Players cleaning ball marks off their bats?

[bobsis24]

Today's New York Post had an article describing Carlos Beltran "methodically wiping a rag over the barrel of his bats. He was cleaning off the marks made by previous batted balls". Beltran said that "It's something I just like to do. I like to wipe off the bad marks and leave the good ones".

Now there's something that doesn't exactly help in photomatching!

How widespread is this practice among players? Has Beltran always done this?

[gorilla777]

I know that Pujols and especially Ichiro come to mind on the tactic...
There's more, I'm sure, beyond those two players.

Ben

[metsbats]

Gregg Jefferies when he was with the Mets used to polish this SSK bats with rubbing alcohol to remove the marks and keep them shiny.

He was so particular with his bats he asked Charlie Samuels to pack them separately from the rest of the teams bats.

[bobsis24]

I know that Pujols and especially Ichiro come to mind on the tactic...
There's more, I'm sure, beyond those two players.

Ben

With how fanatically Ichiro cares for his bats - the humidor, etc. - I'm not surprised!

[Jim65]

Gregg Jefferies when he was with the Mets used to polish this SSK bats with rubbing alcohol to remove the marks and keep them shiny.

He was so particular with his bats he asked Charlie Samuels to pack them separately from the rest of the teams bats.

Just one of the reason his teammates hated him.

[metsbats]

Just one of the reason his teammates hated him.

Yes one of many. Strawberry threw his game bat into the trash in Atlanta one time after Jefferies handed it to Charlie Samuels in a rush to get onto the team bus. McDowell sawed Jefferies bats in half and tape them together one time too.

[flota89]

Is there a link to this article?

[metsbats]

Is there a link to this article?

http://nypost.com/2015/05/31/beltran...t-to-continue/

[flota89]

Thank you!

[Tay1038]

I've been told by other Twins collectors that Rod Carew would do the same