Team / Personalized Bats

UPDATED 2/26 WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / OFFER

Just about everyone has shown an interest in ordering their own and/or team bats. I've "combed the desert" so-to-speak and come up with the best deals that we can choose from, but please feel free to shop around on your own. Roy Hobbs will research pricing for you as well, if you want -- you can call or email Todd directly from the RH site linked on the left.

1. Akadema Bats

Go to this link and check out the available models and sizes for the discounts. They offer "Elite and Professional Grade Maple and Ash bats ($29), as well as their Pro Level Quality Ash bats ($19). Free team engraving will be offered at no additional cost." My guess is if you order ones for yourself, you'd get "Elite," while the team will purchase a couple "Pro" models. Shipping is 22.50 for 10 bats. 10 bat minimum. We can do one line of personalization -- but all bats in an order have to have the same thing or none at all.

The guy at the Cage Club last night told me about this package and says he's been swinging the Elite Maples for over a year with no complaints or breaks. He also got one of the "Tacktion Grip" models, but isn't sold on it yet, prefers the standard grip.

Reviews are good online, "t

heir most popular bats are their "Amish" wood bats that are hand made by Amish craftsman in Pennsylvania. They are one of less than 30 companies whose bats are approved for play in MLB."

2. Viper Bats

I got back an email from their "team sales guy" and this is what they offer: Team Sales. Each bat can be individually personalized, and we can mix and match. They offer Ash ($

30) and  Maple ($45) as well as Birch and Bamboo ($40). They also "throw in" a free fungo bat with orders. Minimum: 12 bats.

They also offer "Standard" team sales: link. Here's the jist: 6+ or more bats: 10%, 12+ bats: 14%.

Reviews are good online. They also replicate all classic turnings (Rawlings, LS, etc). Pros include Giambi, Pronk, and Ricky Henderson.

3. X BATS

Their email back was hilarious. They are really expensive, but claim it's worth every cent. They offer individual customization, and are twice the bat you can get at Dick's (for about the sam

e to half the price). They offer "choices of hundreds of Models in any combination of 30 colors in lengths from 24" to 35" and weights from -5 for youth players to +10," so look around the site (it's pretty overwhelming) and decide if it's worth it to you.

From X Bats: 

We would extend to you the same price we offer to the 30 Major League Baseball teams and our largest national distributors. The cost is $75./bat plus $40 to ship every dozen bats (Models 2427, 73 and JR42 are $15. Additional per bat). Minimum order is 24 bats. We will make the bats for your team (s) in your colors (we offer 30+ colors for our bats, another first) and laser engrave the team name and/or player’s name on each bat. You can mix sizes, models and names in each order, all for the same price.

Minimum order: 24 bats.

Reveiws are consistantly stellar, other than price. "305 top Major League players using the X Bat, including most of the biggest names in baseball." ManRam. Say no more.

4. RLC BATS

Jimmy directed me to this site, and although I was disappointed that it wasn't "the" RLC that I know and adore -- it was a cool find nonetheless. They do some significant sponsoring of amateur teams across the country, and they replied with a price structure and this sponsorship offer:

As far as sponsorship we give $100.00 towards bats after a team purchases at least one dozen of bats for the following year and then we add $50.00 for each additional year.

1st year     no discount
2nd year   $100 off
3rd year    $150 off
4th year    $200 off
5th year    $250 off max

Let us know if we can help you further.

Thanks,
Nicole Makin

It seems like an offer of "cash" that no one else does, plus would get us listed on their site which you know, is kinda cool. That said, if we don't see pricing in the same range as the "Major League" as listed below, even with a $100 discount next year, we would have ate that up in mark-up vs a couple of the other manufacturers.

