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Thread: George Brett Bat
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12-18-2007, 01:56 PM #1
Re: George Brett Bat
hello michael
"..but his final playing season George did not resign a contract with Louisville Slugger"
as you know, brett's final season was 1993, not 1992. he played the entire 1993 season.
according to the LVS shipping records in malta's last book, in 1992 brett was shipped 144 bats in 1992 and 84 bats in 1993. i'm sure mike specht or bmh would do a better job of filling in the specific details.
here, lelands sold a "1992 george brett game used bat":
http://www.lelands.com/bid.aspx?auctionid=104&lot=1899
rudy.
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12-18-2007, 04:35 PM #2
Re: George Brett Bat
here are two photos from 1992 and one from 1993. you can easily date them via the year-specific patches. (in 1992, the jbb memorial and in 1993, the 25th anniversary patch). all show brett using LVS.
the idea of brett using another player's bats simply because he hadn't signed a LVS contract doesn't seem to make sense. here's a man who spent 20 yrs in the major leagues and he entered his final season(s) without a bat contract?
secondly, unlike many players who use several brands over the course of their careers, brett seems to have been an LVS man his entire career. it seems he was pretty devoted to using LVS. hypothetically speaking, if brett found himself without any of his own bats for an entire season (an insane scenario in itself) then doesn't it seem to reason that he'd borrow some LVS bats? he'd been an LVS man his entire career and upon finding himself without bats, he then goes to borrow a Cooper?
rudy.
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12-18-2007, 09:55 PM #3
Re: George Brett Bat
Just for kicks I emailed the seller asking about the LS contract and how Brett could put the wrong date on a bat he most likely didn't use. His response was:
"Thanks for your comments. I seem to have enough people
believing what is posted and I don't find myself worrying about it at
all. Thanks again"
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12-19-2007, 01:01 PM #4
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
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- 1,349
Re: George Brett Bat
Here is the H & B info for the relevant period:
In 1991 Brett was shipped the following models from H & B - C271C, T141, T141C, and P138C ---there were 8 orders in all, between 2/1/91 and 9/4/91 that went directly to Brett via the K C Royals. Also during that year, numerous promotional orders totaling hundreds of bats were shipped to Anaconda Kaye, Ike Co, and other entities.
In 1992 Brett was shipped nine orders from H & B between 1/21/92 and 6/9/92 via the K C Royals. Models included C271C, B351C, and C271. As in 1991, hundreds of promotional bats were shipped to other entities, including the Royals.
The question of whether Brett had a valid contract with H & B early in the 1992 season, or if it had lapsed for a short period, could best be answered by BMH, however it appears from the shipment patterns of professional Brett bats and particularly "other" Brett bats to the Royals themselves (for promo) , Anaconda Kaye, and others, that it is almost certain that Brett had a valid contract and all bats shipped were signature model bats. The possibility that H & B would somehow allow a contract of one of their most popular and in demand players lapse at that time seems unlikely as well. Pictured in this post are signature model Brett bats from the period, and I easily found signature model pro Brett bats from surrounding years (1990 and 1993).
Could Brett have used a different bat during any specific at bat ? Sure. Enhanced imagery of the Getty photo from that game may allow a photo match. Brett's apparent error in the home run total is not unlikely (I once had a Clemente auto'ed baseball where in the inscription the hit total was off by one number --- bummer but interesting as well). The inscription on the bat by Brett and the C271 style (Cooper mirrored H & B models) tend to add to the possibility that it is a bat Brett would have chosen to use if he either had no bats available for whatever reason, or wanted to switch during that at bat (maybe to a lighter bat against Gossage?)
Basically, this comes down to one's comfort level with Brett's provenance, errors (home run total) and all. The provenance insofar as to whom the bat was given (Mayne, Bat Boy, etc) would also be interesting
Mike Jackitout7@aol.com
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12-19-2007, 06:39 PM #5
- Join Date
- Apr 2007
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- 471
Re: George Brett Bat
thanks for all the input/insight from everyone
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12-19-2007, 09:05 PM #6
Re: George Brett Bat
It would be rather strange that George Brett would be battless at the beginning of the season, but anything is certainly possible. I wouldn't think that George would personally add provenance for the bat if not a bat he used.
However, the Signature and Inscription don't appear to be from the same hand and the Pine Tar Pattern on the bat doesn't conform as George as we all know used pine tar well up to and into the branding...the amount of Pine Tar however is consistent.
It would have been great if there was a picture of George with the bat or he was seen using a Cooper.
It sure looks like it's getting some action nevertheless...Always looking for Dodger Game Used Jerseys
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12-26-2007, 05:15 PM #7
Re: George Brett Bat
looks like brett did have his own bats in '92?:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=130184947977
rudy.