Former GreenJacket John Odom and 10 bats headed for Ripley's Believe It or Not

Remember the recent trade that sent former Augusta GreenJackets pitcher John Odom to the Laredo Broncos in exchange for 10 bats? The story just keeps getting better.

An Associated Press report confirms that the 10 bats, originally intended to be sold for charity, have been scooped up by Ripley Entertainment for $10,000. Ripley “will use them in a ‘Believe It or Not’ exhibit that will likely include a lifelike wax reproduction of Odom,” the report said.

Patrick Haas, Calgary’s media relations director, was kind enough to send me a few photos of the now legendary bats. Clearly, they were never intended for game use. They’re individually numbered and engraved with the team’s name and the words “John Odom trade bat”.

Oh, those crazy Canadiens. 

It all started with the Calgary Vipers, an independent baseball team just north of the border, orchestrating the deal after Odom couldn’t get approval to enter Canada “because of a minor but unspecified charge on his juvenile record,” according to an Associated Press report.

Instead of hanging on to a pitcher who could only play with the team on road trips into the United States, the Vipers went searching for a team willing to talk. The deal was struck, and it seems everyone has benefitted from the deal more than Odom.

• The Broncos drew over 2,000 fans (700 fans above their average) to see Odom make his debut in Texas. He was decent in his first outing (one run, two hits in two innings) in a 9-5 loss to the Edinburg Coyotes.
• The bat manufacturer, Prairie Sticks, has seen a boost in sales.
• Including Saturday’s double-header win, the Calgary Vipers have yet to lose a game since the trade was completed.

Now Ripley’s Believe it or Not is involved. The Calgary Herald reported Saturday that the $10,000 will be donated to the Vipers’ children’s charity, Snakes and Batters. I couldn’t think of a more fearful name for a children’s charity, but I also couldn’t think of a better way for this whole Odom-for-bats trade to wrap up.

After all the hoopla and hype of a player-for-equipment deal, a children’s charity ends up with a check for 10 grand. Believe it or not.