VINTAGE HILLERICH & BRADSBY - 1309 SOFTBALL BAT “RARE & ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL”

Description

VINTAGE HILLERICH & BRADSBY - 1309 SOFTBALL BAT “RARE & ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL”
VINTAGE HILLERICH & BRADSBY - 1309 SOFTBALL BAT “RARE & ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL”
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Description
From a private WWII museum collection of over 20 years, featuring all types of original WWII period clothing, equipment and assorted military pieces, as well as a variety of reproduction items, uniforms, equipment, and European military surplus.  All items have been part of a variety of WWII displays. This private WWII museum collection is being sold off.   The following item is offered for sale  –
VINTAGE HILLERICH & BRADSBY - 1309 SOFTBALL BAT  “RARE & ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL”
ADDITIONAL 24 PICTURE GALLERY INCLUDED
FROM MY DAD'S WWII COLLECTION:
THIS IS A RARE & ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL
VINTAGE HILLERICH & BRADSBY (1309) MODEL/SERIES “OFFICIAL” SOFTBALL BAT.
THIS BAT FOR SALE >
VINTAGE HILLERICH & BRADSBY (1309) SERIES/MODEL
“OFFICIAL” SOFTBALL BAT.
MADE OF WHITE ASH WOOD  “ALL ORIGINAL”
34” INCHES
27  OUNCES
HEAT STAMP BRANDED >
HILLERICH & BRADSBY CO. 1309 H.B. ®REG.TRADEMARK
LOUISVILLE, KY
“
IT’S A LOUISVILLE
”
OFFICIAL SOFTBALL
ALL OF THE BAT'S HILLERICH & BRADSBY STAMPINGS AND LOGO REMAIN IN BEAUTIFUL CRISP CONDITION WITH JUST A SLIGHT TOUCH OF
WEAR ON THE LOGO "ITS A LOUISVILLE"
PORTION..
CONDITION:
THIS BAT IS IN ABSOLUTEY BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL CONDITION FOR A BAT DATED TO APPROX.
(1966-1969)
THE WHITE ASH WOOD FINISH IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS AND IS LITERALLY STILL “GLASS SMOOTH”
FOR A BAT OVER 50 YEARS OLD.
IT SHOWS VERY LITTLE PREVIOUS USE.
THIS BAT HAS BEEN IN ONLY (2) PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
MY DAD’S FRIEND, AND THEN MY DAD’S.
WOOD GRAIN PATTERN & GLOSS FINISH IS SIMPLY
BEAUTIFUL.
BARREL SHOWS A FEW MINISCULE IMPERFECTIONS FROM ITS PREVIOUS LIMITED USE.
END CAP SHOWS LIMITED USE/BALL CONTACT WITH
SOME DARKENING PATCHES .. VERY COMMON..
KNOB ALSO SHOWS THE WEAR OF LIMITED USE.
NOTE **** >> WHEN MY DAD GOT THIS BAT
THE BAT HANDLE / GRIP WAS TAPED IN WHITE TAPE,
WHICH HAD WORN & FRAYED SLIGHTLY OVER TIME.
WE REMOVED THE WHITE TAPE TO EXAMINE THE
BAT HANDLE & FOUND A TINY MINISCULE SPLIT/CRACK ....
IT IS EXTREMELY TINY & WE SHOW IT IN THE 24 PHOTO
GALLERY
(PHOTO #13 .. JUST BELOW THE SOFTBALL)
WE THEN HAD THE BAT RE-TAPED IN WHITE TAPE,
WHICH WAS DONE AS A COURTESY BY A FRIEND WHO
WORKS AT DICK’S SPORTING GOODS, TO RETURN IT
TO ITS ORIGINAL DISPLAY CONDITION.
“VERY NICE BASIC TAPE JOB”
THIS BAT HAS BEEN A “DISPLAY ONLY BAT”
FOR 40+ YEARS.
