August pickups

[Joe_G.]

Neat 19th century photo (I believe) of Iron Mountain, MI band and baseball team. I believe we are looking at a bunch of iron miners at leisure. Can anyone help me date this based on equipment/instruments?

[vintagesportscollector]

Joe, nice photo. Based on the wired mask with small pads, and Webless glove with some padding, I would say 1890 on the photo - give or take a couple years.

[eastonfalcon19]

Picked this Jim Gilliam GU M117 bat from the flea market this morning. The bat measures about 34.5 inches. Has some bat rack marks and a good amount of ball marks. Does anybody know if Jim used a M117 model?

[yanks12025]

Originally Posted by eastonfalcon19

Picked this Jim Gilliam GU M117 bat from the flea market this morning. The bat measures about 34.5 inches. Has some bat rack marks and a good amount of ball marks. Does anybody know if Jim used a M117 model?

What type of flea markets do you go to that they have game used bats every weekend. The only game used bat I've ever found at a flea market is a Jeff baker.

[eastonfalcon19]

Originally Posted by yanks12025

What type of flea markets do you go to that they have game used bats every weekend. The only game used bat I've ever found at a flea market is a Jeff baker.

Brock, lol it's a lot of luck. Trust me there is more junk than anything but I manage to find some good bats here and there.

[sayhey24]

Hi Ron,

Terrific flea market find!
Here's a previous post from Mike Specht, who has the bat records:

"M117 batsare among the earliest Gilliam bats shipped. They are fiund only in 1951 (35" / 32 oz.(first signature model) , 1952 (34.5" / 33 oz and 35"/ 32 oz). and 1953 (34.5" / 32 oz);

Gilliam's first ML game was 4/14/53, so any 35 inch M117 would be a Minor League bat (pre-rookie), and a 34.5 inch M117 could be from his last order in 1952 or his first order in 1953....

Interestingly, Gilliam never ordered that model again after early 1953."

If you can post a better photo of the center label, we can try to see if that bat was made in the 1951-53 period.

Greg

[eastonfalcon19]

Originally Posted by sayhey24

Hi Ron,

Terrific flea market find!
Here's a previous post from Mike Specht, who has the bat records:

"M117 batsare among the earliest Gilliam bats shipped. They are fiund only in 1951 (35" / 32 oz.(first signature model) , 1952 (34.5" / 33 oz and 35"/ 32 oz). and 1953 (34.5" / 32 oz);

Gilliam's first ML game was 4/14/53, so any 35 inch M117 would be a Minor League bat (pre-rookie), and a 34.5 inch M117 could be from his last order in 1952 or his first order in 1953....

Interestingly, Gilliam never ordered that model again after early 1953."

If you can post a better photo of the center label, we can try to see if that bat was made in the 1951-53 period.

Greg

Thanks Greg. Here is the picture of the center label. Let me know what you think.

Thanks,
Ron

[eastonfalcon19]

Got this in last week, I forgot to post it. I was looking to possibly get it restored. Has anybody ever had a picture like this restored? Any recommendations on companies that restore? I appreciate any help.

[sayhey24]

Hi Ron,

There are some very subtle flaws in the oval line itself of 1950s bats at 10 and 2 o'clock that can help determine specific years of 1950s bats, along with a couple of other things in the center oval. They are outlined in Vince Malta's LS reference book -- I just can't make them out in your photos.

Also, I think Vince and Mike Specht both explain that the more square the G in the word in Genuine on the barrel, the earlier in the 50s the bat was made. Your G is fairly round, more consistent with a later 50s bat.
These are such small nuances though, that it makes it hard to tell without examining the bat in person, and even then, it's still tough.

Greg

[murphusa]

Originally Posted by eastonfalcon19

Got this in last week, I forgot to post it. I was looking to possibly get it restored. Has anybody ever had a picture like this restored? Any recommendations on companies that restore? I appreciate any help.

One like this or maybe the same sold at auction last week for $300 with a Mickey c one for $255