Umm, odd knob marking on ebay...

[emann]

So, check out the knob mark on this John Mayberry Sr. bat... The seller says it's Mayberry's #45. I think it looks a little more like a certain symbol associated with WWII.

http://cgi.ebay.com/John-Mayberry-Sr-game-used-bat-Royals-Blue-Jays-Astros_W0QQitemZ150353410317QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_ DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2301c2f90d&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

[CampWest]

So, check out the knob mark on this John Mayberry Sr. bat... The seller says it's Mayberry's #45. I think it looks a little more like a certain symbol associated with WWII.

I saw a similar, but not identical, marking on an Amos Otis bat a couple weeks ago. Obviously this isnt what you are thinking, but its just an odd shape... I guess they got tired of numbers and initials. I doubt Mayberry used the symbol that it looks like in that picture.

http://stats.knightsbridge1.com/ao5.jpg

[MarinersFan34]

I would be much more inclined to believe that if it is in fact a swastika, then it's there because of it's original meaning of good luck or other religious belief. It certainly looks more like the old traditional use, which is more in line with a level square shape. I am lining it up with the label and name, assuming the knob photo was taken without the bats rotated.

The version that is associated with the Nazi was rotated to stand on a point.

There is a bunch of info on the web about the symbol and it's original uses before it was ruined.

I could be wrong, but that is only my own opinion on it.

I will agree though that it certainly doesn't look like a #45 on the knob.

[both-teams-played-hard]

I would be much more inclined to believe that if it is in fact a swastika, then it's there because of it's original meaning of good luck or other religious belief.
Whatever.

[MarinersFan34]

Whatever.

Excellent contribution to the thread!

[emann]

I'm attaching the pic, just for reference...

Yeah, I understand the original history behind the swastika and that Hitler chose it for a reason. That said, he pretty much redefined its meaning going forward (and this bat is from the late 70's)

So it was either used overtly, done out of ignorance or for the original religious meaning (or maybe it's really supposed to be a #45)- whatever the case, it probably shouldn't have been used as his way to ID the bat on a rack. Poor judgement call from 30 years ago...

Certainly would have caused quite an uproar if this ever appeared on a baseball card though- makes the Billy Ripken "F**K Face" knob look pale in comparison.

[012562]

In the late 1970's, I also obtained an Amos Otis bat with the same kind of unusual logo drawn on the knob. I never understood what the logo meant, if anything.

Tom Duino