This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2015.
Hall of Famer Frank Chance played 17 seasons in the big leagues, 10 of those as a player/manager, earning him the nickname “Peerless Leader.” Chance’s Cubs won four NL pennants, three consecutive; and won two World Series, the only such titles in franchise history. His .664 career winning percentage is still the highest of any Cubs manager. Chance was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946. Manuf: Spalding, Model Number: Gold Medal Auto, Length: 34.75 in., Weight: 43.6 oz., Wood: Ash, Labeling Period: 1908-11 Condition: Uncracked. Many ball marks and cleat impressions are visible on all sides of the barrel. The handle has been scored to enhance the grip. The letter ‘T’ or ‘X’ are carved into the knob. An interesting feature of the bat is the evidence of factory side writing on the barrel. From the teens to the early 1940’s, when players were in need of bats of the same model, it was commonplace for the player to send his preferred model back to the factory to request models of the same type. Upon receipt, an area on the barrel was planed and inscribed with the length and weight, player’s name; date received, and team affiliation. The appearance of factory side writing matching the name of the player who is branded into the bat is considered to be impeccable provenance. In the case of this bat, the original factory side writing is no longer visible. Remnants of the original shipping label with barley legible handwriting are attached to the left barrel. Remnants of two postage stamps are present, these particular stamps were in production from 1912 to 1914 and could have been placed on the barrel anytime during or after those years. We can attribute the bats use by Chance during his active major league career, most likely during the referenced labeling period. The bat was then returned by Chance to Hillerich & Bradsby for his use as a minor leaguer or for his coaching responsibilities as a manager. According to John Taube of PSA/DNA, this is only the fourth Frank Chance bat to appear in their database and only the second bat, by virtue of its return to Hillerich & Bradsby, documented as being used by Frank Chance. The bat exhibits evidence of heavy game-use. Accompanied by a LOA from PSA/DNA grading the bat a 6.