When did they start putting their #'s on knobs?

[33bird]

Was wondering if there was a certain point in time when players starting writing their numbers on the knobs of their bats? I noticed some of the older bats aren't usually marked with jersey #'s. Any ideas? Thanks,
Greg

[camarokids]

I have a Glenn Borgmann H & B game used bat he gave me in 1978 or 1979
, and it has his number 14 on the end .

[ironmanfan]

I can guarantee you that #'s began showing up on bat knobs WELL before 1978 or 1979 (there are Mantle & Maris bats out there with their unifrom number on knob).

[camarokids]

I can guarantee you that #'s began showing up on bat knobs WELL before 1978 or 1979 (there are Mantle & Maris bats out there with their unifrom number on knob).

No Kidding, Sherlock ....
Where in my post did I say that was when it started?????

I was just referencing the oldest bat I own and it has his uniform number on it...

[bat_master]

Hi Greg,

Here are some of the bats that I have:
1944-45 H&B Babe Herman H43 (#32)
1955 H&B Enos Slaughter M110 (#33)
1951-57 H&B Jim Hegan O16 (#4)

5367
5368

I think that uniform numbers on knobs became common in the 1940s-1950s, but possibly earlier on certain bats.

Hope that helps.

[LWMM]

There was a Ruth bat a short time ago (Vintage Authentics?) that had a possible number 3 carved into the knob. I'm not sure how to find a picture, though, as all I can access is the prices sheet.

[33bird]

Thanks Tim and others. I was just wondering if there was maybe a certain decade when everybody starting marking the knobs-like the 50's or 60's. Was it rare before then? I have a 1949 Johnny Pesky bat with some use but there is no # on the knob. Just curious as to when it got popular.
Greg

[33bird]

Tim-sweet vintage bats, too. Everybody seems to get excited about all the game used bats of players that play now, and they are cool, but there are SO MANY of them. But those bats pre-1976 are vintage and hard to find. I love em'. That's why I bought the 1949 Pesky bat from Mears. How many Pesky bats do you ever see on the market? Whereas, Varitek and Kent are two of my favorites, and they have game used stuff show up EVERYDAY on the market.
Greg

[bat_master]

Greg-

That's exactly why I strictly collect pre-1970 Hillerich & Bradsby Hall of Famers and nothing else - they aren't making them anymore.

[33bird]

Yea, I think recent game used stuff can be compared to card collecting 1990 to present. There's too much of it out there and I'm not sure it's a always a sound investment in the long run. Of course, if you're just collecting to collect, then who cares. BUT, if you're looking to make some money on your collectibles that old rule of supply and demand makes much more sense when it comes to the older stuff. An article on Mears says to stick to the pre-1980 game used stuff for the same reasons. So, Tim, I understand your thinking and agree with it. Though, I do think some of my 1976 bicentennial Reds bats (rose, morgan, bench, foster, etc) are as rare as some of those pre-1970 bats.
Greg

[metsbats]

Not sure we can ever find the first bat or player that wrote a number on a knob. However one can only guess that the 1929 Yankees may have been the first team where players had a reason to put a number on the knob because they were the first team to wear uniform numbers (don position). However if memory serves me correct they didn't have bat racks back in those days and the players would line their bats in front of the dugout label up so they can see their signature on the bats. So even in 1929 there may not have been any need for numbers on knobs.

We may be able to narrow down the period when a number could have first been put on a knob if we find out when the first bat rack was put into operation.

David

[BoneRubbedBat]

The 1940's was the decade that writing the uniform number on the knob became popular. I have one that is from about 1938, and three more that were pre-model number (~1943) with numbers on the knobs.