Duke Snider Coach's bat

[earlywynnfan]

did Duke Snider order any 34.5" C117L bats during the 77-79 era as a coach?

thanks, Ken

[JimCaravello]

Hi Ken - My records jump from the early 70's to the computerized records starting in 1981. C117L was definitely Snider's model of choice througout most if his career. Mike Specht - do you have late 70's records of Snider? Ken - can you send pics of what you have? Thanks, Jim

[MSpecht]

Hi Ken and Jim--

The Snider records that I have are probably much the same as yours, Jim, however I do have some personal information on this particular question.

As you mentioned, C117L was Snider's favorite model during his career. He ordered them in lengths from 34.5 inches to 36 inches, however over 98% of his orders were 35 inches in length and 33 ounces in weight. The model was first sent to him on 7/18/1949, and the last (during his playing career) on 5/6/1964.

My personal experience with a bat such as you describe Ken came in 1972, when I purchased a 1964 1/2 - 1972 Snider C117L, 34.5 inches / approximately 35 ounces coaches bat from former Padres batboy Bill Griswold, who served in that capacity from 1969 through 1972. Snider was a hitting instructor during Spring Training and into the 1969 Padres' first season, having been brought in by GM Buzzie Bavasi, who basically made San Diego "Dodgertown South" the first couple of seasons. Griswold had gotten the bat directly from Snider in 1969, and kept it until he sold it to me, along with Sniders 1969 game used flannel Padres jersey that still had a cherry Life Savers spit stain on the sleeve.

Ultimately, although there are no documented factory records for that bat, I am comfortable in recognizing a professional 34.5 inch C117L Snider signature model H & B as a legitimate Snider coaches / instructors bat. The bat above was eventually sold in in 1998 accompanied by an opinion Letter of Authenticity dated 6/16/1998 to a collector in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Good Luck in future collecting.

Mike Jackitout7@aol.com