1897-1916 J.F. Hillerich & Son 44 oz Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat

Description

This is a very early HIllerich & Son 31.5 inch Louisville Slugger baseball bat that weighs a very heavy 44 ounces! Hillerich added "& Son" to the business name in 1897 & it remained there until Frank Bradsby became a partner in 1916. So, this bat falls into that 1897-1916 time frame making it over 100 years old. I suspect it is closer to beginning date given the weight of the bat. The bat itself is in excellent display condition - no cracks or chips with a bold maker stamping. There are three very light grain separations on the back side of the barrel, a single rock mark & a a very light half inch high M on barrel. The knob has the large letter "M" burned into it (see photo). I bought this bat at an antique show many years ago in Minnesota along with an early dog ear football helmet & uniform from Marquette University & was told this bat came out of the same estate, so I have always assumed the M meant that this bat was used by the Marquette baseball team. Please email any questions. I will ship this bat with tracking. Additional insurance available at buyer's discretion. Thanks for looking.