Ivan Rodriguez Louisville Slugger P72

[bat_master]

Hello,

I'm looking for help in dating a recently acquired Ivan Rodriguez bat. It is a black, block letter full name 1991-97 Louisville Slugger P72. It is 34" long and weighs 31.9 oz on my scale.

My question is, does anyone know when this bat would have been ordered? Is it known when he signed his contract with LS to have a signature model bat making any bat before that date a block letter bat?

Any help in narrowing the year of production is greatly appreciated as this bat is a very early Pudge gamer with great use and is signed in silver. Gorgeous bat!

Responses can either be posted here or sent directly to my email at tim@hofbats.com.

Thanks in advance for any help that is provided.

[BMH]

I'll look when I get back to work tomorrow but I can already tell you it will be really hard to get you an order date. Ivan uses a lot of bats, mainly the P72 or a variation there of.

What does the finish look like? Can you see the grain of the bat in the barrel or does it look filled in. If it's filled in or not that will help narrow it down by a few years. As soon as we started offering the "Smith finish" that covers the grain he started ordering it.

[bat_master]

Hi BMH,

Thank you for the quick response. The grain is visible so it is the regular black finish, not the Smith.

If you would like photos of the bat or any other info on it, please don't hesitate to drop me an email at tim@hofbats.com.

Thank you again for your help.

[BMH]

Ok, what's the team name on the bat or is there one? Plus, is it cupped or not?

[bat_master]

Hello,

It is a Texas Rangers bat, done in silver lettering. Block letter first and last name. Uncupped.

Thanks again for the help.

[BMH]

Alright, it looks like the bat was made somewhere between 1993-1997. He ordered the P72 before that, but a different color. In 1998 he started ordering Gwynn finish and Smith on his P72's.

Hope this helps.

Brian

[bat_master]

Hi Brian,

That does help. Do you happen to know when he signed his contract?

That may narrow it down even further if the contract was signed before 1997 as I would think it would have been.

Thank you again for your help.

[BMH]

He signed with us in 1996.

So your bat is either a 1993 or a 1995, he didn't order the P72 in 1994.

[bat_master]

Hi Brian,

That's exactly what I needed to know. Thank you VERY much for your help. If I can ever be of assistance to you, don't hesitate to ask.

[BMH]

Not a problem.

I do have a question, what do his bats usually go for from his time with the Marlins?