HOF'er George Kelly "game used" bat, legit?

[yanks12025]

Pretty sure you bought that off me years ago?? I know I used to own it at one time. But with zinn beck bats you can never know 100%. They have been documented as being used by players but it's not like hillerich & bradsby where they have shipping records.

Also mears does make mistakes/labels bats what they might not be. Like in their last auction I bought a hillerich & bradsby bat stamped with Chester Club and it had the last name Dugan stamped on the barrel and knob. They attributed it to Joe Dugan. Not really sure how it can be attributed to Joe Dugan considering it was made before he played and why would he use a bat with chester club stamped on it.

They also had a bat attributed to being used by either Rick Farrell or his brother. Again not sure how they could connect it to those two players because the bat just had the last name Farrell stamped on it and during that time their were several minor league players with the same last name.

[KrenBats]

There are several Kren bats that they have made mistakes on as well. Kren's are similar to Zinn Beck bats as you can never know 100%.

[Wildfireschulte]

My read on the Mear's authentication is that Troy saying that the bat is legitimately old (as opposed to being made in someone's garage yesterday) and was used in a game by someone and that it has Kelly's name on it. They are not certifying that Kelly ever used it in a professional game if ever.

[thenavarro]

Originally Posted by Wildfireschulte

My read on the Mear's authentication is that Troy saying that the bat is legitimately old (as opposed to being made in someone's garage yesterday) and was used in a game by someone and that it has Kelly's name on it. They are not certifying that Kelly ever used it in a professional game if ever.

If that's the case they should be a heck of a lot clearer IMO in their description.

Especially when they are the auctioneer.

http://sports.mearsonlineauctions.com/lot-68123.aspx

[Mark]

Originally Posted by thenavarro

If that's the case they should be a heck of a lot clearer IMO in their description.

Especially when they are the auctioneer.

http://sports.mearsonlineauctions.com/lot-68123.aspx

They are saying that it has the characteristics of a pro model bat and that it nothing prevents it from having been used by the player whose name is on it. We know that some of these bats found their way into the hands of hands of the players' whose names are on them. There is a photo of Groh using a similar bat with Groh's name engraved where this bat has Kelly's name. Or is there evidence that Diamond Ace 100's were sold either to the public or to other pro players by special order?

Also, MEARS sometimes sell bats that they don't seem to have subjected to the full analysis, with all the paper work. I wonder if these bats are sometimes called "authentic" because no one has paid them to be more specific.

[earlywynnfan]

As I've understood it, the Diamond Ace 100's are thought to be pro model bats. However, this bat, if I remember correctly, didn't match the size bats he was known to use during this era. I was watching the original auction, but passed.

Ken

[yanks12025]

Originally Posted by earlywynnfan

As I've understood it, the Diamond Ace 100's are thought to be pro model bats. However, this bat, if I remember correctly, didn't match the size bats he was known to use during this era. I was watching the original auction, but passed.

Ken

Not sure what you were looking at but pretty sure he ordered 35 inch bats a lot during his career.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by earlywynnfan

As I've understood it, the Diamond Ace 100's are thought to be pro model bats. However, this bat, if I remember correctly, didn't match the size bats he was known to use during this era. I was watching the original auction, but passed.

Ken

Was it the length? I don't see how the weight can be a factor since there's an 18" piece missing from the back. We don't know the weight, except that it must be at least in the high 30's.

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by Wildfireschulte

My read on the Mear's authentication is that Troy saying that the bat is legitimately old (as opposed to being made in someone's garage yesterday) and was used in a game by someone and that it has Kelly's name on it. They are not certifying that Kelly ever used it in a professional game if ever.

That's correct. I guess MEARS assumes people understand their game used bat grading scale of 1 - 10. See link:

http://www.mearsonline.com/index.php...ation-criteria

"Authentic" just means it's from 1924-1930 and wasn't made yesterday. That's why the "LOA" just describes what can be plainly seen just by looking at the bat. To the novice who don't understand game used bat authentication it does read like it is a Kelly gamer.

[Wildfireschulte]

If you ask Troy, he'll say he is being extra careful to be crystal clear, but to a novice, it is understandably confusing. Either way, you have to love Zinn-Beck bats whenever you can get one.