Heinie Groh H&B signature-model "bottle" bat (predating model numbers) dating from the 1921-1931 labeling period. This is one of the most unusual and distinctive game used bats in the hobby, notable for its thin handle and ultra-wide barrel, which measures 8.5" in diameter. The bat, which is not cracked, measures 33 inches in length and weighs 40 ounces. Excellent use is displayed along its entire length, including moderate checking (grain separation) along the barrel and a 15" wrap of vintage black tape on the handle applied in a crisscross manner. The presence of the tape on this bat is significant. We have seen many photos of Heinie Groh holding his famous bottle bat, and most show a spiral wrap of tape on the bat that is nearly identical in its application to the tape on the offered bat. Despite that fact, this is the only Heine Groh bottle bat we ever seen that still retains its original tape, making it an especially desirable example. Groh enjoyed a successful 16-year Major League career (1912-1927) that included two stints with the New York Giants, the Cincinnati Reds, and one year with the Pirates. Groh was a member of the 1919 World Champion Reds, and he also won a World Championship with the Giants in 1922. A .292 lifetime hitter, Groh continued to play in the minors through the 1932 season before officially retiring at the age of 43.