It is a 1930's Model Louisville Slugger retail model bat that should be endorsed by George Sisler
Louisville Slugger 40 ModelThe model 40 was a secondary line of autograph models offered by Louisville Slugger, and was a very popular model from the 1916 -1929 era. If you have a 40 model it might have the initials of the player following the number 40. For example a 40 B.R. would be a Babe Ruth bat. If the bat is in bad condition it is possible that the signature wore off. It will then have very little collectors value. This bat could have also been a decal bat, and it wore off. The decal would have been on the barrel, and this would also explain why you can't find the signature. With decal bats the bulk of the value relies on the condition of the decal, and again if the decal has worn off would have very little collectors value.
Many factors that you did not mention will go into the value of an Al Kaline Louisville slugger store model bat including model, size, condition, and the year the bat was made.Flame Tempered is a process of drying and hardening the wood with lower grade baseball bats. If your bat reads "Flame tempered" it is a store model bat. "Powerized" is used on higher grade bats, and professional models.In general a full size Louisville Slugger 125 Al Kaline Flame Tempered bat in used but not abused condition will sell in the $20.-$30. price range, and in excellent to near/mint condition about $40.-$75.In a recent auction a 33" Louisville Slugger 125 Al Kaline Flame Tempered bat in good condition sold for $18.27 Another bat same size and model in excellent+ condition sold for $76.00Below I will leave a link to a Louisville slugger bat dating guide.
125J Little League Louisville Slugger Mickey MantleThe Louisville Slugger 125J Powerized Mickey Mantle Little League bat is worth about $30.-$40. in used but not abused condition, and about $40-$60 in excellent - unused Near Mint condition. The 125 Junior bat was sold in the 1960's and included endorsements from the stars of the day including: Ernie Banks, Tommy Davis, Harmon Killebrew, Roger Maris, and Ed Mathews. They ranged in sizes from 28" -32".
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. Visit the Louisville Slugger Bat Dating guide located below (Related Links). You can match the markings on your bat with the easy to use bat dating chart to get an approximate date for your Louisville Slugger bat. Since you asked the question I've been scratching my head trying to figure out 4DJD. My first thought was 40 J.D. (in the center label) JD for Joe DiMaggio, but I'm not sure if a 40 model was made for DiMaggio. The bat you have might be in bad shape and the 4D might be 40, and if the bat is in bad shape it might have had a decal on the barrel. If the decal is worn off, this would also explain the absence of a signature on the barel. Use the "Discuss Question" button below, and fill me in on the details of the bat markings and their location. Markings on the knob, size and condition as well, and I'll help you out with a value, and age.
Louisville slugger 125 mini bats are made by Hillerich & Bradsby Co.- Louisville Slugger. Mini Bats are commonly sold at the ballparks, and the H&B catalog as far back as 1914. If your bat reads just Louisville slugger it might be dated after 1980. Mini bats came in 4 basic styles. The earliest and most valuable are the decal bats. In the signature series, they came in model numbers 25, 40 and 125 either burned in or brown with gold foil printing. Almost any signature contract player who had a full size bat made had a mini bat offered, sold thru the catalog or at the respective stadium and offered at $.25 The largest size was the model 25 followed by the 40 and 125. Mini Bats came in sizes 14", 16", 18", and 21" For more information on vintage baseball bats and bat dating visit the link I left below.
The model 40 was the secondary line of autograph models offered by Louisville Slugger. The T.C. Following the number 40 stands for Ty Cobb. A Hillerich & Bradsby co. Ty Cobb Model 40 store model baseball Bat from the labeling period 1916 -1929 is worth between $800 - $1,500. in excellent to near/mint condition. 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. Ty Cobb signed with the company in 1908. Below I will leave a link to a Ty Cobb Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat from the 1916-1929 labeling period complete with price guide, and pictures. I will also leave a link to help date your Louisville Slugger Baseball bat.
Louisville Slugger 40BR Babe Ruth decal batThe Louisville Slugger bat you have 40B.R. would be a A Babe Ruth (B.R.) model. The designation 40 BR was a secondary line of retail store model bats but some were made with a decal on the barrel and you did not mention this, nor did you mention his name being on the barrel if you had a signature model bat. Because you did not mention that the bat has anything on the barrel I believe you have a decal bat without the decal, which has worn away.With a decal bat the bulk of the value will rely on the condition of the decal and the percentage that is left. A bat with 80-90 percent of the decal could sell in the $1,000. price range and upwards to the $4,000. range. Without the decal it will have a very low value. Maybe in the $50. price range. The decal is everything. The 36 on the knob indicates that the bat measures 36 inches.
Babe Ruth Louisville Slugger 40 BRJThe designation 40 is a secondary line of retail store model bats. The BRJ following the 40 stands for Babe Ruth Junior, and was common during the 1930 - 1947 labeling period. This "Junior" bat is a Little League bat (youth bat) 31" or smaller. In general a Babe Ruth Junior store model bat could be worth between $100. -$250. Besides condition there are many factors that will effect the price more or less. Baseball bats closest to the players size and model number that was used during his playing days will sell at a higher price. Decal bats are very desirable and could sell in the $1,000.'sThe dating of the bat is one of the most important factors on value along with condition. 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.
Roger Hornsby Louisville Slugger baseball batIn general a Roger Hornsby Louisville Slugger baseball bat dating to the 1920's-1930's is worth about $250.-$350. price will vary based on condition, bat model, size, and era made. A bat in near mint condition could sell for more. A baseball bat closest to the make, model, and size that the ballplayer used will be of the highest value.The dating of the bat is one of the most important factors on value along with condition. 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.For example: a bat made between 1916 - 1929 will have HILLERERICH & BRADSBY Co in the center label as opposed to J.F. HILLERERICH & SON Co as the bats made before. TRADE MARK REG US PAT OFF appears below the oval and changed to TRADE MARK REG in 1930."Bone Rubbed" is a process to harden the surface of the bat and appears on bats made in the 1920s The "Powerized" process was first used, and patented by the Hillerich & Bradsby Co. in 1931 and has pat. pending beneath the stamp. Powerized and Bone Rubbed" logo is used during the 1932 season. In 1933 and 1934 you will see it stamped "Powerized and Oil Tempered" which usually is a very light heat foil type print. in 1935 until present, they go with just "Powerized"See Related Links below for a Louisville Slugger bat dating guide.
The 40 model bat can date as far back as the 1920's.and was only second to the 125 bat in quality.The dating of the bat is one of the most important factors on value along with condition. 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.For example: a bat made between 1916 - 1929 will have HILLERERICH & BRADSBY Co in the center label as opposed to J.F. HILLERERICH & SON Co as the bats made before. TRADE MARK REG US PAT OFF appears below the oval and changed to TRADE MARK REG in 1930."Bone Rubbed" is a process to harden the surface of the bat and appears on bats made in the 1920s The "Powerized"process was first used, and patented by the Hillerich & Bradsby Co. in 1931 and has pat. pending beneath the stamp. Powerized and Bone Rubbed" logo is used during the 1932 season. In 1933 and 1934 you will see it stamped "Powerized and Oil Tempered" which usually is a very light heat foil type print. in 1935 until present, they go with just "Powerized"I will leave a link below to help you date your Louisville Slugger bat.
The Johnny Bench 125 Louisville Slugger 16" mini bat's sell for about $10.- $20. depending on age and condition. The older bats selling at the high end. Some mini bats can be dated the same way as the full sized bats. For a chart to date Louisville Slugger baseball bats visit the link below (Related Links) Use the center label to date the bat.