This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/9/2020
When America entered World War I in 1917, Clark Griffith, owner of the Washington Senators, led a drive to raise money to purchase athletic equipment, primarily baseball equipment, for use at military training camps. Hillerich & Bradsby and Spaulding, two major sports gear manufacturers, and the YMCA joined Griffith’s efforts. In addition to supplying U.S. training centers, the YMCA shipped 79,680 balls and 144,000 bats to troops stationed abroad.
The YMCA branded bats were produced between 1917 and 1918. Bats contained the signatures of common players as well as signatures of star players such as Ty Cobb, George Sisler, and Joe Jackson, and Eddie Collins. The bats were nearly identical to the models used by the players themselves.
Offered is a Eddie Collins H&B Louisville Slugger YMCA bat dating to circa 1917-18. Bat currently measures 35", weighs 39.5 ounces and shows heavy use with ball marks, barrel gouging, dead wood and a cracked handle repaired with a quartet of period nails. (40P0048)
(MEARS Auction LOA)