Circa 1908-1910 Ty Cobb Detroit Tigers Game-Used Pro-Model Decal Bat MEARS A7.5

Sold For:

$3,840

Year:

1908

Auction:

2024 Spring

Lot #:

2541

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

This extraordinary Ty Cobb decal bat, manufactured by J. F. Hillerich & Son, holds the special distinction of being one of the earliest Ty Cobb pro model bats extant. Graded A7.5 by MEARS. This is a particularly exciting bat due to its period of manufacture. While technically dating from the 1897-1911 labeling period, it can be more narrowly defined to the three-year period 1908-1910 based upon the center brand stamp and the fact that Cobb did not sign a Louisville Slugger endorsement contract until 1908. The bat displays a "dash-dot-dash" pattern within the J. F. Hillerich & Son center brand label and features a decal image of Cobb on the barrel. The decal is well worn from use and only a few portions are still visible. Many collectors assume that only store-model bats were manufactured with decals, and are unaware that Major League players ever used decal bats, or that pro-model decal bats were ever even manufactured for player use; but that is, in fact, the case. Most bats with decals, of course, are store-model bats, which at a glance look very similar to a pro-model decal bat such as this. But this is where the similarity ends. This Ty Cobb game bat is actually very different, with both the company stampings and specifications (which are very different from that of the store-model decal bats) defining this bat with certainty as a professional-model bat manufactured exclusively for use by Ty Cobb. The bat, which dates to the 1908-1910 manufacturing period (predating model numbers), is hand-turned (a primary characteristic of pro-model bats that is not shared by store-model bats) and displays heavy use along the entire length in the form of ball marks, cleat marks, grain swelling, and a small piece missing on the reverse of the barrel. The company stampings within the center brand are those of a professional-model Ty Cobb game-used bat, with the smaller of two "dash-dot-dash" symbols appearing below "Louisville Slugger," as opposed to "40 TC" as found on store-model bats. In addition, its length (33.5 inches) and weight (40 ounces) also fall within the parameters of acceptable specifications for Ty Cobb pro-model bats. (A more detailed analysis of the bat's length and weight is included in the accompanying MEARS LOA, which can be viewed in its entirety on our website.) There is no doubt that professional-model decal bats were used by a number of major league players during the dead-ball era, though it is also the case that this practice was limited to only a very few players who were under contract and whose images were used on decal store-model bats (a universe of only a dozen or so players), such as Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Roger Bresnahan, and Hank Gowdy (1939 H&B catalog makes specific mention of him using a decal bat in the 1914 World Series). Lastly, it is also important to note that prior to 1916, there are no known H&B signature model bats of any player. For this era there are only a handful of block letter bats (manufactured only for non-contract players), which was another way to identify player-model bats, blank-barrel bats, and decal bats. There are no Cobb block-letter bats from this era, as he was under contract with Louisville Slugger starting in 1908. For this label period of 1908 through 1916, the decal bat was therefore the standard-style bat issued to Ty Cobb for Major League Baseball use. Graded A7.5 by MEARS (base grade of 5, with 3 points added for use, but a half point deducted for the missing piece on the barrel reverse). Length: 33.5 inches. Weight: 40 ounces. Full LOA from MEARS (a corresponding sticker affixed to the barrel end). The size/weight of this item requires that there will be an additional shipping charge for this lot. Opening Bid $1,000.