Usage - The topic of bat usage inevitably comes down to personal taste. Collectors who prefer bats with heavy game use value the fact that the bat was in the player's hands for a long period of time. These collectors look for strong evidence of ball, seam, bat rack, and cleat marks along with unique player characteristics such as shaved or taped handles and grooving. Other collectors, who prefer light use, enjoy the eye-appeal that a virtually untouched bat offers. One important thing to keep in mind is that vintage bats do not show use as clearly as the modern bats do. This is due to the difference in wood type and qualtiy. For example, the old hickory bats simply do not reveal wear like the modern white ash does. Again, it really comes down to personal taste but a clear showing of some use is essential. Remember that these are not baseball cards, they are supposed to have wear from game use. More use means that the bat was in the players hands for a longer period of time and that is where a lot of the value comes from.

Game-issued bats - Some professional model bats never make it into the game. These bats are simply called game-issued bats. They were made for game use but were left in the locker room or the bat bag. These bats do have value but the value is somewhat lower than that of game-used bats. Much of the value turns on the fact that the bat saw game action.

Postseason and All-Star bats - Due to extreme limited production, bats that were made for postseason or All-Star play command a significant premium over regular issue bats. These bats will exhibit distinctive labeling such as the city the All-Star Game was played in or the year and series the bat was made for. Every bat manufacturer has a different way of labeling these special bats so it is imperative that you familiarize yourself with each company's label design.

Special bats - Some players will mark bats with special notations such as home run bats or significant hit bats. This can be true for vintage as well as modern player bats. These bats usually sell for a significant premium depending on the importance of the notation or rarity of such an occurrence.

Manufacturers - In the older days of the game, there were very few bat manufacturers. H&B (now Louisville Slugger) and Adirondack were among the handful. Today, there are several bat companies and each company has its own distinct style. Some companies have come and gone such as Worth while others have recently started like Sam and Young. The importance of bat brand is two-fold.

First, some players are commonly associated with particular bat companies like Mark McGwire and some are not. McGwire has used Rawlings model bats for the great majority of his at-bats. As a result, many collectors prefer Rawlings gamers over any other brand McGwire may have tried during his career. A great way to check what bat players are using is by looking at baseball cards, photos and television broadcasts. Usually, by doing this, you can get a good idea of what bats the player uses the most. Other collectors like the rarity of a bat not commonly associated with a player but beware, just because a bat was made for a player does not mean the player used it.

Second, and just as important, is the difference in visual appeal between the brands. Some collectors prefer the classic look of a Louisville Slugger while others are drawn to the unique designs attributed to modern KC Slammers or vintage beauties like the white lettered, caramel colored Adirondacks of the 1950's and 60's. In addition, some bats include the team name on the barrel while others do not. Some collectors prefer bats that include the team name in the labeling for display purposes. Keep in mind that most vintage bats never included the team name as part of the labeling. The bottom line is visual appeal. Each brand offers a different look but some bats are clearly better looking than others.

Rarity - Like most collectibles, bats are judged by rarity. For example, a 1950's Mickey Mantle game-used bat is far more rare than a Mantle bat from the 1960's. The same can be said for other players such as Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. Rarity can have a major affect on pricing. For example, Monte Irvin bats are virtually impossible to find, therefore, the rarity is reflected in the price. Even though Frank Robinson was a superior player to Irvin, his bats are more common so the difference in price is apparent.

In addition, modern bats are manufactured at a much higher rate than they were in the past. For example, Ken Griffey Jr. has had more bats made in two years than Mantle received in his entire career. On the other hand, some modern players are very protective of their equipment. Finding a true gamer from these players can be very tough because their bats rarely escape from the clubhouse. A significant premium is usually applied to those bats that exhibit unique qualities or true rarity.

Side Written or Vault Marked Bats - Some vintage bats, primarily during the pre-war era, may exhibit what is referred to as side writing or vault marks. When players would crack their bats and needed to order more of the same model, they would return the bat to the factory. After arrival, bats were labeled with grease pencil to confirm the order. The player's name, city, and date were usually placed on the barrel in fairly large letters. The side writing pinpoints the time when the bat was returned and what player was returning the bats. In some rare instances, players would return another player's bat in hopes of getting the same model made for them. Vault marks can also be identified on some vintage bats. These marks were made as a result of the handling process at the factory. Bats that exhibit either of these distinctive marks are valued significantly higher than bats without the marks.

Provenance - Professional player bats, due to the distinct labeling and unique usage characteristics, can be clearly identified by bat experts but provenance may add a significant premium to a particular bat. Provenance is probably best described as evidence of origin; however, the strength of evidence is what matters. For instance, strong provenance might be shown by the existence of a letter from a former teammate, batboy, umpire, family member or baseball organization. These are just some examples. The fact that a bat once resided in a particular collection should not, in itself, play a significant part in the valuation of the piece. The bat is what it is regardless of who owned it but, if the collection the bat came from can help show a chain of custody or an important relationship that can help explain the acquisition of the bat, it may be a factor.

Teams - Many collectors focus on particular teams or prefer a bat that links a player to a certain team. For example, a Reggie Jackson game-used bat that was used during his stint with the Yankees would sell for a slight premium over a bat used during his time with the Angels. Whether a player accomplished more from an individual standpoint or from a team standpoint, the bat price will be affected. Another example would be Mark McGwire. His Cardinals bats sell for more than his Athletics bats do, even though he won a World Series with Oakland, because of the fact that he emerged as a star as a member of the St. Louis team. In Oakland, he was slightly overshadowed by other star players.

The affect a team might have on values can be dramatic in some instances. Game-used bats from legendary or World Championship teams can be highly desirable even if the bats are from common players. The team factor can turn a common player bat into a highly valuable one depending on the year. For example, any bat from the 1927 New York Yankees is highly desirable due to the historical importance of that squad. Significant premiums for star or common player bats should be added when applicable.

Pitcher Bats - Bats that were used by pitchers are highly desirable and very rare in many cases. Key Hall of Fame pitcher bats such as Sandy Koufax and Walter Johnson examples are amongst the most valuable in the market. Pitchers have very few bats made for them and only occasionally make plate appearances. These factors really limit the available number of game-used pitcher bats, especially from the vintage era. Due to the extreme rarity of many of these pitcher bats, much like the special bats listed above, the price guide does not include price listings for these examples.

Authentication - Like for most important pieces of memorabilia, authentication is key. It is important, before you purchase a game-used bat, that you consult a bat expert that is nationally recognized by advanced sports memorabilia hobbyists. I would recommend that collectors ask around the hobby, at its highest levels, to find the bat expert that is best qualified to authenticate your bat. The reality is that there are very few individuals qualified to render an expert opinion regarding the authenticity of game-used bats but, the experts who are qualified, provide a highly valuable service for collectors. Having your game-used bat properly authenticated will ensure that other potential buyers will accept the bat as being legitimate in case you ever have to sell and it can prevent a collector from losing money on a bat that fails industry standards.