C. Ripken, Jr bat question for BMH

[cjclong]

Looking at a black Louisville Slugger P72. The bat has a small picture in a square of a hitter from the shoulders up and words major league baseball underneath. The picture appears on the barrel of the bat . It is located on the barrel between the Louisville brand and Ripken's signature on the barrel. Would this be correct for a bat Ripken would have used in the 2001 Season? Thank you for any assistance with this question.

[Masimen]

It appears the bat you are describing is a 99-00 Louisville Slugger, by 2001 the Major League Baseball logo you are describing had moved to the back of the barrel. That being said there is every possibility that he had carried bats over from the 2000 season that he used in 2001.

[Birdbats]

In research I've conducted with bats that could be pinpointed to specific seasons, the outline version exists on all 1999 bats and some 2000 bats. The solid/filled logo appears on some 2000 bats and all early 2001 bats. At some point early in the 2001 season, the logo moved to the back of the barrel. If your Ripken has the solid/filled logo instead of the outline version, it could be from 2000 or early 2001.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w232/birdbats/Birdbats%20Graphics/1999-2001.jpg