Here's a 1987 Fleer card featuring a rather unenthused and weary-looking Mike Fischlin.
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| 1987 Fleer #98, Mike Fischlin |
Maybe he just finished a vigorous training session. (We'll give him the benefit of the doubt.)
After all, have a close look at the bat he's holding. It's painted blue, and looks like it could almost be aluminum. And what's with the text?
It appears to be labeled "Al T's Top H..."
Well, I've done some research. The full name of this product is Al T's Top Hand Bat.
What is Al T's Top Hand Bat?
A hollow aluminum bat with a sliding weight top hand, developed by Al Tetreault of the Switch Hitter Baseball School.
I found a different model for sale online. Look here:
So you see? Mr. Fischlin could have indeed just finished a session with some sort of training aid.
They're prevalent in sports—and have been for a very long time. Some of them work well. Others are much more gimmicky, and are likely to make you even more frustrated than you were before. Because of that, some athletes are reluctant to try them, opting instead to stick with tried and true drills and some good ol' self motivation.
To quote Roy McAvoy from the film Tin Cup: training aids are "paraphernalia for lost and desperate souls."
But I suppose when you're trying to stick around in the major leagues, you'll try whatever gadget or training device will help keep your batting average above the Mendoza line.
So could Mr. Fischlin have been a proponent of Al T's Top Hand Bat, or have been sponsored by it? And if so, did he consciously make sure to get the logo into the photo as a way to endorse the product?
It wouldn't be out of the question. Plenty of players make sure to show equipment trademarks or logos when they pose for baseball cards. And Fischlin is from California, where the Top Hand Bat company was located.
Regardless, by the time the 1987 Fleer card shown above was released, Mike Fischlin had signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves, and his career had all but come to a close.
He did stick around the majors for 10 years, however, playing partial seasons at shortstop, second base, and third base. He suited up for the Astros, Indians, Yankees, and Braves.
Here are his career totals:
941 AB, 109 R, 207 H, 29 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR, 68 RBI, 24 SB, .220/.291/.273
Fischlin's best season was 1982 in Cleveland, where he set career highs in games played (112), runs (34), hits (74), doubles (12), batting average (.268) on-base percentage (.351), and slugging percentage (.319)
More than respectable. Perhaps the Top Hand Bat played a small part in his success.
Now a question for you readers and athletes out there:
Have you ever tried a training aid or gadget specific to the sport you played? Did it help?
Share in the comment section, and thanks for reading!