(THIS BEAUTIFUL BAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT INTENDED FOR USE & STRICTLY FOR DISPLAY ONLY)
NOTE*** THE BAT WILL BE SHIPPED IN A SPECIAL
CONTAINER AND WILL INCLUDE A CLEANING POLISHING
RAG THAT’S BEEN USED ON THE BAT FOR YEARS, AS
WELL AS THE NEW ROLL OF WHITE GRIP TAPE
USED ON THIS BAT
(BOTH INCLUDED FOR FREE)
BAT HISTORY – BACKGROUND:
MY DAD HAS HAD THIS BEAUTIFUL BAT IN HIS COLLECTION FOR OVER 35 YEARS.  THIS BAT WAS A
GIFT TO MY FATHER FROM HIS CHILD HOOD FRIEND
“JOEY” WHO HE GREW UP WITH.  HIS FRIEND WAS ALMOST 2 YEARS OLDER & SERVED IN THE ARMY DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.  DURING HIS COMBAT TOUR HE WAS BADLY WOUNDED WHICH RESULTED IN HIS BEING SENT HOME TO RECOVER, BUT HE SURVIVED.  AFTER HIS SERVICE MY DAD’S FRIEND RETURNED TO HIS
PASSION OF BASEBALL, WHICH HE PLAYED, AND LATER
ALSO COACHED LITTLE LEAGUE FOR MANY YEARS.  HE WAS AN AVID COLLECTOR OF BASEBALL MEMORABILIA
AND MY DAD SAID HE HAD DOZENS OF VINTAGE BATS IN HIS
SPORTS COLLECTION.
ONE DAY HE GAVE MY DAD THIS BEAUTIFUL SOFTBALL
BAT AS A BIRTHDAY GIFT …  WHICH HAD BEEN SPECIAL TO “JOEY” AS BOTH HE AND THE BAT WERE KINDRED SPIRITS OF THE 1960’s.  MY DAD HAS CHERISHED THIS
BAT EVER SINCE… AND AS MY DAD SPENT OVER 30 YEARS COLLECTING AND BUILDING HIS WWII MILITARIA
COLLECTION, AND HILLERICH & BRADSBY BASEBALL & SOFTBALL BATS WERE FAMOUSLY PART OF THE GREAT
FABRIC & PASTIME OF THE G.I. DURING WWII,
MY DAD DISPLAYED THIS BAT IN HIS WWII COLLECTION WITH PERIOD SPORTS PIECES FOR MANY YEARS.
IT IS NOW UP FOR SALE.
WE ARE NOT VERSED ON VINTAGE BASEBALL AND
SOFTBALL BATS SO WE TURNED TO THE EXPERTS.
WE REACHED OUT TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE SOLD BASEBALL EQUIPMENT FOR OVER 30 YRS,
AS WELL AS FRIENDS WITH YRS. OF BASEBALL
KNOWLEDGE, & WHO HAD FAMILY MEMBERS WHO PLAYED IN THE CAPE COD LEAGUE & MY DAD’S COUSIN “PAUL O’NEILL” WHO PLAYED FOR THE MINNESOTA TWINS … WHO WAS FRIENDS WITH & PLAYED WITH
THE OTHER
“PAUL O’NEILL WHO PLAYED FOR THE
CINCINNATI REDS & NEW YORK YANKEES.
WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE PEOPLE AT THE
HILLERICH & BRADSBY FACTORY & MUSEUM,
AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE AT HUNT AUCTIONS LLC
OUT OF EXTON, PA .. WHO HAVE BEEN THE EXCLUSIVE
AUTHORIZED AUCTION HOUSE THAT HANDLES
ALL SALES FOR THE
HILLERICH & BRADSBY MUSEUM
FOR MANY YEARS.
WE WERE EDUCATED ON THE FOLLOWING >>>
THIS IS THE HILLERICH & BRADSBY (1309) SERIES MODEL OFFICIAL SOFTBALL BAT THAT HILLERICH & BRADSBY
INTRODUCED IN LATE 1966.  HILLERICH & BRADSBY
HAVE MADE & SOLD A VARIETY OF SOFTBALL BATS FOR
MANY.. MANY YEARS.
