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Ripley's Believe It or Not! Night at Foothills Stadium

June 12, 2008 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


ORLANDO, Fla. (June 9, 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.



Golden Baseball League Stories from June 12, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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