Hi Gary, below is the article that describes the 1888 NY Giants trophy bats.
Eighteen bats were made "as to weight according to the individual preferences of the ball-players", one for each player "under contract with the team at present."
"They are made of the best second-growth ash, and one of the sort known as the Spalding wagon tongue."
"Just above the handle of each bat, across a gilded disk, is inscribed the name of the Giant who will handle it."
They are described as "the finest specimens of serviceable, as well as ornamental, bat sticks ever seen on the diamond."
They came with a "handsome bat-bag made of the finest embossed leather in the market," with an inscription on a plate of silver:
"Presented to the Giants through THE EVENING WORLD, From 1,000 Admirers, 1888."
It would be amazing to see one of these personalized bats and bat bags - if any survived to the present day.
Giant players receiving bats, and their bat weight:
42 ounces
Jim O'Rourke
Roger Connor
40 ounces
Bill Brown
Buck Ewing
38 ounces
John Montgomery Ward
Mike Tiernan
George Gore
37 ounces
Danny Richardson
Gil Hatfield
Tim Keefe
George 'Stump' Weidman
Pat Murphy
36 ounces
Mike Slattery
Elmer Foster
Arthur Whitney
34 ounces
Ed Crane
Mickey Welch
Ledell Titcomb
October 2, 1888, Evening World (NY)
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