This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/2/2012
On April 16th, 1910, budding super star Eddie Collins signed his professional endorsement contract with Louisville Slugger. His facsimile signature would appear as part of the decal design and served for both personal and marketing identification.
Based on the bat’s design, it is similar to his H&B file card which notes, “His Model, a.k.a. His Old #1 Model – half round end”.
No lengths are recorded in his factory records during the 1911-16 era. This bat currently measures 32 ¾” and would have been considered a 33” length by the factory. This length is acceptable for a dead ball era bat and was a documented length of contemporaries of Collins.
Currently weighing 34 ounces, the weights are not listed in Collins’ bat records during 1911-16, but the weigh is consistent with both weights of the era and documented weights ordered by Collins later in his career.
Condition: The decal is still present, with 40% remaining. The end letters of “COLLINS” can be seen beneath his decal barrel portrait. The handle was once tape and the remnant of the staining is still visible. There is a chip on the knob. The bat exhibits heavy game use, with signs of chipping near the end.
Based on the era, documented use of decal bats in the major leagues, and the early specifications of this bat, MEARS grades this bat as “authentic” with respect to model, length, weight, dating, and use for the type of bat that would have been used by Eddie Collins during the era. (Z0314)
LOA Troy Kinunen / MEARS