You've got a great collection and shouldn't have to pay much to get a great display. Here's what my main rack looked like - it held 30 bats.

Those Pirate teams were great. Won it all in 1960, 71, 79, each time in 7 games. And Clemente's 14 game hitting streak in World Series play.

Thanks, I like what you did with cards. I may use that idea.

Marsans, A

LOVE old vault marks! Add to that that it's linked to the first great Cuban star---what a cool bat.

Hey Mark, Thanks for the kind words! I always really enjoyed working with you on deals and talking bats. I'll give you a heads up the next time I run into a flannels collection!

A few more bats I got yesterday for my collection.

https://i.imgur.com/faPofu4h.jpg

A pitcher's signature model bat
 

Does anyone know about how many Major League pitchers were allowed 'signature model' bats from Louisville Slugger?

(apologies for the oversized pic)

For obvious reasons pitcher bats are very difficult to find. Those of Hall of Famers are obviously highly desirable and expensive. When I was putting my collection together I decided not even attempt that. I came across one Bruce Kison and one Steve Blass. I offered much more than I felt they were worth and was met with a firm no.

Here are the final two bats I picked up (Mazeroski and Taylor) to complete to complete my 1971 Pirates game used bat run

Nice bats! Congrats!!!

Congrats Mike! Well done! :cool::D

I made this one.

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

Great Pirates accomplishment!

Well the time has come. The fickle hand of fate has demanded that I relocate, and my new place will have only about 20% of my current display space. This just might be my only chance to get a team pic of all the boys together. So here it is, 40 years of collecting, 194 game used bats

Wow, Trubluecrew, that's a lot of lumber!! :eek::cool:
Unreal collection & thanks for sharing this.
Just curious, how far does your collection go back and what are the bats that you are most proud of?

that is a beautiful and most impressive fire hazard! yes, how far back does it go?

My collection spans from the late 60's to present day. Thinking about it now, the bats that are special to me are the ones that I took to get autographed and got the player interested and chatting about bats. Brooks Robinson made an appearance at Milwaukee bar for the 2002 All Star game. The autos were free, and when I got to the front of the line there was a sign that said NO BATS. Brooks waived the attendant off, took the bat, slid back his chair, gave it a good grip rub and took a couple slow half swings. He smiled and gave me an "Oh Ya" before autographing it. Reggie Jackson was really interested and asked me about the bat and showed his handler the shaved handle and we had little chat about bat models. My all time favorite is Cecil Cooper. Since I was a kid I've had many encounters with him and he's always been great. I've had multiple items signed by him through the years, but when I bring him a bat, he always lights up, handles it and we discuss it. He usually has a little story to share about bats.( He once admitted he was a bat thief. He would go to the bat rack and check everybody's models, and would liberate one if he liked it, and put his number on it). Always remember those times

Thanks for your response and I completely get it!
Each bat signed gave me an opportunity to connect with the player that that signed it, and like you, a conversation always became part of the experience. ;)

That’s a really cool collection!! I collect a lot of things but I must admit that a bat collection displayed like that is probably my favorite!!

Some new bats picked up this week for the collection.

https://i.imgur.com/hzXoTjJh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RKBvjcKh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/kaFWbuIh.jpg

Gary Sheffield
 

Attachment 546670
Not sure why this photo resolution is set like this. If anyone knows how to change it on a iPad please let me know.

I'm used to older baseball bats, but I saw this and was interested. Was this sort of logo used for MLB bats? And does anyone know who the engraved signature belongs to? The bat is a 32" Louisville Slugger.

This one is Jay Bruce. The MLB180 was not, but there are some players that did use barrel branding like this.

Thanks, it's amazing how many companies make baseball bats.

I collect the Giants and I’m unconvinced this was a gamer or even ordered by McCovey…

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22528853907...mis&media=COPY

I would have to agree with you on that and the Santo that sold. I can't believe it went that high. I guess it coming from a "Scout Estate" added some value?

I have read somewhere that the D model bats were not ones ordered by the players. Could be wrong though.

