BAT COLLECTORS COLLECT BATS BECAUSE......

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Posted By: CarltonHendricks

I'm generally interested in baseball bats from 1880's and earlier...ring bats
and such. However I know the category of bat collecting and the bat world is
about 5 miles wide. I'd like to clarify/identify the main areas and would
appreciate hearing from those of you fluent in the subject. Would the
following be accurate?:

Generally, baseball bats are collected based on the following three
categories:
-player endorsement
-game used status
-vintage/era/style

Please feel free to correct, elaborate at length, and or add any pertinent
information that would be helpful in understanding this area of collecting.
Thanks -Carlton

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Posted By: Matt Hart

Carlton,
Out of all of the bat collectors that I know, I don't think anyone of them focuses on one particular thing. I think we all have certain things that we prefer, but aren't as narrowly focused as some other areas of the hobby. Personally, I only try to buy pre 1950 bats, but when a Mantle gamer or a late career Williams comes along, I'll certainly try to get it and add it to the collection. There are many collectors who try to focus on 19th century bats, but with the limited availability of them, they tend to collect the early decal bats and pre 1915 bats such as mushroom knobs.

Same thing goes for the gamers. I have them, but my main focus has always been store model bats of mainly Hall of Famers.

It seems like a lot of collectors do have a favorite team that they focus on and that helps some collectors stay focused. Also, many collectors won't buy a bat less then 34 inches.

In general though, if it had to be broken down, I think breaking bat collectors up into Game used bats, store model bats and pre 1915 is probably the easiest way. I can't stay focused because so many bats have a great look to them, that I don't care when it was made or who it was endorsed by, I just want it.

Those are some great bats in those pictures.
Matt

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Posted By: CarltonHendricks

Matt, Well articulated, and enlightening. I think I should have included "by team" to my categories
__________________________________________________ _____________________
Generally, baseball bats are collected based on the following three
categories:
-player endorsement
-game used status
-vintage/era/style
-by team_
__________________________________________________ ______________________

I can tell by what you're saying you enjoy the hobby and aren't shakeled to any certain way of collecting..you just go for it and buy what you like. That's the best way I think.

About the bats I posted...I just gathered some of the most memorable ones I could recall seeing over the years. That top one, the Wright and Ditson was one I saw in Bob McCann's booth at the 2004 National in Cleveland http://sportsantiques.com/2004_national_page_3.htm ...as I recall the next day I saw it in Leland's booth. It was killer, 40" priced at $3,400.00. Whoever ended up with it could be reading this...if so please come forward

The Spalding one below that was in Kanuit's booth at the 2004 National in Cleveland as well, 33" $850.00 http://sportsantiques.com/2004_national_page_3.htm. The two shots of the bat racks were taken in John Gennantonio's collection.

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Posted By: Mike H

I'll echo Matt's sentiments. My bat collecting has evolved, as most of our collections have. I began purchasing anything pre 1970 I could find, then into signature models of prominent HOFers, then into type bats (mushroom, ring, decal, etc). Now, I collect by the look and age. I will still by a bat from the 60s or 70s if it is high quality and a bargain, but I LOOK for pre 1940 bats that are 34" or longer.

I have owned a few gamers that I had found, but I sold them to acquire more store model bats. I can't get into gamers because I can't afford those I would want.

I'm a generalist as you know, and bats are an important part of any generalists collection. They look great in a room, are often beautiful, and are fun to collect.

Great topic.

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Posted By: Anonymous

I have to agree with what both Matt and Mike said. When i started collecting bats i just picked up what ever bat i seen at local auctions and sales. But now i really just collect game used bats from the 1977/78 yankees and some modern players and if a vintage hall of famer bat shows up on ebay ill be in the bidding. But mostly when it comes to vintage bats it's all about the look of it and also saying that this bat is 85 years old.

Wanted to add that im looking for a Mickey Rivers game used bat.

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Posted By: John Harrell

Carleton,

I collect primarily 19th century bats and prefer home made/hand made bats. Odd shaped barrels, knobs, and interesting ring designs are what I'm looking for, the more unusual, the better. It's interesting to me to see how people devised their own bats and the different types of wood they used, pine to osage orange.