1965 REPRESENTED THE FIRST YEARS THAT
HILLERICH & BRADSBY FIRST STARTED TO STAMP &
MARK THEIR BATS WITH THE OFFICIAL ® TRADEMARK
R-SYMBOL, WHICH WAS NOT USED PRIOR TO 1965.
*** THIS BAT HAS THE ®REG. TRADEMARK SYMBOL
FIRST INTRODUCED IN (1965) ON HILLERICH & BRADSBY
BASEBALL & SOFTBALL BATS.
HILLERICH & BRADSBY’S BAT MODEL/SERIES STAMPING
FOUND IN THE CENTER OF ALL THEIR BATS, BOTH
BASEBALL & SOFTBALL CHANGED OVER THE YEARS,
ALL OF WHICH CAN HELP IN THE DATING OF
HILLERCH & BRADSBY BATS.
HILLERICH & BRADSBY INTRODUCED A SERIES OF
SOFTBALL BATS WITH THE ®REG. TRADEMARK SYMBOL
STARTING IN (1965) WHICH WERE THE FOLLOWING >>
THE SERIES (26) SOFTBALL BAT MODEL
FOR GENERAL PLAY. (1965)
THE SERIES (56) JET POWERED MODEL FOR
IMPROVED HITTING.. ACHIEVED THRU DESIGN AND PRODUCTION ENHANCED DIAMETER SURFACE
HITTING QUALITIES. (1965-1966)
THE SERIES (56) TITANIC MODEL FOR POWER HITTING
(1966)
THE SERIES (125) “POWERIZED” MODEL FOR
FURTHER ENHANCED HITTING POWER (1965)
AND IN LATE (1966-1967) >
THE SERIES (1309) MODEL OFFICIAL SOFTBALL BAT
FOR GENERAL SOFTBALL LEAGUE PLAY ..
ALL WERE TM REG. STAMPED. STARTING IN (1965)
THE INDIVIDUAL MODEL NUMBERS DENOTE WOOD QUALITY FEATURES USED EXCLUSIVELY BY
HILLERICH & BRADSBY IN THEIR PRODUCTION
OF EACH SERIES OF BAT.
THE MOST POPULAR MODEL WAS THE (125) SERIES
IN DIFFERENT VERSIONS,
FOLLOWED BY THE (1309) SERIES WHICH WAS ALSO
POPULAR BUT MORE RARE.
THE PEOPLE AT HUNT AUCTIONS LLC TOLD US THAT
ON AVERAGE THEY SEE 2 – 4 (1309) SERIES
SOFTBALL BATS GO THRU THEIR AUCTION HOUSE
ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT VINTAGE
“GOOD QUALITY”
(1309) SOFTBALL BATS HAVE BROUGHT SALE PRICES
OF FROM . TO OVER 0. DEPENDING ON HISTORY,
CONDITION, PREVIOUS OWNERSHIP & DOCUMENTED
PROVENANCE…OF COURSE VALUE IS DETERMINED BY
THE PERSPECTIVE INTERESTED BUYER.
BASED ON THIS BAT’S ORIGINAL OWNERSHIP,
OF MY DAD’S FRIEND .. WOULD DATE THIS (1309)
SERIES TO APPROX. BETWEEN 1966 & 1969.
THE HILLERICH & BRADSBY COMPANY HAVE A
PROUD LEGACY ATTACHED TO WWII.  DURING THE
WAR HILLERICH & BRADSBY DONATED THOUSANDS
OF BASEBALL & SOFTBALL BATS TO THE US MILITARY
SO G.I.’s “ARMY, NAVY, & MARINE CORPS. SOLDIERS
STATIONED ALL OVER THE WORLD COULD PLAY AMERICA’S GAME WHEN EVER POSSIBLE.
