During the stretch of time this bat was manufactured and would have been available for Ty Cobb to use while playing with the Detroit Tigers, he swatted an amazing 1,118 career base hits, or slightly better than 25% of his career base hits total of 4,191.
Carefully evaluated by the expert staff of MEARS, this bat dates to the 1916-21 dating period, measures a documented 34” in length, falls within the weight range (37 ounces) of bats ordered by Cobb during his career, and is the exact model (C28) preferred by Ty Cobb.
Regarding the game use, there are several use traits consistent with documented game used bats that have entered the hobby and have been professionally authenticated. For example, MEARS had the honor of handling the Lake Oscwana Ty Cobb bat,
http://sports.mearsonlineauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=36569
This bat is very key when evaluating Ty Cobb use as we know that it was last/only used by Ty Cobb and serves as a great reference to determine Ty Cobb use traits.
Evaluated by both MEARS & PSA/DNA, the following player use traits are found on the Lake Oscwana bat and this examined bat, MEARS #312982:
Ty Cobb Lake Oscwana Bat (MEARS/PSA notes)
Model: C28
Checking: Checking (grain swelling) from repeated ball contact that has been repaired with seven nails, is visible on the back barrel.
Handle Description: A handle crack was originally present, but was professionally restored in an attempt to stop further separation of this historic bat. This slight crack may have been why this particular bat was seen by Cobb as a candidate for gifting.
Use: Many ball marks are visible on the left and back barrel. In addition to the signature.
Tobacco Juice: a dark residue resembling tobacco juice
MEARS #312982 1916-21 Ty Cobb Bat (MEARS/PSA notes)
Model: C28
Checking: Some checking is visible on the back barrel with a small sliver missing from checking. The checking has been repaired with nails.
Handle Description: Handle Description: the bat shows evidence of heavy use with a handle crack
Use: Many ball marks are visible on the right, left, and back barrel.
Tobacco Juice: a dark residue resembling tobacco juice is present on the handle and barrel of bat. Although not scientifically tested, the substance resembles either tobacco juice or resin.
Evaluated by both PSA/DNA and MEARS, this bat had several game use traits that were consistent with this examined bat (MEARS #312982) and the Lake Oscwana Ty Cobb bat, which was graded an 9.5 by both authentication companies and served as an undisputable reference with respect to game use traits. The remainder of the evaluation continues:
Dating: Per the Official MEARS Bat Centerbrand Dating index, we date this bat based on the manufacturing of the centerbrand to the 1916-21 era.
Length: (34”): Measuring 34”, this bat is consistent with the undated tool room diagram requesting Ty Cobb bats to be manufactured at 34”. Additional examples to support 34” as a length for Cobb bats include:
(34”) 1915 TY COBB DETROIT TIGERS LOUISVILLE SLUGGER PROFESSIONAL MODEL GAME USED BAT (MEARS A7)
(34”) 1923-25 Ty Cobb Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat,
http://catalog.greyflannelauctions.com/lot-20865.aspx MEARS A7.5, PSA/DNA letter, No Grade
There are no records of professional model bats being ordered by other players than the endorsee on the barrel during the 1916-21 era. There are no records of team index bat or promotional bats being ordered by players other than the endorsee on the barrel during the 1916-21 era. Therefore, it is my opinion that this Ty Cobb professional model endorsed bat was ordered for Ty Cobb during the 1916-21 era, and there are no known records, documents, photographs, or eye witness accounts to dispute that fact. Therefore, this 34” signature model Ty Cobb bat is an acceptable length for Ty Cobb to have used during the 1916-21 era.
Weight 37 ounces: Currently weighing 37 ounces, this bat falls within the documented range of 36-42 ounce bat orders requested by Cobb throughout his career.
Game Use: Bat exhibits heavy game use, ball marks on right, left, and back of barrel. Reverse barrel exhibits checking and has been repaired by period with (2) ball boy nails (1 ½” x 9” area on reverse barrel, outer layer of grain).
“Ball Boy” nails are the common term for the practice of repairing barrel and handles during the era. The type of nail found on this bat is consistent with period examples examined by MEARS.
