Dave Kingman Bat Records Question

Hi guys:

Going back to our discussion of Kingman's bat records from March - I will be seeing Dave this Sunday at a show in STL (8 hour drive 1 way for me), and wondered if I can fine tune some info we talked about before...

I have 3 gamer bats to get signed: H4, H174 and C271. I am looking to pinpoint specific year that each bat was used as they are od numbers for him which the info will be used for the inscription on the bat. The H4 has a funky infielder's (lack of knob) knob which is uncharacteristic for Dave and you mentioned it being a 70-72 time period. Any info about that knob would be appreciated. Looks like the H174 was a '75 bat. Can you tell me when the C271 was ordered? Looks like a later career bat???

Bob Koppel

Hi Bob--

Here's the info you are looking for:

H4 models were ordered in 1970 (36 inch - pre rookie Minor League bat as his first Major league game was 7/30/71) and 1972 (35 and 36 inch)...If it is 35 inches it is from 1972 (Giants) ...a 36 inch bat could be either....if there are remnants of a number on the 36 inch bat, his earliest Number 26 he wore was in 1972 (Major League), any other number would probably date it to the 1970 order, altho I don't know his uniform numbers in the minors.

H174 models were ordered in 1975 (35.5 inch, cupped) and that's it -- Major League bat while he was with the Mets, again wearing Uniform Number 26.

C271 bats were ordered in 1975 (36 inch, cupped...Mets), and 1984 (35.5 inch, Natural finish...Oakland), The labeling and length will tell you which it is.

All the best in getting the bats signed.

Mike Jackitout7@aol.com

Mike:

Thanks so much. I was lucky in 2005 and picked up all 3 of these tough gamers. 2006 appears to be not so lucky in adding others...

Please contact if anyone is selling Kingman game used equipment...

Bob

Bob--

Would love to hear about your kKngman collection of bats...those are some tough ones you were able to get last year. Looking at the records, the other tough ones would be M159 --6 bats- 1970...P72 -- 3 bats - 1971...O16 -- 6 bats - 1974...M110C -- 6 bats - 1976 and K10-- 12 bats - 1981. ....J93 and S216 and K140 would not be far behind in difficulty.

I had a similar collector's itch with McCovey bats. He was one of my favorites, so I decided to collect a game used bat of every model he used...anytime i would find a different model, I'd pick it up. Finally, when I had about 8 different bats I was able to actually see his factory records. I thought then, "Ehhhhh....maybe not." Like many modern players, Big Mac went through numerous models during his career.

Kingman is probably more do-able in that respect, but there are some tough ones for him as noted. And forget even considering Ozzie Smith, who used 31 different models during his career, and that's just Louisville Slugger !!!



Good luck with Kingman.

Mike Jackitout7@aol.com