The Signing of the Hillerich & Bradsby Contract

On August 8th, 1952, while playing at Eau Claire in the Milwaukee Braves farm system, 18-year-old Henry Aaron signed an endorsement contract with the historic Hillerich & Bradsby Company. In part the contract allowed the young Henry Aaron’s name, image, and signature to be used in conjunction with the marketing of Louisville Slugger bats. With this Hank agreed to “endorse and have used or will use the bats made by Hillerich & Bradsby Co.” For this he was paid $50.00.

The future MLB homerun king signed the contract twice- Henry Aaron. The first signature sealed the contractual deal; the second was transformed into the tool room dye, which was used to brand the “Henry Aaron” signature onto the bats barrel end.

1952 The First Model, D89

The first model ordered for use was taken from an Andy Seminick model bat. What was shipped to Hank was an Andy Seminick D89 model (Erv Dusak first used the D89) bat with the new “Henry Aaron” signature stamped on the barrel’s end. For use in 1952, Henry was shipped the follow orders:

Complete 1952 Records:
1952 D89 35” 33 ounce 3 ash bats
1952 D89 35” 33 ounce 3 ash bats
1952 D89 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats

While using his first Louisville Slugger, Hank Aaron went on to win the Northern League Rookie of the Year Award. The Eau Claire Leader reported “Henry (Hank) Aaron, 18 year old Mobile, Ala., colored shortstop for the Eau Claire Bears, has been named as the outstanding rookie in the Northern League for the 1952 season.” His D89 contributed to that early success.

With the Northern League season at an end, Hank Aaron looked for off-season work and the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro League welcomed him back with open arms. The Clowns were to play the Birmingham Black Barons in a 13 game World Series tournament played in several cities throughout the south. In between World Series Games Hank Aaron played in a small town named Welch, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. After hitting a homerun that landed at the foot of a mountain, Hank Aaron was compared to Josh Gibson by Negro League fans. The old-timers swore that Josh Gibson had hit his homerun half way up the mountain at this traditional Negro League stop. These comparisons were a preview of the success Hank Aaron would soon experience.

Hank played in Jacksonville during the 1953 season and in Caguas, Puerto Rico that winter, but no orders exist for bats being shipped during the 1953 season. Amazingly, none of these early 1952 D89 model bats have been discovered.

1954 Rookie Season

Hank began the 1954 season in Bradenton, Florida with the Milwaukee Braves in spring training. The bat records show that for 1954, a “New Auto” was introduced to the bat records. This refers to the fact that the manufacturing process introduced a new version of the Henry Aaron barrel autograph signature. The records show that early in the season, Hank Aaron again ordered the D89 model bat and after Bobby Thomson broken his ankle during spring training, Hank Aaron was called up to be a member of the opening day roster.

Complete 1954 Records:
New Auto
1954 D89 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats
1954 D89 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats
1954 D89 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats

During 1954, Hank switched from the D89 and placed his order for his first T73 model. This model was different in both shape and size, so he experimented with a new model and his first bat measuring 36.”

1954 T73 36” 33 ounce 3 ash bats

I have a theory as to why Hank first tried the T73 model. From the onset of Hank Aaron’s career with the Milwaukee Braves, catcher Del Crandall shared batting tips with the young rookie. On 3-8-54, Del Crandall was shipped 6 T73 models. This timeframe corresponded with Hank’s appearance with the Braves at spring training, thus giving Hank Aaron access to this new model. Del Crandall also used the R43 model during the 1954 & 1955 seasons. With the friendship that developed between Crandall and Aaron, it is quite probable that Aaron would have been introduced to both models and this may have led to his first orders being placed for the models first used by Crandall. Later Hank stated that many of his first homeruns were hit with a Del Crandall R43 Louisville Slugger bat, thus supporting the theory of the early sharing of like model bats.

1955 Season and Hank First Uses the Babe’s model

Beginning his second season, Hank again continued the use of the T73 36” bats. Hank did, however, experiment with weight, as he ordered the T73 in weights of 33, 34, & 36 ounces. It was during the 1955 season that the first milestone was recorded in the Aaron bat records. With Milwaukee hosting the mid-summer classic, Hank was chosen to be on the 1955 NL All Star team. Noted in the records is the order for Hank Aaron’s first All Star bat.

