Johnny Bench Game Used Bat

[capnsteve2]

Hello Everyone,

I introduced myself in my last post. In summary, I received a collection of items years ago from a family friend. All of the items in this collection have turned out to be authentically signed; however, this piece was given to me as a game used Johnny Bench bat.

I have done some research on another website and, at the very least, it appears to be consistent with what one of his bats could have been, and appears authentic. The signature is authentic (that's my opinion, but I'm very familiar with it), of course, that doesn't mean that the bat itself is.

In any case, I have added several pictures and hope that someone on here with more experience than I have can shed some light on it. I have not tried to photo match it.

It weighs: 34.6oz (could be 34.7 or 34.5, was hard to balance on my gram scale)

Here are some pictures, and I thank you in advance for your thoughts.

PS: if I'm posting in the wrong area, please forgive me as this is my second post.

[yanks12025]

Sorry to tell you but it's a store model bat.

[prichmond]

ok i'll be the idiot. how can you tell it is a store model bat?

Pete

[yanks12025]

It's foil stamped and not branded into the bat and also the trade mark after Bench.

[capnsteve2]

Yanks:

This website lists many Bench game bats and most of them have the TM or R after the name.

http://www.hofbats.com/members/uc/JBench.html

What is the foil stamp?

Thanks!

Steve

[capnsteve2]

It's foil stamped and not branded into the bat and also the trade mark after Bench.

Also if by foil stamed you are referring to th logos and writing on bat, it is not a stamp. It's etched / branded into the bat. Sorry if the pics don't show that well.

Does anyone else have any insights? Thanks in advance.

[capnsteve2]

Here are a couple of more hi-res photos. I looked up what Yanks meant by foil stamped and I see it refers to the signature. I added a better picture to verify if that indeed is the case.

With regards to the (R) after the name, it does appear that in photos he used bats with that on there.

Thanks again for anyone's insight, as I really appreciate it!

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz155/capnsteve2/Autograph%20Opinions%20Comparisons/benchbat1.jpg

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz155/capnsteve2/Autograph%20Opinions%20Comparisons/benchbat2.jpg

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz155/capnsteve2/Autograph%20Opinions%20Comparisons/benchbat3.jpg

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz155/capnsteve2/Autograph%20Opinions%20Comparisons/benchbat4.jpg

[momen55]

it is a retail bat. doesn't matter how you slice it. it is amazing that people think that because a bat is signed it is a pro bat. seen a lot of that lately. saw one on ebay and the seller swore up and down it was and is a pro bat.

[ironmanfan]

it is a retail bat. doesn't matter how you slice it. it is amazing that people think that because a bat is signed it is a pro bat. seen a lot of that lately. saw one on ebay and the seller swore up and down it was and is a pro bat.

if it's a retail bat, where are the inch marks on the knob?

[prichmond]

Vince Malta books does show a Bench bat with the R circled after his name. it also shows he ordered and R43 in 1966, 1968, 1976, and 1979 Only the 68 was not flame treated. They range in length from34 inches to 35.5 inches. Did they ship 1976 bats without the bicentenial logo?

Hope that helps

Pete

[capnsteve2]

Vince Malta books does show a Bench bat with the R circled after his name. it also shows he ordered and R43 in 1966, 1968, 1976, and 1979 Only the 68 was not flame treated. They range in length from34 inches to 35.5 inches. Did they ship 1976 bats without the bicentenial logo?

Hope that helps

Pete

Thanks for the reply! The bat is 34 inches in length exactly.

[GoTigers]

if it's a retail bat, where are the inch marks on the knob?

Probably in a pile of sawdust on the floor..

[GoTigers]

But seriously, It is a retail bat. It looks nice though, congrats on the collection.

[capnsteve2]

Just an FYI I have been able to photo-match Johnny Bench using a bat with the (R) after his name. (not the same model as mine, but one nonetheless). Whether it's a retail bat or not, this photo definitely shows him using a bat with the TM after his signature.

