My Josh Gibson Bat at Cooperstown

[aljurgela]

Some of you may know that i have lent three bats to the HOF in Cooperstown... those of Martin DiHigo and Pete Hill can be seen in the Sole of Game exhibit and the Josh Gibson bat can be seen in the Negro League case. Here are a couple of pictures.

[Hankphenom]

Talk about "museum quality!"

[quitcrab]

Wow that’s awesome !

[parker1b2]

Awesome!!

[GaryPassamonte]

That is off the charts, Al. Who is the maker of the Gibson bat?

[SyrNy1960]

Great pieces, Awesome display ⚾️

[bgar3]

Great bat and thank you Al

[Lorewalker]

Wow!

[aljurgela]

Hope that some of you can see it in person in Cooperstown...

You can see closer pictures here:

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6021547

And the original auction write up....

JOSH GIBSON PROFESSIONAL MODEL BAT
A Spalding, Model Number 300 bat dating from the 1935 labeling period with the name J. GIBSON emblazoned upon the barrel. Exhibits outstanding use with a crack from the handle to the barrel that has been repaired with five small nails, slight checking (grain swelling) from repeated ball contact on the back barrel, many ball marks on the right and back barrel, and cleat marks on the handle. The bat also shows evidence of having been factory side written 39 oz W.A. Greenlee 5-8-35 Negro Natl League Pittsburgh PA and Greenlee Negro Natl League Pittsburgh pa 5-6. During the first half of the 20th Century, it was commonplace for players to send a preferred model bat back to the factory to request models of the same type. Once at the factory, it would be planed and inscribed with the length, weight, player’s name, date received and team affiliation. The Greenlee referred to on the side written bat is Gus Greenlee, owner of the Pittsburgh Crawfords for whom Josh Gibson famously played. As team owner, it is assumed he took responsibility for ordering additional bats for his players. Legendary Negro League slugger and Hall of Famer Josh Gibson (1911-1947) played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords from 1932-36, during the labeling period of the offered bat. Authenticated and graded by PSA/DNA GU 9.

[aljurgela]

Hope that some of you can see it in person in Cooperstown...

You can see closer pictures here:

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6021547

And the original auction write up....

JOSH GIBSON PROFESSIONAL MODEL BAT
A Spalding, Model Number 300 bat dating from the 1935 labeling period with the name J. GIBSON emblazoned upon the barrel. Exhibits outstanding use with a crack from the handle to the barrel that has been repaired with five small nails, slight checking (grain swelling) from repeated ball contact on the back barrel, many ball marks on the right and back barrel, and cleat marks on the handle. The bat also shows evidence of having been factory side written 39 oz W.A. Greenlee 5-8-35 Negro Natl League Pittsburgh PA and Greenlee Negro Natl League Pittsburgh pa 5-6. During the first half of the 20th Century, it was commonplace for players to send a preferred model bat back to the factory to request models of the same type. Once at the factory, it would be planed and inscribed with the length, weight, player’s name, date received and team affiliation. The Greenlee referred to on the side written bat is Gus Greenlee, owner of the Pittsburgh Crawfords for whom Josh Gibson famously played. As team owner, it is assumed he took responsibility for ordering additional bats for his players. Legendary Negro League slugger and Hall of Famer Josh Gibson (1911-1947) played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords from 1932-36, during the labeling period of the offered bat. Authenticated and graded by PSA/DNA GU 9.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by aljurgela

Hope that some of you can see it in person in Cooperstown...

You can see closer pictures here:

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6021547

And the original auction write up....

JOSH GIBSON PROFESSIONAL MODEL BAT
A Spalding, Model Number 300 bat dating from the 1935 labeling period with the name J. GIBSON emblazoned upon the barrel. Exhibits outstanding use with a crack from the handle to the barrel that has been repaired with five small nails, slight checking (grain swelling) from repeated ball contact on the back barrel, many ball marks on the right and back barrel, and cleat marks on the handle. The bat also shows evidence of having been factory side written 39 oz W.A. Greenlee 5-8-35 Negro Natl League Pittsburgh PA and Greenlee Negro Natl League Pittsburgh pa 5-6. During the first half of the 20th Century, it was commonplace for players to send a preferred model bat back to the factory to request models of the same type. Once at the factory, it would be planed and inscribed with the length, weight, player’s name, date received and team affiliation. The Greenlee referred to on the side written bat is Gus Greenlee, owner of the Pittsburgh Crawfords for whom Josh Gibson famously played. As team owner, it is assumed he took responsibility for ordering additional bats for his players. Legendary Negro League slugger and Hall of Famer Josh Gibson (1911-1947) played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords from 1932-36, during the labeling period of the offered bat. Authenticated and graded by PSA/DNA GU 9.

Thanks for this and the photo of the HOF exhibit. The bat and the other items included are all fantastic!

