Foil Stamped? Opinion? Experts Needed

[cmw2ward]

Hello All,

I hoping that some of the bat experts could help me out on this Bat! It's a block letter Jim "Kaat" R161, it appears to me to be foiled stamped.

The issue is that BMH said these bats were last shipped in 1984 to Kaat in Pittsburgh. Is this bat an '84 or '85? Is it a bat shipped to Katt or pitcher pro-mo bat?

Thanks in advance! I've been trying to figure it out for awhile and am totally lost.

Best,
Tim

[rj_lucas]

Tim, why do you say it's foil stamped? It appears to be burn branded.

Rick
rickjlucas@gmail.com

[cmw2ward]

Rick,

It may be, I have real difficulty distinguishing foil stamped verses standard, any opinions?

[ironmanfan]

definitely not foil stamped

[cmw2ward]

Thanks for the input. Two questions, how can you tell, and is this a '84? Thanks again

[rj_lucas]

Thanks for the input. Two questions, how can you tell, and is this a '84? Thanks again

Foil stamping is when you apply a thin layer of metal to wood, paper, whatever. The result is metallic looking e.g. like you would see on a black bat.

As to whether it's an '84, I'm sure somebody on the forum will know the answer.

Rick
rickjlucas@gmail.com

[Birdbats]

Looks like an '83 1/2 - '85 label, so '84 fits. What's odd is that this is a non-contract model. Kaat had a contract with H&B -- I have one of his '80-'83 bats with his signature branded into the barrel. Wonder why they'd ship him a non-contract model. Was it because he was retired?

[cmw2ward]

Jeff,

Can't answer that question as to why it's a block letter. I posted a question on the shipping info thread. BMH said that they shipped (12) R161 in 1984 to Pittsburgh. I'm guessing this is one of those bats?

Not sure yet, still looking for peoples opinions. Thanks.

[rj_lucas]

Baseball-Reference.com shows Kaat pitching 24 games in 1983, none after that. According to Wikipedia, Kaat served as a pitching coach with the Reds for part of '84 and all of '85. Would that explain why there's no script i.e. a coach's bat?

I don't understand the shipment to Pittsburgh though. You sure those bats weren't shipped to Cincy?

Rick
rickjlucas@gmail.com

[cmw2ward]

Rick,

Below please find a link to The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia By David Finoli, Bill Ranier.

Stating that he tried out for the Pirates in the '84 spring traing. BMH posted on the shipping order records tread that (12) R161's were sent to Pittsburgh in '84.

So I'm trying to figure out if this is one of those bats. Thanks again.



http://books.google.com/books?id=1VwOLIVOWvwC&pg=PA200&lpg=PA200&dq=jim+kaat+1984+pirates&source=bl&ots=qi3Zuicxlr&sig=7LnqEWOIJ30ZiIUUNPZL5Z44ljw&hl=en&ei=1NilSuysAZLtlAet-4iQBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7#v=onepage&q=jim%20kaat%201984%20pirates&f=false

[rj_lucas]

Rick,

Below please find a link to The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia By David Finoli, Bill Ranier.

Stating that he tried out for the Pirates in the '84 spring traing. BMH posted on the shipping order records tread that (12) R161's were sent to Pittsburgh in '84.

So I'm trying to figure out if this is one of those bats. Thanks again.



http://books.google.com/books?id=1VwOLIVOWvwC&pg=PA200&lpg=PA200&dq=jim+kaat+1984+pirates&source=bl&ots=qi3Zuicxlr&sig=7LnqEWOIJ30ZiIUUNPZL5Z44ljw&hl=en&ei=1NilSuysAZLtlAet-4iQBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7#v=onepage&q=jim%20kaat%201984%20pirates&f=false

Boy, the evidence would sure seem to point in that direction. If so, it's a pretty interesting find i.e. one of the last bats of his playing career.

Rick
rickjlucas@gmail.com

[cmw2ward]

Rick,

I hope it is, would be really cool to have one of his last bats!

[cmw2ward]

can anyone help me narrow this bat down to a particular shipment....spring of 1984? Thanks in advance!

[cmw2ward]

Still looking for opinions on this bat! Let me know what you think?

-Thanks

[BMH]

They were shipped on 3/28/1984. The branding is burn brand which is consistent with the 3/28/1984 order from Pittsburgh. The three orders before this one used his autograph and the three after did too.

[cmw2ward]

It appears that the question has been answered. As always, thank you very much Brian!

[cmw2ward]

I recently met Jim Kaat at the MAB show in New Jersey. He was nice enough to sign and inscribe the bat. What a gentleman, a real asset to the hobby.