Spalding B12 baseball bat ~ presented by Babe Ruth in 1926

[Ribbens]

Looking for some help on a Spalding B12 baseball bat presented to an Irish Hurling team touring NY in 1926. The bat was given to the head of this GAA hurling team by Babe Ruth. This bat was on the auction block back in 2011 but it didn't meet the minimum bid.

[Ulidia]

Unfortunately, I have no knowledge or input on the bat.


However, the hurling team in question was Tipperary. They were the existing All-Ireland champions, having won the 1925 contest. Tipperary has a strong history in the sport.


Again, to emphasise that I have no knowledge of the bat itself or the provenance. However, the auction house (Mealys) at which this came up for sale is highly regarded and, in particular over the past decade or so, it has probably been the leading auction house for vintage Gaelic Atletic Association (GAA) memorabilia - notably, it has sold a number of collections of player All-Ireland winner medals which have grown exponentially in value over that time period in constrast to most other sporting memorabilia in UK and Ireland which has tended to stagnate in value.

[Ribbens]

In addition to the story of the bat being given to the Tipperary Hurling team there is a medal dated May 1926 and a letter from the McGrath family detailing the bat given by Babe Ruth during the visit to NY. Strong provenance. The big question is this a game used bat or just a bat lying around that Babe Ruth gave them.