October Legends Closing November 1
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2014
Lifetime .292 hitter Heinie Groh was one of the game's early stars. With a career beginning in 1912, Groh was an integral part of World Championships with both the New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds. Yet, despite being the National League's most effective lead-off hitter in the early 20th century, Groh is remembered today for his distinctive "bottle bat". Due to his diminutive size, Giants manager John McGraw suggested Groh adapt a heavier but oddly shaped bat, with it's circumference at the barrel tapering to a thinner, more manageable thickness at the handle. This is one of the bats that Groh made his trademark. The Hillerich & Bradsby professional model bat dates from the 1922-1925 period. This particular bat has had the top three inches shaved from the barrel's end and shows tremendous use with a handle crack. The barrel exhibits some grain swelling from repeated ball contact and two chips are missing from the knob end. Though this model was made for Heinie Groh, its use by him cannot be determined conclusively partly due to the three inches missing from the length. A great opportunity to acquire one of the most iconic styles of bats from the game's Golden Era. Letter of Authenticity (1B08473) from PSA/DNA.