Posted By:
Frank WakefieldI never know how much knowledge is out there... sometimes lots, sometimes not so much...
From early days when it was just Hillerich, cracked bats found their way back to Louisville. These bats were used as a pattern so that the workers could lathe down duplicate bats and send them out to the players. H&B amassed a huge collection of cracked bats, many had the first letter of the player's last name painted (or inked) onto the barrell, followed by a number. If a player needed more bats, he could write or telegraph back and H&B could find what he had been using.
The OLD bats had thick handles, and the balls weren't rabbit-like. Bats lasted a long time. They were seldom broken. Strikeout totals weren't astronomical.
By the time Hack was playing, players swung from their heels, a la Ruth. Strikeouts soared. Bat handles were skinny, the weight of the bat was shifted out to the barrell, which was of larger diameter. Bat physics had much to do with the increase in home runs, although most folks think only of the lively ball, playing with new white clean balls (after Mays' pitch), and folks wanting to be like the Babe.
So if this bat is cracked, and if you see a "W" painted on there faintly, with about 3 didgits following, then it might be a gamer...
See what the others think of this.
Frank.