HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

As most of you know the Cincinnati Red Stockings were the first Major League team. In 1869 they were
undefeated in all 21 games.

To honor their home team, the Cincinnati Lumber Company crafted a 27-ft long bat with the inscriptions
of the "First Nine" players.

This Harper's Weekly original print is exactly 139 years old and is in fantastic condition.











I discovered this "goodie" in a small Antique shop in South Jersey......and, wanted to share it with you.

And, who says you can't find Vintage BB stuff in an antique store, anymore ?



TED Z

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Posted By: DMcD

Very interesting item, Ted Z. Couldn't find much on the internet besides this chronology of the 1869 season in which the Big Bat is mentioned: http://tinyurl.com/6rxoef . Gotta wonder where that bat ended up.

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Posted By: Steve

Nice item, I like it!


Steve

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Posted By: peter ullman

great article, Ted. I'm sure I've heard the story of that bat before. I doubt survived, eh?!

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Posted By: barrysloate

No, the bat has never been found, and it's too big to misplace. It is certainly gone.

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Posted By: Jeff S.

The bat was probably used in the construction of a nearby building. Just a guess, but I've seen odder objects recycled into 19th century architecture.

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Posted By: JimB

Cool story.
JimB

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

WOW.....in all your research on Harry Wright, you have not found even a hint of what happened
to this "Paul Bunyan size" bat ?

Very, very interesting ? ?

TED Z

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Posted By: barrysloate

Ted- Mark Rucker and I have talked about the bat, and neither of us, nor anyone else we know, has ever heard of its whereabouts.

And it's so big, you can't really lose it. If it still existed we would know about it.

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Posted By: Andrew S.

Just imagine what the bat would bring at auction today.

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

I am enitrely in agreement with Jeff's postulation. It was likely used as some sort of structural support.

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Posted By: Matt

Andrew - imagine the shipping cost!

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Hey guys and gals......there are several interesting articles on the back of this Harper's Weekly woodcut; and,
one that I find quite relevant to our times regarding the "energy" debate. Then, 140 years ago, the discussion
revolved around the viability of Steam-powered vehicles. In 1869, there were some prototype steam-powered
farm equipment (plows, tractors, etc.), but it wasn't until 30 years later that the Stanley Steamer Co. started
producing comercially available automobiles.

Anyhow, I thought that this article would be of interest to some of you.

This colorful woodcut is in Ex+ condition and professionally matted. So, who can tell me what the value of this
vintage pix is ?


TED Z

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Posted By: barrysloate

Most baseball woodcuts sell in the $25-35 range, but this one is considered a little more desirable, perhaps $50.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

BARRY

"Perhaps $50.".....is $5 more than I paid for it.....so, I'm very happy with this purchase.
I should be, it's the oldest vintage BB piece in my collection.

Thanks,

TED Z

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Let's see some more of these vintage BB related woodcuts.

TED Z

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Posted By: Doug Goodman

Here are a bunch of mine :

10/15/59English Cricketeers - The Eleven of England


03/23/61Abner Doubleday is bottom left in this picture of soldiers at Ft Sumter


11/18/65BB Match between Athletica and Atlantics


11/25/65Champion Nine Atlantic BBC of Brooklyn


11/03/66Brooklyn Atlantics vs Phil. Athletics / Champ 9 of Atlantic BBC


10/26/67Champion Nine - Union Club - Morrisania NY


10/03/68More Cricket players


07/03/69Picked Nine of Red Stocking Club of Cincinnati Ohio


07/24/69Presentation Of Championship Bat to Red Stockings


06/27/74International Baseball - The Boston Champions


09/05/74Base-Ball in England Red Stocking vs Athletics


09/12/74Maple Leaf BBC


09/12/74Match of Red Stockings and Athletics


07/27/78BB at Blackville - 1st blood for Black Legs


05/14/81Princeton College BB Nine


10/14/82The Chicago BBC


05/12/83The New BB Grounds at Chicago


10/13/83BB Champions of 1883 / Boston BBC


01/26/84Base-Ball on Skates, Washington Park, Brooklyn


08/22/85The Winning Run, How is it Umpire?


10/17/85Chicago BBC w/Anson & Kelly (1/2 page)


05/08/86A Double Play- First League Game (NY vs Bos)


05/15/86New Metropolitan BB Grounds on Staten Island


07/28/88A Ball or a Strike, Which?


10/20/88Winning Battery of NY Team - Keefe & Ewing


10/27/882 Popular St Louis Players - Comiskey & Latham


01/12/89Farmer Stebbins at the Bat


04/27/89The 1st League Game of Base-Ball of the Season


06/08/89Injured (I can't read the cartoon caption in my scan, and I'm not home to check it)


11/09/89William 'Buck' Ewing - Captain of NY Club



08/30/90A Strictly Amateur Nine (cartoon)


04/18/91The Social Ball Rolls Out as the National Game Comes In

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Posted By: barrysloate

Doug- which team is in the very first woodcut? I don't recognize it.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

DOUG

Thanks much for sharing with us your gallery of woodcuts.

Observe the following cover of the 1889 Goodwin Champions Album....it is the same as one
of your Harper's woodcuts.

Do you have a date on this particular pix ?





Thanks again,

TED Z

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Posted By: doug goodman

Barry - That first picture is titled "The English Crickers - The Eleven of All England", it's from the October 16, 1959 issue of Harpers. Slightly off topic, I suppose, but still a cool item.

Ted - The woodcut is dated May 8, 1886 and titled "A Double Play - First League Game, New York against Boston, April 29".

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Posted By: doug goodman

I have added dates and captions to the pictures in my previous post.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Thanks Doug. I suspected it was cricket, and back then a lot of the ballplayers participated in both baseball and cricket.

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Posted By: Jason L

perhaps we have found the long lost Big Bat?!?!?!?

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Posted By: T206Collector

Ted,

Can you tell when/whether color was added to your Harper's Woodcut? Like one of the posters above, I too have that cut, but it is in black & white.



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Posted By: barrysloate

It's been hand colored. Harper's were issued in black and white.