H&B professional model bat, dating from the 1916-1921 manufacturing period, bearing the name "Daubert" stamped in block letters on the barrel. The bat displays evidence of excellent use, including a small crack in the handle, and an application of vintage black tape, that covers the entire knob and extends four inches up the handle. There is also a faint trace of what might be side writing on the barrel. If so, it would indicate that this bat was sent back to H&B for use as a template for future orders (none of the lettering is legible).
During the referenced manufacturing period, the only two professional players we can find with the last name "Daubert" are Jake Daubert, star first baseman for both Brooklyn and Cincinnati, and Harry Daubert, who played exclusively in the minor leagues between the years 1916 and 1919. While we cannot state with certainty that this bat was used by Jake Daubert, we are confident that it was based upon the player characteristics it displays. It should first be noted that Jake Daubert game used bats are rare. This is one of fewer than four we have seen, and just the first we have offered. Of the others we have seen, which were evaluated by either PSA or MEARS, all measured either 34.5" or 35" in length and weighed between 32 and 38 ounces. The offered bat measures 34.5 inches in length and weighs 36 ounces, which is consistent with the other documented examples. Most important is the application of tape on the knob and handle. We have seen at least two photos of Jake Daubert holding a bat that has a wrap of tape along the handle, indicating that tape application was a trait of his. It should be further noted that of the few other Jake Daubert game used bats circulating in the hobby, the offered example is the only one that still bears its original tape.
A former MVP Award winner in 1913, Jake Daubert is considered by many to be the finest all-around first baseman of the deadball era. A lifetime .303 hitter, Daubert was a two-time National League batting champion with Brooklyn in 1913 and 1914, and he hit over .300 in ten of his fifteen seasons (1910-1924). Following the 1918 season he was traded from Brooklyn to Cincinnati and was the club's starting first baseman in the infamous 1919 World Series. Daubert continued to play at a high level with Cincinnati through the 1924 season, but shortly after, on October 24, 1924, he died tragically at the age of 40 due to a hereditary disease of his spleen. Deadball-era game used bats are rare, especially those used by players of Daubert’s stature, making this an exceptionally significant find.