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scottanservitz
12-27-2005, 11:14 PM
Hello forum members. I found an Enos Slaughter game used bat on eBay. It is item 8743681101. It is listed as a H-B M110 that is 34.5 inches in length. It has #33 on the knob. Any insight as to the posibilities of this being a legit gamer? I don't know the specifics on Slaughter bats and was looking for some help from anyone. Thanks in advance. -Scott

ps The 33 looks funny to me. Slaughter was 33 in 1955 and 1956, but the second 3 looks strange.

MSpecht
12-28-2005, 07:33 PM
Hi-

A review of the H & B factory records indicates that Model M110 was the favored model for Enos Slaughter during the labeling period 1950-1960. Other models ordered during that period, in lesser quantities, were S166 (1950), S176 (1951-1955), S187 (1953), and a couple of orders of M117 (1951 and 1956). One order of K55 was shipped in 1956 also. From April 20,1955 (his first order of Model M110) through the end of Slaughter's career, Model M110 accounted for 99 % of his orders from H & B. The majority of those orders were 34.5 inches in length (with only a few at 35 inches) and weighed between 29 ounces and 30.5 ounces. Slaughter was extremely particular about his bats, and the H & B records frequently mention "exact weight" and "to be exactly" in notation.

Enos Slaughter only wore uniform Number 33 during his time with the Kansas City A's in 1955 and 1956.During that labeling period he also wore Number 9 with the St. Louis Cardinals and Number 17 with the New york Yankees. If you are comfortable with the marker Number "33", that would be the time frame (1955-1956) within this labeling period that the bat was manufactured. Specifically, as noted above, 34.5 inches and either 29, 30, or 30.5 ounces would be consistent with factory records in 1955 and 1956, and 35 inches / 30.5 ounces woul ddate only to 1955.

The overall appearance of this bat suggests a game used professional model bat manufactured by Hillerich & Bradsby during the period from 1950 to 1960. Factory records further specify the date of manufacture during that labeling period as between 4/20/55 and 9/1/60. The secondary player characteristics, in this case the Number 33 written in black marker on the knob, suggests use by Enos Slaughter, whose name appears in script on the barrel, during the period in 1955 and 1956 when he played for the Kansas City A's.

Note that there have been instances when Hillerich and Bradsby have reproduced bats for promotional activities, signings, etc. Often, the labels on those bats is consistent with the date of manufacture, however at times H & B also reproduced center labels and barrel labels consistent with an earlier labeling period. Bats from the 1950s have a vintage look and feel about them, as would the marker on the knob. Also, bats produced for reasons other than delivery to a Major League player were generally produced without regard to weight. With the weight range of Slaughter's bats being so consistent and light in weight, that would possibly be another factor in authentication, even though many factors can affect the weight of a bat over a fifty year period. In other words, if this bat is heavier that 32 or 33 ounces, that could be due to storage conditions over the years. However, if this bar is light -- 29, 30, or 31 ounces -- then it remeins consistent with facrory records and that would be a big plus in the authentication process given the general uniqueness of that light weight.

Ask the seller about the weight measurenr of the bat and any background he may be aware of in the original acquisition of the bat. Any information can prove to be helpful.

Good Luck in future collecting.

Mike

scottanservitz
12-29-2005, 09:41 AM
Mike,
Thanks for the great research! I really appreciate this forum and its members. Happy New Year! -Scott