model designations

[momen55]

bmh, mike, whomever;

how are model numbers made up? how did a D143 or A99 for example come into existence? i had read some time ago that A99 was hank aaron's model, is that correct? and what does the 99 mean?

[BMH]

You take the first letter of the players last name and the number is how many of that letter have been made. The A99 is the 99th model made for a person with the last name starting in "A". When this project was started back in the 40's they started assigning model numbers to the old players models as they were ordered. That is why Robinson is a R17 and Ruth is a R43.

[momen55]

so if my last name had an A and i wanted that model, it would then be A100? it must be really simple because i don't get it?

[sayhey24]

I'll try to add to BMH's explanation: if your last name started with A, and you ordered a brand new model of bat that had never been made before by H&B, then yes, it would be an A100 (at least it would be if you ordered that bat right after Aaron ordered his bat that became the A99). In the years since Aaron ordered what became the A99, there have probably been other players with the last name A who have ordered models never previously made, so the A designation could be up much higher, perhaps A140?

In other words, Aaron was the 99th person whose last name began with A, who ordered a bat with specs never before made by H&B for a professional player. Since there probably aren't many new specs left, there are probably fewer and fewer new model numbers being created every year. Most new players probably order a specific already existing model number; S2, M110, K55 are three of the most popular. If a player says I want a 35.5 inch bat weighing 33 ounces with a taper of x degrees and a large knob, the factory will say " Oh, that's a M115" (just made that model number up), or if no such specs exist, that person will get a brand new model number that starts with the first letter of their last name.

I hoe that makes sense.

Greg

[BMH]

I couldn't (didn't) have said it better myself. Nice work Greg

[metsbats]

There are cases where players request special model numbers.

Two examples would be George Brett B390 (won the batting title with a .390 average in 1980) and Wade Boggs B349 (hit .349 in his rookie season 1982).

[momen55]

it seems to make sense now.
so a model L139 is a davey lopes model, which made him the 139th player who's last name started with L, to order a specific model.