June 2005 > Sports > Ernie Davis
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Lot 1316: Honus Wagner Decal Bat
ITEM DESCRIPTION
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Honus Wagner may have legendarily refused to have his likeness on a tobacco card because he didn't want to condone smoking, but he had absolutely no qualms about his kisser adorning this miniature Louisville Slugger (and making a few bob in the process as a paid pitchman for the company). The extremely rare mini-bat with the Flying Dutchman's smiling visage on the barrel was one of a run sold to fans circa 1912 and is one of the nicest such surviving pieces we've ever seen. Bat measures 12" long and boasts Wagner's color facial image at the center of a decal imprinted "Uses Exclusively The" in white against red and "Lousville Slugger Bats" in white against brown. Under the image is a facsmile signature in black against brown, and two white baseballs against red fill out the motif. The decal of course is what makes this piece so valuable and it is at least 95% intact here, with the only imperfections a few speckles across the decal barely disturbing the historic image and the slightest green spottng around the signature area, again of little import. The wood is clean and smooth with mild scuffing that blends right into the surface. A tremendous get for collectors.
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