BMH or Mike ~ Mike Pazik Bat

[cordovacollector]

I got a great Twins bat today (thank you, Ivan!) and I think my questions will be easier to answer this time.

33.5" H&B knobless U1 (stamped on knob)
Name on barrel: "PAZ"
Center label characteristics: 1973-75
Finish color: darker than Hornsby - deep, dark chocolate brown (hickory?)
Finish: barrel has gloss finish but handle is satin
Wood: hickory?

Player: Mike Pazik - pitcher, MN Twins 1973-75. Total 13 game career. No at bats.

Game use marks: one possible cleat mark. For his stats, then I might say this is "hammered" or it got bumped somewhere in the last 35 years. Let's just call it mint.


1. Is this then a 1975 bat?
2. How many bats did Pazik order?
3. Can you tell by records if this is indeed a hickory bat with a hickory finish? Or is it ash with hickory finish?

[cordovacollector]

Re: BMH or Mike ~ Mike Pazik Bat

Doggone, made an error in the post. Mike Pazik played from 1975-77.

[cordovacollector]

Re: BMH or Mike ~ Mike Pazik Bat

OK, only one more comment. The photos are much lighter and redder than true color. The photos look like the Hornsby color in the Malta book but in person it is a dark brown, closer to black, so I called it hickory.

[MSpecht]

Re: BMH or Mike ~ Mike Pazik Bat

Congrats Helen-- you may own one of the most obscure bats on the forum. Unfortunately, we do not have Pazik's H & B records available. I think you are correct--- the 1973-75 labeling probably dates the bat to 1975 when he debuted in the bigs after being a first round pick in 1971. As far as the finish, the photo would tend to suggest a Hornsby finish. Here is a link to a detailed look at H & B finishes in the Experts Corner of Game Used Universe. http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/blog/post.php?topic=187

Mike jackitout7@aol.com

[cordovacollector]

Re: BMH or Mike ~ Mike Pazik Bat

Congrats Helen-- you may own one of the most obscure bats on the forum. Unfortunately, we do not have Pazik's H & B records available. I think you are correct--- the 1973-75 labeling probably dates the bat to 1975 when he debuted in the bigs after being a first round pick in 1971. As far as the finish, the photo would tend to suggest a Hornsby finish. Here is a link to a detailed look at H & B finishes in the Experts Corner of Game Used Universe. http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/blog/post.php?topic=187

Mike jackitout7@aol.com

Mike!

Thanks for the fast reply!!! And thanks for that link to the finishes. By the photos, the bat color is definitely hickory. I'll try and get some better photos outdoors where the flash doesn't lighten up the color so much.

Hickory Finish -- a brown finish covering the entire bat, often very dark brown, near black, in color

I so enjoy finding obsure items ... and to find one of the Twins is all the better! I may have to go on a hunt to see if I can find an address for Mr. Pazik and ask him how many bats he had.

By saying the H&B records for him aren't "available" to you, does that mean they "don't exist" ... or does it mean, "Oh my gosh, he probably ordered two bats and in the millions of records for bats we'd never be able to locate the record book it was recorded in,"?

Thanks again for the incredible information you provide for us! GUU and the forum has opened up a new world of accurate baseball information and verification ... and just plain fun!!!

One last question about the bat for now: Are all hickory finish bats made of hickory wood?