Here's the PRICE SCHEDULE they provided, (email me for a pdf version):

TEAM BULK PRICING

This includes a free line of personalization for a team name 

(IT ALSO INCLUDES THE PLAYERS NAME AS WELL)

12-23    bats any color combination, cupping, and/or length 31-34”      $40/
24-47    bats any color combination, cupping, and/or length 31-34”      $34./
48+       bats any color combination, cupping, and/or length 31-34”      $30/


MAJOR LEAGUE PRICING

This includes the team name and player name or signature

12-23    bats black, stains, or clear cupping, and/or length 31-34”         $30/
24-47    bats black, stains, or clear cupping, and/or length 31-34”         $30/
48+       bats black, stains, or clear cupping, and/or length 31-34”         $30/

Minimum Order: 12 bats

There really aren't any "big name" reviews online, but those who buy it seem to like it.

Ok, so let's get this show on the road.  Again -- no one HAS to buy their own bat. We will have a few "team" bats and will prolly follow the "you break it you replace it" motto . . . so you're welcome to use them as well.

Bottom line: wood bats break. Maple bats less so.

Email me with your requests, and what your top 2 or 3 choices are along with sizes, colors, etc.

Practice? We talking about Practice? (A Note of Thanks)

Just a note of thanks to everyone who came out and practiced yesterday at Grand Slam USA in North Canton. Although we found ourselves having to make the best of a mixup and double booking on the room we thought we had reserved, we still were able to get in a decent amount of swings in the cages, some catch, and sit down and discuss the upcoming season.

Needless to say, I'm really excited about the group of guys that showed up -- as well as everyone that I've only "heard" about. As of today we have 11 players who have paid their "deposit" -- so we're set for the league deposit -- but no one has completed all of the required paperwork. A couple of you filled out one side of the form, but I probably should have been more clear in letting you know there are 2 sides, both of which need completed. I will have new forms for everyone the next time we get together, or look to the links in the posts below to Download and print / sign them yourselves.

New News

I have started to post a "practice schedule" in the panel to the left, so please check back for that, and email us or leave a comment if you'd like to add or subtract -- or if you're just looking for a partner to hit the cages with. Monday cage sessions are 100% up to you -- but let's all plan on the every other Saturday at GS get-togethers, at least until the weather breaks.

I sent out an email asking for permissions to email everyone a call list -- so look for that, and I will also start to post the "rosters" here once I've heard the final word from a few last "hold outs" (hahaha).

So please everyone, send Josh and myself an email with the following information (we already have some of it, but would like to keep track as best we can):

1. Name, Age, Ht, and Wt.
2. Phone and e-mail / mail address
3. Preferred contact method (cell, e-mail, text, smoke signal, this blog)
Sizing*: Top, pants, hat *can be specific (42" chest, 33" waist, 7 3/8) or general (L / L / L) on each
4. Jersey Number and Position Preferred (optional)
5. Would you be interested in purchasing one (or more) bats if bought as a "team lot" (can equal approximately 50% savings) and if so, what personalization would you like yours to have, if any (Name, Number, Nickname, Team Name, etc)?
*Please specify your preferred length and weight (33"/31oz, etc) and wood type (Ash or Maple) and any other intricacies (Color / Finish).

Thanks again everyone -- look to the posts below for download links for the waiver forms, and the panel to the left for scheduling and links to TCC and GS -- and I'll see you all next Saturday at Grand Slam or sooner (at the Cage Club).

-TCBC

Manager's Meeting Recap

Hi everyone --hopefully everyone to whom I have an email affixed to will get this update via that method--but here's the whosit-whatsit from the "Manager's Meeting" last night at Roy Hobbs offices in Peninsula for those who I don't.

Mostly everything stands where it did before, with a few marked exceptions:

New Rules and Regulations:

• Forfeit Fee returns for each team ($200)
  
• Age Rule changed: Now each team allowed 3 players aged 25-28, but they may not pitch until their 28th Birthday, no exceptions.
  

Price reductions:

• Per player fee reduced from $185 to $168
  
• New player registration fee reduced from $25 to $15 ($200 team cap)
• Team forfeit fee reduced from $250 to $200

Other than that, we sat down with the representative at the Roy Hobbs team shop to discuss uniforms and their potential costs associated, and will present that tomorrow.

