This is a 1931 Lefty Grove H&B Louisville Slugger Professional Model World Series Game Used Bat. This bat dates to the 1931 season based on the style of the "Powerized" section along the bat, which includes "Pat. Pend." beneath, a trait found only on 1931 H&B bats. Grove only has one recorded order of bats from Louisville Slugger during the 1931 season, which came on September 22, 1931, when he ordered 2 37 oz. "Al Simmons 6-11-30" bats with large knobs. Next to this order is a "WS" notation, which in the Louisville Slugger factory records stands for World Series. This bat currently measures 35.25 inches in length and weighs 39.3 ounces.
This bat exhibits heavy use with stitch marks evident on the top, back, and bottom of the barrel. At one point, this bat had an approximate 6" handle crack, but has been professionally repaired rendering the crack impossible to notice unless under severe scrutiny. A resin-like substance extends from the knob approximately 12" down the handle, and two small bat boy nails appear also appear under this subtstance.
Grove is considered by everyone as one of the best left-handed pitchers of the 20th century and given his stats, he WAS the best pre war lefty by far. When checking the MEARS population report, it shows that this is one of only two Lefty Grove bats to ever be examined and graded. The other example was an A9.5 but dated to the 1933-34 season. It too was a signature model but this particular bat dates to 1931, one of the best seasons for the Athletics and a championship season for them. If pitchers bats are some of the hardest of all bats to find, how rare is a World Series era bat of the greatest pre war left hander of all time and one of only two known? I know there are at least a couple of guys out there trying to get all of the Hall of Fame pitchers bats out there and this one is a peach.
This bat grades out at the MEARS A8.5 grade with five points for the base grade, three points for heavy use, a half point for the pinpointed factory record, and no point deductions to mention.