1918-21 circa George “Babe” Ruth 40K Hillerich & Bradsby Louisville Slugger Professional Model Bat (MEARS LOA)
To determine professional issuance, MEARS examined the following Babe Ruth bat for signature version, centerbrand dating, length, weight, wood grade, Kork Grip, evaluation of use, and comparison to known records. We also referenced known listings of cork grip bats, which were found in available H&B records. Finally, we surveyed two common player professional model 40K cork gripped bats, George Ramsey and Harry Smith. The common bats served to illustrate that 40K bats were produced for professional players other than the superstars of the era and further support their use in the major leagues.
The examination of the MEARS Ruth bat revealed:
Barrel Signature version: This bat exhibits the First Version barrel stamping facsimile signature which came into use during 1918-21. He modified his signature which is considered the 2nd version which appears circa 1921.
Centerbrand: Examination of the centerbrand reveals this bat was manufactured during the 1918-21 timespan.
Length: For this label period (1918-21), H&B factory records show bats ordered for Ruth in “non-specified” lengths with ”weight listed only”, 34.5 inch, 35 inch, 35.25 inch, 35.5 inch, & 36 lengths. This examined bat measures at 32 ¾” inches and does not match the H&B factory listed lengths, but it is possible, but not documented, it may have been one of the n/s (not specified) orders.
Weight: H&B factory records reveal during the timeframe of 1918-21, Ruth ordered bats weighing from 35 to 42 ounces. This bat weighs in at 38.5 ounces, which is within the range of factory document weights recorded for Babe Ruth during the 1918-21 era.
Wood: This bat is manufactured from professional grain ash, which is also consistent with all bats sent to Ruth during this time frame.
Kork Grip: MEARS has established via photograph proof (Joe Jackson with Kork Grip bat), reference in the H&B factory records, and the examination of additional professional model 40K bats, that Louisville Slugger supplied professional ballplayers with this model. Examples examined include:
MEARS #302455 1921-31 Eddie Collins 40K
MEARS #301123 1914-15 Ty Cobb 40K
MEARS #251754 1911-16 Joe Jackson 40K
MEARS #303775 1917-21 Ty Cobb 40K
MEARS #255107 1917-21 Harry Davis 40K
MEARS #302906 1921-31 Frank Frisch 40K
MEARS #302914 1921-31 George Sisler 40K
MEARS #302944 1921-31 Ed Roush 40K
MEARS #301586 1921-31 Lew Fonseca 40K
MEARS database 1921-21 Mickey Cochrane 40K
MEARS database 1921-31 Al Simmons 40K, 36 ¼”, 37 ounces
In addition, MEARS examined images of 1910-15 professional model Frank Homerun Baker 40K JF Hillerich & Sons bat. The bat measured 33” in length. This supports the introduction of the cork grip process to the 1910-15 era.
Common Players Examined
MEARS research 1921-31 George Ramsey 40K (block letter) 36”, 36.8 oz, hand turned, sw 7/28/23
MEARS research 1921-31 Harry Smith 40K (block letter) 34”, 32.3 oz, hand turned, sw 8/15/29
MEARS research 1921-31 Pat Malone 40K (block letter) no information recorded
The examination of the Ramsey, Malone, and Smith 40K bats proved that H&B did produce bats from common players.
There is also a specific factory record for Babe Ruth ordering Kork Grip bats during the 1921 season. It appears in the factory record as:
Babe Ruth 40K H&B personal record order listing:
Tom Griffith, 8/9/21, with kork grip, 48 bats
This ledger entry verifies the fact that Babe Ruth did indeed request an order of bats with the kork grip application. Also, 48 was a large request since most bat orders were 3, 6, or 12.
Condition: Cork on the handles is nearly all intact, quite rare for these model bats. The 1st version barrel stamping is in excellent condition and deeply seated. The “th” in Ruth is light on the end of the barrel stamp.
In summary, this bat is consistent with ordering patterns determined by examined examples. Known H&B records of Babe Ruth professional model bats for the with specific respects to model, application of kork grip, weight, signature version (#1) and professional grade wood. Reminder, the length is certainly on the shorter side, and we have not documentation of Ruth using 32” bats, but the possibility does exists. There is no supporting evidence that Professional Model bats from the 1918-21 era bearing a contractual player signature were supplied to any other player other than the endorsee whose name appeared on the barrel.
Grading: MEARS Authentic.
(15P0058)