LOT #80017 |
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1912-13 "Wahoo" Sam Crawford Game Used & Signed Bat with Exceptional Provenance....
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Sold on Aug 5, 2010 for:
$53,775.00
Bid Source: Live: Floor bidder
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Description
1912-13 "Wahoo" Sam Crawford Game Used & Signed Bat with Exceptional Provenance. Immortalized in baseball lore as "Wahoo Sam," a proud nod to the Nebraska town he called home, the popular Hall of Fame outfielder for the Detroit Tigers labored most of his career in the shadow in the shadow of Dead Ball Era legend Ty Cobb, with whom he shared a contentious yet effective playing relationship. The feud only grew during post-retirement life, with Cobb accusing a jealous Crawford of intentionally fouling off pitches when he was attempting to steal, and Crawford responding that Cobb had been a cheapskate and a poor fielder. It was only after Cobb's death that Crawford learned that his old teammate had written hundreds of letters to influential people lobbying for his Cooperstown induction.It's rather surprising that such a campaign was ever necessary when one considers the numbers compiled by Wahoo Sam during his nineteen seasons of service to professional ball. A career .309 hitter, Crawford retired just thirty-nine short of 3,000 Hit Club membership and remains to this day the all-time career triples leader. Four times he led the American League in extra base hits, including a career-best sixty-four the 1913 season this remarkable gamer saw action.
The presented Spalding Autograph model is crafted from forty ounces of premium flame-burned ash, measuring just short of thirty-five inches in length. Heavy use is instantly apparent, with a constellation of ball marks coating the barrel, some complete with green ink transfers. Cleat marks speckle the surface, and ancient tape secures a cracked handle.
This important artifact derives from what could properly be described as the first game used bat collection, belonging to the owner of the Vernon Tigers of the Pacific Coast League. Though a 1916 newspaper describing the collection has been misplaced, this very bat is pictured in that article, identifiable by the black tape at the handle. Even more forcefully asserting its heritage, the bat features a remarkably strong (9/10) black fountain pen inscription to the collector, which reads "To Eddie Maier From Sam Crawford, Detroit Club, Nov-16-13." To the best of our knowledge, this is the only signed Crawford bat in existence, and likewise the most flawlessly provenanced. Unquestionably deserving of its PSA GU10 rating, it is an absolute dream piece for the advanced bat collector. LOA from PSA/DNA (bat). Full LOA from PSA/DNA (autograph). Full LOA from James Spence Authentication (autograph).
Auction Info
2010 August Signature Sports Collectibles Auction #7024 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2010
5th
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 5
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 4,960
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid per lot.
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