Referred to as “the Black Babe Ruth”, Mule Suttles is listed by some historians as the all-time Negro League home run leader with 237 round trippers- a title often, but incorrectly attributed to Josh Gibson.
This bat originated directly from the archives of Louisville Slugger, as evidenced by the side writing, the practice where H&B factory workers applied the name of the player that had returned the bat to the factory so that additional orders could be placed. Suttles name does not appear marked on the bat by the factory, only his teams name, “NEWARK EAGLES”.
This practice of the Negro League “team name only” placed on the barrel was documented in an interview with Buck O’Neil. Segregation was evident in the practice of supplying Negro League teams with equipment, as Louisville Slugger did not allow players to have their names branded on the bats like their Caucasian counterparts. This is the only Suttles bat known in the hobby, and as the Negro League home run champion, the sky is the limit as to the value. Babe Ruth bats typically sell in the $100,000+ range, with dozens of known examples. As a one of a kind item, one can only imagine the real value of this bat.
Offered is one of the rarest bats that MEARS has ever had the privilege to sell.The bat is an H&B bat with Newark Eagles stamped on the barrel end where the traditional player’s name would appear. The bat was used and then returned to the H&B factory where it was logged in by Henry Morrow as evidenced by the easily read side writing that reads as follows: ___ (weight) Geo. Mule Suttles 7-3-37 Ne. In addition , the bat was then vault marked for future usage as the model S128 or the 128th different dimensions measured for a bat from a player whose last name began with S i.e. Suttles.
In checking with the Louisville Slugger shipping records for Mule Suttles (yes, we have them), it is recorded as follows: 7-3-37 Newark Eagles on end, S128, Model sent in 33 (shipping weight), A2 (two bats in next order that used this bat as a model). Another interesting note is that in all of Mule’s shipping records, no bats are recorded as having been sent with his name on barrel, rather the order reads Medwick, Hornsby (Ruth Knob) and Devega City Radio. Clearly, it was not the policy of H&B at the time to make bats for players in the Negro leagues with their names stamped on end. (although a few block letter last name only Negro league gamers do exist such as Oscar Charleston)
The bat measures 37” in length (yes, you read it right) and weighs 31.7 oz currently. The bat exhibits significant game use with a 10” handle crack (closed H style), numerous cleat marks on the bottom of the barrel, some scoring on both sides of the bat and a bit of grain separation on the back. The factory stamps are deep and the overall finish is spectacular. The final grade for this rare Negro league star is an A9.5 having garnered 5 base points, 3 use points, 2 points for the factory side writing and vault marks with only a half point deducted from a perfect 10 score due to the light deadwood on back from heavy game use.
Suttles career in the Negro leagues spans from 1918 through 1944 having played for over nine different teams. His stint with the Eagles ran from 1936-44 (he was with the New York Black Yankees in 1941 and part of 1942). The Negro league encyclopedia touts him as a power hitter who swung for distance. Stories abound such as the time Suttles hit three home runs in a row against the Memphis Red Sox and on his next at bat, the entire team walked off the field or the time he hit one out of the park at Griffith stadium.
Suttles became part of the Eagles “million dollar infield” (he played first) in 1936 where he batted .396 for the season with 36 dingers. He batted .420 in 1938, possibly with another bat made from this example. He also became player manager for the Eagles in 1943.
You could count on one hand the number of documented Negro league game used bats and to find one of such a celebrated and well known player may be a once in a lifetime opportunity.