Need Help With Early 1900s Pro Model Bat

[baseball tourist]

Originally Posted by Bpm0014

Decal store bat, not a pro bat

Thanks for the info. Are you 100% certain? There are shipping label remnants, and the name "Bays" stamped into it. I cannot find a "Bays" that played in the majors; why would he have a store model bat?

Perhaps it was used by a player in a town team or semi-pro league because it was pro size an quality but not as expensive and he self-stamped it for prestige/denoting ownership? Haven't seen a bat stamped on the knob end with a players last name before.

[Bugsy]

I've seen really old (early 1900s) Hillerich vault bats with names stamped into the knobs.

[murphusa]

The Green Bay Bays played in the Wisconsin Illinois league from 1909 to 1911.
The bat logo is that of a local Chicago sporting goods store. The bay's stamp was most likely placed on the bat by the team

Still a store bat and not professional wood.

[Bpm0014]

Great Jim. Awesome info. Thanks again.

[vintagesportscollector]

The Chicago Sporting Goods MFG. Co was a large manufacturer in the 1910s. They had a reach that extended well beyond the local Chicago area. One of their brands was "Ratsch-Peerless". They were also well know for uniforms and a major supplier for leagues. In 1919 the Thos E Wilson Co. (would become Wilson) bought the Chicago Sport Goods Co.