Who was Anaconda Kaye?

[montemac]

Who was this Anaconda Kaye, and why did they get bats that were almost just like the players? Who did they sell to? Anything????

[MSpecht]

Hi--

Basically, beginning in the 1986-1989 H & B label period, the company sold a significant quantity of pro model player bats with 1986-89 label markings to some retailers and dealers. One of the largest was Anaconda-Kaye Sports, Inc., and those bats are collectively known as Anaconda-Kaye bats A-K widely offered these mint pro bats to the public The 1986-89 era bats most commonly involved included the following pro model bats:
R. Henderson T141, K. McReynolds M110, D. Winfield W273, P. Guerrero W273, S. Dunston L157, S. Sax S2, G. Brett C271, J. Samuel P72, R. Sierra C157, R. Yount P72, R. Palmeiro C271, A. Van Slyke M110, D. Murphy B310, C. Ripken Jr P72, O. Smith H238, E. Davis C271, W. Boggs C235, K. Puckett C243, F. McGriff C271, D. Evans C271, Bo Jackson B310, C. Snyder P72, and A. Galleraga R161, among others. this practice continued into subsequent label periods with some of the above listed players and others, , and the bats, as in 1986-89, did not always have distinguishing markings.

With the subsequent availability of H & B records, it is clearly seen what bats were sent to A-K and other marketing companies, and often the length, weight, or finish can determine whether the bat is a possible A-K show, retail, or promo bat.

Note also that Bo Jackson and Rickey Henderson bats with the Jumbo LOUISVILLE lettering were also offered by Anaconda-Kaye.

Good Luck.

Mike Jackitout7@aol.com

[metsbats]

http://www.anacondasports.com/default.htm


They are now know as Anaconda Sports. Besides selling the prod-model bats back in the days as Mike indicates they were a great source of American and National League baseballs for getting autographed at shows.

After folks caught on that prod model bats were being brought at Anaconda Kaye and being passed off as game used, HB actually started supplying them with prod model bats with "S" stamped on the knobs which signified "Souviner". I owned George Brett C271C and Yount P72C bats which had "S" stamped on them at one time and used them to get autographs at shows.

They currently sell more sporting goods equipment, sports memoribilia and they do carry the current player model Louisville bats with the "underline" under the 125 and have/had such players as Derek Jeter, Roberto Alomar, Jorge Posada, Giambi, etc.

-David

[Yankwood]

I wondered, is there an Adirondack or Rawlings version of the "show bats" such as those offered by Anaconda-Kaye as Louisville Sluggers?

[TFig27]

Hi--


With the subsequent availability of H & B records, it is clearly seen what bats were sent to A-K and other marketing companies, and often the length, weight, or finish can determine whether the bat is a possible A-K show, retail, or promo bat.

How would I be able to tell on a Bo Jackson 1986-89 bat?

Are the lengths different?

Thanks for any help
Tom

TFig27@aol.com