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View Full Version : Dating a pre-WWI bat, ball and catcher's mitt

Runscott
09-25-2011, 03:34 PM
I attempted to date these items about 7 years ago through this forum, and was only able to find a resource for the bat. I cannot find the dating info, but the person used the label to narrow it down to I believe, 1910-14. The catcher's mitt is a Horace Partridge and looks a little small, but maybe they were smaller then (presumably around 1910-20). I also have a beat-up ball that came with the other items - it has the pre-20's narrow red/blue stitching, but I'm wandering if I can assign a more narrow date range to it as well. Thanks.

http://www.belltownvintage.com/BusseyStuff/batlabel.jpg

http://www.belltownvintage.com/BusseyStuff/Bussey_Glove.jpg
BrandonG
09-26-2011, 12:09 AM
Well where's the picture of the ball? I can give you a pretty good date range if I can see it.
vintagebrett
09-26-2011, 04:05 AM
For the mitt, Horace Partridge used that tagging in the early 1910's.
Runscott
09-26-2011, 03:14 PM
Well where's the picture of the ball? I can give you a pretty good date range if I can see it.

I'll take a pic of the ball today.

Brett - thanks for the catcher's mitt tagging info.
Runscott
09-29-2011, 12:53 PM
Sorry this took so long, and thanks for your help.

The mitt has now been dated to early 1910's, the bat (as I remember) to 1910-14, and the ball came with them:

http://www.belltownvintage.com/BusseyStuff/WB_Ball.png
BrandonG
09-29-2011, 01:56 PM
Looking at the type of thread used to stitch it (braided), and the size of the stitch, yes I think it's safe to say it dates between 1910-1920. Also looks like red/green? stitching? Possibly a Harwood ball, they sold a lot of recreational type of baseballs during that time period.
Runscott
09-29-2011, 03:01 PM
Looking at the type of thread used to stitch it (braided), and the size of the stitch, yes I think it's safe to say it dates between 1910-1920. Also looks like red/green? stitching? Possibly a Harwood ball, they sold a lot of recreational type of baseballs during that time period.

Thanks Brandon. It's actually blue stitching. The original owner played in games against the 1911 Kansas City Giants and Leland's Chicago Giants, and I'm guessing he saved this ball because it was from an important moment in a game he played in. He died in '83, so he held onto it for a long time.
mr2686
09-30-2011, 07:31 AM
Runscott, do you know the name of the original owner?
Runscott
09-30-2011, 02:47 PM
Runscott, do you know the name of the original owner?

Yes, there was supporting documentation - local semi-pro player, no one famous. I have written an article about the equipment - just finalizing some photographs prior to publication.
Runscott
10-01-2011, 02:05 PM
Can anyone validate the bat date, by the label?

Never mind, found it: 1911-15