John

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Posted By: Alan O'Connor

Hi Carlton-
I collect "game used" bats of players who played for the old Sacramento Solons between 1903 and 1960. I have about four dozen including recent HOFer Joe Gordon.
Alan

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

I collect whatever looks nice. I have a large variety of bats from an 1860s acorn handled bat to the 1980-90s Pete O'Brien gamers. I don't treasure bats as much as I do some of the other items in my collection so I let them go here and there and most of the old ones that I've kept are because they look good in my displays. By far my favorites are my c1890s Victor Sporting goods bats..simply because of the design of the center brand. I also love my Reach Heavy Hitter.

I do regret selling one bat though and that was my Honus Wagner decal bat. I miss that one. I used the funds on something I couldn't pass up, but I still miss it.

Like Mike above I think I fall in to the generalist category.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

I'm not an equipment collector, but one of my all time favorite items I owned (and a conversation piece) was an 1890s bat handmade in prison by a prisoner serving a life sentence. The bat was signed, dating and inscribed (called himself 'a Lifer') and had the original prison sticker stating it was made inside the prison. The bat was a 'ring bat' in that the barrel had three rings carved in. I showed it to the curator of the prison's museum and she said it was the real thing.

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Posted By: Clint

I basically collect whatever catches my eye and what I can afford. I collect mainly store model but sometimes pick up a game used bat. Spalding Autograph models from 1908-1925 are my primary focus. I also like the different style knobs such as the mushroom, ball knob and double knob versions. I also pursue early Hall of Fame signature bats such as Cobb, Wagner, Speaker and Collins.


I think when you look at different collections you will find two maybe three niches and then a variety of different models. I think most bat collections would be similar to the one you posted above. They may not have that quality but will have the variety mixed in.


Clint

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Posted By: joe

Carlton, is that bat rack original or a repro.

I bought an original years ago at an antique show. I sold it to an auction house around 1995. Way to cheap by the way. I think an original sold for around $10,000 a few years ago.

Joe



Ty Cobb, Spikes flying!

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Posted By: MVSNYC

i was alittle all over the place when i started collecting bats a year ago...but i recently tightened it up...i now just have modern game used bats (all PSA/NDA 8 or higher) of 500/600+ HR hitters: '98 Mac, '98 Sosa, '07 Arod, '07-'08 Manny, Griffey...and a Jeter.

oh, i also have a 20's-30's store model Babe Ruth bat (which i consider a "place-marker" until i get a game-used example)

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Posted By: CarltonHendricks

MVSNYC, Interesting, It sounds like you collect more the hard stuff, hard memorabilia, that is, as opposed to display pieces. Actually I was expecting to hear from more hard collectors...yeah you're right you did tighten it up alright...amassing that kind of material in one year! Good for you, congrats. Ideally I think a collection should be well rounded with the hard memorabilia and display pieces...but the hard stuff is so expensive! and there's so much competition for it. It's a whole different ball game for hard stuff..there's no eye appeal generally, at least for contemporary game used equipment anyway..it's generally pure memorabilia.

Joe, John G said the bat rack is real c1920-30's. Says it's very rare, only 2-3 in collections, said paid 16g's five years ago, and that most are reconditioned but his is perfect.....unquote....I guess that's why the 16g's....I had no idea they were that expensive. I recall one Hunt had at the 2005 National I addressed on page 2, http://www.sportsantiques.com/05natpart1pg2.htm , see below, that was $9,500.00 and the Spalding sign on top had been reproduced.

I apprieciate all the input to this thread...I just wish I could see photos of some of the bats mentioned...especially the 19th century ones and that "Lifer" bat of Cycleback's....you know what they say...a picture's worth a thousand words!....that goes double for sports memorabilia!

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Posted By: davidcycleback

These are the only 2 pics I can find right now find of the prisoner bat.

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Posted By: Brock G.

Those vintage bat racks are amazing. That Gennantonio fella really has a first class collection.

I, like several others, collect 19th and early 20th century bats and have special interest in oddly shaped homemade bats.
Here are some of my favorites:

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Posted By: Mark

I collect early style bats from the 1850s - 1910s. Like many others, I prefer rare/unique styles with unusual markings and/or characteristics.



I also collect modern game-used Bats, and have the entire Big Red Machine (Mid-'70s Reds) "Starting 8", which I believe to be the most potent offensive line-up of all-time. Also have some "random" favorite players over the years like George Brett, Tony Gwynn and Vlad Guerrero. So, like most others, my collecting taste is hardly limited to one genre either.