ONE OF THE GALLERY PHOTOS SHOWS THE GREAT
JOE DIMAGGIO, WHO SERVED DURING WWII,
GIVING SOME FELLOW SOLDIERS A FEW TIPS ON
PLAYING BASEBAL. WHILE HOLDING A
HILLERICH & BRADSBY BAT.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE ARMY PARATROOPERS PLAYING A
QUICK GAME OF SOFTBALL WITH A
HILLERICH & BRADSBY BAT IN THE CLASSIC WWII WAR MOVIE
“OBJECTIVE BURMA” 1944,
WITH ERROL FLYNN .... BEFORE THEY HAVE TO
SUDDENLY STOP PLAYING  TO WRITE LETTERS HOME,
AS THEY’VE JUST BEEN ORDERED TO PREPARE TO GO ON A TOP SECRET MISSION BEHIND ENEMY LINES.
“HEY DUMMY … JUST THROW THE BALL”
THIS SAME LEGACY WOULD CONTINUE DURING THE
VIETNAM WAR, WHEN AGAIN,
HILLERICH & BRADSBY
WOULD DONATE BATS TO SERVICEMEN STATION IN
VIETNAM… THE PHOTO GALLERY SHOWS AN
EXTREMELY RARE PHOTOGRAPH OF MEN OF THE
3
RD
BRIGADE, 4
TH
INF. DIV., 2
ND
BATT., 12
TH
INF. CO.
PLAYING A GAME OF SOFTBALL AT
“LZ DAU TIE’NG BASE CAMP RAINIER”
BINH DUONG PROVINCE, SOUTH VIETNAM, IN 1967,
WITH THE ICONIC HUEY HELICOPTER …..
THE WORK HORSE OF THE US MILITARY DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, PARKED JUST BEHIND THE G.I. AT BAT.
“THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE HE’S HOLDING A
HILLERICH & BRADSBY”  : )
WITH MY DAD’S FRIEND SERVING IN VIETNAM BETWEEN 1967 & 1969 AND THIS HILLERICH & BRADSBY
SOFTBALL BAT DATING TO THE SAME PERIOD .. YOU
CAN SEE THE KINDRED SPIRIT THEY BOTH SHARED…
WHY IT HAS BEEN VERY SPECIAL TO MY DAD,
WHO SIMPLY DISPLAYED IT IN HIS WWII COLLECTION
FOR MANY YEARS … BUT THE ENTIRE WWII COLLECTION IS BEING SOLD OFF .. AND THIS BAT TOO.
THE FOLLOWING PIECES WERE USED FOR DISPLAY
PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE NOT INCLUDED
AND NOT FOR SALE >
M1 HELMET       BEDROLL W LEATHER STRAP
M1916 HOLSTER & M1911 COLT .45 PISTOL
M1 CARBINE       BINOCULARS
LEATHER CARRY CASE
PISTOL BELT & CANTEEN
ORIGINAL 1940’s PERIOD NOS SOFTBALL
IS NOT INCLUDED .. DISPLAY ONLY
**** SPECIAL NOTE ****
IF AN INTERESTED & PERSPECTIVE BUYER
WISHES TO BUY BOTH THE BASEBALL GLOVE
LISTED IN A SEPARATE LISTING, AND THIS BAT .. AND NOTIFIES US BEFORE HAND .. WE WILL GIVE THE BUYER OF BOTH PIECES A . DISCOUNT/REFUND AFTER PURCHASE & PAYMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED FOR BOTH PIECES ..
Hillerich & Bradsby Softball Bats &
Historical info. >
WWII Facts:
After making equipment for the troops of the American A.E.F. during WWI, Hillerich & Bradsby Co. served the country during World War II by producing M-1 carbine gunstocks, track pins for tanks, and billy clubs for US Military’s Military Police Units. H&B also continued to make baseball and softball bats for the troops. Like many industries, H&B’s WWII effort was the first time women worked in the factory.  Hillerich & Bradsby would go on to serve the troops during the Korean War, and again during the Vietnam War, all though to a much lesser extent than during WWII.
Softball Bat design and user features:
Often questions are asked about a Hillerich & Bradsby’s production features & user characteristics, such as the production of (SPB) Slow Pitch Bats
and (FPB) Fast Pitch Bats, and the design differences.
