MEARS Auction #61, Ends March 29th, 2014, 9:00 CST w/ 15-Minute Rule

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Lot #6:

1920-28 Tris Speaker 40K H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Bat (MEARS A5)

By the 1920s, several HOF players had been experimented with the cork gripped handled bat. Ruth, Jackson, Cobb, and several others had documented examples of bats with the specially designed handle. Created by non-other than Ty Cobb, the cork was thought to take away the sting of a foul ball and was a major innovation, since batting gloves had not come into vogue as of yet. This bat was manufactured during the final 8 seasons of the great Tris Speaker’s career. Dating: Per the centerbrand design, this bat was manufactured between 1920-28. Length 36”: H&B records for Tris Speaker verify this as a length ordered during the 1923 season. Weight 37 ounces: 37 ounces is an acceptable range for bats ordered by Tris Speaker during the 1920-28 era. Model 40K: Absent of inch marks which indicated length and were found on store model examples of the cork gripped bat issued by Louisville Slugger during the era, this bat contains a hand turned knob and is consistent with professional model bats of the era. Final Grade: MEARS A5. A base grade of 5 points were assigned for bat being a professional model 40K and being supplied in a length, weight, and model consistent with what Speaker use. 3 points were assigned for heavy game wear, minus 3 points for damage to the barrel stamping, damage to barrel end, and slight deadwood on reverse. In summary, although this bat is not supported by Tris Speaker’s factory records, the length, model, and weight are acceptable for what he used during the 1920s. As a 40K model not supported by factory records, we are confident to classify this Speaker bat as a professional model based on the hand turned knob, model consistent with Speaker used, and a length and weight known to be ordered by Speaker during his career. LOA Troy R. Kinunen / MEARS

LOA Troy Kinunen / MEARS