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HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: Ted ZanidakisAs most of you know the Cincinnati Red Stockings were the first Major League team. In 1869 they were undefeated in all 21 games. To honor their home team, the Cincinnati Lumber Company crafted a 27-ft long bat with the inscriptions of the "First Nine" players. This Harper's Weekly original print is exactly 139 years old and is in fantastic condition. <img src="http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd339/tz1234zaz/aharrywrightbigbat.jpg"> <img src="http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd339/tz1234zaz/aharpersweekly7241869.jpg"> I discovered this "goodie" in a small Antique shop in South Jersey......and, wanted to share it with you. And, who says you can't find Vintage BB stuff in an antique store, anymore ? TED Z

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: DMcDVery interesting item, Ted Z. Couldn't find much on the internet besides this chronology of the 1869 season in which the Big Bat is mentioned: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6rxoef" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/6rxoef</a> . Gotta wonder where that bat ended up.

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: SteveNice item, I like it! Steve

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: peter ullmangreat article, Ted. I'm sure I've heard the story of that bat before. I doubt survived, eh?!

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: barrysloateNo, the bat has never been found, and it's too big to misplace. It is certainly gone.

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: Jeff S.The bat was probably used in the construction of a nearby building. Just a guess, but I've seen odder objects recycled into 19th century architecture.

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: JimBCool story. JimB

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: Ted ZanidakisWOW.....in all your research on Harry Wright, you have not found even a hint of what happened to this "Paul Bunyan size" bat ? Very, very interesting ? ? TED Z

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: barrysloateTed- Mark Rucker and I have talked about the bat, and neither of us, nor anyone else we know, has ever heard of its whereabouts. And it's so big, you can't really lose it. If it still existed we would know about it.

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: Andrew S.Just imagine what the bat would bring at auction today.

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: Jodi BirkholmI am enitrely in agreement with Jeff's postulation. It was likely used as some sort of structural support.

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: MattAndrew - imagine the shipping cost!

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: Ted ZanidakisHey guys and gals......there are several interesting articles on the back of this Harper's Weekly woodcut; and, one that I find quite relevant to our times regarding the "energy" debate. Then, 140 years ago, the discussion revolved around the viability of Steam-powered vehicles. In 1869, there were some prototype steam-powered farm equipment (plows, tractors, etc.), but it wasn't until 30 years later that the Stanley Steamer Co. started producing comercially available automobiles. Anyhow, I thought that this article would be of interest to some of you. This colorful woodcut is in Ex+ condition and professionally matted. So, who can tell me what the value of this vintage pix is ? TED Z

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: barrysloateMost baseball woodcuts sell in the $25-35 range, but this one is considered a little more desirable, perhaps $50.

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: Ted ZanidakisBARRY "Perhaps $50.".....is $5 more than I paid for it.....so, I'm very happy with this purchase. I should be, it's the oldest vintage BB piece in my collection. Thanks, TED Z

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: Ted ZanidakisLet's see some more of these vintage BB related woodcuts. TED Z

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: Doug GoodmanHere are a bunch of mine : 10/15/59English Cricketeers - The Eleven of England <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers1.jpg"> 03/23/61Abner Doubleday is bottom left in this picture of soldiers at Ft Sumter <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers2.jpg"> 11/18/65BB Match between Athletica and Atlantics <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers3.jpg"> 11/25/65Champion Nine Atlantic BBC of Brooklyn <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers4.jpg"> 11/03/66Brooklyn Atlantics vs Phil. Athletics / Champ 9 of Atlantic BBC <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers5.jpg"> 10/26/67Champion Nine - Union Club - Morrisania NY <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers6.jpg"> 10/03/68More Cricket players <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers7.jpg"> 07/03/69Picked Nine of Red Stocking Club of Cincinnati Ohio <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers8.jpg"> 07/24/69Presentation Of Championship Bat to Red Stockings <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers9.jpg"> 06/27/74International Baseball - The Boston Champions <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers10.jpg"> 09/05/74Base-Ball in England Red Stocking vs Athletics <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers11.jpg"> 09/12/74Maple Leaf BBC <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers12.jpg"> 09/12/74Match of Red Stockings and Athletics <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers13.jpg"> 07/27/78BB at Blackville - 1st blood for Black Legs <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers14.jpg"> 05/14/81Princeton College BB Nine <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers15.jpg"> 10/14/82The Chicago BBC <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers16.jpg"> 05/12/83The New BB Grounds at Chicago <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers17.jpg"> 10/13/83BB Champions of 1883 / Boston BBC <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers18.jpg"> 01/26/84Base-Ball on Skates, Washington Park, Brooklyn <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers19.jpg"> 08/22/85The Winning Run, How is it Umpire? <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers20.jpg"> 10/17/85Chicago BBC w/Anson & Kelly (1/2 page) <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers21.jpg"> 05/08/86A Double Play- First League Game (NY vs Bos) <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers22.jpg"> 05/15/86New Metropolitan BB Grounds on Staten Island <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers23.jpg"> 07/28/88A Ball or a Strike, Which? <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers24.jpg"> 10/20/88Winning Battery of NY Team - Keefe & Ewing <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers25.jpg"> 10/27/882 Popular St Louis Players - Comiskey & Latham <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers26.jpg"> 01/12/89Farmer Stebbins at the Bat <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers27.jpg"> 04/27/89The 1st League Game of Base-Ball of the Season <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers28.jpg"> 06/08/89Injured (I can't read the cartoon caption in my scan, and I'm not home to check it) <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers29.jpg"> 11/09/89William 'Buck' Ewing - Captain of NY Club <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers30.jpg"> 08/30/90A Strictly Amateur Nine (cartoon) <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers31.jpg"> 04/18/91The Social Ball Rolls Out as the National Game Comes In <img src="http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq169/drg31415/harpers32.jpg">

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: barrysloateDoug- which team is in the very first woodcut? I don't recognize it.

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: Ted ZanidakisDOUG Thanks much for sharing with us your gallery of woodcuts. Observe the following cover of the 1889 Goodwin Champions Album....it is the same as one of your Harper's woodcuts. Do you have a date on this particular pix ? <img src="http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd339/tz1234zaz/A36cover.jpg"> Thanks again, TED Z

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: doug goodmanBarry - That first picture is titled "The English Crickers - The Eleven of All England", it's from the October 16, 1959 issue of Harpers. Slightly off topic, I suppose, but still a cool item. Ted - The woodcut is dated May 8, 1886 and titled "A Double Play - First League Game, New York against Boston, April 29".

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: doug goodmanI have added dates and captions to the pictures in my previous post.

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: barrysloateThanks Doug. I suspected it was cricket, and back then a lot of the ballplayers participated in both baseball and cricket.

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: Jason Lperhaps we have found the long lost Big Bat?!?!?!? <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: T206CollectorTed, Can you tell when/whether color was added to your Harper's Woodcut? Like one of the posters above, I too have that cut, but it is in black & white. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Visit <a href="http://www.t206collector.com" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.t206collector.com</a> for signed deadball card galleries, articles and more!

HARRY WRIGHT's "Big-Big Bat"....Harper's 1869 artwork

Posted By: barrysloateIt's been hand colored. Harper's were issued in black and white.