Kren's Bat - Is it a gamer?
 

Picked this up this weekend and wondering if it's truly a gamer. Doing some back searching in Net54 I found a thread that said even obscure player models from Kren may be store models. The signature on the bat is "Gene Sheridan" aka Red Sheridan who played a total of 5 games over two seasons with Brooklyn.

Kren bat
 

There was a thread a while back that suggested that gamers usually have the player's name in block letters. I think that they also tended to have the model number instead of the phrase "hand turned" inside the label. I could find and post the past-thread, but that is always a conversation stopper. It would be good to hear some up to date, state of the art, cutting edge views on this subject.

Thanks. That is the thread I found, but I too would like to hear more since that was years ago. Also the link to Dave Grob's article on MEARS no longer works so it would be nice if he could chime in here as well.

Dan, great bat and he would definitely fall into the obscure category. This bat is not in any of my retail catalogs but not to say it wasn’t offered. I always feel more confident of game used Kren bats with the name in block letters. Here’s a pic of a 35in Sheridan bat.

Creosote Treated
 

When was "Creosote Treated Trademark" placed on the barrel?

I own a Medwick Krens bat, with the 150 model number in the Center brand and “Medwick style” in block letters, with the knob stamped “34”.
Would gamers appear similar to mine, but without the length stamping?

Also, what is the difference between the "Krens Special" and "Major League" center brand designations?
If anyone has info, I'd love to learn more...

Best guess based on some old catalogs and dated side written bats from the Louisville Slugger vault is mid 1930's.

The Gene Sheridan bat has the "Creosote" trademark on it and he quit playing minor league ball in 1930. He last played in the majors in 1920. Would Kren have made store bats for such an obscure player well after he was retired from baseball?

Believe it or not, they would. Kren offered a Ray Kennedy store model bat up till the early 1930's. Mr. Kennedy had one major league at bat in 1916 and ended his minor league career in 1927. My guess on when "Creosote Treated" starting showing up on Kren's is mid '30's based on the bats I've seen but wouldn't be surprised if it was a little earlier than that.

The O'Doul bat has sidewriting from July 1933. I was just wondering if there was a known window when it started and stopped.

From a 1940 catalog, breakdown of the different models offered by Kren. My feeling is that almost all gamer’s are Kren’s Special models and the “Style” bats are retail/store.

The Major League model was priced at $1.25 and was the second least expensive model. It states:
An assortment of leading autograph and player style models from a fine quality northern white ash with taped handle. Assorted finishes. Lengths 33" to 36"

I stand corrected. In going through my collection, I came across an Eddie Gallagher gamer with side writing dated 6-28-29. I’d like to change my answer to late 1920’s.

Here’s a Sheridan store model from Harold’s Sporting Goods store. Kren would put a name on any of their bats without rhyme or reason. It makes it very difficult to determine gamers of endorsed bats.

Thank you for the info Mike. I'm going to guess mine is a store model bat just based on the fact it was found in Nebraska and was found in an estate with a Louisville Slugger Gehringer that is obviously a store model.