2014 F-M Redhawks, Part 1/5: Nic Jackson Bat

Over the next 5 posts, I'm going to be going over the various autographs and memorabilia that I was able to get my hands on during the 2014 Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks baseball season. The Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks are an independent league team with the American Association of Professional Baseball, and I was able to pick up my first big item at the May 25 home opener against the Sioux Falls Canaries.

After the 5-4 Redhawks victory, I stopped by the Team Shop, just to check out some of what they have. There were some game-used jerseys for a very reasonable price of $99. I didn't get one, but made a mental not of their availability for a later date. Right next to that rack, almost tucked away in a corner was a basket, containing three bats. The sign next to it identified them as "cracked bats," and were available for only $15. I thought that was pretty reasonable, and was more excited when I discovered that one of those bats was for centerfielder Nic Jackson.

It's a big deal for me as a Chicago Cubs fan, because Jackson, who has been with the Redhawks since 2009, used to be with the Cubs organization. He was drafted by the team in the third round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft. He never made it up to the pro club for a regular season game, but spent two years with the AAA Iowa Cubs, hitting .255, with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs. He signed minor league contracts with the Philadelphia Phillies  and New York Mets in 2007, but never quite caught on with either team. He has been playing indempendent-league ball since 2008.

Anyway, here are a few photos of the bat itself. Now, I'm not sure if this was game-used or batting-practice-used, but either way, it's a really cool item to add to my collection.