Home› Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

Original Chas Gehringer Baseball Bat

JBradJBrad Posts: 5
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I have a game used, baseball bat that was given to my great grandmother from Chas Gehringer. This bat is dark wooded, is Hand Turned, is Spalding trade marked and has "Gehringer" stamped on the large end. The bat still has the red ribbon Chas tied around the bat when he gave it to my great grandmother. I believe the bat can be athenticated. I am currently having a framed glass case built to hang on my wall that will include the bat,,, some very early and old original Detriot Tiger pictures of Chas and an original signed baseball. My question of course is what might be the value of this item or what might be the best service to give me an idea of value. This is a family heirloom (sp?) and an item that I am not interested in selling.

Comments

  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    Hi and welcome, I would think that you would have to get it appraised by someone that can actually see it.

    Glad to hear that you are keeping it in the family.

    You may want to contact an auction house and maybe over the phone they could give you an idea on what it is valued at?

    Steve
    Good for you.
  • baseballfanaticbaseballfanatic Posts: 2,415 ✭✭
    Though Spalding did supply a few major leaguers with bats, 9 times out of 10 a "Spalding" bat will turn out to be player model or store model bat.
    Hope yours is good....

    image
  • MooseDogMooseDog Posts: 1,949 ✭✭✭
    I'd HIGHLY recommend using Vince Malta or John Taube to authenticate your bat as to whether it is game used or not. Vince literally "wrote the book" on game used bats and both men are employed by PSA/DNA to authenticate and grade bats. You'll get a thoroughly researched, honest opinion. I have not met John personally, but Vince is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.

    There are other fine reputable game used authenticators, many are discussed at the Game Used Universe Forum the best community for this kind of stuff. Post pictures of your bat there and you'll have no shortage of feedback.

    On the other hand too, there are some really bad ones too, I won't name them publicly but you'll find them discussed at GUU as well.
  • DerekDDerekD Posts: 388 ✭✭
    The SMR lists a Gehringer game bat at $5500.
  • MooseDogMooseDog Posts: 1,949 ✭✭✭
    SMR isn't even close on HOF bats. Prices on high end game used HOF bats is exploding upwards.

    A true Gehringer game used bat with good provenance, which JBrad seems to have, could bring double that SMR value (or more) in a Mastro/REA/etc auction.
  • mccardguy1mccardguy1 Posts: 1,513 ✭✭✭
    you would want to consult the guy willie mays and others consult. Dave Bushing has written many books on the subject of game bats and is considered the industry ecpert. Many auction houses use him as their authenticator. Go to www.mearsonline.com. dave can be reached via email on that web site. he is the man you need to speak to as he has all the old company records from louisville slugger and others and he will be able to authenticate this bat for you.
    I am on a budget and I am not afraid to use it!!
  • JBradJBrad Posts: 5
    Thanks to all for all your information.....
  • MooseDogMooseDog Posts: 1,949 ✭✭✭
    Dave Bushing is also good, however I did have a mildly unfavorable experience. Sold a bat that I obtained personally and know that exact date when it was obtained. Saw the bat in an auction a few months later being sold as a "rookie" bat. Given that I obtained the bat personally from the player a full 4 years before the player's rookie year I knew that was impossible. Contacts to both Bushing and the auction house went unanswered and someone bought a 4 year old rookie bat of a HOFer.

    All these guys are collectors/dealers and well so there is a built in conflict of interest. When you contact these guys be sure that you tell them that you are NOT selling the bat, that you want to get an authentication and/or valuation for insurance purposes. You'll get a higher valuation that way as they will know up front you won't be asking for a buy offer from them and they;ll have no incentive to keep the value low.

  • scooter729scooter729 Posts: 1,730 ✭✭✭
    Welcome to the boards!

    Gehringer didn't happen to give your great grandmother a 1930 Babe Ruth contract as well, did he?
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    Bushing has been involved in more then one sleazy deal.


    Steve
    Good for you.
  • JBradJBrad Posts: 5
    Thank you for the welcome Scooter,,, and sorry,,, no Babe Ruth contract. I did however run accross an original photo of Chas, which I have now inherited, that appears to be from his highschool (or at least pre major league) baseball playing days.. My grandfather, who has since passed away, also used to tell me a story about how he would like to have a 1935 Detroit Tigers World Champion team signed baseball back. Apparently, he gave it away for auction to raise money for "war bonds" during the 40's. I wonder which museum that ball is sitting in now?

    Thanks again to all,, you have been very helpful and I am having fun researching the treasures which I now have.
  • JBradJBrad Posts: 5
    If anyone wants to see pictures of the bat I have posted them on gameuseduniverse.com. I wasn't able to post them here for some reason.
Sign In or Register to comment.