For older bats, if they don't match what's common for that player, I stay away. If they have a Babe Ruth 34" bat and nowhere on his order is any bat less than 36", I stay away. (By the way, I made those numbers up, don't pay attention to them.)
Just my opinion, but I'd rather have my pro model Hanna Sisler and Zinn-Beck Heilmann that match lengths and weights of that era than LV's that are noticeably off. However, I'm in the minority, based on prices.
I agree, if you're not a bat guy (yet) and plan on diving into the Ruths of the world, you really want to get a top-notch finder guy and just pay the big bucks. You are not going to get a steal with limited knowledge. This is exactly why I don't own a Ruth signed ball; when I win the lottery, I'll drag Jim Stinson out of retirement and have him find me a real one.
Also, a word of warning: collecting GU bats are highly addictive!
Ken
|