Antique Hillerich & Bradsby bats

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Posted By: Dave F

Curious as to how much these bats are worth from the different time periods? Also, are there are manafactuers from the early part of the century that have bats that command more money?

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Dave, bat prices depend on a lot of things....like cards, rarity and conditon matter a whole lot. For store model bats you will pay a premium for special bats like Decal bats, or bats with a mushroom knob. I'm sure others will expand on this....I know that Mike H. Will when he discovers this new board...I'm going to have to give him an email because you're not allowed to mention competing forums over at Game Used.

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Posted By: Dave F

Are there early Hillerich and Bradsby bats that have the player names of any of the Hall of Famers from T206? Just curious..I would imagine these would be worth substancially more than a 1952 Andy Pafko model.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Yes there are....I have a Stall & Dean Jim Delahanty Model and a 40TC Ty Cobb model. I think Honus Wagner was the first player model bat. Bats are not my expertise, but I have a passing knowledge of them.

This pic shows the Delahanty bat...the other bats are from the 1890s...a Spalding 'Antique' Model ring bat and a Victor Sporting Goods bat.

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Posted By: Clint

Dave, there were several bat endorsers from the t206 era. Spalding, H&B, and Stall and Dean are among those that issued these. Some of the bigger names include Cobb, Chance, Collins, Keeler, Bresnahan, Clarke, Wagner and Lajoie. Bats can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Just as cards subject, condition, and rarity are keys.

-Clint

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Posted By: Mark Lutz

Early players used a range of bats, including Spalding, Reach, and Louisville Sluggers. There are collectors who favor the Louisville Slugger over all others and will pay a good premium for them--but I don't mind picking up Spaldings, Krens, Hanna-Batrites, and even a Hilton Collins now and then.

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Posted By: Dave F

Great info guys thanks.

So a typical bat from the time period with any of the HOF'ers model in say a poor condition but the print on the bat is still legible would probably be a decent deal for $100?

Also..I'm assuming just because a bat says Cobb or Clarke on it doesn't mean it's not from 1940 instead of 1910..and thus worth much less?

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

H&B bats can be dated by their center brand. It's too long to go into detail about all the different brands, but if you have a photo of the bat I can date it for you.

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Posted By: Mark L

Dave
As Dan said, the labels are the key. I don't follow the store model bats very closely but if you find a full size, vintage Cobb bat for $100, you should snap it up. Same for a Fred Clarke or any of the hall of famers. A Cobb bat with all the right characteristics and provenance could run you $100,000.

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Posted By: Dave F

No photos..not as of yet anyway. And sorry being vague..but trying to get information without giving away too much for the time being. Do the bat values, besides considering company, do the values run on the player? Must like cards where a Cobb would be the most sought after and expensive bats to find...while a Roger Bresnahan might be at the bottom of the barrel as far as costs assoicated with HOF items from pre-1920?

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Dave, you can always email me if you want. Bat values as far as player models follows the rule of cards pretty closely...that is the Cobb will always be much more sought after than Bresnahan. But just like cards there are some exceedingly rare player models of non-superstars that will get a premium because of rarity.

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Posted By: Mark Lutz

If you're looking at a player model Louisville Slugger from before 1916, the label will read J. F Hillerich and Son rather than Hillerich and Bradsby. From 1916 to 1922, the label says Hillerich and Bradsby with a dash--dot--dash burned into the wood under the names. After 1922, the dash--dot--dash is replaced by "Made in USA."

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Posted By: Dave F

Thanks for all the great info guys...I've come to expect it around here.

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Posted By: John Harrell

The J.F. Hillerich & Son label applied between 1897 and 1911. From 1911 to 1916, the label was J.F. Hillerich & Son Co. After 1916 it read Hillerich & Bradsby. Prior to 1897 the label read J.F. Hillerich or just Hillerich's. I have a ring model child's bat (green bat with red rings and black lettering) that reads Hillerich's Crackerjack #2.

I've collected 19th century bats for about 10 years and love them because of their odd shapes and ring designs. Talk about chunks of lumber!!

John

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Posted By: kevin og

the early j.f.hillerich model i own from 1897 period is a reverse label. you would have to turn the bat around to have the label upright. in other words the knob would be would be to you right instead of your left.

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Posted By: Alan O'Connor

Hi Kevin-
I've got 1897-> models with labels both ways. Do you think the reverse label came first? I primarilily collect game used bats from Sacramento players, but also picked up a couple of earlier bats before the player names appeared on them.
Alan

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Posted By: brock

Since when do Ty Cobb store model bats go up to $100,000. In less you mean a game used one but i still think their only around $75,000.

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Posted By: Clint

Brock, I think that Mark was referring to a game model on this one. Albeit rare, there has been at least one Cobb bat sell for over $100,000.

http://www.huntauctions.com/online/imageviewer.cfm?auction_num=20&lot_num=130&lot_qual=

Clint

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Posted By: brock

Sorry Mark, I guess you were right.