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MANUFACTURING PERIOD
Circa 1947
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MANUFACTIRER
N.M. Milan Co.
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In 1947 the Popovich brothers Mike
and Nick, changed their name to Milan.
The two, together with Jake Berger,
operated the Milan Bat company in
Detroit, maker of the "Bengal Hide Driver."
Nick Popovich a minor league Pitcher
from 1941-1948, played for the 1946
Little Rock Travelers, a AA team in the
Southern Association, affiliated with
the Chicago White Sox. After taking the
year off in 1947 to produce baseball
bats, Nick pitched for the 1948 Roanoke
Red Sox, a Class B team in the
Piedmont League.
Mike Popovich and Jake Berger both catchers, played semipro ball for the
St. Joseph Auscos in 1946. The team was
owned by Auto Specialties Company
(USCOS) of St. Joseph, MI and played
their home games at Edgewater Park,
which was located on the factory
grounds.
The baseball bats were manufactured in a small woodworking shop located at
1980 East Woodbridge, Detroit 7,
Michigan. The only record of the N.M. Milan Co. producing
baseball bats was in 1947. Two known
"N.M Milan Co., Detroit Michigan,
Bengal Hide Driver" branded baseball
bat models include: "Professional
Model" (pictured below) and one
with "Joe Di Maggio" in
block letters stamped on the barrel.
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N.M. Milan Co. Bengal
Hide Driver
Baseball Bat |
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KEYMAN COLLECTIBLES
RELATED RESOURCES |
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