1955 All Star Game T73 All Star 36” 36 ounce 2 ash bats.

After the 1955 All Star Game, Hank never again ordered the T73 or D89 model bats. The next order was for a more favored model, which appeared in the records for many following seasons, the R43.

Ironically, the R43 was the bat preferred by the then All Time Home Run King, George ‘Babe’ Ruth. As early as Hank’s second season, he would begin to use the same model of bat that Ruth used to set the homerun record.

Complete 1955 Records:
1955 T73 36” 33 ounce 6 ash bats
1955 T73 36” 34 ounce 6 ash bats
1955 T73 36” 36 ounce 6 ash bats
1955 T73 36” 36 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game bat order)
1955 R43 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (Babe Ruth model)
1955 R43 36” 33 ounce 6 ash bats

1956 Season

One change during the 1956 season was Aaron’s request for wide grade wood. Aaron records show only 14 bats being ordered for the entire 1956 season. These records support the interview conducted by me during 2001 when Hank Aaron recalled using Del Crandall model bats. Since both Crandall and Aaron used similar R43 models, the need to order additional bats may have been minimized.

Complete 1956 Records:
1956 R43 36” 33 ounce 6 ash bats
1956 R43 36” 33 ounce 6 ash bats
1956 R43 36” 34 ounce 2 ash bats (1956 All Star Game)

1957 World Series and MVP Season

1957 saw Hank Aaron experience both team and personal successes. The Braves finished the season as World Champions and Hank won the National League MVP award. Hank’s first order of the season was for the R43 model, which he had been favoring since 1955. This season also saw Hank add a new model to his repertoire, the A93. Aaron stayed with the A93 model and for the first time, experimented with a 34” length.

Complete 1957 Records:
1957 A93 36” 32 ounce 2 ash bats
1957 A93 36” 34 ounce 6 ash bats
1957 A93 35” 33 ounce 4 ash bats
1957 A93 35” 34 ounce 4 ash bats
1957 A93 35” 34 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)
1957 A93 34” 33 ounce 6 ash bats
1957 A93 36” 33 ounce 2 ash bats (World Series ordered on 10-2-57)

Market Watch: Both 1957 All Star Game bats have been accounted for, while no examples of the 1957 World Series bats have been discovered. A 1960’s house fire at the Hank Aaron residence may have claimed the 1957 World Series bats and other early examples.

1958 Season

During 1958, Hank Aaron experimented with yet another model. On 5-2-58, the records show that the first S2 model was shipped to Hank Aaron. The records verify that Hank requested “Sanded Handle” and this appears as a notation on all 3 of the 1958 S2 orders.

Complete 1958 Records:
1958 A93 34” 32 ounce 6 ash bats
1958 A93 36” 35 ounce 3 ash bats
1958 S2 35 ½” 33 ounce 8 ash bats “Sanded Handle”
1958 S2 35 ½” 33 ounce 6 ash bats “Sanded Handle”
1958 S2 35 ½” 34 ounce 2 ash bats (World Series Game) “Sanded Handle”

Many contemporary stars were using the S2 model. Players included teammate Eddie Mathews and NL All Stars Ernie Banks and Willie Mays. It is quite plausible that during an All Star Game or during regular season batting practice, Hank Aaron and these other stars compared notes on batting. The exact reason is unknown, but something inspired Hank Aaron to experiment with the S2 model for a four-year period.

1959 & 1960 Season

Hank Aaron ordered S2 for the beginning of the 1959 season. These again came with factory sanded handles. Judging from the next model ordered by Aaron, he must have been in an experimental mode. 3-9-59 records show a notation of “Sand Handle Slightly Smaller,” this was the variation, which spawned the A96 model first ordered during 1959.

Complete 1959 & 1960 Records:
1959 S2 35” 34 ounce 6 ash bats (Sand Handle)
1959 S2 36” 34 ounce 2 ash bats (Sand Handle)
1959 A96 36” 34 ounce 6 ash bats
1959 A96 36” 34 ounce 1 ash bat
1960 A96 36” 34 ounce 6 ash bats (Sanded No Finish)
1960 S2 36” 34 ounce 6 ash bats

It is interesting to note that the records do not show the bat sent to Hank Aaron to use during the 1960 All Star Game, but the bat was issued and is accounted for. We know this because in Hank Aaron’s autobiography, he referenced a failed bar venture with teammate Billy Bruton. The bar was located on 12th and North Ave, Milwaukee, WI and several years ago the 1960 All Star bat surfaced. When the current owner stated that he had removed the bat from its original display after the Aaron & Bruton bar closed. This illustrates that the Louisville Slugger records while highly accurate, are not always complete.

