[minibatsman]

I have been collecting mini bats for 30 years. I would like to give my opinion on this bat. if you have seen one of these bats you will notice the decal is on one side and the H&S logo is on the other.

Every time one comes up for auction it is called a salesman sample.

first any salesman sample the ones I have seen a stove or something else. Its is almost an exact miniature replica of the larger version. I would like to believe a baseball bat would be an exact miniature replica. its a round piece of wood that came from a factory that makes bats.

Could you see a salesman telling a store owner the larger ones will be different

the decals were meant to advertise the player and the company that made the bat. there is no way H&S would allow a bat that showed the player and didn't show the makers mark.

I don't believe they ever left the factory. of the six? 12 inch Wagner bats I have seen there always in near perfect condition.

It is my opinion of the half dozen I have seen in 30 years they were a mistake.
the decals were made the bats were made and the Wagner decal was to big to fit on the same side as the H&S logo.

I would go as far as saying that Bud Hillrich himself could have held these bats in his hands and made the decision to increase the size of the bats to 14 inches?. someone made the call. there are other 12 inch H&S cobb bats but the decal is different and does fit the bat. find a 12 inch H&S bat buy it? they didn't make many.

I have added some photos from my original post.

The Wagner bat that I claim that it is a mistake. find any other bat made by anyone that has there manufacturer,s logo and the decal or the players name on opposite sides of the barrel. if you do its probably a mistake.

the other one is a salesman sample. its a 14 inch H&B I don't have a blank H&S. I am not saying other mini decals were not used by salesman. but this one wasn't.

the reason I feel the this Wagner bat is important is because it could be one of the few bats that might have been directly handled by Bud Hillerich himself.

From what I have read he was very involved with the bats early in his career. not just making them but promoting them also.

most bat collectors would probably want to own a game used Ruth bat. me too. but owning a bat that was possible handled by the kid that made the bats for every hall of famer to ever play the game should get the respect it deserves.

And I intend to prove it . but I cant do it without some help.