This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/3/2012
Through advanced research, MEARS was able to establish Ty Cobb did both invent and use 40K cork gripped bats. Offered for auction in this lot is a Ty Cobb professional model H&B Louisville Slugger game used bat from the final years of his Hall of Fame career. This pre-model number stick features a signature model barrel, a H&B 40K 1921-31 period center brand and Kork Grip Patented Sep 15 1914 stamping.
This natural finished ash bat currently weighs 35 ounces, measures 33" in length (records list Cobb at 34" - 36") and matches recorded player specifications with a regular barrel and small knob. It exhibits signs of heavy use with ball marks, cleat marks, barrel swelling and dead wood. Handle remains uncracked, though the Kork Grip has been removed. Please note that although the cork is missing, the remnants of a criss cross tape pattern is visible. This is consistent with additional documented Ty Cobb bats examined by MEARS.
Cobb pre 1915 listing in MEARS Auction
http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=5560
Word about 40K bats by Troy R. Kinunen
http://www.mearsonline.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=395&cntnt01returnid=98
Ty Cobb and 40K bats by Dave Grob
http://www.mearsonline.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,print,0&cntnt01articleid=579&cntnt01showtemplate=false&cntnt01returnid=98
(S0458)