Would you rather have a 1/1 Bat Knob Card of your favorite player or an autographed GU Bat

[Zambrano38]

Would take full game used item every time. As long as it it MLB authenticated and can be matched to use in games. Then you know it's real and have no doubt. I like cards, but not game used cards. Who knows if these knobs are real, used by player ect. Guys get a lot of bats and give them out to other players to use ect. No way of knowing if a bat knob card is legit in first place. No brainer if I want a game used item, I want full thing with proof. We all know all fakes passed off in auction houses ect. Sold to card companies ect. But no one makes any kind of big deal out of it, because they know all the money some collectors have tied up in game used cards. But never say boo to all scandals.

Ya I would definitely take a full bat if it is either MLB authenticated to a specific game or is the same model that the player uses the majority of the time and can be photomatched. There are some ways to authenticate a bat knob (ex. the Posey bat knob is from a LVS, just like the game used bat he bought is a LVS), but for the most part the company doesn't put any research into the player's tendencies and equipment choices. Certain players use certain pieces of equipment for different uses. Players often have equipment sent to them that they don't like and don't use and often players use different bats for BP, spring training, or while in the minors (ex. I know the Castro knob is from a minor league bat). At least if I buy a full item, I know what I'm getting, and I wish companies were more clear about the game used they include in their cards.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

full game used bats are easy to obtain. 1/1's are not.

 

[Musial Collector]

Full GU as I have 5 of them, 1 from last year at Dome, 1 from first year at Target Field, 1 from 2011 that hit a home run and I also have the home run ball and 2 Mothers Day bats.
Cuddyer would never have a knob card so I had 200 lb make one for me.

 

[joey12508]

cant see paying double for a card over a bat.

 

[matchpenalty]

Plus for me if I had to have a bat card. I'd want label part with as much of players name branded on it. Not the knob part. Any yahoo can just write players # on it.

 

[elmalo]

I would take the bat. I detest memorabilia cards.

 

[Topnotchsy]

The knob cards have sold incredibly well which means we should see
many more in upcoming releases.

 

[Big Mac McGwire]

Full bat all the way!

If the card was a cheaper hmm then maybe but for a fraction
and with the gu notation , Full bat 365 days a year!

 

[MansGame]

full game used bats are easy to obtain. 1/1's are not.

This is a good point as well.

I think this question differs based on the player and era really. For a guy playing right now who is a minor star or less, someone might want his card over a bat because bats come a dime a dozen and are probably worth less than a nice 1/1 baseball card. I can tell you I've paid more for many Belle cards than the two game used bats I own (both bough for approx. $100 each). On the same token, I'm sure everyone here would rather have a Babe Ruth full game used bat rather then a 1/1 knob card LOL. You can fill in the blanks for the trillion examples inbetween these but you get the point.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

full game used bats are easy to obtain. 1/1's are not.

Although this is technically true its not really entirely true. Since the focus of the card is almost entirely the bat knob - and the card's emphasis is almost entirely on the bat knob - other cards with bat knobs look almost entirely identical anyway, sort of like those Diamond Kings or Moments and Milestones cards but in reverse.

 

[Musial Collector]

Full bat all the way!

If the card was a cheaper hmm then maybe but for a fraction
and with the gu notation , Full bat 365 days a year!

What about this year, what day would you not take a full bat? ;-)

 

[MansGame]

What about this year, what day would you not take a full bat? ;-)

Ahhhh I see what you did there...

 

[Krom]

What about this year, what day would you not take a full bat? ;-)

I guess he wouldn't have taken it Feb 29th.

 

[brian26]

If it was Roberto Clemente I would take the full game used bat as they are scarce. If it was a modern player, I would take the card as I could find a bat easier and probably cheaper.

This is a great thread. Here's my take. In a vacuum, I'd take a game used bat over a card any day. No context involved, just comparing a GU bat vs GU card, the full bat is better.

Now, within the context of who the player is and how many game used bats you may already have in your collection, that's when the question becomes tricky. I have quite a few gamers already, and I'm finding that each one I pick up and add to my collection, the less relevant the other bats are. Perhaps I lose some appreciate for the nicer bats I have by picking up lesser pieces.

Take into account room/ability to display bats after you have some already in your collection, along with cost, and I can absolutely see how a GU card who be more desirable than an entire bat, especially with lesser-name players.