[tippedfinger]

That bat is pretty awesome -- only other one I've ever seen is/was in Platt's collection (he owns Gibson's team jacket in the other thread). I think the Gibson family might have one remaining as well (they famously sold one a couple decades back to Topps that got chopped up. Pains me to write that.)

The Leonard Grays cap matches one I have in my collection.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by tippedfinger

That bat is pretty awesome -- only other one I've ever seen is/was in Platt's collection (he owns Gibson's team jacket in the other thread). I think the Gibson family might have one remaining as well (they famously sold one a couple decades back to Topps that got chopped up. Pains me to write that.)

The Leonard Grays cap matches one I have in my collection.

That’s a great cap. The Leonard cap in the HOF display really stood out to me because one of my great baseball thrills was meeting him in the ‘80s. What a thrill. So cool to see your Grays cap, too. Is the bat in your photo game used?

[tippedfinger]

Yes, the bat was Jasper Washington's, who played for some of the early Grays teams in the 20's / 30's.

[Fandom0610]

Originally Posted by aljurgela

hope that some of you can see it in person in cooperstown...

You can see closer pictures here:

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6021547

and the original auction write up....

Josh gibson professional model bat
a spalding, model number 300 bat dating from the 1935 labeling period with the name j. Gibson emblazoned upon the barrel. Exhibits outstanding use with a crack from the handle to the barrel that has been repaired with five small nails, slight checking (grain swelling) from repeated ball contact on the back barrel, many ball marks on the right and back barrel, and cleat marks on the handle. The bat also shows evidence of having been factory side written 39 oz w.a. Greenlee 5-8-35 negro natl league pittsburgh pa and greenlee negro natl league pittsburgh pa 5-6. During the first half of the 20th century, it was commonplace for players to send a preferred model bat back to the factory to request models of the same type. Once at the factory, it would be planed and inscribed with the length, weight, player’s name, date received and team affiliation. The greenlee referred to on the side written bat is gus greenlee, owner of the pittsburgh crawfords for whom josh gibson famously played. As team owner, it is assumed he took responsibility for ordering additional bats for his players. Legendary negro league slugger and hall of famer josh gibson (1911-1947) played for the pittsburgh crawfords from 1932-36, during the labeling period of the offered bat. Authenticated and graded by psa/dna gu 9.

wow!!!!

[ruth-gehrig]

Mercy mercy mercy!!

[ezez420]

Amazing piece!


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[aljurgela]

Originally Posted by tippedfinger

That bat is pretty awesome -- only other one I've ever seen is/was in Platt's collection (he owns Gibson's team jacket in the other thread). I think the Gibson family might have one remaining as well (they famously sold one a couple decades back to Topps that got chopped up. Pains me to write that.)

The Leonard Grays cap matches one I have in my collection.

Very cool cap! Love it! There is so little stuff of these great Negro League times out there!

Al

[Snapolit1]

Amazing is the only word that comes to mind.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by aljurgela

Very cool cap! Love it! There is so little stuff of these great Negro League times out there!

Al

With respect to bats, my understanding is that there are so few we can confidently say are game used largely because only a small percentage of bats used in the Negro League were stamped with anything linking them to a player, team, or the league itself. At least that’s what I’ve been told.

[bleeckerstreetcards]

Originally Posted by tippedfinger

I think the Gibson family might have one remaining as well (they famously sold one a couple decades back to Topps that got chopped up. Pains me to write that.)

I’m working on piecing that one back together. Jaw dropping stuff as always Al.










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[D. Bergin]

Very cool. I was there back in March. I took some pictures of the Negro League display but I don't see that one on my phone. I assume I saw it if it was on display at that time and just shook my head in amazement. Just so much stuff to get lost in, and you look like a weirdo if you take pictures of everything.

[robw1959]

Originally Posted by icollectDCsports

That’s a great cap. The Leonard cap in the HOF display really stood out to me because one of my great baseball thrills was meeting him in the ‘80s. What a thrill. So cool to see your Grays cap, too. Is the bat in your photo game used?

If you're referring to the great Buck Leonard, I agree, although I probably didn't appreciate the thrill of getting to meet him as much as I should have. It was at Cooperstown during his inauguration in 1973, but I was just a 13-year-old kid at the time. I did get autographs of each of those guys on a ball, and then I played with the ball until they all faded away! What a dumb kid I was.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by robw1959

If you're referring to the great Buck Leonard, I agree, although I probably didn't appreciate the thrill of getting to meet him as much as I should have. It was at Cooperstown during his inauguration in 1973, but I was just a 13-year-old kid at the time. I did get autographs of each of those guys on a ball, and then I played with the ball until they all faded away! What a dumb kid I was.

At least you still have the great memories. He signed an index card for me. I do still have it.