video of the game.

[Basinballers]

@ Matt: Great idea. I will look for it.

As far as marketing it with the bat, that is also a great idea but at this point I can not offer the hat as there is no way to document it other than the story at this point. I really take pride in trying to only offer the real deal and even though I am sure that it is, any doubt that may arise from a customer would cause way too much damage to my integrity. I will definitely keep it in mind though.

The Posey glove is not in my possession and I have only seen it once. I forget exactly what brand it is. Just know that he gave the mitt to one person and the rest of his catcher's gear to another while cleaning up after the 09 season. I found it odd that a prospect of his stature would not have an endoresed glove. Then again, I am no GU expert by any means.

[Basinballers]

I looked at some video clips on MLB from the Post-Game and they showed Bryce working out before they showed some batting clips. He was wearing a hat with a white New Era flag on the side! I almost crapped myself! This hat has a red logo. After watching it I found another from earlier in the season on MLB with the same workout clip. Whew! That really freaked me a bit. I found an article on the game with this photo. It is the red logo just like this one. It also has the bottom of the brim but no light on it. I blew it up but just can not tell. I will keep digging. This is kind of fun anyway. Thanks for everyone's input!
Update: Check this tidbit out. Here is an outtake from an interview:

Do you keep up with any of the articles written about you?

A: I don't read anything. I didn't even read the Sports Illustrated article. I don't read anything at all. I just focus on my game. Whatever I think I need to work on, I look at myself or ask my pops.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...10/269976.html

CALLED HIS DAD POPS! That is one of the words on the hat! Maybe onto something?

[baseball tourist]

Originally Posted by Basinballers

I did search the web hoping to find a photo but none show the under brim of his hat. Odds of getting that would be tough. I will keep looking though. Someone mentioned a bat. Are you referring to the Harper gamer in my store? It is also on consignment from the same source. We are kind of hoping that Bryce makes it back to the AFL next year and maybe we can resolve this then. As far as the Posey glove goes, can an unendorsed glove be authenticated as GU? If so, please tell me who does this.

not the clearest image but does hint at a Harper's writing preferences under the bill.



with regards to the Posey glove. It should be easier to match a glove style as it should be quite visible in many shots.

Have fun digging! Good luck.

[Basinballers]

Originally Posted by baseball tourist

not the clearest image but does hint at a Harper's writing preferences under the bill.



with regards to the Posey glove. It should be easier to match a glove style as it should be quite visible in many shots.

Have fun digging! Good luck.

Thanks. I did look at this one. I blew it up too. It did look like writing under it, but I am unsure. I am going to see if I can get my hands on the Posey glove. I will be going to the Giants camp a few times in a couple of weeks. Maybe I can get him to sign it GU.

[Basinballers]

Got a bit of clarification. Turns out that he left the hat on the table next to his locker after the championship game and the cleaning out of lockers. He is not 100% sure it was the hat worn in that game but it was on of two game used hats. Players typically have two different hats on this team. This makes it a little more difficult. We are going to go after the Posey glove and a pair of his workout shoes (batting cage ect..) from the 09 season. We should be able to get those taken care of this spring. He also has Dominic Brown's cleats from last year (09), but again, only a number written in sharpie. Brown will not be back this way except at the D-backs/Phillies games. I have been trying to talk him into lowering the price on the Harper bat and that may happen. We have been offered $555 but kicked it back.

[shimozukawa]

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[khkco4bls]

why pay 500.00 dollars for a hat of a guy thats done nothing.

[Bilko G]

Originally Posted by khkco4bls

why pay 500.00 dollars for a hat of a guy thats done nothing.

its called "speculating" or "prospecting". People do it to make money.

[Basinballers]

Originally Posted by shimozukawa

So your source's story has changed from "Bryce Harper gave me this hat which he used in the AFL Championship game, but he refused to sign the hat." to "I found this hat next to Bryce Harper's locker on a table after the players cleaned out their lockers for the season."... and you don't find that HIGHLY disconcerting? Those are two VERY different stories. Especially after you were aggressively defensive when I mentioned that there were issues with potential authentication.

Given this new origin story, I would even question the validity of the bat being game-used by Harper. How do you know that your friend didn't simply find Harper's bat in the garbage (or on the ground or whatever) after batting practice? The bat might not be game used... heck, it might not even have been used by Harper! After all, it's not unheard of for players to use other players' bats. Yes, players do allow teammates to use their bats on occasion. Some players won't allow others to use their bat, but some players will.

To be honest, this calls into question the integrity of every item he's ever given to you or that you've sold for him. Just my thoughts.

It is responses like this that make me realize that posting items such as these on a public forum only draw ridicule from the angry people. I am done. Thanks to all of those that tried to help. I do not have time for this kind of ridicule. It is VERY embarrassing. I mean where do you get off? Really. Respond as you wish cause I won't be here to read it. You try to be honest and all you get is hatred.

[fkw]

FWIW

What shimozukawa said, is exactly what I was thinking myself while reading through this post for my first time, its realistic.

IMO the only way you can sell that hat is with a letter from the team or Harper..... But that boat has passed, probably.
Or if you can positively ID it with a clear closeup picture, but that would be hard because that type of writing seems easy to duplicate, and the hat was barely used in a game, or maybe not even in a game from what the new story shows.
If it was owned by John Wetteland or another player who rarely changed their hats, its far easier to ID it with a photo. The Harper hat is basically "new" still in appearance.