Wright & Ditson Lajoie bat on eBay

[Rob D.]

A collecting friend (who's a lot more knowledgeable about vintage bats than I am) and I discussed this Lajoie bat on eBay before the auction ended and thought that a realistic selling price would be in the $2,500-$3,200 range. It sold for $5219.99.

Other than the obvious answer that two bidders really wanted it -- the third-highest bid was $3,100 -- can any bat collectors shed light on the somewhat surprising high price?

Thanks, Rob

Link to the auction

[jbsports33]

Wright & Ditson player models are very hard to find, we buy and sell a lot of bats, but never owned a Lajoie. It may have sold a bit high and 2,000-3,000 is about right, I think two people just really liked that bat!

Jimmy

[murphusa]

Just watch where the Lajoie and the Joe Jackson YMCA bats go that were posted last night

Both are fabulous

[Bill Rayburn]

These bats are very rare and highly desirable expecially in this condition. I know of two other double knob Lajoie bats of equal quality that have sold in the last year and both sold for over $5,000.

[jpop43]

Although not a double knob example (drats), here is our W&D Lajoie Bat...a different and maybe earlier variation as some of the markings are stamped/stenciled rather than burned in.
http://www.dugouttreasures.com/produ...D=8&prodID=482

[murphusa]

with less than 24 hours to go, there are 2 bidders going at on the tw bat $3250 on both

[MGHPro]

They're both over 4k now and the bidding seems a little odd.
Matt

[btcarfagno]

34 ounces seems far too light for a Joe Jackson bat...no? At least the Lajoie seems to fall in line with other recorded size/weight specs.

Tom C

[deebro041]

How would you guys suggest to take care of an old bat? Is there any special oil or something else you can use to preserve it?

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by MGHPro

They're both over 4k now and the bidding seems a little odd.
Matt

The same bidder won both bats.

[jpop43]

Gotta say that I am a bit surprised that the YMCA marked Lajoie bat didn't sell for more...its a pro/game model bat (as all YMCA marked LS 125's are).

Taking nothing away from the amazing double-knob W&D bat, but it is undeniably still a store model bat...please do correct me if I am wrong. The YMCA bat is a pro model and, in my travels, far harder to come by than W&D examples...in fact, I've never seen another. Comparatively speaking, the LS should have gone for more than the W&D...again, that's just my opinion.

Both the Jackson and Lajoie YMCA bats are incredible pieces though and will clean up beautifully...congrats to the winner...makes me feel real good about my YMCA marked Tris Speaker.

[yanks12025]

They are considered Pro-models but YMCA bats are believed to have been sent over seas for service men. Cause they would have sold for alot more but there's nothing to prove whether the player or service men used them.

[MGHPro]

The YMCA bats are pro grade wood- not bats that were used by the players whose names appear on the bats. Lajoie would be post career anyway. One other Lajoie was auctioned off several years ago, I think Hunt had it. The Jackson was killer- If anyone wants to buy one for what that sold for, let me know.
JP- your Speaker bat is killer- I actually don't ever recall seeing another.
Matt

[murphusa]

All YMCA bats were made as pro-models and were produced by H&B for the YMCA to be sent overseas to our bases in France to help bring some of America back to the soldiers.

None of them were ever used by the players whose name they bare. The exception of a professional player using one might be a player like Christy Mathewson who may have used one as part of a game in Europe while he served in the armed services

What makes them so special and hard to find is that the soldiers who received one had to bring it home from Europe.

IMO, the reason the double knob went for so much more was that it is a novelty bat and it was not produced in the numbers as other store bats of its era

[jpop43]

I hope nobody misunderstood what I was hoping to say...the YMCA bats are pro-model's NOT game used by pro's...I appreciate y'all clarifying that for those who may not have known the difference.

We happen to collect YMCA and KofC marked items as these baseball/military crossover collectibles from the WWI are of great interest to us. So, if anybody has any YMCA, KofC, or "Bat and Ball Fund" marked items....we'd love to talk buy/sell/trade with you.

www.dugouttreasures.com

[murphusa]

For most on this board the Lajoie is too expensive but there are alternatives, but be careful. Most off brand or newly made bats that say they are “Lajoie” model are in fact split grip bat. The Lajoie is found on the lower end of the bat maybe 1” to 1”1/2 from the knob. If the extra knob is up the barrel by more than 4” to 5” it is a split grip bat

[baseball tourist]

Rec'd a WW1 era Eddie Collins YMCA bat from France

Iit is more banged up than I had hoped. Still a nice WW1 model however.

Measures 33 inches...not sure of weight...has bold YMCA, HB and signature stamping. Length, I believe matches HB factory records for Collins, and I assume that weight will as well?

Has extensive wood gouging at the barrell end, starting just at the end of the signature. Some more knocks to the left of the Y in YMCA. Back side of bat has more gouging and a 2 inch flat spot. Two handle cracks (bat still is very sturdy as these cracks aren't structural). Pretty dirty, but should clean up nicely. Any advice on cleaning?

Pix: