Vintage Spalding Bats

[John V]

I located this photo of Cy Williams holding a Spalding "Autograph" bat. I attached a photo of one of my bats, which I assume is a store model. The labels look exactly alike.
Does anyone know how to tell the difference between Spalding pro and store models?
Thanks, John

[ksfarmboy]

John, great photo I haven't seen that one yet. I've found photos of Sam Crawford and Miller Huggins holding similar Spalding bats. The experts say the first step in determining possible game use is the lack of the Spading trade mark logo on the knob and end of bat. Store model bats will have it on both ends and some will have it on only one end. The ends should also showing rasping marks where the lathe dowels were cut and rasped. This only applies to the autograph models. The next step would then be to compare it to other known game examples. That's about the only way to tell without direct provenance. I would bet that your bat has the Spalding logo on the knob only.

[John V]

You nailed it, Clint. Knob only. What made you suggest it was knob only?

[ksfarmboy]

I've owned over 60 of these style bats at one time and almost all of the 1912-1925 model Spalding bats had the trade-mark on the knob only. Very few had them on both ends and maybe one or two on the end only. Most of the Gold Medal 1908-1911 line of Spalding autograph bats had the trade-mark on both ends with very few on only one end. I've also kept track of 2-300 bats that have sold in various auctions, ebay and publications. Cy Williams was offered in the 1917-1924 time range. Although none of the Spalding bats are what I consider common this is a bat that turns up semi frequently.

[John V]

Dusting off this old post. What value would you place on this one? 33 1/2" with no cracks, chips, splits and so on.
JV