To Restore, or not to Restore.. that is the question

[Billyscards]

I have a Babe Ruth Pro Model Hanna Batrite Circa 1930-1934. Has a Crack running from 12 inches above the handle to under the bat logo. When squeezed, the crack nearly disappears.

I've heard about restoration of bats both professionally and non. Just curious to get collectors takes on this.. how expensive if done professionally? Should I attempt on my own? Does this diminish value?

Weight is at Ruth's specs, so should I just leave it?

I'm a newby here and hoping for some advice!

[packs]

I don't know what there is to gain from restoring it.

[bbcard1]

If you're going to use it, I would definitely restore it.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Billyscards

I have a Babe Ruth Pro Model Hanna Batrite Circa 1930-1934. Has a Crack running from 12 inches above the handle to under the bat logo. When squeezed, the crack nearly disappears.

I've heard about restoration of bats both professionally and non. Just curious to get collectors takes on this.. how expensive if done professionally? Should I attempt on my own? Does this diminish value?

Weight is at Ruth's specs, so should I just leave it?

I'm a newby here and hoping for some advice!

These are very reasonable questions. I hope that someone who knows about restorations will respond to them.

[Runscott]

If you decide you want to repair it, let me know - as long as you don't have to remove wood (cracks where one piece is popped out over another) to get it back together, repair is simple. Cylindrical wooden objects like bats lend themselves well to zip-tie repairs, because you can clamp, then slide the zip-ties up to thicker areas to get them super-tight.

[perezfan]

Here is my personal opinion (on whether or not to do it...)

If the Bat is purportedly game-used, leave it alone. You want it to be just as it was when it left Ruth's hands. If The Babe potentially cracked it, leave it alone! The Bat has tremendous significance and tells a story.

If the Bat is more for show (and is a "game model" as opposed to game-used) then I would repair it. It will look a lot nicer, and will be more presentable. It should turn out to a near "invisible" repair. If Scott doesn't do the work, then I can provide the name of another fellow who is nothing short of a magician. Not positive whether he has retired, but if still active, I believe he's the best.

Good luck either way!

[MGHPro]

Are you referring to the bat that was recently on eBay ?

[sicollector1954]

If you plan on keeping it and are happy with it as is....leave it alone......if you plan on selling it sometime in the future, John Taube has a person who is unbelievable......but there is probably a wait time but worth it.....I once had a Tony Lazzeri game bat that was found in a downstairs basement where water had leaked on it for years and a 10 inch piece of wood missing off the backside.....the bat was restored (took one year start to finish to dry out to the proper weight/ad a matching piece to the backside even matching the grain lines of the bat) and it turned out beautiful! I think this person probably restores antique furniture or something..In my mind, he is the best.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Here is my personal opinion (on whether or not to do it...)

If the Bat is purportedly game-used, leave it alone. You want it to be just as it was when it left Ruth's hands. If The Babe potentially cracked it, leave it alone! The Bat has tremendous significance and tells a story.

If the Bat is more for show (and is a "game model" as opposed to game-used) then I would repair it. It will look a lot nicer, and will be more presentable. It should turn out to a near "invisible" repair. If Scott doesn't do the work, then I can provide the name of another fellow who is nothing short of a magician. Not positive whether he has retired, but if still active, I believe he's the best.

Good luck either way!

Mark, I do not do bat repair, but I personally can't afford to pay someone to make a simple repair that I can do myself, so I am offering repair advice.

Some people cannot do simple repairs, but hopefully they are self-aware enough to know that. The way the OP describes it, sending it off to a professional to repair would be akin to sending a photo to someone to glue it into a scrapbook. This sounds very elementary.

[pencil1974]

Here is the listing from eBay that was referenced:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pat-1930-BA...8AAOSwCtJaEJ7t

[Runscott]

Thanks for posting that link - it changes things considerably. The only bats I have repaired were in the 'less than $500' value range and were store models.

Advice I have received in this forum has been to not repair cracked gamers. I have three cracked gamers and have gotten used to looking at the nasty cracks. I almost always repair store model bats that are trashed, but I also only buy them because they are trashed and I enjoy doing the repair work.

Yours has been cracked for 90 years presumably, so what's the hurry unless you feel it is unsightly? If repairing to increase value, you probably won't be. If you plan on it being a permanent part of your collection, then do whatever you want, but if I thought Ruth cracked a bat, I would prefer to keep the crack.

[Jobu]

Huge +1 to that Scott. Unless there is some danger that it will fall apart I would leave it as it is.

I was watching this bat too. I don't own any bats and don't know much about them but want a single Batrite with the bat logo for my collection. What are people's thoughts on the bat itself?

Originally Posted by Runscott

... if I thought Ruth cracked a bat, I would prefer to keep the crack.

[Billyscards]

great insight!!! It will never be proven that Ruth used this bat.. Hanna bats are the same in both the Pro Model and Store model...

But the bat has value to it.. I plan to keep it unless some crazy offer comes up. This will be a showcase piece in my basement with my other Ruth stuff. I bought it with the purpose to display.

[Runscott]

In that case I would recommend gluing it. But at that value I would send it out unless you are sure you could do a perfect job.