First of all, if you are reading this…thank you. Many of you have been with us right from the start and I have always felt that loyality is a two way street. I hope you will take this information that is being made available to MEARS Members only as my way of saying thank you.
Like any project, this one had to begin someplace. I refer to at least this portion of my larger study of Adirondack Professional Model Bats 1950s-1960’s as an update because that is what it is. I took a look at the players and associated models listed in both Bats and the MastroNet Vintage Guide and this has served as point of departure. The biggest advantage I have had over these other two previous efforts is that of time and scope. Bats was published in 1995 and the MastroNet Guide came out in 2001, so even by the later publication date I have been afforded another seven years of material and hobby wide offerings to consider. Also, my scope is much more narrow so I have been able to focus a bit more on the topic at hand.
I bring this up as some may see efforts like this as a veiled attempt to take shots at previous works and authors. Please know this is not the case as I consider that to be unproductive and unprofessional. My point is, that in my experience over the past decade in this hobby/industry, there is a prevalent tendency for collectors to become complacent about research once something has been published. Even worse are those cases and instances when things have just been assumed because “that’s what I’ve always been told.” By and large, all the things I do and write about could be done by just about anyone who is willing to invest the time and some money in references and research. This is not a lecture, but a call to each collector to begin to do original or detailed and expanded research on those things that interest them…and yes, publish what you have found out and subject it to scrutiny of a larger community.
Below you will find new information on over 100 players and 130 associated models. When I looked at both Bats and the MastroNet Guide, I originally found information on some 41 players and some 71 associated models. There is much more information in both of these works, but my effort is only focused the period of the 1950s and 1960s. Why? Because this is the period that interests me and for no other reason. With this updated listing below, the new players and models are the ones show in bold. The * indicates an Adirondack endorser. In cases where no model is shown for the player, the identification as such was the result of their listing in either a catalog, related Adirondack advertising product or image.
With respect to the C&D model bats listed, collectors are encouraged to form their own opinions about what they are or are not. My research does not support the notion that they were offered in the retail catalogs or that they are not made from professional grade lumber (See previous articles on this subject).
Aaron, Henry: 63A, 63B, 82D, 220A, 229A, 289D
*Adcock, Joe: 73V, 94A
Allen, Richie: 246R, 246RA, 194 VP
Alou, Jesus: 234A
Alou, Matty: 113B
*Anderson, Hary: 198A
Aparicio, Luis: 155A
Ashburn, Richie: 137B
Bailey, Bob: 22A
Banks, Ernie: 113A
Battey, Earl: 194A
*Bauer, Hank: 4X, 113A, 04C, 282C
Berra, Yogi: 06A
Blefary, Curt: 230A
Blanchard, John: 57A
*Blatnick, Johny:
*Boone, Ray (Ike): 84C
Boyer, Clete: 57A, 63A
Boyer, Ken: 29X, 100A, 129X
Bench, Johnny: 220A
*Bridges, Rocky: 155
Brock, Lou: 119B, 155B
*Brown, Dick 176A
Burgess, Smokey: 113A
Carew, Rod: 224A, 381B
*Carty, Rico: 331V
Cepeda, Orlando: 76X, 114A, 114B, 153X, 155A, 246A, 307C
