There is a nice article on ESPN about the bats that Ruth, Shoeless, and a couple other old timers used. The reporter had replicas made and players tried them out in batting practice.

 

Sorry, I can't figure out the advanced stuff here.

Here you go:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story.../offbase/050726

 

great article btw.

I remember Hawk and DJ gushing about how heavy Ruth's bat was. 56 ounces....I would have to kick it up!

Everyone it seems uses the thin handled bats. It's not unusual to have a half dozen broken bats in a single game. I remember the old Nellie Fox bottle bat, which I used in Little League. How retro.

They have one of Ruth's bats on display in Cooperstown. The thing looked like a tree trunk. The handle wasn't much smaller than the barrel.

when the baseball hof had that traveling exhibit at the Field Museum I saw one of the Babe's bats. They were like giant logs.

One of my friends went to Cooperstown and when he told me that the barrel and handle were almost the same size and how he used bats over 40 ounces, I couldnt believe it.

when the baseball hof had that traveling exhibit at the Field Museum I saw one of the Babe's bats. They were like giant logs.

 

I remember seeing the samething. What gave you perspective was they had one of Mark McGwires bats next to it and it was TINY.

I remember seeing the samething.  What gave you perspective was they had one of Mark McGwires bats next to it and it was TINY.

 

But I'm sure McGwire's barrel was bigger.

Edited July 28, 200520 yr by Finkelstein

But I'm sure McGwire's barrel was bigger.

So were his biceps, triceps, abs, glutes, obliques, quads.....

So were his biceps, triceps, abs, glutes, obliques, quads.....

 

 

Everything except his balls..............

Edited July 28, 200520 yr by BDavisFutureHOF

Everyone it seems uses the thin handled bats. It's not unusual to have a half dozen broken bats in a single game. I remember the old Nellie Fox bottle bat, which I used in Little League. How retro.

 

 

It's not just that. Most bats were switched over this year from Pine to Maple. Maple is a lot softer and lighter wood and tends to break a lot easier then Pine. Thats why it seems like bats ae always breakin this year.....I would have loved to see Ruth with a maple bat.....he'd probably go through 600 a year

Everything except his balls.............. 

Ahahahahahaha!

when the baseball hof had that traveling exhibit at the Field Museum I saw one of the Babe's bats. They were like giant logs.

I saw that exhibition too. Comparing them to modern day sluggers bat there's quite a difference. Perhaps when we go back and worship those old sluggers that maybe they didn't have the same pitching to bat against. Bonds bat is relatively light could he get around with a 40 oz bat against a 95 to 98 mile an hour fastball could Ruth hit that same pitching we'll never know.

Those guys also hit around a rolled up sock, not the tightly wound bouncy ball that they use today...

Everything except his balls.............. 

Imagine these big hulking hunk of men, hitting titanic home runs with regularity at the expense of that certain part of the anatomy. Must do wonders for their love lives.

  Imagine these big hulking hunk of men, hitting titanic home runs with regularity at the expense of that certain part of the anatomy. Must do wonders for their love lives.

Is it worth the money???

It's not just that. Most bats were switched over this year from Pine to Maple. Maple is a lot softer and lighter wood and tends to break a lot easier then Pine. Thats why it seems like bats ae always breakin this year.....I would have loved to see Ruth with a maple bat.....he'd probably go through 600 a year

 

I believe the bats were made of ash. I was a carpenter at one time and pine is very soft wood.

I believe the bats were made of ash. I was a carpenter at one time and pine is very soft wood.

 

good call.....now that I think of it you are correct sir

Is it worth the money???

it comes full circle, because the money helps their love lives.