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz155/capnsteve2/Autograph%20Opinions%20Comparisons/50987213copy_zpsb1d2f2c4.jpg

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz155/capnsteve2/Autograph%20Opinions%20Comparisons/benchbat2_zpsd19fe79c.jpg

[yanks12025]

ok I messed up on the trademark R. Still doesn't make it a game used bat, it's nothing but a store model that someone probably sanded off the JB5 on the knob.

[capnsteve2]

ok I messed up on the trademark R. Still doesn't make it a game used bat, it's nothing but a store model that someone probably sanded off the JB5 on the knob.

That could very well be and I thank you for your opinion and for taking the time to post!

You were the only person to give a reason why you thought it was a store model bat. Everyone else just says "store model bat."

The reasons you gave though have been shown not to be all together true. In fact, so far, it seems like the people who have given information as to how it might be real have given me information which supports that case.

If anyone has any actual reasons why it's a store model bat I'd really appreciate hearing them as it would save me $50 plus shipping to send it to PSA. A simple "it's a store model bat" isn't really evidence (though I do appreciate your experience, as shown in the photos, it can be wrong).

Thanks again (and I don't intend to come off in any way other than grateful for your opinions).

[yanks12025]

A reason for it being a STORE MODEL is that the stamping's are FOIL. A real game used the stamping's would be deep. see the bat in the link how the stamping's are alot deeper then yours. Also I don't own the bat on ebay just using it as example.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/JOHNNY-BENCH-Bicentennial-H-B-Bat-BIG-RED-MACHINE-HOF-/250760980540?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6284e83c

[capnsteve2]

May have solved it here...this bat was on Heritage Auctions listed as a store model bat. Looks to be signed in the same pen as mine, and could have been part of a large lot of these done.

Thanks all for the opinions and looks like they were spot on. Too bad someone went through the trouble to make it look game used, but I'm glad it saved me $50 plus shipping to send it to PSA.

Without your opinions I would probably not have researched it further and I'd be out the cash. Thanks again...

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz155/capnsteve2/Autograph%20Opinions%20Comparisons/lf_zpsd048be1b.jpeg

[capnsteve2]

A reason for it being a STORE MODEL is that the stamping's are FOIL. A real game used the stamping's would be deep. see the bat in the link how the stamping's are alot deeper then yours. Also I don't own the bat on ebay just using it as example.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/JOHNNY-BENCH-Bicentennial-H-B-Bat-BIG-RED-MACHINE-HOF-/250760980540?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6284e83c

Yanks - thanks for your posts. I appreciate it! You've been very helpful.

[earlywynnfan]

I didn't take the time to post yesterday, sorry, but I will belatedly support the "store model" theory. After looking at gamers for 20 years, I, like Yanks and the rest, can spot this just by the font and the lower-grade wood.

Ken

[capnsteve2]

I didn't take the time to post yesterday, sorry, but I will belatedly support the "store model" theory. After looking at gamers for 20 years, I, like Yanks and the rest, can spot this just by the font and the lower-grade wood.

Ken

Thanks for the information and I appreciate it. I would much rather know the truth about any item in my collection than believe a "story" that came with it.

And you guys saved me $50+ from psa so I really appreciate it!!

[momen55]

if it's a retail bat, where are the inch marks on the knob?

you can tell that the knob was sanded to remove the retail marks. it should read JB4.

[momen55]

May have solved it here...this bat was on Heritage Auctions listed as a store model bat. Looks to be signed in the same pen as mine, and could have been part of a large lot of these done.

Thanks all for the opinions and looks like they were spot on. Too bad someone went through the trouble to make it look game used, but I'm glad it saved me $50 plus shipping to send it to PSA.

Without your opinions I would probably not have researched it further and I'd be out the cash. Thanks again...

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz155/capnsteve2/Autograph%20Opinions%20Comparisons/lf_zpsd048be1b.jpeg

there is a bench retail bat on ebay now that has been there for at least a year, that the person is hoping sells doe 200-300! and they sent it in to get graded!

[momen55]

there is a bench retail bat on ebay now that has been there for at least a year, that the person is hoping sells for 200-300! and they sent it in to get graded!

correction: sells for 200-300!