just bought this giant Louisville Slugger... any insights

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Posted By: Shawn Chambers

Hey guys,


Just picked up this darn big Louisville Slugger "Babe Ruth" bat. It stands about 5 and a half feet high and though it looks like wood, it feels like some kind of composite material to me.

How uncommon are these? Any ideas on when they were made. It is kind of impressive, but I'm not sure I've got the space to keep it. It maybe was some sort of corporate presentation? Says in Sharpie "To Buzz Thanks for being a "big hitter" in FSELP(?) Best Regards" and then some signature I can't make out.

Any thoughts on how to remove the sharpie sig since this seems entirely un-baseball related and I think the bat would be better off without it.



Any info is appreciated,



Shawn

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Posted By: bobw

After seeing the picture, it is not the one from a long closed store in NYC called "Think Big".

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Posted By: Shawn Chambers

Just got the pics added...I'm sure this will help.

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Posted By: Tom Boblitt

they must have been made for bars or something. Saw another at a flea market this weekend......
Not much else on them. Paid about $60 for mine off ebay. BIG package.....

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Posted By: David Smith

Based on the center logo, the bat was probably made within the last 20 years or so.

If I remember correctly, there was a large size bat like this in the Halper collection which sold for over $2,000 dollars. Of course, it was made in the 1930's and had a Joe DiMaggio autograph on it.

Recently, there was an auction close to me that had one of these large size bats. It had the Hillerich & Bradsby logo in the center and sold for $400 dollars. I am waiting for it to show up in a Mastro or REA auction to see what it REALLY is worth (my guess, close to $1,000 but what do I know).

If I had had the money, I would have bought that one even though it was 66 inches long and I don't really have a place to store or display it.

The Halper auction description said these large size bats were originally made in the 1930's and were used as store display pieces. I don't know if that is true or not.

I am sure others who have more info about this subject will chime in.

David

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Posted By: Matt Hart

The bat was made in the 80's. They are relatively common but are great for display. They sell in a wide range of prices, but I would say its worth $150-350.

As for getting that sharpie off, thats tough... Nail polish remover takes marker off of bats, but since the giant bat is not wood, I would try it on the back to make sure the color doesn't come off of the bat. Otherwise, the only suggestion I have would try to match the color and paint it. It would be tough but might look better than the writing. If it doesn't really bother you, you might just want to leave it alone. Good luck with what ever you do.

Cool piece.
Matt

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Posted By: Shawn Chambers

Hey guys,

thanks for all the info. I can live with the sharpie if I have to, but I probably will spot test a couple thinks to remove it. Probably depends if I can keep it! This thing was an unbelievable bargain, so I couldn't pass it up for the price. It is kind of neat to just see it lumbering in the corner (pun intended )!

Shawn

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Posted By: doug goodman

Try hairspray to remove the sharpie. Really.
Doug

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Posted By: jdrum

Billy Mays will be advertising something on late night TV just for this sort of thing. On a serious note, I have used hairspray to take Sharpie off of football helmets before and it worked.

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Posted By: William

What do you use to get the hairspray off?

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Posted By: Rawn Hill

I have had good luck removing Sharpie writing by tracing over the words with another sharpie, then just wiping it off. Really, not kidding, it worked on a dry erase board on which a Sharpie was accidently used.

Rawn

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Posted By: doug goodman

Once upon a time, I spent lots of time in a grocery store. This is back in the days when ink stampers were used to mark canned items. When we changed the prices we used hairspray to remove the ink, it takes a very very tiny amount, so don't spray too much.

Doug

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Posted By: Dave W

A concentrated citrus cleaner (not a cleaner from a retail store) which a janitorial supply house would carry MIGHT take that sharpie off as well.

It depends on the surface type the writing is on.

You'd want the 90% concentrated or up citrus cleaner.

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Posted By: Shawn Chambers

Well, before I saw all the hairspray suggestions...I used nail polish remover. It pretty much removed it, but it did lighten the area a bit. Oh well, I am happier with a bit of light area than that big mess of sharpie scrawl. I will try a touch up with the hairspray because there is a bit remaining in the "low" spots.

Shawn