With investigation, the incredibly rare history unfolded of the hobby’s first documented Pittsburgh Crawfords Negro League bat, considered the Greatest Negro League team of All-Time. At first glance, this sidewritten bat appeared to just be a Jimmie Foxx store model bat that had been used by some low level professional player and returned to H&B for a player model to be replicated. The story could not have been farther from the truth! It was not uncommon for minor leaguers that had not yet received a contract to use store model bats of more famous baseball sluggers. Obtained by MEARS consignment consultant Dave Bushing from a long time collector of Louisville Slugger bats, his preliminary research uncovered a hobby gem of remarkable nobility and quickly cast away any thoughts of this bat being a conventional find.
Careful examination of the sidewriting revealed the name to be that of W.A.Greenlee. The George Steinbrenner of his day, W. A. "Gus" Greenlee owned one of the Negro League’s greatest dynasties, the Pittsburgh Crawfords. The Crawfords were considered the “black” Yankees of the time. Gus took over the Pittsburgh Crawfords in 1930 and built one of sports All-Time greatest dynasties. The prototypical Black baseball owner, in addition to the Crawfords, Greenlee also owned his own ballpark, and a stable of boxers including light-heavyweight champion John Henry Lewis. A man of the streets, Greenlee introduced the numbers racket to Pittsburgh in 1926. He controlled almost a hundred numbers banks and employed 5,000 people. Greenlee's profits from his business ventures helped in the purchase of a new 22 seat bus and the development of Greenlee Field, a first-class facility seating 6,000 at a cost of $100,000.
The 1935 team, which featured five Hall-of-Famers in the lineup, is considered the best, with Josh Gibson, Oscar Charleston, Cool Papa Bell, Judy Johnson and Satchel Paige. This bat dates from 1935. With the bat having been shipped by Greenlee to the H&B Louisville Slugger factory on May 8th, 1935, this may have been used by any of those great Negro League players during the early part of the 1935 season. With the bat’s 1933 centerbrand markings, it may also have been used during the two proceeding seasons.
The fact that Negro League players were not routinely shipped bats bearing their own names (thus explaining the fact this bat was a Jimmie Foxx store model) was addressed in the article by Dave Grob titled, “Bat Use In The Negro Leagues”, http://www.mearsonline.com/news/newsDetail.asp?id=483
Dave Grob’s article cited the 1941 Baltimore Elite Giants bat ordering habits. By investigating the available records of the 1941 Elite Giants, it is possible to conclude the fact they may have been trying to capture the success of the 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords by ordering the same player model bats as that champion team. H&B records show that on March 4th, 1941, Jimmie Foxx model bats were also sent to the Elite Giants.
Physical characteristics:
Bat was issued as a standard Jimmie Foxx retail bat. The bat measures 35” and weighs 36.4 oz. It is stamped 35” on the knob. Bat label period of manufacturer is 1933, as evidence by the Powerized design, “Powerized and Oil Tempered”. With the later return of the 1935 sidewriting date, this bat could have been used anytime between 1933 and May 8th, 1935.
The bat is side written, “37 oz. W.A. Greenlee 5-8-35 Negro Nat. Pittsburgh PA.” Again, this was the date the bat was returned by Greenlee to the H&B factory for additional bats to be made and sent to the Crawfords team. Side writing is very bold and easily read. The identical phrase of side writing appears not only on the barrel but on the handle as well.
The practice of sidewriting is the documented practice where Louisville Slugger used the archived example to produce future model to the same dimensions as the bat returned to the factory. For the professional baseball league for Caucasian ball players, their names were added to the barrel end. What was the case of the Negro League? Did H&B make and ship bats bearing the names of Oscar Charleston, Judy Johnson, Satchell Paige? If so, it is highly probable they may have been made from this very bat.
Regarding condition, there is a 14” handle crack as well as cleat marks about the barrel. The factory finish and stamps are perfect. Although this bat is a store model example, the documentation of the Greenlee sidewriting allows us to grade this bat.
Final Grade: MEARS A9. Based grade 5, 3 points for use, 2 points added for the sidewriting, minus ½ point for handle crack, and minus ½ point for some minor grain separation. Collection of MEARS Staff. LOA MEARS