A superb condition game-used bat from one of the greatest baseball players in history, Ty Cobb, is currently selling as part of Grey Flannel Auctions' latest sale, which will close on December 12.
 Cobb still holds the record for the highest career batting average (.367) |
The 1916-1918 bat was originally offered with a minimum bid of $10,000, but has since seen eight bids that have pushed it to $41,781. It will sell among an outstanding array of the finest sports memorabilia, which includes the earliest known Babe Ruth Yankees pinstripes.
Graded Game-Used 9.5 by PSA, the bat displays many ball marks, stitch impressions and cleat marks on all sides of the barrel as testament to its heavy usage. A dark stain of tobacco juice can be seen on the barrel, evoking a true sense of being present at one of Cobb's legendary performances for the Detroit Tigers.
 Cleat marks and tobacco stains are characteristic of Cobb's bats |
Only one minor issue mars the otherwise brilliant condition of the piece: a slight handle crack that has already been professional restored. Its condition is truly remarkable, given that the bat was recently discovered hidden inside a wall of a home in upstate New York.
The current world record for a Ty Cobb-used baseball bat was set in July this year, when a 1919 example - boosted by provenance from a former teammate - sold for $253,000. The price raised the previous $137,000 record by 84.6%.
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