Game used Mantle bat or not?
judgebuck
Posts: 1,006 ✭✭✭
On behalf of an estate of a former groundskeeper for the Cubs, Reds, and Expos, I consigned various items of memorabilia to an auction house for sale. We didn't consign this item, which is a broken Mickey Mantle bat. The gentleman who owned this had said that he was given this bat years ago by someone who said that Mantle had used it. Of course, we have no way of knowing. My question is: Does this appear to be a bat that could have been game used by Mantle? Here are pics:
Always looking for Mantle cards such as Stahl Meyer, 1954 Dan Dee, 1959 Bazooka, 1960 Post, 1952 Star Cal Decal, 1952 Tip Top Bread Labels, 1953-54 Briggs Meat, and other Topps, Bowman, and oddball Mantles.
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Comments
This post was from 2006, and some background on Mike Specht: from the Bats book co-authored by Mike Specht and others in the mid-1990's.
Game Worn forum discussion.
I am not a bat guy, but the info he gives sounds very good. He goes on to say that Mantle only had a handful of 34" bats and most that short are store models.
Thanks for posting that link as well. I started to get into Game Used stuff last year, I am always a little weary of bats unless they come authenticated by one of the big guys.
Still looks cool though.
I know I am responding a little late on this one but the prior post is correct.
This is not a professional model gamer, it is merely a store model bat. The key (like the prior post mentions) is the stamping on the knob.
Take care,
Joe Orlando
President
CEO, Collectors Universe, Inc.
<< <i>Just to add to Joe's post, the Flame Tempered should say Powerized as well. >>
I agree - the dead giveaway.
I think the MM4 - means it's a 34" bat also?
Also any game used bat will not have flame tempered next to the label. The only bats that have the flame tempered are store model bats. I believe that game model bat will have powerized. Just be careful because Louisville released player model bats that were the same specs as game used bats.
Always looking for Mantle cards such as Stahl Meyer, 1954 Dan Dee, 1959 Bazooka, 1960 Post, 1952 Star Cal Decal, 1952 Tip Top Bread Labels, 1953-54 Briggs Meat, and other Topps, Bowman, and oddball Mantles.