Team Ordered Hank Aaron Bats

During the 1950’s, Hank Aaron signature model bats were also found to have been ordered via the Milwaukee Braves team order sheets. On 4-27-57, the Braves team records showed that 24 Henry Aaron ash bats were ordered. The lengths and weights were not specifically listed, and are referred to simply as “see index.” The location of the index records is unknown, but it is believed that these records would have listed the lengths and weights. Another reference to Henry Aaron index bats was specifically listed once again in 1957, and lengths and weights are not listed on this either. Several 34”, R43 Henry Aaron signature model bats have surfaced in the hobby and can be attributed to these team record orders.

1961 Season and the Introduction of Aaron’s Favorite Model, the A99

1961 saw the biggest innovation with respect to Hank Aaron’s most preferred model. In the beginning of the season, Hank placed 2 orders for S2 bats. Then, with some tinkering of a competitors bat, Louisville Slugger created the model bat which Aaron would use predominately for the remainder of his career, the A99 model.

The A99 was unveiled on 7-20-61. With a notation in the records, “Made Off Adirondack #63B,” Louisville Slugger modified the competitor’s brand and created Hank Aaron’s most preferred model. It is interesting that this factory notation confirms the practice of players having new model bats created from bats supplied by competitors. Examples of this practice have been confirmed with the discovery of side written Krens & Hanna Batrite bats being found in the Louisville Slugger vaults.

Complete 1961 Records:
1961 S2 35” 30 ounce 6 ash bats
1961 S2 35” 30 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)
1961 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (Wide Grain, made off Adirondack bat)

According to the 1961 Milwaukee Braves index records, the Braves ordered 3 ash S2, 35” 30 ounce bats.

1962 Season

The 1962 season saw the A99 as the only model sent to Hank Aaron. With the exception of one order of 35 ½” bats, the lengths remained the same with only the weight varying from 32 to 34 ounces.

Complete 1962 Records:
1962 A99 35” 32 ounce 3 ash bats (Wide Grain)
1962 A99 35” 34 ounce 3 ash bats (Wide Grain)
1962 A99 35 ½” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (WG)
1962 A99 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)
1962 A99 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats

1963 Season

Starting in 1963, Hank Aaron requested that the factory “Mark Weights on all bats per notice.”

Complete 1963 Records:
1963 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats
1963 R43 34” 33 ounce 4 ash bats
1963 A99 35” 32 ounce 4 ash bats
1963 A99 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats
1963 A99 34” 33 ounce 3 ash bats

1964 Season

1964 continued with Aaron’s desire to use the A99 model. All of the orders show that Aaron requested 35” bats with weights ranging from 32 to 34 ounces.

Complete 1964 Records:
1964 A99 35” 33 ounce 3 ash bats (WG)
1964 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (WG)
1964 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (WG)
1964 A99 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)
1964 A99 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats (WG)
1964 A99 35” 34 ounce 2 ash bats (WG)
1964 A99 35” 33 ounce 4 ash bats (WG)
Note per 7-20-64 records: X mark X on this knob of Aaron 34 oz bats
1964 A99 35” 33 ounce 4 ash bats
1964 A99 35” 34 ounce 1 ash bat (X mark weights)
1964 A99 35” 32 ounce 6 ash bats
1964 A99 35” 32 ounce 6 ash bats
1964 A99 35” 32 ounce 12 ash bats
1964 A99 35” 32 ounce 12 ash bats

1965-1967 Seasons

Between 1965-1967, Hank Aaron used A99 model bats. 35” was the standard length ordered, but Hank did experiment with two orders of 35 ½” & 38” bats. The special notation of “Wide Grain” and “Mark Weights” appeared in the orders.

Complete 1965-1967 Records:
1965 A99 35” 38 ounce 3 ash bats
1965 A99 35” 38 ounce 6 ash bats
1965 A99 38” 1 ash bat
1965 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats
1966 A99 35” 33 ounce 24 ash bats
1966 A99 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)
1966 A99 35” 33 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1966 A99 35” 33 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1966 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1966 A99 35 ½” 32 ounce 3 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1967 A99 35” 33 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1967 A99 35” 33 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1967 A99 35” 33 ounce 3 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1967 A99 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)

1968 Season

The 1968 season saw Hank Aaron create an additional version of the A99, the A112. The modification was noted in the records as “Made New Model, Make Handle Slightly Thinner-A112.” Hank Aaron experimented with 20 of these new A112 models, then never ordered them again.

