Interview- Believe it or not- Baseball Player Traded for 10 BATS! plus- David Aime to The Calgary Hitmen.

Two posts, both with a Calgary connection.

First- If you missed this story, you need to read the below press release from the folks at Ripley's. Then, be sure to listen to the interview I had this morning with Edward Meyer, VP of Exhibits and Archives with Ripley's. Pretty funny story, and with a nice ending as well.

Ten Bats Traded for Minor League Pitcher

Now a Part of Ripley’s Extensive Sports Archives

Bizarre Trade will be Focus of Future Believe It or Not! Exhibit and a Special Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Night at the Ballpark on June 14 at Foothills Stadium

ORLANDO, Fla. (June 11, 2008) - Minor league baseball pitcher John Odom has become part of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! history, thanks to the unusual trade that sent him to Laredo, Texas.

The 10 bats that the Laredo Broncos gave the Calgary (Canada) Vipers for Odom in a trade have been acquired by Ripley Entertainment for a future exhibit at a Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum. Odom may still be battling for the big time, but the bats are sure to get star treatment in the future.

Ripley’s acquired the 10 “Prairie Sticks Maple Bats -- double-dipped black in 34-inch C243 style,” valued at $650, for $10,000. The Viper’s president Peter Young and Ripley’s VP Archives Edward Meyer worked out the deal, with all the proceeds going to the Viper’s children’s charity, “Snakes and Batters.”

“The final step of the trade is now complete,’’ said Ripley’s Meyer. “Mr. Odom is now pitching for Laredo, and we’re in the process of creating an exhibit that will highlight one of professional baseball’s most bizarre trades.”

“Originally we were going to put the bats up for sale on Ebay with proceeds going to our children’s charity,” said the Viper’s Young. “But when Ripley’s called, we decided it was a much better fit. Instead of the bats hanging in basements or sports bar around the country they will be properly displayed for many more fans to see.”

The backstory of the trade is nearly as interesting as the trade itself. The Vipers had signed Odom, who hadn’t pitched for 18 months, but the 26-year-old was barred from entering Canada and never made it to the ballpark. It seems he had a police record stemming from a fight when he was 17, and had neglected to disclose that information to immigration officials.

Odom, who never played a game for the Vipers, was traded to the Broncos, for something the Vipers needed the most – bats. "They just wanted some bats, good bats, maple bats," Broncos GM Jose Melendez told reporters.

The trade grabbed worldwide headlines within hours of Young registering it with the league. Meyer wasted no time in calling Young. “We knew as soon as we heard the story that those bats belonged in our truth is stranger than fiction collection,’’ Meyer noted.

Ripley’s will take possession of the bats on June 14 in Calgary during a special Ripley’s Believe It or Not! night at the ballpark. Ripley’s Meyer will accept the bats and promises more “Ripley-style” fun, prize giveaways and unusual activities during the game. The Saturday, June 14 game is against the Chico (Calif.) Outlaws at 5 p.m. at Foothills Stadium.

About Ripley Entertainment Inc.

Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 13 million guests visit its 60-plus attractions operating in 12 countries annually. The Orlando-based company also has divisions that oversee publishing, licensing and broadcast operations. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.

Click the below link to listen to the interview.

Interview- Edward Meyer, VP of Exhibits and Archives

Thanks for your time Edward, it was a blast!

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I got a text yesterday from David Aime informing me that he has been picked up by the Calgary Hitmen. I asked David if this was for "public knowledge" as I didn't want to step on the Hitmen's toes, and he said he has told "a ton of people" already. So I guess now I'm telling you!

To say it was a troubling and well traveled year for Aime would be an understatement. He began the season with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL before then arriving in Port Alberni via the Vernon Vipers. Aime's stay in Port Alberni ended after the Jan 10th trading deadline when he was picked up by the Red Deer Rebels-where he ended up finishing the season. After being subsequently dropped by them, he was picked up by Calgary.

I wish David nothing but success. He is a great kid and he impressed me when he was here with how hard he was working to try and get his game back. Extra practice, extra sessions with Perry Elderbroom at Gold in the Net

Keep working at it buddy, and I believe you can achieve success. YOU keep chasing the dream.

I'm out for the day, thanks for reading!
Hammer