Slow Pitch Softball Bats are designed to hit a ball traveling at approx. 25 mph,
Achieved by the bat’s special design, wood production characteristics and
It’s heavier weight designed for more powerful “Slugging”.
Fast Pitch Softball Bats are specially designed for speed & quick reaction, to
hit balls traveling at excessive speeds, part of the design being a more
Highly balanced bat.  Though it is also pointed out by many in the baseball
Bat community that this is also a clever “Marketing tool” to enhance sales.
Bats used in regulation play have to conform to the sanctioning body
Responsible for that specific League’s guidelines, one facet of that being
That albeit “Fast pitch or Slow pitch, the bat must conform under ASA
Guidelines to ball exit speeds of 98 mph. & USSSA 1.20 BPF for
Fast or slow pitch.  One difference that stands out between the models
Is “Feel & Handle Grip” and achieved or realized balance in the
Batter’s hands.  Where the (SP) bat may better achieve the slugging
Capability of a slower ball speed, thru “Enloaded” bat balance,
the (FP) bat achieves better contact and power thru swing from a
more finely balanced design, and a more reinforced handle.
Baseball Bat Auction memorabilia Dominance
Regarding auctions of sports memorabilia and baseball bats in particular,
Of particular note is the predominance of baseball bat manufacturer
Hillerich & Bradsby. Of comparative note, Ferrari has dominated the collectible car category by always maintaining more than 50 of the cars in the top 100 most valuable cars sold at auction, but Hillerich & Bradsby has always had the entire top 10 to itself, with more than 95 of the top 100 most valuable baseball bats on the planet manufactured by Hillerich & Bradsby.
Hillerich & Bradsby Co. pioneered the very first sports celebrity endorsement
when in (1905) they signed Honus Wagner to a contract, that allowed them to produce the very first baseball bat with Wagner’s Name Trademarked on the bat.  Hillerich & Bradsby bats have dominated the baseball bat field ever since.  The “Louisville Slugger” and “It’s a Louisville” are the most
widely recognized Baseball and Softball Bat Signature Trademark logos
in the world!
We want to thank all the people we spoke to who were so kind to educate us on this Wonderful Vintage Hillerich & Bradsby Softball bat, as well as
sharing their vast knowledge on baseball bats, the company history and other general info. we
included in the description & info. portion..
"BOY .. What an education we got!"
"THANKS SO MUCH GUYS"
"AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!"
History of Softball:
The earliest known softball game was played in
Chicago
, Illinois on
Thanksgiving
Day, 1887. It took place at the Farragut Boat Club at a gathering to hear the outcome of the
Yale University
and
Harvard University
football
game.
[10]
When the score was announced and bets were settled, a Yale alumnus threw a boxing glove at a Harvard supporter. The Harvard fan grabbed a stick and swung at the rolled up glove.
[11]
George Hancock, a reporter there, called out "Play ball!" and the game began, with the boxing glove tightened into a ball, a broom handle serving as a bat. This first contest ended with a score of 41–40.
[12]
The ball, being soft, was fielded barehanded.
[13]
[14]
George Hancock
is credited as the game's inventor for his development of a 17" ball and an undersized bat in the next week. The Farragut Club soon set rules for the game, which spread quickly to outsiders. Envisioned as a way for
baseball
players to maintain their skills during the winter, the sport was called "Indoor Baseball".
[15]
Under the name of "Indoor-Outdoor", the game moved outside in the next year, and the first rules were published in 1889.
[15]
In 1895 Lewis Rober, Sr. of
Minneapolis
organized outdoor games as exercise for
firefighters
;
[16]
this game was known as kitten ball (after the first team to play it), lemon ball, or diamond ball.
[17]
Rober's version of the game used a ball 12 inches (30 cm) in circumference, rather than the 16-inch (41 cm) ball used by the Farragut club, and eventually the Minneapolis ball prevailed, although the dimensions of the Minneapolis diamond were passed over in favor of the dimensions of the Chicago one. Rober may not have been familiar with the Farragut Club rules.
Fire Station No. 19
in Minneapolis, Rober's post from 1896 to 1906, was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
in part for its association with the sport's development.
