Tris Speaker Horace Partridge World’s Champion Bat
 

Looking for more information/discussion on this insanely beautiful Tris Speaker model bat.

I am a moderate Red Sox bat collector but not super knowledgeable about pre-Depression bats. Acquiring a Horace Partridge bat has been a want of mine for years.

I assume this is a 00TS Tris Speaker model bat from circa 1910-1915, which is documented in a 1918 Horace Partridge catalogue but this center brand lettering is older than the 1918 model. I assume the amazingly preserved decal points it to the early to mid 1910s as well.

What makes this bat special and curious and worth discussion is I can’t find either:

1) the World’s Championship decal in this style on any other HP bat

2) the extra ‘Partridge Boston’ engraved in between the center and decal on any other HP bat

There has been 2 public sales listed of a different HP decal: ‘World’s Championship Bat’ in a red/black scheme, one of which had ‘Speaker’ stamped on the knob but those were listed at 32-33 inches.

This bat is a full 35 inches, which according to the Vince Malta book and prior sales, Speaker historically used a 34.75 to 35 inch bat. Not suggesting it was used by Speaker but it appears to have been used pretty well despite the nearly pristine decal.

According to Malta/Taube et al there appears to be historical precedent from the era with Honus Wagner using a decal bat which was sold as game used on Heritage in 2004/2015.

This bat was somebody’s baby and preserved amazingly well. I am wondering if the decal denotes a special World Series presentation bat given to a player or executive of Horace Partridge, but as I mentioned, it appears to have been used in games.

Any long time experts ever see anything like this before? It’s not for sale, just curious to know what I have. Thanks!

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It's beautiful

I agree. Great looking bat. This type of bat is a little out of my wheel house.
I see the knob says "TS". I don't see Speaker's name on the barrel. Is this type of player bat on IDed on the knob?

Gary, it might be hard to see in my picture but below the center Horace Partridge branding is model number ‘00’.

it is my understanding that Horace Partridge offered the ‘00’ model of bat for a number of years in the 1910s, and as seen below in a 1918 catalogue, Tris Speaker’s model is 00TS.

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Apologies, but : Harold Janvrin, the well-known Red Sox slugger?

Doug,

I think they misspelled Babe Ruth as Harold Janvrin.

David

Thanks for the ad.

I was able to weigh the bat and it came to 36 ounces. Considering the date of the bat and Speaker’s records indicating he never used bats under 37 ounces until his post-playing career (and 40+ oz pre-1920) I can rule out (however unlikely it was in the first place) specific game use, at least by Speaker. There are clear indicators of period use IMO including what appears to be cleat marks.

Still I am fascinated by the markings on this bat. After more research I found exactly one example each of the engraved ‘Partridge Boston’ label and the World’s Championship decal, both on Louisville Slugger bats:

The ‘Partridge Boston’ engraving is found on this Eddie Collins LS 40 E.C. model decal bat:

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Meanwhile the World’s Championship decal is found on a period LS 14 inch mini bat, leading me to think the decal logo was used for a very specific event/series and possibly sold or given away as a souvenir:

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Again, welcome to any input longtime bat collectors may have! Thanks, Matt

The Eddie Collins Bat you showed is a retail model. The Speaker is most likely a retail bat as well (probably not used by Speaker).

BUT.... don't rule it out just because of the weight. Bats (especially ones this old) can "lose weight" over time as the age and dry out. It's quite possible that your 36 oz. bat was originally 38-40 oz.

Very cool and attractive bat, regardless.