Oakland Park Baseball

These Wilson balls I got 8 dozen of are not actually the ones that were listed on ebay. They were supposed to have this feature which meant they retained their hardness for longer than regular balls, and so would fly the same distance after 20 or 30 hits as when fresh.
I complained to the seller in strong terms, and got him to send me more as recompense. Not just a few, but 4 more dozen!
I just wanted to brag about that, I'm pretty damn satisfied with that. Almost as satisfying is the deal I got a new bat, also on ebay, today. Some sucker had no idea how much this thing was worth. I swept down on that buy-it-now price like Britney Spears on a Krispy Kreme.

well what's the details on the bat?!

Edit: Notice that, yes, I am now Babe Ruth

Yes. Will we all be thanking your Hardened balls?

It's just like that moster Pablo has. a 34/29 with a 2 3/4" barrel. It has a 10" hitting zone, which is just huge. His buy-it-now price was only $40, when these things often sell for 100 or more used, let alone new.

The same guy is right now selling another bat exactly the same. This made me supsicious, but everything looks safe to me. He is a "powerseller", offers Paypal protection and has a very extensive positive feedback history. The price is the only thing suspicious about it, but I'm thinking he just doesn't realize that these bats are not made any more. I'm considering buying this one too, and reselling it at a profit. I think I might wait to see how it looks when I actually receive the first one before I do this though.
If anyone else wants to buy one, here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 7227244713

He also has a very similar 33/26 bat for those of us who are a more normal height:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 7226859765

Paul, you negotiating tactician you, are you sure that is a basbeall bat??? It looks mighty softballish to me. Just an observation.

paul i know you are old but the 33/26 bat is a senior league bat

hahahahahahahaha

but you look great for 65

hahahahaha

Dan, he does specifically mention the barrel diameter as being 2 3/4", which is big even for baseball, in softball the max diameter is 2 1/4". You're right that it looks softball-ish, as that huge uniform hitting zone with the swift taper to a long thin handle is the same as they use in softball bats. But Pablo's bat looks like that, too.
And Rich, "senior" refers to senior little league, not senior adults. Those bats very rarely come longer than 32, since the kids they are made for are too short for a 33, generally. I've never seen a 33/26 before, so this one is a real rarity also.

Edit: Having printed out the picture to make measurements (and assuming the length is correct as 34"), by ratio I can confirm that the barrel is indeed 2 3/4". Watch out is all I can say!

Paul, Pablos, is wider, and the barrell is shorter. That pic is of a softball bat, as you can tell by the thick, but long barrell.

I doubt it, based on my measurements.
If that barrel is indeed the 2 1/4" softball standard, by ratio that means the length must be somewhere in between 28 and 30", allowing for my measurement inaccuracy.
Also if that barrel is 2 1/4", that makes the handle just 2/3" under the tape. I have never seen one less than 7/8.

Edit: Plus, when I run the model number: BBZ5 through google you can find a bunch of korean e-stores selling it, although they have it as a 33/28 version.

http://www.yagoo114.com/?doc=shop/item.php&it_id=001025

They have a much bigger picture if you click on it. Looks pretty much like a baseball bat to me, just one with an oversized barrel. Their price is equivalent to around $370, which does not surprise me for a rare bat being sold overseas as an import.

While we're on the topic of items purchased off of eBay, I just bought a lefty catcher's mitt (33.5"). Finally, I can sit behind the dish with confidence that my wrist isn't going to snap off. It's awesome. The palm and web are black, and the edge of the glove is a bright orange padded ring, so it looks like a bulls-eye when you're standing on the mound. I'm so psyched to have finally gotten this, and for only $60 with shipping! eBay, fuck yeah!

well paul i think using a -7 bat is like cheating. cuase its sorta like corking your bat but you have some else to do it.

but sportmart in emeryville on 40th and san pablo had quite a few on sale like at least 10 to 15 different design and and several of each design. ths was like a week or two a go. and almost all were under 60 bucks. but if your interested in them feel free to go to the store.

Joe shmoe wrote:well paul i think using a -7 bat is like cheating. cuase its sorta like corking your bat but you have some else to do it.

i wasn't going to say anything... but since someone else said it...

QFT

Hey hey hey! I'm not using a -7 bat. Mine will be -5. I point out that Pablo has one, although he doesn't play very often, and also Dave has one which he brings every time.
Also, I will happily let anyone use it, so it's not like I'll be keeping the advantage to myself, or even my own team.

2 things

1: Paul I also belive it is a softball bat.

2: if it is not go ahead and use it. It will not help you. There is such a thing as to little weight.