Best-In-Class
1926 Rogers Hornsby Game-Used/Factory Side-Written Bat PSA/DNA GU 10. . ...
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Description
1926 Rogers Hornsby Game-Used/Factory Side-Written Bat PSA/DNA GU 10.
Best-In-Class Expert Analysis/Summary:
This Rogers Hornsby bat, which dates near the mid-point of his active playing career in 1926, is one of the most aesthetically attractive gamers a collector could hope for from the period. To begin with, this Hornsby gamer exhibits significant use and features a key player characteristic for the legendary hitter. The handle retains residue from the spiral taping application Hornsby would frequently employ to enhance his grip. Taped Hornsby bats can be seen in numerous images from the period. Furthermore, the bat, which showcases a beautiful patina, has what appears to be a glossy finish on the barrel.
A glossy finish reference can be viewed in Hornsby's Professional Bat Ordering Records (PBOR), which notes an "End Shellac Model." Furthermore, the right barrel was prepared to accept side writing at the H&B factory. While the writing is no longer legible, the combination of the barrel planing with the glossy finish and additional bat specs (such as the signature branded on the barrel end) helped narrow the manufacture to 1926. The tape residue, planed barrel, and glossy finish on the barrel all help definitively place the bat in Hornsby's hands. This gamer's overall eye appeal quality, which is stunning in person, is a testament to its terrific preservation. Most of the Hornsby bats known, even high-grade examples, lack the character displayed by this bat. It is an exception even within its grade class.