McGwire bat on Mastro -- A "658" model?

[Birdbats]

I was just browsing Mastro's latest auction listing and came across this description for a 2000 Mark McGwire bat:

Offered here is a Rawlings/Adirondack weapon wielded by the Red Bird slugger during the 2000 campaign, his second-to-last season in a fence-clearing career. This 34-1/2", 32-1/2-oz. white ash "658" model is a red-ring, block-letter (full name) bat with a prominent centerbrand and barrel stampings. In addition to the model number and year, "MAC25" is engraved on the knob.

C'mon... a "658" model? It took me a few seconds to realize they must be talking about the batch number (there's no photo of the knob to confirm this). I can see a rookie eBay seller making that kind of mistake, but Mastro? It certainly raises some questions about the level of experience of their staff.

If you're in the market for a McGwire bat, I encourage you to read the "McGwire bat buyer's guide" recently posted on my Web site, http://www.birdbats.com. I was able to gather some great information from sources at Rawlings, the National Baseball HOF and the Cardinals about McGwire's bats and about Rawlings bats in general (for example, what batch numbers really mean). It's my hope that this article will help collectors find the McGwire bats they want and avoid spending their hard-earned money on Mac bats that don't have the desired or proper characteristics.

Jeff
http://www.birdbats.com

[Rboitano]

I dont think I have ever seen that model number before. I know that around 96-97 that Rawlings started stamping MAC25 instead of the 256B. I have seen quite a few issued and used Mcgwire Oakland bats and I have never seen another model number other than the 256B. I know you are familiar with a few of these Mac bats. I would agree that I would rather have a Oakland era Mcgwire bat, their seems to be very few of them compared to Cardinals days. Thats a very good buyers guide, you plan on putting one up for Ozzie?

[Rboitano]

Sorry about the massive photos.

[R. C. Walker]

If you're in the market for a McGwire bat, I encourage you to read the "McGwire bat buyer's guide" recently posted on my Web site, http://www.birdbats.com. I was able to gather some great information from sources at Rawlings, the National Baseball HOF and the Cardinals about McGwire's bats and about Rawlings bats in general (for example, what batch numbers really mean). It's my hope that this article will help collectors find the McGwire bats they want and avoid spending their hard-earned money on Mac bats that don't have the desired or proper characteristics.

Jeff
http://www.birdbats.com

Great work, Jeff. Very informative.