[18]
The first softball league outside the United States was organized in
Toronto
in 1897.
The name "softball" dates back to 1926. The name was coined by Walter Hakanson of the
YMCA
[12]
at a meeting of the National Recreation Congress.
[19]
(In addition to "indoor baseball", "kitten ball", and "diamond ball", names for the game included "mush ball", and "pumpkin ball".
[12]
) The name softball had spread across the United States by 1930.
[19]
By the 1930s, similar sports with different rules and names were being played all over the United States and Canada. By 1936, the Joint Rules Committee on Softball had standardized the rules and naming throughout the United States.
[20]
By the 1940s, fast pitch began to dominate the game. Although slow pitch was present at the
1933 World's Fair
, the main course of action taken was to lengthen the pitching distance. Slow pitch achieved formal recognition in 1953 when it was added to the program of the
Amateur Softball Association
, and within a decade had surpassed fast pitch in popularity.
* Portions of some text & or historical information used for item discriptions or historical info. is borrowed from several contributing web sites to provide as accurate info. as possile, when available. A variety of historical & reference sources are used ***
All this research was done by my Dad over years of collecting, thanks for all your great work Dad.
Will J.
... ALL OTHER UNIFORM DISPLAY PIECES, LEATHER JERKINS, MAPS, WATCHES, CIGARETTE LIGHTERS, GLOVES, BELTS, HOLSTERS, MANNEQUINS,  HAVERSACKS, GI STOVES, REPLICA GN’S, BOOKS, & ALL OTHER ITEMS NOT LISTED FOR SALE AS PART OF THIS LISTING ARE USED FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY & ARE NOT FOR SALE
** MANNEQUINS ARE USED FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES & ARE NOT FOR SALE**
*SHIRTS & TIES ARE USED FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY & NOT FOR SALE, UNLESS OTHERWISE LISTED*
** ALL ITEMS, DESCRIPTIONS & CONDITION ARE PROVIDED AS BEST AS POSSIBLE**
** SIZE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED WHEN POSSIBLE BUT FIT IS NOT GUARANTEED**
**THE ENTIRE WWII COLLECTION IS BEING SOLD OFF, SO ALL SALES ARE FINAL & NO RETURNS,
BUT ALL ITEMS ARE COVERED UNDER THE EBAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.
**QUESTIONS ARE WELCOMED.  PLEASE ASK ALL QUESTIONS PRIOR TO LISTING ENDING THRU EBAY MESSAGING.  I WILL RESPOND ASAP.
**PAYMENT IS ACCEPTED THRU PAYPAL.  PLEASE PAY FOR YOUR PURCHASE WITHIN 5 DAYS.  I DO MY BEST TO SHIP WITHIN 2 DAYS OF CLEARED PAYMENT
" US SALES ONLY  .... STD USPS SHIPPING TO THE 48 STATES ONLY!!
(ALL ITEMS ARE CAREFULLY WELL PACKED FOR SHIPMENT)
I have predominantly been a collector of WWII militaria for the last 20+ years, though I have sold some pieces from the collection before, as well as other items, but it is finally time to sell the collection off & let others enjoy adding new pieces to their collection.  I hope others enjoy them as much as I have.
I have a perfect 100% positive Feedback record of doing business on eBay, both as a Buyer & Seller.  I have always treated everyone I’ve done business with on eBay the same way I would want to be treated & pride myself on being prompt, courteous, honest & professional & will work very hard to offer the very best customer service to my customers.  If you have any issue of any kind please contact me immediately & I will work to resolve the issue.
... After your purchase of any item offered from the collection For Sale or Auction,
**When you receive your item & are completely satisfied with your purchase, please leave 5 Star Positive Feedback & then I will do the same for you.**
Thank you for viewing this item.
Thank you
to all the men & women of “The Greatest Generation” for their service & sacrifice during WWII and thank you to all the men & women who proudly serve or have served our country in the  United States military to protect our country and our freedom.
“GOD BLESS AMERICA”
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