Goldin Elite Auction Ending May 22-23
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/22/2021
This lot closes on May 22nd, 2021 at 10:00 PM EDT for initial bids.
In the days before Ty Cobb, Napoleon Lajoie was the best hitter in baseball. He won the Triple Crown in 1901 and took five consecutive batting crowns from 1901 through 1905. Lajoie was so popular with the Cleveland fans that from 1903 to 1913 the team was called the “Naps” in his honor. This offered J.F. Hillerich & Bradsby bat dates to the 1906 - 1911 period in which Lajoie was the greatest hitter in the game.
Lajoie’s playing career began in 1896 and lasted until 1916. During his career, Lajoie signed his contract with Louisville Slugger on September 12th, 1905 and was the third player inked by the iconic bat maker, following fellow Hall of Famers Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb. This bat’s date range was determined using several factors – including Lajoie signing his contract late in 1905 and the dating of the centerbrand, which this style was used from 1896-1911. Lajoie’s bat measures 34 inches, while shorter than the one single length recorded on his lone file card, is an acceptable length for contemporary players to his career. The bat’s weight of 39.5 ounces is consistent with the 41.5 ounces on Lajoie’s file card.
This bat displays heavy game use and is un-cracked. There are ball marks and stitch marks present on the barrel, with some damage to the barrel end. The handle has been scored and additional marks on this bat include cleat imprints. This bat was designed with a player portrait, framed with an ornate border and included Lajoie’s facsimile signature. While the player name is still visible, approximately 85% of the decal has been worn away. A tremendous gamer from one of baseball’s early 20th century stars. This bat comes with a LOA from MEARS (316921) for the game use and has been graded a solid A7.