Mickey Mantle Bat

[JBird]

Alright gentleman i need some help. I've had this bat for a while now. Found it up in my parents attic. Its not in terrible shape but there is some separation on the barrel. Can someone please help me out and let me know what exactly i have here and what it might be worth? Not looking to sell it but want to know if this is something i should be preserving better than it has been.

[yanks12025]

How long is the bat? Could be a gamer.

[MooseDog]

Pretty sure it's a store model bat, probably from the late 1960s. The weathering on the bat certainly looks like some of my old bats from the same period. That came from leaving them outside in the rain and sun, not to mention the tons of use (we used to play outside unsupervised for hours at a time back then )

[bigtrain]

M110 could be a pro model bat. It would be pre 1965 when the Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. was removed from below the label.

[Bugsy]

Looks like a pro model to me.

[earlywynnfan]

Those are pro model markings, with burned in instead of stampings. It dates from 1960-64.

Length and weight would be really helpful.

Ken

[JBird]

ok ill measure it all out. whats the best way to weigh it? please dont respond with on a scale.

[JBird]

also i dont know if this makes any difference but it does not look like the bat was ever actually used to hit a baseball. with my eyes i dont see any significant dents in it.
what are we talking about in value as a gamer compared to a store issued bat???

[yanks12025]

But the early version was still used up in till 1968 according to maltas book.

[bat_master]

Then call John and ask him. Why raise a fuss about it on here when you could go to the source directly?

[JBird]

Connecticut

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[BigJJ]

I once went to the dentists office and said it was an emergency of sorts and that I had to see him right away.

My dentist came out to the waiting room

"Jon, are you ok, are you in pain?"

"I'm ok physically doc"

"I just have a Ruth bat that I want to x-ray, feels a little top heavy and I want to make certain it's not leaded."

Initial look of confusion. followed by explanation. followed by an x-ray.

No lead.

Everything in the office was put on hold pending resolution of whether the Ruth bat was leaded.

[sayhey24]

I think you're in great shape with the weight -- from the looks of that bat, it easily could have lost an ounce and a half.

Greg

[BigJJ]

Greg, he wants to lose a half an ounce

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by BigJJ

I once went to the dentists office and said it was an emergency of sorts and that I had to see him right away.

My dentist came out to the waiting room

"Jon, are you ok, are you in pain?"

"I'm ok physically doc"

"I just have a Ruth bat that I want to x-ray, feels a little top heavy and I want to make certain it's not leaded."

Initial look of confusion. followed by explanation. followed by an x-ray.

No lead.

Everything in the office was put on hold pending resolution of whether the Ruth bat was leaded.

I have never heard of a leaded bat. Is that similar to a corked bat in that it was used for cheating(hitting the ball farther)?

[sicollector1954]

I have a leaded bat which weighs 54 oz. It was a bat used in the 50's by the Milwaukee Braves as a "warm-up" bat used with the bat which was to be used in the game itself.

[BigJJ]

Similar to player corking in that lead is put into the bat barrel via drilling a cylindrical hole in the top of the barrel.
But I have never heard of a player wanting to artificially - increase - the weight of his bat by lead, or other means.
It has been rumored in the hobby that individuals have added nails, lead pellets, lead cylinders, etc. to bats to increase weight so that such bats might better correspond to player ordering records.
So if you have a bat of Babe Ruths and its length is what Ruth ordered, but its weight is 5-10 ounces lighter, and therefore a reviewer might call the bat a pro stock and not a more definitive Ruth gamer, someone might put more weight in the bat, to attempt to fool the evaluator.
so if a bat feels unusually top heavy, or looks like it has been drilled, or has an array of small touch ups, you may want to bring the bat to your dentist for x-ray prior to purchase
My dentist also zaps cavities via laser, no drilling, in under a minute, with no pain and no need for anesthetic. Its amazing.


Was typing as sicollector wrote - interesting, had never heard of a leaded warm up bat before.

[khkco4bls]

Why do these threads get so off track.

[JBird]

Looks exactly like my bat to me except better condition

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[khkco4bls]

Notic the 125 line up differently over the "&" mark.

[JBird]

Originally Posted by khkco4bls

Notic the 125 line up differently over the "&" mark.

ah yes i see that now. and the M110 font is also a little different. i would have never noticed that stuff.

[sicollector1954]

Great bat! The bat from what I see is in fact from 1961 and matches the 2 33 oz orders. 1961 was the last year that Reg. U.S.Pat.Off. lined up under the period in Louisville. located in the center label.
An example and better description of this type marking can be found with a Roger Maris 1961 016 model gamer which sold several years ago for around 8K from Hunt Auctions. Just check previous auctions for them and you will find it. Maris only ordered 1 batch of O16 model bats from the 1961 year.
You have a very nice bat and highly collectible. Also you may try putting it under a black light and seeing if there is any trace of his uniform playing number on either end....which would further tie the bat to Mantle. My take--and on track. Good luck with have John look at the bat.

[BigJJ]

Sicollector, Maris had two orders of 016 in 1961. and Reg. U.S.Pat.Off. lined up until 1964.