The signature model simply indicates that they were under contact with LS. Block lettered names were bats made for the player to try but were not under contact.

Its not about how many they were allowed; its how many they ordered. Some guys only ordered 6 bats a year, some more or less.

Funny how the seller didn’t mention the scout’s name :cool:

That was not a model McCovey ever ordered and he usually (always?) put a circled “44” on the knob.

Would there be a blue stripe for Giants bats? I thought those were color coordinated for the teams

Giants were typically black banded for Adirondack bats.

Correct, from all of the gamers I've seen they were always marked with his number.

Another one for the Tigers collection
 

Just picked this up.
Attachment 559378

Attachment 559379

Attachment 559380

Attachment 559381

Two new bat rescues found their way to my door. 1965-69 era U1 models from Fred Whitfield and Willie Davis. They’ll both need some work to save them as the condition is rough.

Lynn Jones: Another former Tiger
 

Attachment 560156

Attachment 560157

Attachment 560158

My first Larkin bat. Another Net54 member was very patient and worked with me on this one. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3c791dcfbe.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...27be8ced1f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...09787efc8e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...349ac003fa.jpg

Sent from my SM-G9900 using Tapatalk

And its a 1990 bat. Congrats on a very nice Larkin bat.

That's great. From what I've seen, it looks like the Reds were one of the pioneers of MLB teams offering game used items to fans at the ballpark.

Bill White Gamer
 

I went outside my comfort zone because growing up I so enjoyed Bill White when he was Was paired up with Phil Rizzuto calling Yankee games on TV. In the late 60's early 70's we had a Black and white Zenith TV that we would watch games on while sorting cards on our game table.
Added to that He was an 8x All Star And was President of the National League!!. Thats a lifetime full of Baseball.
Anyway my oldest gamer PSA gave it a 9 despite the crack on the Handle. So they must have seen alot of characteristics they liked on the bat. I know I like it.

White and Rizzuto filled my childhood baseball memories as well. I picked up a nice NL President White ONL ball a while back too.

Given his life in Baseball I am very surprised He has not been given a spot in the Hall of Fame.

2 Gregg Jeffries Gamers
 

Had these for awhile and finally get them signed on Sunday.
Attachment 574704

Attachment 574705

Yello paint pen came out 🔥 on Jefferies.

Giants
 

This bat is in rough shape, especially on the ends. But it is a bat.

Mark- Great Ott bat. You don't see many of those out there.


I just received this Willie Puddin Head Jones GU Adirondack bat. The bat is double marked on the knob 72A (Adirondack) and J62 (Hillerich & Bradsby). I haven't seen many Puddin Head bats around. Excited to add this to my collection.

Met Steve Garvey today to get my 1983-86 era gamer signed.

Mail Day!
 

Don't get me wrong, I love finding the superstar bats. But sometimes I run across something completely different that is just amazing.
I was fortunate enough to acquire this one last week.

This bat is uncracked, measures just 30 inches, but weighs in at 39.12 ounces. Another interesting feature is that it has the dash-dot-dash on the bottom of the logo, but the top is missing either the dash-dot-dash or the 125 I expected to see.

Finally, it has some side writing. After some intensive work, I was finally able to make it out (I think): Virgil A Hetzel, returning this bat in March of 1923. Checking the Baseball Reference, I was able to find one very strong candidate: Hetzel, who played for the Kalamazoo Celery Pickers in 1921.
I will continue to do some more research to be more certain, but I am just delighted to add this one to my collection for sure.

Good Taste in Bats
 

A gamed used Puddin' Head Jones bat. Very appealing to the eye, and the dual model numbers must be rare indeed. If I had that, it would probably start me down the road to a Wiz Kids collection..... AND a beautiful GU bat from one of the Celery Pickers-- a team that counts Mike Donlin and Wally Pipp among its celebrated alumni. Thanks for all the photos.

There are so many awesome bats on this thread. I just love it when I pop on and see there is another one.
That Puddin' Head bat is awesome!