The question I'm asked most about bats is, "How can you tell a 'real' bat from a store bat?" What I hope to do in this section is explain the traits of professional model bats and provide information that can help date those bats to particular eras. There are few concrete rules when it comes to authenticating and dating bats, but there are many well-researched guidelines that can help.

Much of the information on these manufacturers was drawn from three books: Louisville Slugger, A Complete Reference Guide by Malta; Bats, Professional Hillerich & Bradsby and Adirondack, 1950-1994 by Malta, Fox, Riddel and Specht; and MastroNet Reference and Price Guide for Collecting Game-Used Bats by Bushing and Knoll.

 
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Hillerich & Bradsby (Louisville Slugger), 1950-1979

The labeling of Hillerich & Bradsby bats has changed many, many times since 1897. Still, there are a few key features that differentiate pro model game bats from store model bats.

In general, a pro bat must have "125" in the center label. If it has another number, such as "40 BR" or "125 LL," it almost certainly is a store bat. A pro bat also probably says, "Powerized" right of the oval; if it says "Flame Tempered," it's a store bat. If the knob has a number ("35" or "5") or a combination such as "RC 4" stamped into it, the bat is from the store. H&B stamped pro model numbers into the knob until 1976; after that, nothing would be stamped or branded into the knob until 2009. Professional ash bats have deep branding; store bats generally are foil stamped. Finally, pro bats have high-quality wood, while their retail counterparts often use inferior wood.

Once you have an idea whether your bat is a pro model or a store model, the next step is to identify the era the bat was used. Through the years, many collectors have researched bat markings and bat ordering records, trying to determine which markings were used in different years. While there typically is no perfect way to date a bat, there are general guidelines collectors can use.

Year Comments Illustration

 

1950-1960

The center label didn't really change in 1950, but the text under the label did (see below), as did the look of the word "Powerized," which now featured flatter lightning bolts.

Models numbers were stamped into the knob.

The barrel stamping was unchanged, with "GENUINE" above the player's name and "LOUISVILLE SLUGGER" below.

"REG. U.S. PAT. OFF." replaced "Trade Mark Reg." under the center label in 1950.

Note that the "R" in "Reg." is aligned under the "OU" in "Louisville" and that the second "F" in "OFF." is aligned under the "K" in "KY."
1961-1964

In 1961, the wording under the center label became more condensed. Note that the "R" in "Reg." now is aligned directly under the "U" in "Louisville" and that the second "F" in "OFF." now is aligned under the comma.

Another slight change is that the "2" in "125" now is aligned directly above the "&". Before 1961, the "2" was aligned between the "&" and the "B" in "BRADSBY" (see above).

Everything else looked the same as in 1960.
1964

At some point in 1964, the text under the center label was eliminated in favor of a ® following the word "SLUGGER" inside the oval. A new version of "Powerized" also appeared, sans the looping "d."

However, some bats were made that combined the new version of "Powerized" with the old text under the center label. This occured in 1964 only.
1964-1966

Another variation featured the old version of "Powerized" with the looping "d" combined with the new center label that featured the ® after "SLUGGER" and no text under the oval. It's generally accepted this variation began in 1964 and continued through 1966.

I have a bat with this combination that matches factory records from 1966 (and no other date).
1965-1972

The combination of the new version of "Powerized" and the new center label -- with the ® after "SLUGGER" and no text under the oval -- began in 1965.

Model numbers still were stamped into the knob, and the barrel markings remained consistent with prior years.
1969-1972

Many collectors combine this label period with the previous one, categorizing bats as being from the 1965-1972 era. However, there is one slight difference that differentiates the periods.

Beginning in 1969, the "P" in "Powerized" changed on some bats. Instead of the bottom loop of the "P" stopping at the downstroke, it crossed the line just a bit.

1973-1975

In 1973, the version of "Powerized" used from 1965-1968 returned (note the bottom loop of the "P" stops flush with the downstroke).

The easiest way to identify a bat from this era is the ® that began appearing above the "ed" in "Powerized."

If a bat has the model number stamped into the knob and has the ® above "Powerized," it must date to this period.
1976

This label period is maybe the easiest to identify of any because H&B replaced "Powerized" with a special logo commemorating America's Bicentennial.

However, there was another key change as H&B stopped stamping model numbers into the knob. Beginning in 1976, model numbers appeared on the barrel, above the player's name and right of the word "GENUINE."
1977-1979

In 1977 (perhaps even sometime during the 1976 season), "Powerized" returned.

1979 was the last year for the traditional Hillerich & Bradsby center label. If a bat has this center label, combined with "Powerized" and the model number on the barrel, it must be from this label period.