1800s Baseball Bat

[ruth-gehrig]

Seller described this bat as mid 1800s but also stated it's about 120 years old Anyways at over $500 is that about average price for such a bat today? My guess is the bat was closer to 1860-70s. Is that accurate? I was sure my snipe close to $400 was gonna get her First snipe I've ever placed FWIW

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...vip=true&rt=nc

[ullmandds]

depends whether there is a manufacturer or any stamping on it...also...the round knob/mushroom knob is very desirable and increases the cost/value! I'd guess late 19th c...maybe even early 20th c.

[ruth-gehrig]

No markings according to seller.

[MGHPro]

could be a farm tool handle too..

[WWGjohn]

Based on the straight taper and the ball knob, I'd date it 1860-70. Nice bat. I was thinking of bidding on it myself.

John

[perezfan]

I thought it went a bit high for what it is. I was thinking $350 - $400 would get it.

Pretty neat looking Bat though.

[WWGjohn]

"I thought it went a bit high for what it is. I was thinking $350 - $400 would get it."


My thoughts as well. I thought maybe $300.

John

[mitleth]

Originally Posted by ruth-gehrig

Seller described this bat as mid 1800s but also stated it's about 120 years old Anyways at over $500 is that about average price for such a bat today? My guess is the bat was closer to 1860-70s. Is that accurate? I was sure my snipe close to $400 was gonna get her First snipe I've ever placed FWIW

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...vip=true&rt=nc

Michael,

I know it's been almost half a year since that auction, but I was the winner! Here is the funny thing, your snipe bid should have taken it home EASILY! I had the high bid, and as I was riding down the interstate in the car, I was watching closely, as I really wanted the bat. I told myself I wouldn't go any higher than $250.

Well, as the auction went under a minute, 20 seconds actually, the bid was rapidly approaching $250. I talked myself into a bid of $280. Here is the funny thing (not so funny at the time), I was using ebay mobile on my phone so it took a few more seconds to bring up the bid window, so I was typing really fast and knew I only had a few seconds to get the little higher bid in. Anyway, in all my haste, I didn't look closely before I hit confirm bid.

And then, BOOM! I see the winning bid was 510.00, and at first I said, wow that went high, only to then realize I had won.

When I had placed the bid, I was in such a hurry, and didn't pay attention to where I placed the decimal point, so I accidentally put in a bid of $2800!!! OOPS!

At first I was really pissed at myself, but when I got the bat, I was super excited. I'm not a bat expert and don't really have any idea of the actual age of the bat. I'm just starting to amass a collection of baseball memorabilia. Bats are my first priority as they just interest me so much. I wanted to start my collection with a bat from the early early years, so a hand made bat made sense to me.

So is it worth $500? Who knows, but now I have a fun story and a great beginning piece to my collection.

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by mitleth

Michael,

I know it's been almost half a year since that auction, but I was the winner! Here is the funny thing, your snipe bid should have taken it home EASILY! I had the high bid, and as I was riding down the interstate in the car, I was watching closely, as I really wanted the bat. I told myself I wouldn't go any higher than $250.

Well, as the auction went under a minute, 20 seconds actually, the bid was rapidly approaching $250. I talked myself into a bid of $280. Here is the funny thing (not so funny at the time), I was using ebay mobile on my phone so it took a few more seconds to bring up the bid window, so I was typing really fast and knew I only had a few seconds to get the little higher bid in. Anyway, in all my haste, I didn't look closely before I hit confirm bid.

And then, BOOM! I see the winning bid was 510.00, and at first I said, wow that went high, only to then realize I had won.

When I had placed the bid, I was in such a hurry, and didn't pay attention to where I placed the decimal point, so I accidentally put in a bid of $2800!!! OOPS!

At first I was really pissed at myself, but when I got the bat, I was super excited. I'm not a bat expert and don't really have any idea of the actual age of the bat. I'm just starting to amass a collection of baseball memorabilia. Bats are my first priority as they just interest me so much. I wanted to start my collection with a bat from the early early years, so a hand made bat made sense to me.

So is it worth $500? Who knows, but now I have a fun story and a great beginning piece to my collection.

Good post....$2,800....pretty funny...I can't recall what it looked like close up...maybe you could post some photos...but if it looks anything like the one photo above I posted of the barrel end...I'd say you're fine.

