Spalding Major League bats?

[gameused]

I saw this 2006 Robinson Cano game-used signed Spalding bat on American Memorabilia Auctions. I had no idea Spalding was making professional model bats. Anyone know what year Spalding started producing MLB bats?

Bobby

[sportscentury]

Bobby,

At the end of the 2005 season, there were 29 bat manufacturers who were approved (i.e., a ton). I think there are several more now. I don't know the specifics of Spalding, but I believe Cano has some kind of arrangement with this company. See the following article:

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060905&content_id=1647432&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

I have not seen these Spalding bats used during MLB regular season play (not to say that they haven't been). There are several bats out there, though, that you don't regularly see (D-Bats, for instance).

Best,

Reid

[gameused]

Reid,

Thanks for the info! I know Mike Lowell and Mark Loretta of the Red Sox use D-bats.

Here's another new bat comapany Zorian bats based in Rhode Island: http://www.zorianbats.com/index.html

I've seen Trot Nixon using a Zorian bat during the 2006 season.

Thanks, Bobby