Extraordinary collection of eleven pro-model bats, each of which was produced and used by a different member of the 1919 World Champion Cincinnati Reds. This is the most comprehensive 1919 Cincinnati Reds game-used bat collection extant and several of the bats represent the only known examples. It must be noted, that not every bat in the collection dates precisely to the 1919 season, but all were used by the respective player during that approximate time period.
The 1919 Cincinnati Reds are one of the most legendary World Champion clubs because of their opponent: the Chicago White Sox. Despite winning 96 games and finishing nine games ahead of the New York Giants, the Reds 1919 World Series victory has always been tainted due to the actions of Chicago's infamous "Eight Men Out," who conspired to "throw" the Series. Many of the Reds players later bristled at the public sentiment that their World Championship wasn't legitimate, especially the fiery Edd Roush, who vehemently insisted throughout the remainder of his life that the Reds were the better team. While no one will ever know what the outcome would have been under different circumstances, fate has forever immortalized the 1919 Reds in the annals of baseball history.
Unless otherwise noted, all the bats are H&B models dating from the 1922-1930 manufacturing period and display moderate to heavy use throughout. A few of the bats display side writing (duly noted) on the barrel, which indicates that they were returned to the H&B factory to be used as a template for future bat orders. The collection consists of the following bats: 1) Pat Moran. No manufacturer's stampings (year of manufacture unknown). "Moran" stamped in block letters on the barrel. Not cracked. 34" 30 oz. 2) Rube Bressler. "Bressler" stamped on the barrel in block letters. Side writing on the barrel. Heavy checking on the back of the barrel repaired with ten vintage nails. 35" 35 oz. 3) Larry Kopf. 1910-1915 manufacturing period. "Larry Kopf" stamped on the barrel in block letters. Multiple crack in the upper handle and heavy checking on the back of the barrel, each repaired with vintage nails. 35" 32.5 oz. 4) Ivey Wingo. 1916-1922 manufacturing period. "Wingo" stamped on the barrel in block letters. Multiple crack in the handle. Side writing (illegible) on the barrel, along with the outline of a former mailing label. 34.5" 36.25 oz. 5) Dutch Ruether. "Ruether" stamped on the barrel in block letters. Side writing on the barrel (partially legible, including the name "Richards"). Crack in the upper handle. 35" 33.25 oz. 6) Manuel Cueto. Spalding (circa 1918-1925). "Emanuel Cueto" stamped on the barrel in block letters. Repaired crack in the handle. 34.5" 34.125 oz. 7) Hank Schreiber. Signature model, with "Hank Schreiber" facsimile signature stamped on the barrel. The name "Custer" is carved in the barrel, directly to the right of the stamped signature. Side writing (illegible) on the barrel. Crack in the handle. 35" 32.125 oz. 8) Roy Mitchell. "Mitchell" stamped on the barrel in block letters. Side writing (illegible) on the side of the barrel. Crack in the handle repaired with a vintage nail. 35" 36.125 oz. 9) Pat Duncan. 1916-1922 manufacturing period. "Duncan" stamped on the barrel in block letters. Side writing on the barrel (partially illegible, the name "Chas" can be seen) along with remnants of the shipping label. Large multiple crack in the handle repaired with several size vintage nails. 35.5" 34.75 oz. 10) Jimmy Smith. Spalding (circa 1918-1925). "L. Smith" stamped on the barrel in block letters. Side writing (illegible). Crack in the handle and checking on the back of the barrel that has been repaired with numerous small, vintage nails. 33.5" 35.75 oz. 11) Walter Rehg. Signature model. "Walter Rehg" facsimile signature stamped on the barrel. Rehg played in the minor leagues exclusively during the bat's manufacturing period (1922-1930). Crack in the handle and heavy checking on the back of the barrel that has been repaired with numerous vintage nails. 34" 36.25 oz.