Complete 1968 Records:
1968 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (MK WTS)
Note: Made New Model-Make Handle Slightly Thinner-A112
1968 A112 35” 33 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1968 A112 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)

1969 Season

With the exception of one order of A112 models, Hank Aaron only ordered A99 models. Again, all lengths were 35” and weights of 33 or 34 ounces.

Complete 1969 Records:
1969 A112 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats
1969 A99 35” 34 ounce 12 ash bats
1969 A99 35” 33 ounce 12 ash bats
1969 A99 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)
1969 A99 35” 34 ounce 12 ash bats
1969 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats

1970 Season

In 1970, Hank Aaron again modified an Adirondack bat. As recorded in the records “New Model Made off Adirondack Model A115.”

Complete 1970 Records:
1970 A115 35” 34 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1970 A115 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1970 A115 35” 34 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1970 A115 35” 34 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1970 A115 35” 33 ounce 3 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1970 A115 35” 34 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1970 A115 35” 34 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)

1971 to 1973 Season

With the start of 1971, Hank Aaron finished his career only ordering A99 model bats. All of the lengths were 35” in length and weighed 32 to 34 ounces.

Complete 1971 Records:
1971 A99 35 ½” 34 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1971 A99 35 ½“ 34 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)
1971 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1971 A99 35” 33 ounce 18 ash bats (WG, mk wts)

Complete 1972 Records:
1972 A99 35” 33 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1972 A99 35” 34 ounce 18 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1972 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1972 A99 35” 34 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1972 A99 35” 33 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1972 A99 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)
1972 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1972 A99 35” 34 ounce 4 ash bats (WG, mk wts)

Complete 1973 Records:
1973 A99 35” 34 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1973 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1973 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1973 A99 35” 34 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1973 A99 35” 33 ounce 24 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1973 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1973 A99 35” 32 ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1973 A99 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)
1973 A99 35” 33 ounce 24 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1973 A99 35” 33 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)

1974- History Made with a Louisville Slugger

1974 found Hank Aaron about to break the all time homerun record held by Babe Ruth. The bat Hank Aaron chose to pursue this feat was the Louisville Slugger. With the excitement created by the pursuit of the record, souvenir seekers began to request bats from the Hammer. In an unprecedented move, Hank Aaron ordered 116 Louisville Slugger bats during the 1974 season. On 4-24-74 Hank made a special request that was found on the shipping records. He asked for the bats to have no finish applied. 56 unfinished bats were shipped for Hank to use during the 1974 season. As an authenticator, I have noticed that many of the bats from the 1972-75 season are absent of the heavy game use found on bats from earlier in Hank’s career. The amount of bats ordered substantiate these findings as the demand for Aaron bats were high, and Hank was prepared to quickly replace bats as they were being removed from his possession.

Complete 1974 Records:
1974 A99 35” 33 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1974 A99 35” 33.5 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1974 A99 35” 33 ounce 36 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
New request found on shipping records:
“DO NOT PUT LACQUER OR TOP COAT ON BARREL END.
FILLER ONLY”
1974 A99 35” 33 ounce 24 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1974 A99 35” 33 ounce 2 ash bats (All Star Game)
1974 A99 35” 33 ounce 30 ash bats (WG, mk wts)

1975 Season

1975 found Hank Aaron back where he began his career, in Milwaukee, WI. Hank continued to favor the A99 35” length bat. He also played some games with Adirondack model bats as documented in known photos. An interesting note is that 1975 was the year of Hank Aaron’s last All Star Game and no records show a Louisville Slugger bat being sent to him. Also, Hank Aaron’s 1975 All Star Bat has yet to surface at the time of this writing.

Complete 1975 Records:
1975 A99 35” 33 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1975 A99 35” 34 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1975 A99 35” 33 ounce 12 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1975 A99 35” 33/34 ounce 36 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1975 A99 35” 33 ½ ounce 24 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1975 A99 35” 32 ½ ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1975 A99 35” 32 ½ ounce 6 ash bats (WG, mk wts)

1976 Final Season

Hank continued to use Louisville Slugger bats during his final Major League season. All of these bats were found with the Bicentennial Logo, to commemorate American’s 200th Birthday. On July 20th, 1976, Hank belted homerun #755, the final of his career, off Red Sox pitcher Dick Drago. Video documentation shows that Hank hit the last homerun with a Bicentennial model Louisville Slugger bat.

