Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

[cmw2ward]

Hello All,

I hoping that some of the bat experts could help me out on this Bat! It's a block letter Jim "Kaat" R161, it appears to me to be foiled stamped.

The issue is that BMH said these bats were last shipped in 1984 to Kaat in Pittsburgh. Is this bat an '84 or '85? Is it a bat shipped to Katt or pitcher pro-mo bat?

Thanks in advance! I've been trying to figure it out for awhile and am totally lost.

Best,
Tim

[rj_lucas]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

Tim, why do you say it's foil stamped? It appears to be burn branded.

Rick
rickjlucas@gmail.com

[cmw2ward]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

Rick,

It may be, I have real difficulty distinguishing foil stamped verses standard, any opinions?

[ironmanfan]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

definitely not foil stamped

[cmw2ward]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

Thanks for the input. Two questions, how can you tell, and is this a '84? Thanks again

[rj_lucas]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

Thanks for the input. Two questions, how can you tell, and is this a '84? Thanks again

Foil stamping is when you apply a thin layer of metal to wood, paper, whatever. The result is metallic looking e.g. like you would see on a black bat.

As to whether it's an '84, I'm sure somebody on the forum will know the answer.

Rick
rickjlucas@gmail.com

[Birdbats]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

Looks like an '83 1/2 - '85 label, so '84 fits. What's odd is that this is a non-contract model. Kaat had a contract with H&B -- I have one of his '80-'83 bats with his signature branded into the barrel. Wonder why they'd ship him a non-contract model. Was it because he was retired?

[cmw2ward]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

Jeff,

Can't answer that question as to why it's a block letter. I posted a question on the shipping info thread. BMH said that they shipped (12) R161 in 1984 to Pittsburgh. I'm guessing this is one of those bats?

Not sure yet, still looking for peoples opinions. Thanks.

[rj_lucas]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

Baseball-Reference.com shows Kaat pitching 24 games in 1983, none after that. According to Wikipedia, Kaat served as a pitching coach with the Reds for part of '84 and all of '85. Would that explain why there's no script i.e. a coach's bat?

I don't understand the shipment to Pittsburgh though. You sure those bats weren't shipped to Cincy?

Rick
rickjlucas@gmail.com

[cmw2ward]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

Rick,

Below please find a link to The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia By David Finoli, Bill Ranier.

Stating that he tried out for the Pirates in the '84 spring traing. BMH posted on the shipping order records tread that (12) R161's were sent to Pittsburgh in '84.

So I'm trying to figure out if this is one of those bats. Thanks again.

http://books.google.com/books?id=1VwOLIVOWvwC&pg=PA200&lpg=PA200&dq=jim+kaat+1984+pirates&source=bl&ots=qi3Zuicxlr&sig=7LnqEWOIJ30ZiIUUNPZL5Z44ljw&hl=en&ei=1NilSuysAZLtlAet-4iQBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7#v=onepage&q=jim%20kaat%201984%20pirates&f=false

[rj_lucas]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

Rick,

Below please find a link to The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia By David Finoli, Bill Ranier.

Stating that he tried out for the Pirates in the '84 spring traing. BMH posted on the shipping order records tread that (12) R161's were sent to Pittsburgh in '84.

So I'm trying to figure out if this is one of those bats. Thanks again.



http://books.google.com/books?id=1Vw...irates&f=false

Boy, the evidence would sure seem to point in that direction. If so, it's a pretty interesting find i.e. one of the last bats of his playing career.

Rick
rickjlucas@gmail.com

[cmw2ward]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

Rick,

I hope it is, would be really cool to have one of his last bats!

[cmw2ward]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

can anyone help me narrow this bat down to a particular shipment....spring of 1984? Thanks in advance!

[cmw2ward]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

Still looking for opinions on this bat! Let me know what you think?

-Thanks

[BMH]

Re: Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

They were shipped on 3/28/1984. The branding is burn brand which is consistent with the 3/28/1984 order from Pittsburgh. The three orders before this one used his autograph and the three after did too.