Carlton confirmed that a red bat was not permitted and agreed that any bat that seemed red likely had begun with a brown finish. Carlton added that umpires test a bat by checking its grain. If the grain shows through, the bat can be used.

The term "Walker finish" in the McHale explanation might have baffled you. It describes the two-tone bat that became popular in the early 1950s

While visiting the Louisville Slugger factory, Harry Walker, one-time National League batting champion, saw a bat whose barrel had been in a vat of black varnish. He liked the two-toned aspect of the natural wood handle and the barrel darkened by the varnish.

Walker began to hit well with that bat and other hitters copied him. It became a popular model, still used by many players.

Next, my quest took me to American League umpire Rick Reed.

"What action do you take if a batter comes to the plate with a red bat or some other color not authorized," I asked.

"I'd make him get another bat," Reed s......