Josh Hamilton LVS question for BMH

[cjclong]

Josh Hamilton has been using a blonde Louisville Slugger almost exclusively. He was using a Louisville Slugger when he hit what is now regarded as the longest home run at the ballpark in Arlington. I had heard he was using a Louisville Slugger that is used by Nelson Cruz when he hit this home run. Do you know what model Louisville Slugger Cruz is using this year and does Hamilton now have a bat like Cruz's with his name on it. Also would this Louisville Slugger be different from those he used last year and in the home run derby in 08? And is the bat Cruz is using now different from those Hamilton has used in the past? Would appreciate any information you can give. Your help is always appreciated.

[BMH]

He has been ordering a 34.5/33 to 34oz I13 lately.

[STLHAMMER32]

Josh Hamilton has been using a blonde Louisville Slugger almost exclusively. He was using a Louisville Slugger when he hit what is now regarded as the longest home run at the ballpark in Arlington. I had heard he was using a Louisville Slugger that is used by Nelson Cruz when he hit this home run. Do you know what model Louisville Slugger Cruz is using this year and does Hamilton now have a bat like Cruz's with his name on it. Also would this Louisville Slugger be different from those he used last year and in the home run derby in 08? And is the bat Cruz is using now different from those Hamilton has used in the past? Would appreciate any information you can give. Your help is always appreciated.

BMH will be able to confirm this....but I believe Josh has preferred the C353C model both in Cincinnati and now in Texas....I've noticed that he primarily used blonde Ash louisville sluggers in Texas while using Black louisville sluggers in Cincy that were M9's most of the time.

In the HR Derby I'm pretty sure he was using a Blonde ash c353c. The current I13's I believe are maple bats, so yes there is a difference.

I think while Nelson was on his latest DL stint, Josh tried a few of his I13's and really liked the feel...he went on a hot streak and a long hitting streak using them.Nelson has been using that model LVS for at least 2 years now but changed to a flared knob this season.....Cruz like hamilton will switch brands off and on, currently Nelson has been using Trinity bats. hope this helps!

[cjclong]

Thanks BMH, you are always so heipful and thanks to Stlhammer as well. One additonal question. If I see a blonde Louisville Slugger with Josh Hamilton on the barrel how will I know if it is a 353 or a 113? I have a couple of his blonde bats from last year which I suspect are 353's and I would like to get a 113. BTW, Hamilton has had trouble throwing his bat into the stands and was quoted as saying he was now using a bat with a bigger knob to help his grip, which may be why he switched to the 113?

[BMH]

The model number is above his name on the end of our bats. The C353 has a much larger knob than the I13.

[chakes89]

Has he ever ordered the C331?

[cjclong]

I'm afraid my last post fell under "ask a dumb question." I knew that the model numbers are on Louisville Slugger bats. But I had seen some Nelson Cruz Louisville Sluggers and could not remember seeing the number on them. I had to be in Fort Worth today and before I left I went by the Rangers store and they had a Cruz Louisville Slugger and sure enough it had 113 on the barrel. I don't know how I missed it previously. I know that Hamilton is using a blond LVS 99% of the time now. What does seem odd is that there seems to be reliable information he was using Cruz's bats, but BMH says that the C353 he was using has a bigger knob and Hamilton says he is using a bat with a bigger knob now to try to keep from throwing it. Maybe he used Cruz's bats for a little while and went back to the C353?

[BMH]

Don't know...
The I13 has a 2in diameter knob and the I13L has a 2.08in knob.
The C353 has a 2.45in knob.

The I13 has more of a curved taper to it leading up to the knob. The C353 is more of a straight shot from the handle.

[cjclong]

In the short article that was run in the Dallas paper sports section last week Hamilton talked about having used a bat that had more of a taper and was changing to one that had a bigger knob. That would sound like going from a 113 to a C353. One of the people who posts here said Hamilton was using Cruz 113 when he hit the tape measure home run. There is no question he is using a blond Louisville Slugger right now. I can see the label when he bats on TV well enough to tell. I guess the only question is which LVS he is using. And thank you the information BMH. You are so helpful as always.

[STLHAMMER32]

In the short article that was run in the Dallas paper sports section last week Hamilton talked about having used a bat that had more of a taper and was changing to one that had a bigger knob. That would sound like going from a 113 to a C353. One of the people who posts here said Hamilton was using Cruz 113 when he hit the tape measure home run. There is no question he is using a blond Louisville Slugger right now. I can see the label when he bats on TV well enough to tell. I guess the only question is which LVS he is using. And thank you the information BMH. You are so helpful as always.

He threw the I13 in into the stands as well, he throws every bat into the stands regardless of the model.

He most recently has used the I13's, my guess is the knob may feel bigger to him since it's not as straight down as the c353's feel. Like I said before it doesn't matter his bat is flying into the stands regardless