Posted By:
John HarrellI'm not sure that you can pinpoint the exact year of issue because, as you pointed out, it was common to issue signature bats after a player retired. 1915-1920 would be a good range. The only way, short of X-ray, to determine if the bat is cracked, short of removing the tape, is to gently tap the knob end on a firm surface (carpet is good) and feel for vibration. If the tape appears to be old, I would leave it. My guess is that the bat is cracked, given how far up the barrel it extends. Can you feel any nail heads under the tape or irregularities in the handle?
A missing chunk of knob will lower the grade of the bat a couple of notches but, according to bat repairmen, is among the easiest faults to repair. A repaired knob, if well done, will not negatively affect the grade of the bat and could significantly increase its value.
John