MEARS Auction #23, Ends February 26th, 2011, 9:00 CST, w/ 15-Minute Rule

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Lot #1346:

1850's Flat Sided Baseball Bat - An Excellent Example of the Earliest Style of American Baseball Bat Known (MEARS Auction LOA)

"In 1859, the first rule was made regarding the size of the baseball bat. The rule prescribed the allowable width of the bat, 2.5 inches in diameter, but no length was prescribed. In 1869, another rule was made to restrict the length of the bat to 42 inches (the same maximum length allowed today). Even though there was no rule regarding the shape of the bats, most of the players used bats with flat surfaces. Baseball underwent several developments during the succeeding years. In 1890, a committee made a rule concerning the shape of the bat; the rule suggested the round shape of the bat and fixed the diameter to 2.75 inches at the end." That is a direct quote from the history of the baseball bat. These are often referred to as Town Ball Bats but under the Massachusetts rules, a round bat was required. These bats were usually hand made from Axe handles and a knob was carved to prevent the bat from slipping from the hand. This bat dates to the earliest period of baseball in American as we know it. It evolved from Rounders but as played in America, it was referred to as Town Ball and there were different sets of rules usually named after the city or area in which it was played such as New York rules, Massachusetts rules, etc.

This bat is a superb example of the type of bat used to play baseball in American before and right after the Civil War. It measures 32" in length and weighs 24.2 oz. It is obviously hand carved and probably did originate from an Axe handle. The knob is a sort of swelled devise and the hitting surface on both sides is flat, the type preferred in the 1850's. It has a great primitive looks with excellent patina and is all original as made over 150 years ago with no evidence of any tampering or reshaping. There is some scoring on the one flat top / bottom and some darkening of the surface for about 2" from the end of the barrel. It remains uncracked with no discernable dead wood, only centuries of patina and long ago use.

A1479

(MEARS Auction LOA)