Hi Rod--

Thanks for your comments and discussion points. I agree that it is generally difficult/impossible to prove or disprove use of a specific bat by a specific player. That is why, during the authentication process, the following paragraph is included in my LOA (the last sentence is left off if the bat does not match factory records)::

"It is rare to have actually seen a player use the specific bat one is acquiring for his or her collection. The best to hope for, in most instances, is to acquire a player's professional model bat made during his playing career, with proper labeling for the period, which has reasonably close specifications to those which the player is known or believed to have used, and which shows evidence of game use. All of that is present with this bat. Additionally, the documentation contained in the Hillerich & Bradsby factory records is specific to this bat."

As I said eaid previously, I believe that index/team-ordered bats can provide a financially reasonable alternative to many high-priced HOF bats. It is possible, as you suggest, that the rising cost of undocumented bats is merely reflective of the rising costs of their documented counterparts. Still, I do not believe that there is any question that a bat which is perfectly matched to a player's personal records commands a premium over a bat that does not match or is otherwise the subject of expansive speculation.

The situation becomes more (or less) clear when discussing specific bats, especially those that carry a player's pro stock model. For instance, Mickey Mantle's pro stock model K55. Mantle's records do not document any orders of K55 bats shipped to him between 9/8/55 and 8/19/66. So what to make of a 1961-64 label period Mantle K55? If it matched documented lengths of most K55 orders shipped to him throughout his career, 36 inches, would that raise your comfort level? How about if it was 35 inches in length, as were the majority of his bats of all models during the 1961-64 period (with no orders of 36 inch bats)? How about if it was 34 inches in length (three 34 inch K55 bats were shipped in July 1968.) Yet records exist showing that Mantle K55 bats were sent to the Yankees during that period, allowing for the possibility that Mantle used a bat obtained from the team's stock. What is your comfort level (i.e. how much are you willing to pay?)

Basically, it comes down to an individual collector's comfort level when presented with all relevant information concerning a potential purchase. That is the key, and in my mind, that is the primary role of an authenticator -- to have as many records and as much researched information at his disposal as possible with which to provide a collector with an analytical report (LOA) that lays everything out, and not only leads to the most reasoned conclusion possible, but allows the collector to reach his own conclusions as well.

As far as Greg's comment about the costs of undocumented bats rising due to the invovlement of collectors with unlimited financial resources, there is probably some truth to that. Unfortunately, I don't play on that field. Also, the Ebay auctions Greg mentions will be interesting to follow. Greg, could you post a link to the Seller's auction listings for reference. The only similar item I found was for this !977-79 Yaz K48 bat which the seller, with a great deal of integrity, points out clearly that the bat is likely a team ordered bat

. http://cgi.ebay.com/1977-79-CARL-YAS...QQcmdZViewItem

Good luck in future collecting, and thanks for the well thought-out discussion on this topic.

Mike Jackitout7@aol.com