Kid Elberfeld Autograph Baseball Bats by Spalding
'''Shop For 1910's Baseball Bats!'''
In the 1910's it became obvious that well designed baseball bats were not enough to generate high scores for the teams. Baseball games in the early 1910's were typically low in score and lacking in home runs. As a cork-centered baseball was introduced into more games, hits and home runs increased to the delight of players and fans. The increase in hits is important from a collector's point of view because one of the things that make a vintage 1910's baseball bat appealing is the reputation of the person who used it. The reputation of the batter is enhanced by an increased number of hits.
Today collectors are happy to score a vintage 1910 baseball bat in mint or very good condition. There are Spalding baseball bats from 1910 as well as Louisville Sluggers. Also this year Pennant Brand made baseball bats. Now these are extremely rare. The company was not nearly as popular as Spaulding or others but they were known to have made some of the best bats with the highest quality. The Black Beauty is one of the baseball bats they designed. If you find a vintage 1910 bat, look for the Pennant inscription on the bat. Spaulding will also have the name inscribed on the bat.
To get the correct date, you can take it to a professional who can help you to pin down the exact date of the vintage baseball bat. Also look for autographed baseball bats from prominent baseball players of the time.
'''Spalding produced a Norman Elberfeld bat.'''
In the 1910's it became obvious that well designed baseball bats were not enough to generate high scores for the teams. Baseball games in the early 1910's were typically low in score and lacking in home runs. As a cork-centered baseball was introduced into more games, hits and home runs increased to the delight of players and fans. The increase in hits is important from a collector's point of view because one of the things that make a vintage 1910's baseball bat appealing is the reputation of the person who used it. The reputation of the batter is enhanced by an increased number of hits.
Today collectors are happy to score a vintage 1910 baseball bat in mint or very good condition. There are Spalding baseball bats from 1910 as well as Louisville Sluggers. Also this year Pennant Brand made baseball bats. Now these are extremely rare. The company was not nearly as popular as Spaulding or others but they were known to have made some of the best bats with the highest quality. The Black Beauty is one of the baseball bats they designed. If you find a vintage 1910 bat, look for the Pennant inscription on the bat. Spaulding will also have the name inscribed on the bat.
To get the correct date, you can take it to a professional who can help you to pin down the exact date of the vintage baseball bat. Also look for autographed baseball bats from prominent baseball players of the time.
'''Spalding produced a Norman Elberfeld bat.'''
Spalding Official Baseball Guide - 1919
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1912 Spalding Advertisement - Original owned by John Elberfeld
Closeup of 1912 Spalding ad.
1920 Spalding Ads for Base Ball Bats
1920 Spalding Ad for Norman Elberfeld Signature Bat
These pictures are taken from eBay.
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Above photos from eBay october of 2016
How to Organize a League, Manage a Team, Captain a Team, Coach a Team, Score a Game, Arrange Signals: Including how to Lay Out a League Diamond, and Technical Terms of Base Ball - J. Edward Wray - American sports publishing Company, 1921
SPALDING'S OFFICIAL BASE BALL GUIDE. 93
AUTOGRAPH MODEL. The smallest, shortest and lightest bat used by any professional player. Specially adapted to small or light men. - Weights from 35 to 41 ounces. Length 31 inches.
No batter carried the choke to the extreme that it was carried by Norman Elberfeld, and in spite of the fact that he used a bat which was short, small and light, he was dreaded by every pitcher. He could not be pushed back from the plate, and with a grip on his bat that was powerful and almost crushing, he fairly compelled the pitcher to keep the ball on the plate unless the latter were willing to walk the batter.
1921 Spaldings Base Ball Guide
AUTOGRAPH MODEL. The smallest, shortest and lightest bat used by any professional player. Specially adapted to small or light men. - Weights from 35 to 41 ounces. Length 31 inches.
No batter carried the choke to the extreme that it was carried by Norman Elberfeld, and in spite of the fact that he used a bat which was short, small and light, he was dreaded by every pitcher. He could not be pushed back from the plate, and with a grip on his bat that was powerful and almost crushing, he fairly compelled the pitcher to keep the ball on the plate unless the latter were willing to walk the batter.
1921 Spaldings Base Ball Guide
Unusual L. Slugger 125 model bat with “Elberfeld” stamped on side of barrell c.1922-30. 31” dark brown bat with markings indicating a possible coach’s bat used after Kid Elberfeld’s career:
Description: Unusual L.Slugger 125 model bat with “Elberfeld” stamped on side of barrell c.1922-30. 31” dark brown bat with markings indicating a possible coach’s bat used after Kid Elberfeld’s career: EX Sold For: $285.00
From eBay: Rare Original Early 1900's Kid Elberfeld M.R. Campbell Co. Baseball Bat. Seldom seen or offered bat features deep and bold wood burned logos with Elberfeld's facsimile signature woodburned into barrel. Bat has heavy cracking in handle and section of wood missing off of back of barrel. Nonetheless, an extremely rare bat. Measures 35" long.