Complete 1976 Records:
1976 A99 35” 32 ½ ounce 48 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1976 A99 35” 33 ounce 20 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1976 A99 35” 34 ounce 4 ash bats (WG, mk wts)
1976 A99 35” 32 ounce 12 ash bats (Flame Burned) (WG, mk wts)
1976 A99 35” 33 ounce 6 ash bats (Flame Burned) (WG, mk wts)
Final Order on July 3, 1976
1976 A99 35” 33 ½ ounce 12 ash bats (Lite Flame Burned) (WG, mk wts)

Another interesting HR bat entered the hobby during the 1976 season when a very energetic street dancer with a lot of razzle-dazzle from the Oakland area caught the eye of owner Charley Finley. He had both a love for music and baseball and it was his love for baseball got him a job as the batboy with the Oakland A’s. After getting to know the energetic batboy, Reggie Jackson named him after the ballplayer that the energetic kid always talked about, Hank Aaron. From that season on, the kid was known around the ballpark as “little Hammer.” During his Grammy Award winning music career, he was known as MC Hammer. During a visit to the bay area, Hank Aaron gave the young MC the bat he used to hit career Homerun #750. With full documentation, the bat now resides in a private collection.

Famous Hank Aaron Home Runs and Other Significant Louisville Slugger Bats

After a 24-year relationship with the company, it is not surprising that there are many significant bats and Home Runs hit by Aaron with a Louisville Slugger. Some of the highlights that I have examined include:

Henry Aaron Bats authenticated by MEARS:
1955-57 MEARS A9.5 Louisville Slugger with Cubs ballboy letter
1955 MEARS A5 Louisville Slugger Team Index Bat
1955 MEARS A5 Louisville Slugger Team Index bat
1959 MEARS A8.5 Louisville Slugger bat
1960 MEARS A10 Louisville Slugger All Star Game Bat
HR #590 MEARS A10 Louisville Slugger
HR #704 MEARS A9.5 Louisville Slugger
HR #733 MEARS A10 Louisville Slugger
HR #745 MEARS A9 Louisville Slugger

Henry Aaron Bats in private collections
1955 Louisville Slugger Bat (Only one known signed Henry Aaron)
1957 All Star Game Louisville Slugger Bat (1 of 2 ordered)
1957 All Star Game Louisville Slugger Bat (Stephen Wong Collection, 1 of 2 ordered)
1958 World Series Game Used Bat (Richard Angrist collection)
HR #740 Louisville Slugger
HR #750 Louisville Slugger (Given to Grammy Winning rapper MC Hammer as a batboy of the Oakland A’s)

Henry Aaron Bats in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame Collection
HR #500 Louisville Slugger
HR #600 Louisville Slugger
HR #714 Louisville Slugger (Ties Babe Ruth)
HR #717 Louisville Slugger

Henry Aaron Bats in the Louisville Slugger Museum Collection
HR #699 Louisville Slugger
HR #700 Louisville Slugger

#715, The Most Significant

In 2001, I had the honor to talk to Hank Aaron about his time in the big leagues. He had accumulated various items throughout his career, but did not consider himself a collector. The items associated with All Star Games, World Series, and homeruns did not cause Hank Aaron to collect, except for one item, which had enough historical and personal significance. HR bat #715 remains in the Hank Aaron collection. He was very willing to give the bat that tied Babe Ruth, #714, to Cooperstown to be shared by everyone, but with the personal struggle and the social significance associated with the achievement of breaking Babe’s record, he decided to keep that bat. (For the record, he also has the ball after turning down $25,000 from Sammy Davis Jr. for it)

General Observation about Hank Aaron and His Bats

According to the interview with Wes Covington in the book I Had A Hammer, The Hank Aaron Story by Hank Aaron with Lonnie Wheeler, copyright Harpers Collins, 1991, Covington noted that early on Aaron wasn’t the kind of person who would jump into things, but he would always observe and size things up before he would act. This might explain how over a course of 24 professional seasons, Hank only used 7 different models, and the difference of those models were only very slight modifications of the base model such as sanding of the handle. His contemporaries used 20 to 30 different model bats, and none with the success of Hank Aaron. He had observed what worked for him, and did very little tinkering with the bats he used. In my opinion, this was one of the foundations used to build the consistency, which enabled him to hit 755 homeruns.

