Umm.... Mike Schmidt 5 Star Bat Knob?

[Bob Loblaw]

Last I checked -- and I am a wee bit (and by wee bit, I mean, massive) of a Schmidt fan -- I didn't think his # was 33.

I would have to research my materials, but I didn't think his early # was 33. I thought it was 22. If it was 33, Topps destroyed a RARE RARE RARE early Schmidt bat.

Thoughts? Could it be ounces? But why write the # of ounces on the bat knob?

 

[A_Pharis]

Could be one of the measurements... or it could be Topps.

 

[VandyDan]

Might the 33 refer to the length or weight of the bat? Perhaps if its a BP bat, it isn't labeled the same?

 

[steve-a-reno]

Inches or ounces would be my guess.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

This is interesting, from http://www.psacard.com/articles/article_view.chtml?artid=6202

Is this Career Home Run 467 bat?

My money is on Topps effing up.

Mike Schmidt - All I have to say is that this guy was the greatest 3rd baseman to ever play the game. Brooks Robinson may have been a better defensive player (but not by that much) and Eddie Mathews is a match for Schmidt in the slugging department, but no other player in baseball history could combine the strength of both.

Schmidt had a horrible start to his career, striking out often and hitting under .200 in his first year. Things changed quickly for this powerful hitter. Schmidt would go on to win two National League MVP's, six NL East titles, one World Series title, he hit 548 homers, led the league in homers 8 times (only Ruth accomplished this feat more with 9), he was 12-time All-Star selection and won 10 Gold Gloves. Wow!

When it comes to his bats, Schmidt had a few interesting habits. First of all, he generally preferred Adirondack to H&B bats but he has used both over the course of his career. One of the most interesting bats you may find is a Schmidt H&B gamer with red tape around the mid-point of the bat. Schmidt did this to make the bat appear like an Adirondack on television (Adirondacks are known for having a colored ring around the mid-point of the bat). Schmidt most likely did this as a result of a contract with Adirondack. He didn't do this to all his H&B's (now Louisville Slugger) but you can find some with this interesting mark.

In addition, Schmidt, during the tail end of his career, would mark his bats when he connected for a homer. Usually the mark is placed the center label with either the number of the career homer or the number he needed to reach the 500 home run milestone, a sort of countdown if you will. It was usually done in some type of marker and many of the home run bats have a circle or dot near the home run number. These bats sell for a significant premium and not many of them exist. Regardless, any Schmidt gamer is a key to a great bat collection.

 

[hive17]

At this point, I'm going to blame Topps. Isn't this the same release that put a picture of Strasburg for Roy Halladay? (Yes, it was).

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Is Topps stating that "game used" can be from "batting practice" now?

Cuz, I don't see a reason that a Mike Schmidt gamer would have to have the ounces written on the barrel. This isn't a kid pulling a random bat, this is Mike effing Schmidt.

 

[gracecollector]

I don't know... there's a lot of photos of Mike Schmidt gamers out there, and they all have 20 on the knob. Schmidt only wore 20 and 22 in his career... so what gives?

 

[ronfromfresno]

Is it possible that it's from a Schmidt bat that was used by another player? I know that some of the game used bats I've collected over the years were used by other players. For example I have a Robby Thompson bat that was used by Jay Canizaro, the barrell has Thompson on it, but on the knob is written "Canny 36", Thompson wore 6 throughout his carrer and Canizaro wore 36 in his rookie season.

 

[hive17]

This makes me feel waaaay more confident about my Yount, but this is exactly the type of SUPER obvious thing I would totally miss. I'd buy a Yount gamer and think it's real for years, only to have someone point out that it was actually Larry Yount's based off the number or name plate or something. (Although a Larry Yount would be EXTREMELY rare, since he's the pitching Moonlight Graham)

 

[James52411]

This leads credence to the 33 oz explanation, as it indicates Schmidt swung a bat of that weight:

1977 Mike Schmidt Signed Pro-Model Bat

 

[Bob Loblaw]

This leads credence to the 33 oz explanation, as it indicates Schmidt swung a bat of that weight:

1977 Mike Schmidt Signed Pro-Model Bat

Also from that article: "Schmidt's uniform number ("20") is written on the knob in black marker. "

Most players have experimented with bat weight between 32-35 oz throughout their career, as they age. I have little doubt he swung a 33 oz bat. That being said, most players, especially superstars - and Schmidt was a superstar by 75 - have their own bats. Remember the purpose of the bat knob -- when the bat is in the dugout, it's easy to grab "your" bat. It makes no sense for it to have a 33.

 

[phillyfan0417]

Also from that article: "Schmidt's uniform number ("20") is written on the knob in black marker. "

Most players have experimented with bat weight between 32-35 oz throughout their career, as they age. I have little doubt he swung a 33 oz bat. That being said, most players, especially superstars - and Schmidt was a superstar by 75 - have their own bats. Remember the purpose of the bat knob -- when the bat is in the dugout, it's easy to grab "your" bat. It makes no sense for it to have a 33.

or he knew his bats and was using different weights...

 

[ThoseBackPages]

How much did you pay for it? can you sue topps to get your money back?

 

[A_Pharis]

It's possibly Schmidt had a clearly-marked spot for his bats to be and only needed to differentiate the weights - like said above.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

We'll never know. Gotta admit, it's a little shady.

 

[A_Pharis]

Very shady.
Could always ask Schmidt! lol

 

[phillyfan0417]

We'll never know. Gotta admit, it's a little shady.

Makes it very hard to throw down alot of money for something like that. Its a shame really...

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Makes it very hard to throw down alot of money for something like that. Its a shame really...

It's on eBay, obviously, with a $1500 BIN. I was thinking of plunking a few hundred down (don't know if it would have sold for that or not - I have never bought a bat knob), but with #33 rather than #20.... eh. Not so interested.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

It's on eBay, obviously, with a $1500 BIN. I was thinking of plunking a few hundred down (don't know if it would have sold for that or not - I have never bought a bat knob), but with #33 rather than #20.... eh. Not so interested.

i hear you. for that kind of money better to pick up some RCs