December 18 Sports / December 19 Americana

Offered is a collection of 21 different 1960's and early 1970's New York Yankees "Bat Day" bats. Our consignor collected these bats one at a time at Yankee games during his youth, sometimes trading with pals to get a different player. The collection includes (listed roughly from earliest to latest): Roger Maris, Bobby Richardson, Horace Clark, Tony Kubek, Hector Lopez, Steve Whitaker, Joe Pepitone, Andy Kosco, Ronnie Blomberg, Rusty Torres, Bill Robinson, Elston Howard, Gene Michael, Roy White, Jerry Kenney, Jake Gibbs, Thurman Munson, Tom Tresh, Danny Carter, Bobby Murcer and Jim Mason. The New York Yankees, the defending American League champion, joined several other Major League teams by holding their first Bat Day at Yankee Stadium on June 20, 1965, on Father’s Day. It was a massive success, cementing "bat day" as a tradition that continued into the 1970s, with the little league-sized bats featuring "signature models" from a good number of players on each season's roster. The early bats feature a center brand with "H&B" and "Made in the U.S.A." along with the player's facsimile signature and "New York Yankees" above "Approved by Little League" on the barrel (The "Little League" line would appear below the facsimile signature for a short period, perhaps just a single season in the late-1960s). The next iterations featured "Hillerich & Bradsby Co" spelled out in the centerbrand, with "Made in the U.S.A" still in place. Then, perhaps in the early to mid 1970s, "Made in Canada" is seen in the centerbrand of bats from at least one or two years, with "Made in the U.S.A." returning no later than 1974. The bats have been heavily loved and used for their intended purpose, with wear to the handles and barrels and MANY ball marks. Stampings and player names are generally bold. Very Good to Excellent condition overall with some better.