Again, please remember to bring the following tomorrow:

• A copy of your driver's license for age verification (we will probably be able to photograph it but don't think we'll have access to a copy machine)
  
• $50 deposit -- covers your new player registration, plus $35 towards your fees
  
• Bat(s) and Glove(s) if you wish to participate in informal drills / BP
  
• Any weekend scheduling conflicts/preferences you may have for this summer.
  

I will have a complete handout for everyone with rules and regulations, calendar, registration forms, field directions (partial), and a list of "discount" equipment suppliers (mostly online).

There will also be a gift given out to the first player to cover their dues in full tomorrow. 

It rhymes with "tavs sickets."

 

2009 NEORH Administrative Schedule (Not Games)

The 2009 NEORH administrative calendar has been announced and posted on the NEORH site. Click here to download it now. Please again, know this does not include game schedules (other than the previously mentioned dates).

Take care!

2009 NEO Roy Hobbs Preliminary Information

Pitchers and catchers report today for the Tribe! In honor -- here's all the information we have thus-far regarding the upcoming 2009 NEO Roy Hobbs OPEN (28+) Division. Bear with us, it's not a whole helluva lot -- we expect much more information to be revealed at next Thursday's (2/19) "Kick-off"* meeting. 

*No, I don't understand the football reference either. Wouldn't "First Pitch" make more sense? Hairs, split.

If you have any specific questions you'd like to be addressed by the League at the meeting (or anything else), please feel free to contact  Josh Taylor or myself.

We've also started a general information email "line" at info@threecitiesbaseball.com, so feel free to pass that along to anyone interested in becoming a part of the Three Cities Baseball Club.

Early Info:

• Opening Day Weekend: April 17-19
  
• No Games Scheduled: May 8-10 (Mother's Day Weekend) and July 24-26 (rain-out weekend)
• Unopposed Player Transfers available until April 16. Download the form here.
  
• Team Deposit and Preliminary Rosters Due March 6
  
• 2009 NEORH Player-Waiver Contract. Download the form here.
  
• NEO Roy Hobbs Offices: 2048 Akron Peninsula Rd., Akron, OH44313-4802
  
• Roy Hobbs 2008 Gear Sale: Bats, Gloves, Spikes, and more. Download the flyer here.
• Season Ends August 21
• Playoffs begin August 22

We've gotten some questions regarding game days -- since we are exploring a few options for players not being able to attend all games due to scheduling conflicts (this is one of the things to be discussed at the team meeting next Saturday) -- and I received back a reply from OPEN Division commissioner Don Booth:

Our league is officially a weekend league as opposed to a Sunday league. We generally try to schedule the 28's division on Sundays, but field availability when we’re scheduling more than fifty teams overall dictates that there will be a number of Saturday games and Friday evening games. We don’t officially take requests, but if your team has a preference we’ll try to honor it as much as we can.

You can also contact Don Booth directly via email or the Roy Hobbs offices if you have any questions relating generally to league. 

Thanks everyone for reading and looking forward to seeing you next weekend!

Team Meeting

A Team Meeting and Informal Indoor Practice will be held at Grand Slam Family Entertainment Center in North Canton, Ohio next Saturday, February 21st at 11 am. 

Players -- please arrive prepared to give your vital information for registration (bring a Driver's License) including measurements for uniforms, and positions played / desired. Also, preliminary registration fees will be collected (not to exceed $50), and also please have a general knowledge of your availability for the upcoming season.

We will outline what information we have at this time regarding the upcoming 2009 NEO Roy Hobbs OPEN Division season, our intents for practices and games, go over uniform choice(s), and discuss team needs: including players, equipment, sponsors and fund-raising opportunities.

Indoor Cages will be available for rental and we are working to secure some space for fielding /  long toss. For more information on the facilities, please refer to the Grand Slam site. For Directions to Grand Slam USA: Grand Slam Directions.

For additional information, or to secure a ride -- feel free to contact John Millin or Josh Taylor via email or phone. Please check out the links to NEO Roy Hobbs Baseball on the left for more information on the upcoming season and to download and/or review registration forms. 

Check back here often for updated information and news.