Blog: July 6-July 12, 2009

July 7, 2009. I noticed Wainwright was using two different LS ash bats, one with the LS 125th anniversary logo and one without. It seemed he used the logo bat when bunting, but used the non-logo bat when he was swinging away.

July 8, 2009. Ludwick sent a broken bat barrel into the stands today... Hunt has made several amendments to the Cardinals items listed in their auction. Kudos to them for following up on collectors' concerns and doing more research.

July 9, 2009. Barden was using an LS ash bat with a Gwynn finish. It's the first time this season I've noticed someone using ash with the two-tone look... Many great items on display at FanFest, between the Hunt Auction, the Cardinals' HOF display and the Cooperstown HOF exhibit. I think my favorite, though, is Bob Gibson's 1968 glove. It was a store model Spalding endorsed by Carl Yazstremski, the star of the team Gibson and the Cards dispatched in the World Series a year earlier.

July 10, 2009. After showing Yadi's stylish cleats, broadcaster Al Hrabosky recounted a story from 1974 when the team switched from black shoes to red ones made by Adidas. He said the players were anxious to wear the red ones, but Lou Brock -- who was on a record pace stealing bases -- was slow to break his in. After a couple weeks, Brock finally was comfortable in his new shoes and the entire team was able to all wear red cleats.

July 11, 2009. Got Stan Musial to sign a 1958 bat today. It was an honor, as always, to see The Man in person... Hunt pulled the 2001 McGwire jersey from its Tuesday auction. I had an opportunity to examine it after that decision was made. The post-9/11 flag appeared to be retail and not added by the team, but nobody could tell me why it already had been pulled.

July 12, 2009. Prospect Brett Wallace broke a bat during the Futures Game, but I couldn't get a good look at what model he was swinging... Two lucky fans won signed jerseys by the Futures Game coaches, Ozzie Smith and Jose Oquendo. The jerseys were presented to them on the field between innings.