Cerv, Bob: 194X
Clendenon, Don: 194VP
Clemente, Roberto: 113A, 129X, 194RW
Colavito, Rocky: 194A, 301D
Cook, Cliff: 168A
*Crandell, Dell: 114A, 79A
*Dark, Al: 129X, 127D
Davis, Tommy: 113A
*Davenport, Jim: 276D
Demeter, Don: 158B
*Doby, Larry:
Dropo, Walt: 135B
*Elliot, Bob:
*Ennis, Del: 72A
*Farley, Bob: 113A
Flood, Curt: 236B
Foiles, Hank: 113A
*Fondy, Dee: 52C
Ford, Whitey: 24C
Furillo, Carl: 118A
Fox, Nellie: 156B
*Garagiola, Joe: 73A, 73B
*Geiger, Gary:
*Green, Len
Groat, Dick: 94A
Haller, Tom: 245X
Harrelson, Ken: 63A
*Harrington, Mickey: 04V
*Hamner, Granny:
Hansen, Ron: 82V
*Harper, Tommy: 320B
*Hart, Jim: 332A, 332C
Held, Woodie: 192HE
*Hemus, Solly:
*Hodges, Gil: 106, 106A, 106E, 123, 123C
Howard, Elston:
Howard, Frank: 194A
*Hunter, Bill: 88D
Jackson, Reggie: 170B, 288A, 288RJ, JAX44
Johnson, Deron: 310X
Jones, Cleon: 194X, 194VP
*Jones, Willie: 58A
Kaline, Al: 21B, 21C, 89K, 113A, 210C, 225K
*Kanehl, Rod: 04C
Killebrew, Harmon: 21C, 146B, 176A, 194VP
*Kirkland, Willie: 201B
Kluszewski, Ted: 129A
Kranepool, Ed: 194A
*Kubek, Tony: 113B, 114A, 197B, 215C
Kuenn, Harvey: 143C
*Landis, Jim: 243A, 282C
*Larker, Norm: 011E, 011B, 011C
*Lemon, Jim:
Linz, Phil: 89A
*Lipon, Johnny:
Mantle, Mickey: 63A, 89B, 113A, 206A, 288C, 288D
Maris, Roger: 124A, 135RM, 307C, 307D
Martin, Billy: 72A
*Martin, J.C.: 309D
Mathews, Eddie: 63X, 79A, 94X, 113A
*Mays, Willie: 63A, 113A, 282A, 282C, 282D, M63
Mazeroski, Bill: 113A, 194A
*McAnany, Jim:
McCarver, Tim 113B
McBride, Ken: 288C
*McCovey, Willie: 113A, 155A, 160B, 194A, 216D, 246A, 288RJ
McDougald, Gil: 72A
Motta, Manny: 257B
Morgan, Joe: 369B
Musial, Stan: 15B, 15C, 15D, 15V, 57B, 73B
Niarhos, Gus: 137B
Niekro, Phil: 194VP
*O’Connell, Danny
Oliva, Tony: 176A, 194A
Oliver, Nate: 303C
*Pearson, Albie: O3C
Pepitone, Joe: 225A
Piersall, Jimmy: 113A
*Pinson, Vada: 018VP, 192A, 194VP, 018D
Robinson, Brooks: 160B, 210A, 320A, 320B
Robinson, Frank: 170A, 194VP
Robinson, Jackie: 111A
Rojas, Cookie: 79A
*Rollins, Rich: 314D
Reese, Pee Wee: 136B
Rose, Pete: 69A, 113A, 113X, 269A
*Roseboro, John: 224A, 318 V
*Santo, Ron: 113B, 305C
*Schofield, Dick: 208B
Schoendienst, Red: 52A, 94A, 256 B
*Shepard, Jack:
Siebern, Norm: 73A
*Sievers, Roy: 282C
Sims, Duke: 149A
Skowran, Moose: 194X
Smith, Bob: 113B
*Smith, Hal:
Snider, Duke: 187A
*Spencer, Daryl: 100A
Stargell, Willie: 194VP, 194X, 303X
Staub, Rusty: 265B
Stephens (Vern or Gene) 282C (Vault Marked by H&B as J56)
Stuart, Dick: 113X
Tasby, Willie: 21C
*Tappe, Elvin: 113B
Taylor, Bob (Hawk): 138A, 169A
*Torre, Joe: 94A, 129A
*Thomas, Lee:
*Thompson, Bob:
Veale, Bob: 129A
*Wertz, Vic: 185A
Williams, Ted: 175A
White, Bill: 94A, 224A
Wills, Maury: 194B, 240B
If you have an Adirondack bat from the 1950s or 1960s that does not appear on this listing, I would love to hear from you so that it may be added to a latter update. This has been a wonderful project and I am deeply indebted to collector Joe Petrole for his passion on this subject and his willingness to share information. My work on the history of the McLaughlin-Millard Company is moving a bit slower than I had hoped, but I did manage to speak with Hal Schumacher’s (Director of Sales: late 40s to 1950s) former executive secretary. She has been a delight to correspond with and this area I would to be able to devote more attention to in the future.
As always, collect what you enjoy and enjoy what you collect… and oh yea, consider enjoying researching and writing…if you do, you will find you enjoy what you have even more.
MEARS Auth, LLC
For questions or comments on this article, please feel free to drop me a line at DaveGrob1@aol.com