Below is a nifty 31" Town Ball Bat I picked up recently. This one eminates from baseball's infancy, and has a really unique grooved knob...

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Posted By: Matt Hart

Here's one of my few 19th century bats. The entire bat is covered with carvings.
Matt

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Posted By: Matt Hart

And another one of my favorites.
Matt

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Posted By: CarltonHendricks

Alright now we're cook'n with gas...way to go Brock G., MarkPerezFan, and Matt Hart, you guys get red stars....Mr. Cycleback, you will stay after class and write on the chalk board 100 times "I will keep better photos of things"

Now Brock, those are all great pieces...except that second one down..the one with the bold black ring in the center....you don't want that lame thing in your collection....I'll help you out this once....send it to me and I'll get rid of it....

MarkPerezFan...that's a great one...looks like something Abraham Lincoln used...got the look!! Not only a great Knob, but looks like burl wood....very unusual

Matt, That first one really is something...I wish I could see a close-up of the engravings on the handle part...I can see a bell on the barrel...very unusual! About the second one...I take it those are metal caps on both ends and the center? Is that a presentation bat that was never awarded?..or is that silver paint?...again very unusual...

Thanks all for the photos

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Posted By: Matt Hart

Carlton,
The second bat has metal rings. I've always assumed it is some sort of presentation bat.
I'll take some more close ups of the engraving on the other bat.
Matt

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Posted By: CarltonHendricks

Matt, What's the story on the presentation one? What's the who what where on it? Are there any markings? For some reason I don't recall seeing a light colored presentation bat before...only black ones? I wonder who made presentation bats? I recall one Corey Leiby had at the 2003 National I addressed on page 2 of my 03' story, http://sportsantiques.com/2003_national_page_2.htm , see below, 36" $4,000.00. I remember I was asking to see it and another collector bought it in front of me.

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Posted By: Matt Hart

Carlton, the presentation bat is actually made up of several different pieces of wood. That is why there are stripes to it. It's not engraved. I bought it off of ebay from a antique dealer in California I think. The other presentation bat I have is a dark wood, mahogany or rosewood.
Thanks,
Matt

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Posted By: CarltonHendricks

Dave from Somewhereville emailed me to show me this exceptionaly clean ring bat. Sounds like he got my email address from this thread..didn't relate his bat collecting criteria, but obviously if this is one of his pride and joys, he's an experienced collector with a story to tell....Dave should join up and quit being a draft dodger
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Carlton--Just ran across this site and may join sometime. In the meantime, here is one of my pride and joys. The bat weighs only 25 oz. as it is made of willow and has aged over the years. Thought you would like to see a couple of photos. You can post them if you need to. I'm sure their are other bats however like this one. It is just my oldest and one of my favorites.

Dave
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Hey Dave, Thanks, that's a great bat in great condition...and you get an A for photography!!! Bats are a bit hard to photograph..so you're the man...John Gennantonio has one..actually two like that, one with a black label one white...but yours is in even better condition than his!!!...you can see them at the bootom of this link http://sportsantiques.com/07natstory4.htm ....you should really join Net54....you obviously could contribute to the landscape....don't be a submarine lurker LOL, surface and join the fray...thanks again, Happy New Year
-Carlton
SportsAntiques.com

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Posted By: Clint

I only have one 19th century bat but thought this 20th century bat was quite a novelty. It's called the Pneumatico and was made in York,PA. The company made their bats by boring out the center of the bat from top to bottom but leaving about 2-3 inches in the middle. They then filled the ends. Their selling point was you could hit a ball 25 percent farther and the bat was stronger and lighter than bats of similar size. I guess this was the first corked bat.

I have an advertisement from the company but had a difficult time getting a clear shot as it's in a fragile publication.

Clint

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Posted By: Clint

J F Hillerich & Son ring bat. Weighs around 45 oz and 36" long. Center logo is stenciled on.

Clint

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Posted By: Matt Hart

Clint,
Great bats. I can't recall every seeing a stenciled Hillerich logo on a full size bat. I've seen it on the minis before.
Matt

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Posted By: Clint

Matt, thanks. I've seen one other full sized bat similar to this but I don't think it had the band on the end. It's definitely older than the decal bats. I'm thinking 1897 to 1905 or so.

Clint