Would you buy this? [Mel Ott game used bat]

[A_Pharis]

Mel Ott game Used Bat

Would be a very nice item for the Louisiana PC I have going. One problem, though. The seller doesn't have the original LLO but shows the MEARS sticker in plain sight. I know MEARS is a quality and accurate authenticator for game used bats, but... after Googling the number I came up with some questionable backstory with this bat.

MEARS Policy Examined

From the link:

MEARS Buyer’s Protection Program policy examined
February 17 2009 at 6:43 PM	Troy R. Kinunen   (Login Troyrkinunen)
MEARS Buyers Protection Program policy examined

Recently a marketing company requested a replacement bat LOO, which was sold and evaluated by Dave Bushing, be bought back under the MEARS buyer's protection policy. The marketing company was aware that Dave Bushing was both the buyer and evaluator of this bat at the time of purchase.

The MEARS buyer's protection plan was instituted by MEARS to protect collectors in instances where an item was found to be misrepresented in a MEARS Letter of Opinion. We have reviewed the facts of this matter and feel that a proper grade/LOO was issued.

Item: 1943-49 Mel Ott Louisville Slugger Professional Model Team Ordered Bat (MEARS #303966)

Player: Mel Ott

Label Period: 1943-49

Model Number: 016

Weight: 31.7 ounces

Length: 34.75 inches

Matches Factory records: yes, Team

Comment Section: Louisville Slugger factory records show that the New York Giants made an order of this model bat on 4-4-46, with no lengths listed. Factory records for Ott show that he ordered both 35" bats and 32-33 ounce bats, but no mention is made of O16 model bats. However, O16 is listed by the factory as an Ott Model.

The bat was sold and a copy of the letter of opinion was included with that sale. This issue came to light in the past 30 days as the marketing firm requested a duplicate letter of opinion. When speaking with the agent for the marketing firm, I was told that the new owner of the bat needed a duplicate copy of the letter for his insurance company. I was asked to forward a copy of the letter. Per a long-standing MEARS policy, replacement letters are billed at $20.00 plus shipping. We waited for receipt of payment before re-issuing the LOO. Payment was never made.


This evening, after I refused to provide a gratis LOO, I was told a different story by the marketing company agent. In an email, the marketing agent stated,

"My client put the bat into mastronet.. they declined it saying it was not authentic, this was also backed up by psa/dna bat company, (john taube). So I am going to bring the bat back to you for a full refund."

While the apparent reason for request of the replacement letter has no bearing on the content of the LOO, this information is mentioned for the in order to provide as much information as we have at this time. I have asked that a copy of the PSA letter be returned with the bat to ascertain the basis for the claim that the bat is not in fact a 1943-49 Mel Ott Louisville Slugger Professional Model Team Ordered Bat as the MEARS letter states.





Regards,


Troy R. Kinunen
MEARS

So, basically, this seller doesn't have the LOO and tried to get another one by saying he needed it for insurance purposes. MEARS asks for a letter from the insurance company and one is not provided. Instead, the seller restates that PSA has stated that the bat is NOT AUTHENTIC and they need another LOO stating that it is.

My question is, do we believe that this is the original Ott bat that was certified by MEARS or a fake replacement? If original, do we believe that PSA really rejected it or is that just something the seller made up to get out of paying $20 for a replacement LOO (cheapskate)?

Should the bidders be worried?

 

[matchpenalty]

Yeah. seems fishy. Not sure if you read gameuseduniverse.com website, I'd search that site about this bat as well. Seems to me it's be a topic over there before.

 

[A_Pharis]

Yeah. seems fishy. Not sure if you read gameuseduniverse.com website, I'd search that site about this bat as well. Seems to me it's be a topic over there before.

There's only one post that I can find about someone who had a store model bat but nothing on this bat. I'd just be scared of a bat that the owner was too cheap to buy a replacement LOO... especially if they are going to say PSA rejected it (not mentioned in the auction).