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Lot # 728: 1912-1925 Spalding Game Used Bat Attributed to Waite Hoyt (PSA GU 7.5)

Category: Baseball Equipment

Starting Bid: $5,000.00

Bids: 1 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed

Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Late Fall Classic 2021",
which ran from 11/14/2021 7:00 PM to
12/11/2021 10:00 PM



One of the rarest of all Hall of Famer bats: Spalding block-letter (last name only) bat (predating model numbers) attributed to Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt. Graded GU 7.5 by PSA. While the bat is technically "attributed" to Waite Hoyt because of the block-letter name "HOYT" on the barrel, based upon the information presented by PSA in its accompanying letter, there seems to be little doubt that this bat was produced for and used by Waite Hoyt. This is the first Hoyt game-used bat we have ever offered and PSA states in its letter that it knows of only two other examples (produced by H&B and Hanna Mfg., respectively). The bat dates to the 1912-1925 labeling period, but since Hoyt's professional career began in 1916 and he did not pitch regularly in the Major Leagues until 1920, its period of use can most likely be more narrowly defined to the six-year span 1920-1925. The bat displays evidence of outstanding use, including many ball marks on the right, left, and back barrel, and a large twelve-inch "H" crack in the handle. As noted by PSA, this particular Spalding bat was not available for sale to the public and is undoubtedly a professional model bat. Only one other player by the name of Hoyt played professionally between the years 1912-1925. His name was Frank Hoyt and he played just 33 games with the 1913 Brockton Shoemakers, which makes it highly unlikely that this bat was produced for him. Most important is the fact that the offered bat measures 34.5," which is identical in length to each of the other two known Waite Hoyt game used bats (produced by two different manufactures no less), therefore validating 34.5" as the length ordered by Waite Hoyt. Also, this bat weighs 34.8 ounces, which is close to the 33.3 ounces of the Hanna Mfg. bat (the weight of the H&B bat is not known by PSA). One of the top pitchers of the 1920s, Hoyt was the unquestioned ace of the legendary 1927 World Champion New York Yankees, winning a league high 22 wins that season and adding another victory in the club's four-game sweep of the Pirates in the World Series. He won 23 games the following season, which again culminated in a four-game World Series sweep of the Cardinals. For his career, Hoyt won 237 games and finished with a 3.59 lifetime ERA. Accompanied by a full LOA from PSA (GU 7.5). 

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