Pete Rose started using a rose-colored Mizuno bat in March, 1981.

I have heard that, during a game between the Phillies and Giants, San Francisco manager [FONT='Helv','sans-serif']Frank Robinson complained about the bat because it did not conform to MLB color regulations (Rule 1.10d). The home plate umpire seized the bat, and N.L. President Chub Feeney subsequently ruled that it did indeed fall afoul of the rules. (Note: Today, players may freely use bats of this color. H&B calls this color Galen.) [/FONT]
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[FONT='Helv','sans-serif']I am not sure whether this incident occured in spring training or the regular season. The Phils first game with the Giants was on May 2, 1981.[/FONT]
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[FONT='Helv','sans-serif']Chuck, tacprc@yahoo.com[/FONT]