Question on strange H & B bat stamping...
 

Guys...........I recently picked up this cracked '60's era Don Wert pro model M110 bat and it has a weird '7' stamped to the right of the Powerized logo. Any idea the purpose of this? It appears to be factory stamped. His jersey # with the Tigers was '8', so that's not the answer. Thanks in advance........Matt

I think it's quite possible that it is some sort of an internal inventory system that the Tigers had. Several years ago I owned a 1973-74 Ed Brinkman with #26 on the knob (Gates Brown?) that had a 1 stamped just to the right of the center label area. Same style/method of stamping as your Don Wert.

Alternative theory: for a while, H&B experimented with making players a set of bats like a set of golf clubs. 1's and 2's for hitting home runs. 7's, 8's, and 9's for short singles. A putter bat for bunts?

That explains how Wert had a #7, but why did Brinkman have a #1??

Bats
 

This is the reply I got many years ago for a Dick McAuliffe bat which has an engraved 7 exactly in the same place as your bat.

Cool info guys. Thanks!