Nap Lajoie LS Model 125 / YMCA Baseball Bat

[jpop43]

Hi All,

Its been a while since I last picked up anything worth posting, but this one warrants the share.

Last month a fellow from France reached out to us thru our website to ask some questions about a bat he had found at a garage sale. Turns out the bat he found was this c.1917, Pro Model 125, Napoleon Lajoie baseball bat with the YMCA stamp.

Finding such a piece there in France makes a great deal of sense given that over 200,000 pro model LS bats were shipped there in 1918 to support the YMCA's morale efforts for our troops during WWI.

After some dialogue and a buyer's leap of faith, we made an offer that was accepted and waited for the bat to arrive. Gotta say that the international shipping in this case was awesome and we had it in our hands within 1 week.

We couldn't have been more pleased when it arrived...34", un-cracked, and with deep, clear markings! We have two W&D Lajoie bats in our collection, but this is the first LS model we've ever seen in person.

Anyway, here are the pics...

Thanks for looking,
Jonathan
www.dugouttreasures.com

[Shoeless Moe]

Sweeeeeet!

[Bill Rayburn]

Great bat and the story makes it even better.

[HRBAKER]

Beautiful bat.

[batsballsbases]

Very nice piece! Congrats..

[MGHPro]

Awesome bat and a perfect fit for your collection ! Congrats

[ethicsprof]

fantastic bat!! congrats on a top shelf acquisition.
best, barry

[Wildfireschulte]

Great bat - this post makes me want to know what other player model YMCA bats are out there. I know I've seen Shoeless and Daubert. Who else?

[Kzoo]

I have an Eddie Collins YMCA bat, but I've always wondered if so many bats were shipped overseas during the war, why haven't more turned up in France or neighboring countries like this Lajoie? Even if, say 95% of them didn't survive the last nearly 100 years, there should be 10,000 left somewhere still. Just thinking....

Matt

[sicollector1954]

If a bat is engraved with a ME and circled with an arrow through it…..I was always told it stood for Military Edition and those type bats were also shipped overseas….perhaps this will help a few turn up.

[UnVme7]

There's at least 2 on EBay right now

[jpop43]

In addition to this Lajoie we just acquired, we also have YMCA examples endorsed by Jackson, Daubert, and Speaker.

[Wildfireschulte]

There's at least 2 on EBay right now

One is a Sisler and the seller is in the Czech Republic

[MGHPro]

Cobb and Holke also were produced

[bgar3]

Once owned a Speaker.

[WWGjohn]

Absolutely beautiful bat!! Terrific pickup!!

John

[bobbvc]

I have an Eddie Collins YMCA bat, but I've always wondered if so many bats were shipped overseas during the war, why haven't more turned up in France or neighboring countries like this Lajoie? Even if, say 95% of them didn't survive the last nearly 100 years, there should be 10,000 left somewhere still. Just thinking....

Matt

I would bet MANY of them were used for post-war firewood. It's cold over there.
Especially in war torn areas where many houses were destroyed.

[bobbvc]

This Lajoie sure is a great bat though!

[khkco4bls]

I contacted the guy and I was supposed to buy that bat. And there was something fishy about the shipping I guess I was wrong