War and Baseball

[jpop43]

WWI military/baseball memorabilia is a major focus area of our collection and one of our longest standing collecting interests. We are vintage equipment enthusiasts and collecting gloves, bats, balls, etc., marked for use by American servicemen during WWI has been of the most enjoyable, educational, historical, and challenging of hobby pursuits.

Although we have items pertaining to baseball during WWII, we really try to focus on the very high grade, professional model equipment that was widely sent to France by the YMCA and K of C and used by troops in 1918.

Given that the vast majority of such items were in fact shipped overseas, picking them up now, 93 years after the fact is always exciting.

I am adding some images of our WWI era baseball goods and would be very much interested in seeing what everyone else out there might have. We are very much interested in buying/trading for YMCA marked bats, balls, and gloves.

1. YMCA postcard dated 1918 on the reverse.
2. 1917 Spalding ONL Ball with Box.
3. WWi era Alex Taylor glove, Spalding Ball, and Louisville Slugger bat marked w/ YMCA.
4. Circa 1918 Louisville Slugger Indoor Bat stamped with the YMCA logo.

Thanks for the opportunity to post and share this niche in our collection,

Jonathan
www.dugouttreasures.com

[jpop43]

Over the years we have been fortunate enough to pick up several professional model, Louisville Slugger bats with significant endorsers that have been stamped with the YMCA logo. These bats are pro grade and were shipped right from the Louisville Slugger factory to the YMCA to the Lorraine sector of France in 1918. These YMCA stamped bats can be found with some of the most sought after endorsements to include Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, Joe Jackson, and Nap Lajoie among others.

Here are a couple of our YMCA bats….the first is a 36” pro model 125 Tris Speaker, the second a 36” Jake Daubert, and the third is a pro model 125 with no endorsement at all. Although I don’t yet have images of it, we just acquired a Spalding Autograph model endorsed by Bennie Kauff that is also marked with the YMCA stamp…the first Spalding bat that we’ve ever seen marked in this way and most definitely WWI era given the model of bat and player endorsement.

www.dugouttreasures.com

[jpop43]

Rounding out this portion of our collection is printed materials and photographic images of military ball teams dating back to the 19th century.

Attached are some Draper and Maynard sporting goods items that clearly support the WWI war effort, and image of a circa 1918 Reach “Liberty League” ball and glove, and two photos of ball teams from the 19th century…a USMC club and the 1893 US Military Academy team.

Additionally, here is one shot of some of our WWII related equipment and a recent war crossover collectible, a baseball signed by a unit from the 82nd Airborne Division that participated in the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

www.dugouttreasures.com

[ksfarmboy]

Great stuff everyone. Can't pin down a specific year on this bat but it was definitely around the WW1 time frame. This is one of my favorite bats. Weighing a whopping 55oz and the only one like it I've seen.

[Jantz]

I picked up this photo at the 2010 National. A T206 player & military related, had to have it.

Shag Shaughnessy (on horse) with the Canadian Artillery


Jantz

[sylbry]

Here is a Mel Ott and others signed Belgium note. The players/writer were on a USO tour during WW2, more specifically during the Battle of the Bulge. Purchased it from the son of the guy who originally obtained the signatures.

[smotan_02]

As a military guy, I love this thread