Up for your consideration is an extremely rare and spectacular example of a 1917-1918 Louisville Slugger YMCA Logo Ty Cobb Baseball Bat.
This beautiful 1917-1918 Hillerich & Bradsby Ty Cobb baseball bat has the triangular Y.M.C.A. Logo and features the "Dash Dot Dash" center brand from the 1916 - 1929 H&B bat Labeling Period.
These baseball bats in excellent condition will range in value from about $150 for a common player such as Walter Holke to about $3,500 for a Hall of Fame player like Ty Cobb.
Other players that have shown up in auction include: George Sisler, Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins ($280.-$425) and Joe Jackson ($3,321.)
Player endorsed bats found with the YMCA logo are identical to professional model bats from the same era which were known to be used during major league games.
Clark Griffith came up with the idea in early 1917 of creating a fund for supplying baseball equipment to servicemen at home and abroad.
To finance the project he asked every man, woman and child in the country to donate 25 cents.
He wanted all baseball fans to remit their quarter and then send out four chain letters asking for the same; hopefully this system would prompt all Americans to contribute to the effort.
The drive gained immediate attention on May 22nd when President Woodrow Wilson endorsed the plan and remitted his quarter.
Griffith began mailing kits to troop swhich included fielding mitts, catcher's mitt, chest protector, first baseman's mitt, three batts, twelve balls, 3 bases with pegs, a rule book and 125 score cards.
In late October, Griffith worked out a deal with Spalding, Reach and Wilson.
Finally, Griffith's old teammate (Bill Large) went to France as an emissary for the YMCA. He was sent to coach soldier teams for the YMCA and to possibly establish, in the wake of American presence in Europe, and International Baseball League.
In total 3,100 kits were sent out.
These YMCA bats were used by troops overseas with absolute certainty.
This was purchased by us directly from an estate in France and we are confident of it's provenance.
$2000 NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
Up for your consideration is an exceptional example of a circa 1917 Spalding brand YMCA baseball catcher's chest protector.
Clark Griffith came up with the idea in early 1917 of creating a fund for supplying baseball equipment to servicemen at home and abroad.
To finance the project he asked every man, woman and child in the country to donate 25 cents.
He wanted all baseball fans to remit their quarter and then send out four chain letters asking for the same; hopefully this system would prompt all Americans to contribute to the effort.
The drive gained immediate attention on May 22nd when President Woodrow Wilson endorsed the plan and remitted his quarter.
Griffith began mailing kits to troop swhich included fielding mitts, catcher's mitt, chest protector, first baseman's mitt, three batts, twelve balls, 3 bases with pegs, a rule book and 125 score cards.
In late October, Griffith worked out a deal with Spalding, Reach and Wilson.
Finally, Griffith's old teammate (Bill Large) went to France as an emissary for the YMCA. He was sent to coach soldier teams for the YMCA and to possibly establish, in the wake of American presence in Europe, and International Baseball League.
In total 3,100 kits were sent out.
These YMCA chest protectors were used by troops overseas with absolute certainty.
This was purchased by us directly from an estate in France and we are confident of it's provenance.
$425
