Share your research stories. Here's mine...

[jboosted92]

less than 7 years ago, it was believed by most that Pro-players didnt use 40-k Kork Grip bats. I discovered photos of Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, and others handling Kork Grip L.S. bats....(Cobb ultimately teamed with L.S. to design bat in 1913 - See Sporting news article Dec. '13) ...What also came from this, is when Pro-Model Kork Grips were used by Pro's (1913-14) was when we first saw Signatures Burned-into the barrels....since then values of these bats have gone up 100%-500%... It all started when i bought a 1914 Cobb 40-k, that had all the Cobb characteristics (lenght, weight, cleat marks, wood style...even a wrapped handle with spiral tape, after kork removed) but it was a 40-k......Countless hours of research went into it. Well worth it, and very rewarding....

- Justin

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by jboosted92

less than 7 years ago, it was believed by most that Pro-players didnt use 40-k Kork Grip bats. I discovered photos of Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, and others handling Kork Grip L.S. bats....(Cobb ultimately teamed with L.S. to design bat in 1913 - See Sporting news article Dec. '13) ...What also came from this, is when Pro-Model Kork Grips were used by Pro's (1913-14) was when we first saw Signatures Burned-into the barrels....since then values of these bats have gone up 100%-500%... It all started when i bought a 1914 Cobb 40-k, that had all the Cobb characteristics (lenght, weight, cleat marks, wood style...even a wrapped handle with spiral tape, after kork removed) but it was a 40-k......Countless hours of research went into it. Well worth it, and very rewarding....

- Justin

Outstanding effort Justin! Really significant work. Congrats.

Best, Jimmy

[D. Broughman]

I purchased the Baseball below May 4th, 2008 and have been researching to find out all I can about it and the game. Still haven't found out who won the game. I posted the ball in Jan. 2009 with the help of Leon and with the help of NET54 members have found out there was a pin sold at Oregon Trail Auction (Dan B. helped with that info). Clint posted a picture of the ad with the pin. Joe G. found out about the ball before it was posted and contacted me to see the ball. He posted better pictures of the ball and then found a picture of the 1889 Detroit Baseball Team in the Burton Collection at the Detroit Library. I have been trying to find out more about the Cleveland team but I am not very good at using the internet or computers. I contacted the Cleveland Police Museum and two different people said they would try and find out what they could for me but haven't heard back from them. I want to THANK THE NET54 MEMBERS for all there help. They are the best resource I have found. Dynarl

[sylbry]

Not really a vintage item but research none the less.

I have a 1994 Minnesota Twins game used home jersey worn by Scott Erickson. Erickson pitched a no-hitter at home that year. It took over a year of looking through Minnesota Twins related books, publications, online pictures,ect... before I found a definitive answer. Out of luck I set my DVR to record the Twins 30 for 30 on the MLB network. At the end of the episode were highlight clips of some of the teams better moments. And there was a 5 second clip of Erickson's no-hitter. The jersey he was wearing matched up perfectly to mine. I sent it to MEARS for review and they agreed it was the same jersey.

[PhilNap]

I just picked up this 1925 Wally Pipp payroll check in an auction. The auction house had it described as just that. Something told me to check the dates as I knew Gehrig started his streak sometime in 1925. My suspicion was right as this turns out to be Pipp's last paycheck as starting firstbaseman of the New York Yankees. Payday was May 29 and Gehrig played game 1 of the next 2130 just four days later on June 2. The kicker is that the bank stamps reveal that this check was actually paid on that very day of June 2. I suppose that "headache" wasn't enough to keep Pipp from collecting his dough that day.

[mr2686]

Phil, that is awesome!

[rlevy]

That's a great Wally Pipp story! Hard to find a check like that, then amazing to have it date to the beginning of Gehrig's streak.

here is one of my own research projects to share.
I picked up what was advertised as an early 1960's Tommy Davis game-used bat. His bats would usually have a criss-cross taped handle (a method he picked up from Duke Snider), and if there was a uni number on the knob, it should be a #12. This bat had a #5 written on the knob, and no taped handle, but given the low price and how rare his bats are, I decided to get this anyway.
When I received it, I realized that it was actually a late 1950's bat, and that it had red paint bat rack marks on it. Well, red paint was the team color for the Spokane Indians, the Dodgers top farm team, whom Davis played for in 1959 before his call-up in 1960. And while I could find Spokane's roster for 1959 with him on it, I couldn't find any info on player uniform numbers. Then I found a reference on-line to a book called Rain Check- Baseball in the Pacific Northwest that referenced Tommy Davis. So I found a copy at my local bookstore, and there on page 84 is a large picture of a leaping Tommy Davis with the #5 planted firmly on the front of his jersey. While not real valuable, I was happy to have an authentic TD bat from his minor league days, dating just 3 years before he would win back-to-back batting titles.

TD Spokane picture2.jpg
knob2.JPG