Auction Item Details
Lot 32
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Lot Number: 32
Description: Significant Jim Thorpe professional model baseball bat c.1917-20. L.Slugger 125 dash-dot-dash model bat measures 35 1/2" long and weighs 41.5oz with early H&B Louisville Slugger centerbrand and "Jim Thorpe" facs. signature stamping. Bat has excellent usage wear including 2 1/4" of period black handle tape, ball markings on barrel, and two small finish nails on the barrel at an small area of deadwood. Thorpe was signed by John McGraw of the New York Giants in 1913 shortly after Thorpe had dominated the 1912 Olympics but had to return his gold medals due to a semi-professional baseball contract that he had signed before the games. Thorpe was mainly a gate attraction during his six year Major League career but did manage to bat over .300 in the last two years of his career. The importance of Thorpe to American sports cannot be overstated especially noting his success even in the face of significant social hurdles of the era such as his American Indian heritage. The bat was obtained by the owner of several shoe stores in Ohio where Jim Thorpe and his football teammates with Carlisle would frequent. According to the family history Thorpe believed that "cobbler's" nails were the best for repairing baseball bats and that this very bat was in fact repaired in the Ohio shoe store. The offered bat is the only known example from Thorpe's short lived Major League career and is consistent with Hillerich & Bradsby factory records. Simply incredible piece with relation to the greatest pure athlete in sports history. Includes LOA from SCD Authentic D.Bushing/D.Knoll and a notarized letter of provenance from the family of the shoe store owner: EX
Estimated Price: ($75,000.00-$100,000.00)
