Need Help Dating A Baseball Bat

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Anyone have a good idea of a date on this bat? Also what type of knob is this?

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Posted By: Mark L

To me, it looks like a mushroom bat. I believe the bat would be about 100 years old. But I am not an expert in very early bats.

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Posted By: John Harrell

Dan,

I started to bid on this one but have a couple similar to it. My guess is that this one dates from the 1870-80.s period. Is the bat tapered or straight (can't tell much from the photos)? That style knob does not appear much after the mid 1880's (it's what I would call more of an acorn knob). Although Goldsmith and Sears put out mushroom bats with a similar knob around 1905, their knobs were more elongated, whereas this knob appears to be stubbier. Are there lathe marks and can you tell anything about the barrel end (round, flat)?

John

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

I haven't gotten it yet so I can't really tell you anything. I'll let you know when I get it. Looks like it's in terrible condition, but the price was right and I was hoping you would tell me 1870ish. Will still look good in a display.