Louisville Slugger P72 Turning Model Wood Baseball Bat. MLB Select Ash Wood. Ash, still widely popular among big-league guys, provides the ultimate in flexibility due to its unique grain structure. More forgiving than maple, ash rarely sees fractured breakage. Visible grain lines allow for noticeable quality, giving you the confidence you need when you step to the plate. MLB Select Ash bats were sold and distributed to professional players in the different divisions leading up to the professional leagues. The P72 was created in 1954 for a minor leaguer named Leslie Wayne Pinkham from Elizabethtown, Kentucky. His bat became one of the greatest models of all time. The handle is approx 15/16 inch. The barrel is considered medium around 2.4 inch diameter with a 7/8 handle.