Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

[soxbats]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

Mike, thanks for the great info, it is this kind of discussion that makes the board worthwhile. Before anyone suggests I am missing the point, I in no way mean to suggest that any bicentennial bat with the powerized logo is not authentic, I have handled enough vintage bats to know that there is no such thing as a labeling "rule."

Just to add my two cents, I am not sure that I would call Roy White a "common" player. He was a two time all star and, interstingly, he played on the 1976 Yanks who we all know played in the World Series that year and were swept by the Reds. It would be helpful to know if the catalogued White bat showed any use. Also, to the extent that bat experts have been opining about this trend, it would be helpful to know what the basis for their opinion was.

Were there a set of replica bats for the world series teams created? Did certain players think the bicentennial logo brought good luck and ask for it to be branded on bats in 77? Did players feel superstitious and ask for powerized to be added in 76? Did H&B want to protect the value of their trademarked word "Powerized" and decided to add it at some point in the season? Was this a playoff variation unique to the Reds and Yankees? Who knows, and that is the beauty of bat collecting.

To the extent we are collecting data on bicentennial labeling, I have handled several and never seen the "powerized" logo. I currently have bats for these absolute commons: Andy Merchant, Jack Baker and Ernie Whitt, none bearing the Powerized logo. Also, I note that Mears auctioned a super group of Reds 1976 Bats, none of which have Powerized (I don't know if these were in Mike's survey info).

I looked at my red sox 1977 yearbook and saw no examples with Powerized, (but that might have been affected by my drooling over the thought of having all those bats!). And Getty showed a few 76 H&B's (including Roy White) with no obvious evidence of Powerized.

Finally, a (very quick) trip through the topps 1977 set in the topps book showed 12 bicentennial bats by my eye, with no powerized.

However, if you look at www.MickeyRivers.com There is a picture of his 1976 All Star Game commemorative bat which has both Powerized and the Bicentennial logo so they knew how to load both dies in by the midsummer classic.

soxbats@aol.com
looking for obscure red sox bats from the 60's . . . Help!

[33bird]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

Some of you guys are missing the point here: He said one out of 70 something bats that have been authenticated by them had both the bell and the Powerized. So the chances of your bat having both is about 1 out of 75 or there abouts. I have 8 1976 bats-one of my bats has both. See what I mean?

[earlywynnfan]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

Little late to the game, but the only 1976 bat I have is a Billy Williams model, and it has NO powerized.

Ken
earlywynnfan5@hotmail.com

[33bird]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

Yea, good luck finding a photo with powerized and the bell on it. That would very difficult to find.

[Trublubrucru]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

In a Milwaukee Journal article June 5, 2007, The owner of Hank Aaron's bat from his 755th home run is pictured with the bat and there is no Powerized.

[33bird]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

Thanks Mike. Backs up what I said. They are out there, including some commons too. Obviously, it's not a common thing, but it happened. I would assume it would have happened earlier in the 1976 season during the adjustment period between 1975 and 1976, but who knows. I also think that not too many people have been checking or noticing that POWERIZED thing on 1976 bats that show up on ebay or in auction houses. I'll be paying closer attention now too, and try to find more examples.

[MSpecht]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

Here is a quick informal (and incomplete) survey---

Of approximately 70 authentications of 1976 H & B Bicentennial bats, including approximately 15 Hall of Fame bats and 55 non-HOF bats (stars and common players), 69 had the Bicentennial Logo without 'Powerized' between the Center Brand and the logo. Only one had the combination of the word 'Powerized' and the Bicentennial logo. That bat was manufactured for N Y Yankees outfielder Roy White in August or September of 1976. There were no special instructions in his ordering records regarding and branding. White would appear to be the 'common player' that provides an example of this branding.

Note to Big Klu -- Bench's records do not show any orders of Black finished bats in 1976. On a single order dated 8/17/76 however, 12 bats model A99C are documented with a hickory finish, which can sometimes appear to be a black finish. Those bats are documented as 35 1/2 inches / 33 oz. No special instructions as to branding appear in Bench's records during 1976.

Mike jackitout7@aol.com

[5kRunner]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

I'd be curious to see any "common" player bats from 1976 WITH the Powerized marking

Exactly what I was thinking.

[bigklu18]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

I have a black Bicentennial Bench with powerized and the bell on it. Is that a rare bat also ? I have never been able to find out anything about it.

[33bird]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

No-for sure it's a rare thing, but they are out there. I've really only kept track of the 76 Reds bats because that's what I collect, but I will keep my eyes open for others now too. I know I talked to a noted bat expert a little while ago, before purchasing my 76 Bench, and he said it wouldn't be an issue with him at all.

[ironmanfan]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

I'd be curious to see any "common" player bats from 1976 WITH the Powerized marking

[ironmanfan]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

Interesting discussion, I have five 1976 BiCentennial Orioles bats (Brooks, Grich, Blair & Singleton) in my collection (including this recently acquired Mark Belanger) and upon checking, I noted that none of them have the "powerized" marking:

[33bird]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

I'd just make sure it's not a team index bat. I just bought a Joe Morgan 76 bat and it ended up being an index bat.

[metsbats]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

Thanks Greg!

[33bird]

Re: Question about Hank Aaron 1976 bat on ebay

Guys Powerized with the Bicentennial stamp is not a problem. I have a Bench that has both. I've seen a Rose that has both. There are others out there too. There's bats made in 1976 that didn't even have the bicentennial stamp because some players didn't like them. I've verified this a few years ago with some of the top bat experts including Dave Grob. Here's a photo of the Bench 76 and the Rose 76.