From Mears Monthly Auctions - May not be this exact bat
For consideration, 1900-14 circa Kid Elberfeld Major League Professional Model Game Used Bat. Another very rare bat which originated directly from the archives of Louisville Slugger.
History: The M.R. Campbell Co. had a similar entry story to the baseball bat market as did famed the Louisville Slugger factory. In the early 1900s, the JF Hillerich Co. began to manufacturer baseball bats from wagon tongues that had been used for covered wagons. The M.R. Campbell Co. operated a hub & spoke company, and decided to compete against Hillerich, D&M, Spalding, Wright & Ditson and others for a share of the baseball bat market.
Collection of MEARS staff.
Regarding this particular model, produced by the M.R. Campbell, we can only estimate its dating to 1900-14, to roughly correspond with the career of Kid Elberfeld. The bat measures 33" in length, and currently weighs 35.3 ounces. The knob is hand turned, a trait commonly associated with professional issuance. Although slightly possible this bat was a store model, it is highly unlikely as similar M.R. Campbell player endorsed bats are not found in the market place. This is the first Elberfeld player model bat examined by MEARS.
The bat exhibits heavy game use, surface ball marks, and a multiple handle crack. The crack is significant to the history of this bat, as this was the reason that the bat was shipped to H&B for a new bat to be produced by their company. Remnants of side writing return, confirming the fact this bat was once archived for future models to be produced.
Grade: MEARS Authentic
For consideration, 1900-14 circa Kid Elberfeld Major League Professional Model Game Used Bat. Another very rare bat which originated directly from the archives of Louisville Slugger.
History: The M.R. Campbell Co. had a similar entry story to the baseball bat market as did famed the Louisville Slugger factory. In the early 1900s, the JF Hillerich Co. began to manufacturer baseball bats from wagon tongues that had been used for covered wagons. The M.R. Campbell Co. operated a hub & spoke company, and decided to compete against Hillerich, D&M, Spalding, Wright & Ditson and others for a share of the baseball bat market.
Collection of MEARS staff.
Regarding this particular model, produced by the M.R. Campbell, we can only estimate its dating to 1900-14, to roughly correspond with the career of Kid Elberfeld. The bat measures 33" in length, and currently weighs 35.3 ounces. The knob is hand turned, a trait commonly associated with professional issuance. Although slightly possible this bat was a store model, it is highly unlikely as similar M.R. Campbell player endorsed bats are not found in the market place. This is the first Elberfeld player model bat examined by MEARS.
The bat exhibits heavy game use, surface ball marks, and a multiple handle crack. The crack is significant to the history of this bat, as this was the reason that the bat was shipped to H&B for a new bat to be produced by their company. Remnants of side writing return, confirming the fact this bat was once archived for future models to be produced.
Grade: MEARS Authentic
Photos of Kid Elberfeld autographed Spalding baseball bat offered for sale on eBay in March, 2016 for $699.
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Photos of Kid Elberfeld autographed Spalding baseball bat offered for sale on eBay in March, 2016 for $699.
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Photos of Kid Elberfeld autographed Spalding baseball bat offered for sale on eBay in March, 2016 for $699.
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Photos of Kid Elberfeld autographed Spalding baseball bat offered for sale on eBay in March, 2016 for $699.
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This is a Norman Elberfeld Spalding Signature Model baseball bat from the early 1900s that measures 31". Bat shows moderate use, and is uncracked. There are cross line marks on both the barrel knob. Also included in this auction are an Elberfeld tobacco baseball card and a photo reprint. The card measures 1 1/2" x 2 5/8" and has a protective laminate cover. The photo reprint is on an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet. It shows Elberfeld swinging a bat that looks to be the same as his Signature Model. Kid Elberfeld was born on April 13, 1875, In Pomeroy, OH. He was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 30, 1898 with the Philadelphia Phillies. The 5'5" Elberfeld played a fiery brand of baseball, challenging baserunners to slash him out of their way, living up to the title " The Tabasco Kid ." His legs were badly scarred, and he grimly poured raw whiskey into spike wounds to cauterize them. He hit .310 as Detroit's shortstop his first full season, 1901, and was the Highlanders' everyday shortstop from mid-1903 through 1907. After a short, unsuccessful stint as New York's manager for part of 1908, he went back to playing full time the following year. He remained in baseball for decades, battling umpires and foes as a hotheaded minor league manager. "He couldn't lick (Ty) Cobb, he weighed only 150 pounds, but he never stopped trying. When Cobb came into the bag and (Kid) Elberfeld was covering, we'd just stand around with our arms folded for the next few minutes and watch the goings-on, until one or both of 'em were thrown out of the game. They didn't call him Tabasco Kid because he was shy." - Clark Griffith in The Washington Post (1944 Clipping)
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1900s-norman-tabasco-kid-elberfeld-814616204
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1900s-norman-tabasco-kid-elberfeld-814616204
Another bat for sale on eBay.
Yet one more bat on eBay.
