Harry Hoch 1916 bat should it be refinished

[4scuda]

You may have seen I had posted several early bats for trade in BST. Well I got no action. Several of these bats had been packed away including this Louisville Slugger Hoch model. Harry Hoch played. Only a few years was a pitcher and had some at bats 1913-15. This bat has 1916 labeling. I have had the bat for many years and just thought it could go as I have too many bats. One of the main reason is I don’t like the dark finish. Got looking at it closer and it seems it has some paper label on it and under that it has the nice bright finish I like. Apparently it’s not worth much so I think I’ll just keep it. I have two questions would it be a crime if I refinished it to the bright color and secondly does anyone know what this paper label might have been?

[sicollector1954]

If your bat has MADE IN USA on the center label--it is from circa 1922 and not earlier. (hard to see). Likely a minor league bat or perhaps for another player with the same name....I see he played 3 years in the majors...but not after 1915. I am guessing this has to be a minor league bat of some type...minimal value...not going to destroy anything major and perhaps you want to make it more the way you like it..
DAVE

[4scuda]

Thanks I was going by Bradsby being added in 1916. I’ve had this bat for over twenty years so I am not sure I remember the details of when I got it but I do remember I got with another similar bat with same style name of an obscure major league player which I guess could have been a minor leaguer too. I don’t collect bats specifically and was surprised I had over 20 when I rounded them all up. I guess it’s still almost 100 years old so I’ll keep it.

[ooo-ribay]

It’s your bat, so you should do whatever you want.

[murphusa]

Send it to Matt for a cleaning

[Mark]

The bat definitely has a vintage look. Personally, I wouldn't do anything with it. But if I were you, and if I thought the bat fit into my collection, and if I could imagine it looking better, then I'd refinish it (except that the mailing label is very cool, in my opinion).

[4scuda]

It is definitely darker than my keepers and actually darker than my “extras”. I probably should just send it down the road for whatever I can get. On the other hand I currently don’t have a place to display them so they will all just be stacked in a corner.