Larry Doby Game Used NEGRO LEAGUE Bat 1940's Newark Eagles Baseball Mears COA

  

Offered is this RARE 1940's game-used E. Woodbrey model bat manufactured in Norway, Maine, for Hall of Famer. Legitimate bats used by players from the Negro Leagues are virtually non-existant, due to the fact ALL major equipment manufacturers, including Spalding, Reach and Hillerich & Bradsby, refused to offer endorsements to black ballplayers. While racial injustices are well-chronicled, what is rarely discussed is the discrimination practiced by the major companies -- i. Babe Ruth could have his name branded on his bat, but Josh Gibson could not.

In very rare instances, Louisville Slugger would engrave a team name on a barrel, ala. But no Negro Leagues personal model bat was ever issued by these companies. The only known endorsed examples were manufactured by smaller, custom outfits such as Kren and... Doby, a perennial Negro League All-Star with the champion Newark Eagles, was of course, the first African-American to play in the American League, signed by Bill Veeck to the Cleveland Indians, eleven weeks after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Brooklyn.

Bat currently measures 34 inches and weighs 31 ounces, with both measurements historically correct for Doby. It displays heavy overall use with some deadwood and weathering to barrel end. Most importantly, " DOBY " is engraved on the sweet spot of the barrel.

Technically, this model bat could include service during his first couple seasons in Cleveland, but the likelihood of Doby using this bat once Louisville Sluggers were available and accessible to him as a major leaguer, is... There is no record of a Woodbrey bat ever being used on the major league level, and one can assume he left such tools behind once he entered the American League.

Fact is, any early Doby game-used bat is extremely scarce, and this particular piece of historic lumber is undoubtedly unique and the only surviving example. It includes a full Letter of Authencity from the experts at. With MEARS authentication sticker on barrell end [#312090]. The item "Larry Doby Game Used NEGRO LEAGUE Bat 1940's Newark Eagles Baseball Mears COA" is in sale since Sunday, May 3, 2015. This item is in the category "Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop\Game Used Memorabilia\Baseball-MLB\Bats". The seller is "giadiamondguy" and is located in Lititz, Pennsylvania. This item can be shipped worldwide.