Real or store? Johnny Bench bat

[shaunharr]

All,

A friend of mine has a Johnny Bench bat he bought a few year back and doesn't know if it is game used or store bought. It is a blonde HILLERICH & BRADSBY and the barrel reads:

Genuine
Johnny Bench (Signature model)
Louisville Slugger

The knob is engraved 'JB4'

Is this real?

Thanks!!
Shaun

[ironmanfan]

store/retail; telltale is the JB4 on the knob....

same friend who was trying to sell the Ted Simmons?

[shaunharr]

No.

So HILLERICH & BRADSBY did not engrave the knobs?

[jbsportstuff]

No.

So HILLERICH & BRADSBY did not engrave the knobs?

H&B did engrave knobs up until 1976 with the model of the bat. However, JB4 is not a bat model. It's telling you that it's a Johnny Bench retail bat that is 34 inches.
Another quick way to determine if its a players bat or retail is the powerized or flame tempered engraving. If it's flame tempered, it's a retail bat.

Check out BirdBats awesome website for tons of more details.