If your bat reads J.F. HILLERERICH & SON Co. in the center brand as you state It would be dated to the 1911 -1916 bat labeling period. In 1911 Louisville Slugger started to use HILLERERICH & Son Co in their center brand as opposed to just J.F. HILLERERICH & SON. Starting in 1916 they drop the word SON and go with HILLERERICH & BRADSBYCo. The bottom of the oval should read TRADE MARK REG US PAT OFF. See Related Links below fot more information on dating your bat visit the Lousisville Slugger Bat Dating guide.
The printing on your bat might be a bit worn and should read "Hillerich & Bradsby" the maker of Louisville Slugger bats. Before 1916 the company went by the name "J.F. Hillerich & Son co." so the bat you have that reads "Hillerich & Bradsby" should be dated between 1916-1920s The "J.F. Hillerich & Son" # 7 bat is dated before 1911. After 1911 they added "co." to the end of the name "J.F. Hillerich & Son" and I know of a King of the field #12 bat that dates to this 1911-1916 era. The bat might have had a decal on the barrel, and the price on a decal bat relies mainly on the condition of the decal. Because you thought the bat reads "Lerich & Bradsby" the bat might be in bad condition, and the decal might be totally worn off. Condition is important and if this is the case it will only sell at about 25% of the $200.-$275. price that the bat might be worth, if it had a full decal. The #12 bat I mentioned above sold for $200. with 70% of the original decal intact. Either way it sounds like you have a nice 1916/1920s era store model bat.
J.F. Hillerich and Son, manufacturer of the Louisville Slugger, is the oldest baseball bat company. Bud Hillerich made the first pro bat for Pete Browning, a member of the Louisville Eclipse baseball team. Browning was known as the Louisville Slugger years before Hillerich trademarked the name.
approx. $200.
About $300 to a collector.
JOHN HILLERICH DIDNT INVENT THE BAT, BUT HE MADE THE FIRST "HILLERICH&BRADSBY BAT IN 1886. J. Frederick Hillerich started a woodworking shop in 1856. His eldest son, John Andrew "Bud" Hillerich, was born in Louisville in 1866. In 1880 Bud Hillerich, who was an amateur baseball player, became an apprentice in his father's shop. Young Bud made his own baseball bats along with bats for several of his teammates. According to company legend, the first pro bat was turned by Bud for Pete Browning in 1884. One of Browning's nicknames was, "The Louisville Slugger."Bud Hillerich continued to improve the manufacturing processes of the new bat business, inventing a centering device for a lathe and an automatic sander. Their baseball bat business grew. The bat was first known as the Falls City Slugger, (a reference to Louisville's location at the Falls of the Ohio River), but the brand name was changed to Louisville Slugger and registered as a trademark in 1894. Bud Hillerich became a partner with his father in 1897 and the name of the firm was changed to J.F. Hillerich and Son.
$1,200.
He improved it by the boys use to make t here own and the would be different shapes and sizes and a real good hitters bat broke and he had him make one that was the first rounded bat. Bud Hillerich the son of J. Frederick was more responsible for making baseball bats but, he made a better quality bat, and a better way of making them, not as much as improving the design. J. Frederick Hillerich started a woodworking shop in 1856. His eldest son, John Andrew "Bud" Hillerich, was born in Louisville in 1866. In 1880 Bud Hillerich, who was an amateur baseball player, became an apprentice in his father's shop. Young Bud made his own baseball bats along with bats for several of his teammates.According to company legend, the first pro bat was turned by Bud for Pete Browning in 1884. One of Browning's nicknames was, "The Louisville Slugger."Bud Hillerich continued to improve the manufacturing processes of the new bat business, inventing a centering device for a lathe and an automatic sander. Their baseball bat business grew. The bat was first known as the Falls City Slugger, (a reference to Louisville's location at the Falls of the Ohio River), but the brand name was changed to Louisville Slugger and registered as a trademark in 1894. Bud Hillerich became a partner with his father in 1897 and the name of the firm was changed to J.F. Hillerich and Son.
J. Frederick Hillerich started a woodworking shop in 1856. His eldest son, John Andrew "Bud" Hillerich, was born in Louisville in 1866. In 1880 Bud Hillerich, who was an amateur baseball player, became an apprentice in his father's shop. Young Bud made his own baseball bats along with bats for several of his teammates. According to company legend, the first pro bat was turned by Bud for Pete Browning in 1884. One of Browning's nicknames was, "The Louisville Slugger."Bud Hillerich continued to improve the manufacturing processes of the new bat business, inventing a centering device for a lathe and an automatic sander. Their baseball bat business grew. The bat was first known as the Falls City Slugger, (a reference to Louisville's location at the Falls of the Ohio River), but the brand name was changed to Louisville Slugger and registered as a trademark in 1894. Bud Hillerich became a partner with his father in 1897 and the name of the firm was changed to J.F. Hillerich and Son.
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The value depends on the condition of the bat, if there is a player's autograph on it, the absence of things like nails to correct a crack. I would be interested in seeing a picture to help you better.Pre 1916 Baseball BatIf your bat reads J.F. HILLERERICH & SON in the center brand as you state It would be dated before 1916, and will be a very nice collectible. In 1916 Louisville Slugger started to use HILLERERICH & BRADSBY Co in their center brand. If it reads "Trade mark" below the oval as opposed to "TRADE MARK REG US PAT OFF" it could be dated to the 1897 - 1911 time period.In 1905 Honus Wagner, a star for the Pittsburgh Pirates, signed a contract with Hillerich & Bradsby co. and became the first player ever to endorse a bat. If the bat has a player endorsement it would be dated after 1905.The bat, if a store model could still be worth hundreds. A game used or pro bat could be worth thousands. To help you put a value on your bat I would need more information.
Hillerich & Bradsby Co. Louisville Slugger has used different oval center brands in their history. By identifying the center label, trade marks, and patens you can narrow down the year to what era the bat was made. The earliest Louisville Slugger bats have J.F. Hillerich & son, "Made By" and "TRADE MARK" stamped on them and the second issue had the word "Co." added (after Son) and "TRADE MARK" was replaced with "TRADE MARK REG US PAT OFF" in 1911. You have a first era bat from the 1897 - 1911 bat labeling period. The "patent number 0716541" could date the bat to the earliest of bats possibly before the days of player endorsements. In 1905 Honus Wagner, a star for the Pittsburgh Pirates, signed a contract with Hillerich & Bradsby co. and became the first player ever to endorse a bat. His autograph was also the first to be used on a bat and the first known professional athlete endorsement of a retail product. The bulk of the value on most collectible bats relies on the player that endorsed the bat. Because your bat was possibly made before player endorsements the value will rely on vintage bat features or the markings on the bat dating it to one of the earlier Hillerich & Bradsby Co. models. I would need more information on the bat to help you including all stamping on the bat type of knob, condition, and size. A vintage bat from this era in good condition could sell for at least $200. and up to $400.-$500. in excellent -near/mint condition. See Related Links below for more information on Louisville Slugger bat dating, and a link to more info and pictures of a . F. Hillerich & Son Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat.
Awesome. 250