But the development of the uniquely shaped piece of lumber — it looks more like a bowling pin than a traditional bat, with a thicker middle and tapered end — wasn't the result of a life spent around the game.

Many of the Yankees used torpedo bats while posting historic numbers this weekend. Here's how the team started using the oddly-shaped bats and why they're legal.

Stanton torched the Royals in the American League Division Series, which the Yankees won three games to one. He led New York in batting average (.375), OPS (1.132), doubles (two) and hit one of the Yankees’ three homers in the series.