Player Applied Traits

Overall, Hank Aaron was consistent with the application of numbering his knob, pine tar, and use characteristics. During the 1950’s and up to approximately 1962, it is rare to find a Hank Aaron bat with a uniform number applied. The application of uniform numbers was not important on bats from that era. Part of the job of being a batboy was to memorize the lineups and provide the bats in the proper order to the player at bat and in the on deck circle. Failure to provide the correct bat to player could result in dismissal. A batboy’s job was a very prestigious, so the importance of the job and the handling of the bats minimized the need for player uniform numbers to be placed on the knob. Prime documented examples of same period bats from the games greats such as Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, and Eddie Mathews are found without the uniform number on the knob. After circa 1962 it became more common to find Hank Aaron bats with uniform numbers applied to the knob. The first version of the 44 found on the knob is a “Sail Boat” or closed top of the 4’s applied on the knob. It’s highly probable that the clubhouse attendant or batboy applied those 44’s. Starting in 1966 with Aaron’s move to Atlanta, the 44’s found on the knob are open 44’s. The formation, flow, and slant of these open 44’s are very consistent with the penmanship found on Hank Aaron autographed inscriptions. It is in my opinion that Hank Aaron applied those open 44’s personally as they closely match the style of his autographed inscriptions. In the late 1960’s to early 1970’s the same style 44 can be found on both the knob and barrel end of Hank Aaron bats.

In regard to pine tar use by Hank Aaron during the label period of 1952-1965 while he was playing in Milwaukee for the Braves, I have yet to see a documented example of a Hank Aaron game used bat with pine tar applied. An exception may have occurred, but MEARS has not examined one as of yet. Starting with his move to Atlanta, examples of examined bats and photographic evidence support the use of heavy pine tar by Hank Aaron. When these bats are seen, the pine tar is applied in a very heavy pattern that obscures the wood and covers an approximate 8”to 12” length of the bat. The pine tar is very thick and heavily applied. On Aaron bats, circa 1972-1975, examined pine tar is found in light to medium application or none at all. Only during his final season of 1976 have examples of his bicentennial models, been found with both heavy use and pine tar.

When examining 1950’s Hank Aaron bats, they typically are found with heavy use. One example of A93 with light use from the 1957 season entered the market, but this is the exception to the rule. Bats from circa 1960-1976 can be found with light, medium, or heavy use. Typically the closer to the 1960 season, the bats tend to be found with heavier use. The theory is that souvenir hunters were not yet claiming Aaron bats as prizes so bats issued were more likely used. When examining use on Aaron bats evidence of both use and ball marks can be found on the label, above, and below the label. The biggest concentration of ball marks is usually found above the barrel signature.

All Star and World Series bats need to be reviewed also. On the 1955 All Star Game bat and 1958 World Series bat examined, the bats were pounded with legitimate heavy game use. Obviously both bats were favored by Aaron and used for a large part of the season even after the events for which they were specifically produced. 1960’s All Star Game bats are usually found with less use, as they were most likely given away as souvenirs.

My findings for use in this article are written to cover the general traits of Hank Aaron bats. Special circumstances for any bat or game can result in different use characteristics being discovered. I recommend learning as much as you can about the Hank Aaron bat in your collection as this will help to determine if the use is appropriate.

Hank Aaron Bat Quantities Ordered By Year

YEAR - QUANTITY
1952 - 8
1954 - 21
1955 - 32
1956 - 14
1957 - 26
1958 - 25
1959 - 15
1960 - 12
1961 - 17
1962 - 16
1963 - 19
1964 - 66
1965 - 16
1966 - 59
1967 - 29
1968 - 20
1969 - 50
1970 - 41
1971 - 38
1972 - 72
1973 - 98
1974 - 116
1975 - 108
1976 - 102

Total of 1020 Louisville Slugger bats ordered by Hank Aaron between 1952-1976.

Hank Aaron Louisville Slugger Bat Facts:

Rarest Model: A96 (Only 13 bats ordered)
Most Common Model: A99
Longest Bat: 38”
Heaviest Bat: 38 oz
Lightest bat: 30 oz
First Model: D89
Last Model: A99 (Ordered July 3, 1976)