To Restore, or not to Restore.. that is the question

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Here is my personal opinion (on whether or not to do it...)

If the Bat is purportedly game-used, leave it alone. You want it to be just as it was when it left Ruth's hands. If The Babe potentially cracked it, leave it alone! The Bat has tremendous significance and tells a story.

If the Bat is more for show (and is a "game model" as opposed to game-used) then I would repair it. It will look a lot nicer, and will be more presentable. It should turn out to a near "invisible" repair. If Scott doesn't do the work, then I can provide the name of another fellow who is nothing short of a magician. Not positive whether he has retired, but if still active, I believe he's the best.

Good luck either way!

Mark, I do not do bat repair, but I personally can't afford to pay someone to make a simple repair that I can do myself, so I am offering repair advice.

Some people cannot do simple repairs, but hopefully they are self-aware enough to know that. The way the OP describes it, sending it off to a professional to repair would be akin to sending a photo to someone to glue it into a scrapbook. This sounds very elementary.

[pencil1974]

Here is the listing from eBay that was referenced:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pat-1930-BA...8AAOSwCtJaEJ7t

[Runscott]

Thanks for posting that link - it changes things considerably. The only bats I have repaired were in the 'less than $500' value range and were store models.

Advice I have received in this forum has been to not repair cracked gamers. I have three cracked gamers and have gotten used to looking at the nasty cracks. I almost always repair store model bats that are trashed, but I also only buy them because they are trashed and I enjoy doing the repair work.

Yours has been cracked for 90 years presumably, so what's the hurry unless you feel it is unsightly? If repairing to increase value, you probably won't be. If you plan on it being a permanent part of your collection, then do whatever you want, but if I thought Ruth cracked a bat, I would prefer to keep the crack.

[Jobu]

Huge +1 to that Scott. Unless there is some danger that it will fall apart I would leave it as it is.

I was watching this bat too. I don't own any bats and don't know much about them but want a single Batrite with the bat logo for my collection. What are people's thoughts on the bat itself?

Originally Posted by Runscott

... if I thought Ruth cracked a bat, I would prefer to keep the crack.

[Billyscards]

great insight!!! It will never be proven that Ruth used this bat.. Hanna bats are the same in both the Pro Model and Store model...

But the bat has value to it.. I plan to keep it unless some crazy offer comes up. This will be a showcase piece in my basement with my other Ruth stuff. I bought it with the purpose to display.