Let's TIE one on
 

My sister-in-law bought an old house a few years ago and she found these in the basement, along with a few other interesting items (not baseball).

They are small wooden tie racks with the play on words of "Over the fence for a TIE score" on each one. There are no markings or indications of a manufacturer on the back and they have small nail holes in the corners/ends where they would have likely been nailed to the wall. Each measures about 6-1/2 inches by 11 inches. The artwork almost seems to be burned or engraved into the wood. The wood base on each is fairly thin – maybe a quarter inch? You can see that two of the three are missing the actual “rack.”

Just trying to peg an approximate age and wondering if anyone has seen these before?

Thanks.

Can't add much except that one recently sold on eBay ($22) and was attributed to the 1920's. Also one with the kids sold for $25 in 2005, also said '20s.
My gut is telling me they are later, maybe the 50's? Nice decorative piece for a man cave, though.

Thanks, Jim - not sure why, but I didn't even think about looking on eBay.

These have a rustic, almost homemade feel to them. On the other hand, the artwork is good enough to suggest they were done professionally. Glad to hear there are others out there -- maybe they were produced a little more widely than I originally thought.

Hi Brad -

I could be way off on this, but I always thought the three players looked like Roger Bresnahan, "Dots" Miller and Matty.

Here is my example:

http://i60.tinypic.com/2nvtsfk.jpg

I believe they are late 40s/early 50s, and are made to look older/nostalgic. Just a few imperfect details and the general style indicates "mid-century" to me.

They look like the plaques that came in a wood burning set--very popular in the late '40's-'50's!

Yet they are identical in every way. I had a wood burning kit when I was a kid. From experience I can tell you there would be at least minor differences. :)