1860's/70's Base Ball Bat

[jpop43]

Just picked up this circa 1870 Base Ball Bat, and thought I might share it. It is 33" in length, in tremendous condition, and bound in leather from the knob up to the beginning of the barrel.

Aside from the images of the bat are an ad that I found from Ward B. Snyder (the brother of Snyder from Peck and Snyder fame) showing this style of bat circa 1875, and a 19th century player holding a very similar, if not exact type of bat...going thru 19th century player/team pics, we've seen a number of this type and style of bat.

We have a couple of these in our collection now, and were wondering if there are any others out there for the sake of comparison.

Thanks.
http://www.dugouttreasures.com

[jbsports33]

Very nice bat, what really made these stand out is the unique top portion of the barrel.

Jimmy

[jpop43]

Just another couple of 19th century images (circa 1870) depicting teams/players with this type of wrapped handle bat...

http://www.dugouttreasures.com

[perezfan]

Boy, that's certainly a fine example you got there! Nicest I've seen... these are also referred to as "rattan handled" bats and are quite desirable. I don't have any to post (but wish I did).

I do have an example very similar to the bottom one pictured in the ad (with painted handle... not wound). The only difference is that mine has a ball knob... otherwise the shape and markings are identical.

Congrats on a wonderful acquisition!

[jpop43]

Thanks....here are links to the images of our other examples of this style of bat. They are darker grained wood, and 1 inch longer, but the bound handles are exactly the same.

http://www.dugouttreasures.com/productDetail.cfm?sID=4&prodID=483
http://www.dugouttreasures.com/productDetail.cfm?sID=4&prodID=57

[perezfan]

Those are just great examples.... thanks for the links.

A quick question.... the very few of these I've seen have partially or mostly un-wound handles. Usually they are found at least partially unraveled. I have yet to see three as nice as those that you posted.

These completely wound handles are stunning, and are in amazing condition. Do you know (or can you tell) if these are restored? If they remain in their natural (fully present) state, they must be among the best extant!

[jpop43]

Gratefully, all three of these bats came to us in the condition you see them in, and I am 100% sure that none of them was refurbished or repaired...I think we just got lucky. The one we have that is pictured with the lemon peel ball was picked up at a garage sale in an old town in NJ, and has been in our collection for 20 years now.

We too have seen examples of twine or wire bound bats of this period that do have some damage, that is to say that the binding is loose or missing, but we have not come across any other examples of leather bound bats to make comparisons to....sure would like to see some though.

[WWGjohn]

That is a beauty you have there. I bid but had limited funds at the time. It's a really great piece.

John

[E93]

Wow! Killer bat!
JimB

[murphusa]

Saw this last Thursday on ebay and no one had made an opening bid. By the time Saturday morning came around and it ended I was still the only bidder. Emailed Jonathan about a hour latter to compare as I knew he and his Dad had a few in their collection

Received today

1860-70's Leather Wound Handle, well used marked on mid barrell with XX to show side up in liu of branding

35" 43 oz

For Sale, PM if interested

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/murphyusa/109_zpsf94c02fa.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/murphyusa/110_zps67ee83da.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/murphyusa/099_zps89dcc55f.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/murphyusa/098_zps37c26169.jpg

[jpop43]

Amazing what you can find and pick up when you know what you are looking at...great pick up Jim, only the 4th of its kind that I know of.

[murphusa]

I have looked and looked over the past week and couldn't find any that were sold in any auctions. There were some twine ones but not the leather.

I did find out that Ward Snyder was a company that made equipment for professional players and also high end club teams of that era. The merger was in 1878 so all of these type bats are from the early 1860 to 1878. Spalding put out a twine handle in the late 1880's/1890's

Big, heavy bat, yes it does have some deadwood in one spot and a few chips but at 150 years old hey.

Gloves from this era go for huge bucks, when you can find them. Bat's broke from use so for any other these to have survived is amazing


PS: Thanks for writting your book and I am glad I purchased one because as soon as I saw the bat I knew what it was

[murphusa]

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