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11-18-2005, 01:49 AM
Gwynn Bat Size

November 10 2005 at 7:50 PM Zeb Fowler (zfowl@yahoo.com) (Login zfowl (http://www.network54.com/Profile/zfowl))

Hi. I have a Tony Gwynn bat that I would like to put on eBay, but before I do I'd like to check to see if the dimensions are close to what they should be.

The bat is a Cooper Pro 100 with Gwynn's name on it. There is no game use on it. My postal scale has it at a couple tenths over 31 ounces. The length of the bat is 32 1/2". Both these figures agree with what is stamped on the knob.

This seems like a bat that a Little Leaguer might use, should they use something other than a metal. I know Gwynn was not a tall guy (wide, but not tall), but was he known to use bats this small?

Thanks,
Zeb


AuthorReply

David (metsbats86@aol.com)
(Login metsbats86 (http://www.network54.com/Profile/metsbats86))
Gwynn used one of the smallest bats...

November 10 2005, 8:11 PM
http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/gwynn/man_to_man.html (http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/gwynn/man_to_man.html)

See the above link to an article on Gwynn bat sizes.

31 1/2 - 33 inches lenght bats are typical for Gwynn. I own 2 Gwynn gamers and they are 31 1/2 (LV 86-89) and 33 inches (LV 99). Gwynn was know to use one of the shortest bats in baseball.

David


Zeb Fowler (zfowl@yahoo.com)
(Login zfowl (http://www.network54.com/Profile/zfowl))
Gwynn Bat Size

November 10 2005, 8:30 PM
Thanks for the article, David. It looks like the bat I have is the right size, if not his favorite brand. In that article he mentions only Louisville Sluggers, but in the MastroNet reference book they also list him as using an Adirondack, though details are sketchy at best. No mention of Cooper at all, though the MastroNet book is getting a bit dated after four year.

Still, I'll list the bat this weekend and see what the buyers decide on it.

Zeb


Mike Specht (Jackitout7@aol.com)
(Login MLBbatman (http://www.network54.com/Profile/MLBbatman))
Re: Gwynn Bat Size

November 11 2005, 6:18 PM
In reviewing the H & B factory records from 10/26/81 through 8/5/97, the article referenced above is accurate. By far the most common length for Gwynn gamers was 32.5 inches, with a few exceptions (very few) of 32 inches or 33 inches. In 1983 a few 33.5 inch bats were ordered also. 31 ounce weight was by far Gwynn's standard order. I live in San Diego, and seeing Gwynn use Cooper and Worth bats was not typical, but not uncommon either. The dimensions stayed within the H & B perimeters on those bats also in my experience. Be aware that Gwynn became a self-promoter pretty early in his career, and many orders of Gwynn bats were sent to various maeketing firms such as Anaconda Kaye (1988-1994), Garvey Marketing (1988-1989), John Boggs Associates (1989-1992), and Ike Company (1995-1996), among others. Many of these 'promotion' bats were ordered in lengths of 34 inches, and many would be heavier than Gwynn's preferred weight of between 30 and 31 ounces. As Tony got closer to 3000 hits and the end of his Hall of Fame career, promotion opportunities increased dramatically, and were overseen by his wife through Tony's own company. Commonly seen on Gwynn game used bats are either tape or heavy pine tar, length and weight notations on the knob, and uniform number on the knob and the (usually) cupped end. H & B Models B267C and C263C were most frequently ordered by Gwynn. Other models he used include K55 (rookie era) G168C, G169C, and G170C. Good Luck with your auction.
Mike
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David (metsbats86@aol.com)
(Login metsbats86 (http://www.network54.com/Profile/metsbats86))
Excellent info

November 12 2005, 5:39 PM
Excellent information on the Gwynn Mike. I was looking thru my copy of the Art of Hitting by Tony Gwynn and was not able to find any photos of him using Coopers but there were a few with him swinging Adirondacks and Hoosiers. Good to know first hand that he did use Coopers though.

Regards
-David