|
| Mickey Mantle Bat Master
Instruction manual |
 |
|
| Mickey Mantle Bat Master
Installation Guide back |
 |
| Isometric Exercise |
 |
| 1971 TG&Y Advertisement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
1969 Mickey Mantle Bat Master Kit |
|
| |
 |
|
1969 Mickey
Mantle Bat Master |
|
|
Item Details |
-
CIRCA
- 1969
-
MANUFACTURER
-
Barrett Mfg. co.
-
SIZE
- 7" x 14"
x 3 1/4
-
GAME PIECES
-Tension suspended
ball, Batting
Average Computer
Dial, Home Base and
Batter Box Template.
-
PRICE GUIDE
- $60.00 - $100.00
Very Good
- Excellent Condition
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Glen Barnett, coach of an
American Legion team in Stingler,
Oklahoma, put together a device
designed to help his son and other
aspiring big-leaguers improve their
hitting abilities. Barnett's first
attempt in 1965 had safety issues, and
after producing a number of kits,
production was abandoned. After some
adjustments made to the method in
anchoring the tension-suspended ball,
in 1969
the
second version of the Bat Master
was produced. This version did make it
to the market. The bat master was
placed on the shelves of all TG&Y
Family Centers, complete with an
endorsement from Mickey Mantle.
There are two different versions of
the Mickey Mantle Bat Master and each
has a variation.
The first Bat Master version with
the Red-white-and-blue Box was patented
and manufactured in 1965. These Bat
Master Kits produced by the Barrett
Manufacturing Co. were never marketed
because the government felt that they
were unsafe. Years later, around 1994,
the games were discovered in storage
and sold as a collectible.
The 1969 Bat Master Kit featured came complete with a;
Batting Average Computer Dial, Patented
tension suspended ball with anchoring
parts, a Regulation-Size Home Base and
Batter Box Template, and the
Installation & Instruction manual. The
cover of the white with red & black print box
features an illustrations of two little
leaguers at the top. The one one on the
right swinging a bat using the Bat
Master, and as advertised on the box
the little leaguer on the left is using
the tension ball as an "Isometric
exerciser! Unit easily to safe
isometric exerciser to strengthen arms"
The center of the cover has a cutout
for retail display that reads
"Recommended by Mickey Mantle" and has
a bust illustration of Mantle with a
New York Yankees cap. Below in large
Red block letters reads "BAT MASTER"
separated by a baseball. At the bottom
sandwiched between "Corrects Faults -
And Its Fun!" reads; "Improves:
Batting Swing and Accuracy, Stance,
Stride, Bunting Technic, Switch
Hitting" To the right is a circle that
reads "Only" where the price would be
place, and to the left reads
"For Junior BALLPLAYERS Up To 12 Yrs."
This wording is what can be used to
identify the two variations on the 1969
Bat Master Kits.
The other variation manufactured in 1969 can be identified by the wording
"FOR STUDENT BALLPLAYERS OVER
12 YEARS" This variation of
the kit did not have the Home Base and
Batter Box Template, but did come with
a Mickey Mantle photo with a facsimile
autograph and personalized inscription
that reads, "Hi Team-mate Thanks for
trying Bat-Master. I hope it helps your
hitting. Mickey Mantle" This
photo was included with the original
kit made in 1965, but not in the "Up to
12 Yrs. kit. The Instruction Guide
states "P.S. When you get too powerful
for this model, your Bat Master dealer
has a large one for Age 12 to adult"
The "Over 12 Years" box seems to be
that model.
The "Over 12 Years" variation of this kit is rare, and may carry a premium
because of the facsimile Autographed
Mickey Mantle photo. This 5"x 7"photo
has borders, while the 4.25x6.25"
1965 photo is borderless.
|
|
| |
|
Mickey Mantle's Bat
Master |
 |
|
1971 TG&Y Bat Master
Advetisement |
|
 |
 |
 |
| Bat Master Home Plate and Batter Box Template |
1969 Mickey Mantle
Bat Master |
Mickey Mantle Bat Master Tension suspended Baseball |
|
 |
 |
|
Mickey Mantle Bat
Master side panel |
Mickey Mantle Bat Master
Box front side panel |
 |
 |
|
Mickey Mantle Bat Master
Side panel |
Mickey Mantle Bat Master
Box back side panel |
|
|
|
Bat Master Variation II |
 |
 |
 |
| 1969 Mickey Mantle Bat Master Variation |
Mickey Mantle
Bat Master Photo |
Mickey Mantle Bat Master
1969 & 1965 Variations |
|
|
Mickey Mantle Bat Master Installation & Instruction manual |
|
|
|
|
KEYMAN COLLECTIBLES
RELATED RESOURCES |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