A pine tar like substance (resin) can be found on the handle. Handle has been cracked and follows four layers of the grain. (6” x 5” area forms the H crack). No major separation of the handle grain, and a very small 2” piece missing near the area of the crack.
Side Writing: Bat is side written “Boros”. The bat was returned to the H&B factory by a player, team or organization related to the name Boros. The exact identify remains unknown.
Bat expert John Taube of PSA/DNA has reviewed the bat and noted the following:
“Hillerich & Bradsby pre model Ty Cobb pro stock model bat exhibits evidence of heavy use with a handle crack. Some checking is visible on the back barrel with a small sliver missing from checking. The checking has been repaired with nails. Many ball marks are visible on the right, left, and back barrel. Remnants of a shipping label can be seen on the barrel and there is a moderate coat pine tar on handle. …original side writing is no longer visible. Very faint, is what appears to be “Boros”. This would have no application to Ty Cobb…”. Taube goes on to state “the length of the bat at 34 inches does not conform to the ordered length for Cobb, as they appear on his Professional Bat Ordering Records.”
With respect to the 34” length, it is the professional opinion of MEARS that the bat is within the documented range of Ty Cobb professional model bats. According to the book, “A Crack of the bat” a history of Louisville Slugger, a factory production personal player information card list Ty Cobb as ordering 34” bat. The card lists length only, 34”. Based on this documentation, Louisville Slugger archived Ty Cobb’s bat records at 34”, thus documenting this as an acceptable length.
It is my professional belief that the length of 34” is acceptable for Ty Cobb during the 1916-21 labeling period. This belief is supported by the lack of recorded lengths associated with Ty Cobb during this 1916-21 era. To support this, I referenced the book, “A Complete Guide to Louisville Slugger Professional Player Bats by Vince Malta”. During the period of 1916-1919, no lengths are recorded for Ty Cobb. For the time span of 1920-21, there are 4 orders recorded at 34.5”.
We also know that Ty Cobb used longer bats. This position is supported by the article written by Dave Grob, In the article, (July 2007) Ty Cobb Bats and the Use of Imagery Analysis by Dave Grob
http://www.mearsonline.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,print,0&cntnt01articleid=300&cntnt01showtemplate=false&cntnt01returnid=98
Grob illustrated the fact that Cobb used bats longer than the commonly accepted 34.5” length. The evidence of the available 34” tool room diagram and Grob’s use of imagery analysis documents the fact that Ty Cobb bat lengths ranged from 34” to 35”+.
Lack of Tape: Additionally, in the instance of this bat, the lack of handle tape is consistent with images of Ty Cobb during the 1916-21 era. Although he is often photographed using tape, the practice became a lot more common place during the 1920s. Included are several images of Cobb from the era holding a bat that did not include handle tape. The lack of tape is consistent this examined bat.
Side Writing: The name “Boros” appears on the barrel of this bat in factory applied grease pencil. Remnants of a return label are visible, but no writing is readable. MEARS was not able to determine what “Boros” represented. The presence of the side written name calls into question whether or not and to what degree the game use on the bat may have been applied by someone other than Ty Cobb.
It is impossible for MEARS to make that determination as to whether if any use or to what degree the amount of game use including the crack may have been added by another player. For the point of illustrating an example, Ty Cobb may have cracked the bat and the gifted it to someone else who decided to return the bat to Louisville Slugger for additional bats to be supplied. Or, Ty Cobb may have gifted the bat to another player and the crack may have occurred while that person was the caretaker.
Based on our examination of the length, weight, model, checking, repair, handle crack, degree/traits of use, and the presence of neat’s foot oil and tobacco juice, MEARS is confident to state this bat it is our professional opinion that the majority of game use is consistent with what you would expect to find on a Ty Cobb game used bat.
Final Grade (MEARS A6): A base grade of 5 points was assigned for bat being consistent with respect to model, length, weight range for Ty Cobb bats during the era. 3 points were assigned for heavy game use. Minus 2 points for handle crack and unidentified side writing on barrel (Boros). (78F0503)
LOA Troy Kinunen / MEARS