Early Professional/Retail Decal Bats

[ruth-gehrig]

For the following list am I missing any player who had a professional model/retail decal bat with a picture of themselves on the barrel from the early 20th century?

Ty Cobb
Honus Wagner
Harry Davis
Roger Bresnahan
Eddie Collins
Hank Gowdy
Homerun Baker
Joe Jackson
Tris Speaker

[bat_master]

Jake Daubert
Napoleon Lajoie

[ruth-gehrig]

Thank you Tim!

[Bpm0014]

It’s my understanding that some players used their own decal bats. Correct?

[perezfan]

Yes. The models that say "Made By" on the centerbrand (as opposed to the players' initials) are considered professional models. A few photos have surfaced that picture some of the players with decal bats in-hand.

The far more common ones with the players' initials in the centerbrand (i.e. JJ for Joe Jackson) were retail models, and can be ruled out as "game used".

[mrreality68]

anybody own any? would love to see some pictures of what this forum owns

[PSACJ]

Here is my Hank Gowdy Decal Bat.

[PSACJ]

Here is my Hank Gowdy Decal Bat!⚾️

[Bpm0014]

Here is a professional model bat. It has the “Made By”. Home Run Baker…

[eastonfalcon19]

I have a few in my collection. The first is a HomeRun Baker. Second is a Nap Lajoie model. Now the only reason I believe it to be a Lajoie is that you can see the red outline of where the decal once was. I looked at the decal models and Lajoie was the only one that had a red outline. The third one has very little left of a decal but you can see part of it still on the barrel. This model looks like a Collins based on the tape job and taper of the handle and knob. All of these are hand turned pro model decal bats.

[Bpm0014]

Great bats! Do you consider these game used at all? I’d love to learn more as I have one myself.

[eastonfalcon19]

Here is a Lajoie decal that sold at auction. If you look at the red outline and design on both, they are the same.

[eastonfalcon19]

Originally Posted by Bpm0014

Great bats! Do you consider these game used at all? I’d love to learn more as I have one myself.

Thank you! I would think they have a good chance of being game used but can't say with 100% certainty that they were without any type of provenance. Would love to see more bats you have.

[Bpm0014]

Ron I just have a bunch of t206 player game used bats. About 40. And 1 that totally doesn’t fit into my collection but I couldn’t pass it up.… A Willie Mays gamer (Adirondack).

[eastonfalcon19]

Originally Posted by Bpm0014

Ron I just have a bunch of t206 player game used bats. About 40. And 1 that totally doesn’t fit into my collection but I couldn’t pass it up.… A Willie Mays gamer (Adirondack).

I don't think that fits so I will have to take off of your hands lol. That's incredible 40 T206 bats. So I have to ask, who is your favorite out of your bats besides the Mays?

[autograf]

Couple player minis and a few non-player minis............

[Bpm0014]

I don't think that fits so I will have to take off of your hands lol. That's incredible 40 T206 bats. So I have to ask, who is your favorite out of your bats besides the Mays?

I have 2 favorites. A George Stone. It’s just the most beautiful prewar bat. A huge old war club. And Bob Bescher. It is side-written, has a bunch of 1 cent stamps plastered all over it, and still has the Hillerich and Bradsby / Louisville Slugger mailing address on it. But with that being said, I love them all. I have doubles of Heine Zimmerman and Harry Davis and Art Fletcher if anybody every wants a trade!

[Wildfireschulte]

Adding some Cobb decal bats to the thread. The decals are kind of rough - going for quantity over quality. I've never seen a "Made By" JH&Sons Cobb.

[Bpm0014]

There is one in Hunt’s Auction I believe…

[ruth-gehrig]

I don't believe I've ever seen a professional Joe Jackson decal.

[Wildfireschulte]

Originally Posted by Bpm0014

There is one in Hunt’s Auction I believe…

Yes, Hunt currently has a few decal bats including “Made By” bats for Cobb, Lajoie and Baker. Interesting that the Cobb decal is one of the vertical styles vs the horizontal decal on my 40 T.C.

[perezfan]

Wanted to revive this great thread, to show a pretty cool Joe Jackson example. Not a "gamer" or professional model, but a nice vintage Retail Bat nonetheless.

Also featured in this latest TSOG video is a rare Spalding Zebra Striped example. Please check it out, and hope you enjoy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0-0tj9Jo2M