This bat entered the hobby while being debuted on Season 29, episode 7 of the “Antiques Road Show”, Living History Farms edition, in Urbandale, Iowa. When Ty Cobb retired, he led major league baseball as the all time hit leader with 4,191 hits and batting average of .366. This fresh to the hobby, straight off the farm bat is being publicly offered for sale for the first time.
Specialist Grant Zahajko was the expert on hand. Upon his physical review, he noted “made specifically for Ty Cobb”, “Cobb was known to tape his bats with 11” of tape in a spiral pattern.” Zahajko further noted, “has spike marks and stains, which are widely considered tobacco stains”.
With respect to value, Grant Zahajko remarked the estimate value of the bat is, “$75,000 to $100,000.”
After filming, the bat was submitted to MEARS Evaluations, LLC. Industry expert Troy R. Kinunen concurred with the Antique Road Show expert Grant Zahajko and provided the following details as part of his evaluation:
Dating: Per the Official MEARS Bat Grading Worksheet, this bat dates to the 1921-1928 era. This is determined by the manufacturing design of the 125, Hillerich & Bradsby Co. Made in U.S.A., Louisville Slugger, Louisville, KY”
Length (36”) Bat measures 36” and is an acceptable length for Cobb bats during the era. Factory records and numerous high grade examples document Cobb using his preferred 34 ½” length bat. Bats deviating from a player’s normal bat ordering patterns has been documented for decades by H&B factory records. Pitching speed, weather, and other factors have been cited for players using longer or shorter bats.
The 36” length, being outside of the more commonly documented Cobb bats, is possible for consideration of attribution to Ty Cobb. This determination was supported by an article titled, “Ty Cobb Bats and the Use of Imagery Analysis by Dave Grob”. Grob’s imagery analysis estimated two examined Cobb bats measuring 35.53” and 38.5”.
His methodology is explained in great detail and his conclusion was ”in either case we have bats that exceeded the length normally associated with Ty Cobb bats in accordance with Hillerich and Bradsby recorded and referenced production information.”
When the totality of the information including the model, weight, Cobb use traits (cleat marks and tobacco juice stains) and taped handle, MEARS concurred with the fact the 36” length as being ordered by Cobb for this bat.
Weight (38 ounces): Currently weighing 38.2 ounces, this bat is within the range of factory documented Cobb bats that have entered the hobby. Numerous entries appear in Cobb’s bat records as listing weight only. The 38-ounce weight fits within the documented range of weights ordered by Cobb during the 1920s.
Model C28: The model (shape of bat from handle to barrel end) is consistent with Cobb’s preferred C28 model.
Use: Bat shows heavy game use, a flattened hitting surface to the left of the center brand oval created from precious hitting in a very small surface of the bat. Four very distinct cleat marks and light traces of what else appears to be cleat marks can be found before the REG US PAT stamp. Heavy use, referred to as dead wood or the separation of the grain from the barrel can be seen on the reverse of the bat. This is a positive game used trait associated with heavy, consistent game use.
Player Traits: A 11-inch area of the handle has been taped, again a documented trait by Ty Cobb. The dark tape color, it's length, and tightly twisted wrap pattern, compares very favorably to the available image. The cleat marks, as mentioned above, are also a documented Ty Cobb personal trait.
Tobacco-Like Substance: The barrel of the bat has a tobacco-like substance which has been worked into the grain. Ty Cobb was known to chew tobacco during ball games. During his at bat, while at the plate, Cobb would actually spit tobacco juice on the bat and growl at the pitcher in an attempt to intimidate his opponent on the mound.
Red Paint Mark on the Handle: This bat is a combination of documented Cobb traits (tobacco juice, documented weight, cleat marks) and unique features such as the 36” length and red paint on the knob. Although our research could not document the exact reason for the red paint being present on the knob, it is the theory of MEARS that it was purposely intended to have this bat stand out from others in the rack. Player’s that have favorite or unique bats at times marked those bats differently. The red paint may have indicated to Cobb this was his longer, 36” bat ordered and used against certain pitches in unique situations, or it was just a plain favorite of Cobb and made it easier to find amongst his teammate’s bats.
Market Value
Recorded sales in the past 10 years posted these prices realized
1916-1918 Grade 9, $89,625 (2/15)
1916-1918 Grade 8.5, $106,000 (2/22)
1922 Grade 9, $216,000 (8/21)
Final Grade: Based on the model, acceptable length, weight, and use traits, MEARS has issued the grade of a MEARS A9.
(96V0255)
LOA Troy Kinunen / MEARS