Your post reminds me of a time I was bidding in a Hunt auction on my phone while at work...and like your scenario it was hiking up past my top bid...those smart phones make it easier to up your bid than the old pre smart phone days...I manned up at the end, and with the mobility of the phone, got the three pieces I was after, see below...anyway Congratulations on your bat....six months latter....I think you did fine.


Via mobile bidding I got the two packs on the left....the one on the left is very rare...the one in the middle would probably be considered near impossible...the one on the right is quite common.


Via mobile bidding, a very rare tobacco pouch in very good condtion

[ruth-gehrig]

Originally Posted by mitleth

Michael,

I know it's been almost half a year since that auction, but I was the winner! Here is the funny thing, your snipe bid should have taken it home EASILY! I had the high bid, and as I was riding down the interstate in the car, I was watching closely, as I really wanted the bat. I told myself I wouldn't go any higher than $250.

Well, as the auction went under a minute, 20 seconds actually, the bid was rapidly approaching $250. I talked myself into a bid of $280. Here is the funny thing (not so funny at the time), I was using ebay mobile on my phone so it took a few more seconds to bring up the bid window, so I was typing really fast and knew I only had a few seconds to get the little higher bid in. Anyway, in all my haste, I didn't look closely before I hit confirm bid.

And then, BOOM! I see the winning bid was 510.00, and at first I said, wow that went high, only to then realize I had won.

When I had placed the bid, I was in such a hurry, and didn't pay attention to where I placed the decimal point, so I accidentally put in a bid of $2800!!! OOPS!

At first I was really pissed at myself, but when I got the bat, I was super excited. I'm not a bat expert and don't really have any idea of the actual age of the bat. I'm just starting to amass a collection of baseball memorabilia. Bats are my first priority as they just interest me so much. I wanted to start my collection with a bat from the early early years, so a hand made bat made sense to me.

So is it worth $500? Who knows, but now I have a fun story and a great beginning piece to my collection.

Oh wow what a story indeed! I'm glad it found a good home without costing you any more than it did. Nice bat to start your collection off with BTW. If you care to share all of us here at net54 love pics and would definately enjoy pics of this bat as well. Enjoy, Michael

[Runscott]

I've done that a few times as well. At some point we'll here the story of an underbidder who bid $2,700 by accident!!!

[mitleth]

I will definitely post some pics for you guys when I get home. I'm out of town for a few days. I, too, like pics. I get pretty jealous of a lot of the collections on here. I am a high school teacher that doesn't have a ton of disposable income. So my collection is slowly, very slowly starting.

I like the Cigs, Hendricks! Those are pretty cool.

-Mitch

[D. Broughman]

The bat may be a Massachusett's style bat if it has the same handle as mine. It is hard to see if it is or the mushroom style. The first bat in the picture is the Massachusett's style and the fourth one is a mushroom style. Sorry for the bad picture from the book.

[mitleth]

Here are some extra pics of the bat. I don't think it is a worn down ring bat. I also don't see any evidence that there was ever any markings on the bat.

Open to any new info on maybe what type of bat it is/age. Not terribly worried about it, as I am really happy with it, but am always curious.

Also have never attached pics on here before. No idea how clear/big they will be.

Thanks!



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[Bugsy]

Interesting thread. I just picked us an NYCS bat that is also 32" in length. Not sure if it was ever used as a baseball bat, but still a cool piece.

[D. Broughman]

Here is my N.Y.C.S. bat. I have been told it is a Railroad bat and I bought it at a booth that had all Railroad items at an antique mall. Seeing your bat makes me wonder if the N.Y.C.S. could stand for New York City Schools

[Bugsy]

I really have no idea, but I just found this blog on the New York Central System (NYCS). An interesting mystery

http://nycshs.blogspot.com/2008/05/n...d-history.html

[murphusa]

a lot of farm and industrial tools were made of wood. Back in the day, when something broke it was saved and used for other things. Here is an 1909 Appleton Car Mover Co Steampunk Industrial Railroad Tool. If the metal workings on the end broke off and the owner/user round and squared off the end, well then it might be something a collector might think is a baseball bat.

It is my opinion that none of the items displayed on these 3 pages are baseball bats. Not saying someone didn't use any of them as a 2nd use item as a bat. And yes maybe when they broke on the job the boys didn't use them as a bat on their lunch hours, but they were not made as such.