Hi! I need some help ID'ing this... thing?

Dockers · June 16, 2011 1:28PM

Hi everyone,

Thank you for allowing me into this community. I used to be a big-time baseball collector, but in recent years have fallen off. I am emptying out my attic in order to sell some things to pay for an upcoming move, and I ran into this item: (pics at bottom)

It is a coin bank, and it has baseball team embossed 'bats' around the sides. The slot for the coins is at the top; in order to get the top off, you take the bats off and unscrew the top. The bottom of this contraption reads "TO OPEN / REMOVE BATS / TURN TOP", and "MADE IN USA". If I remember correctly, I was given this probably 15-20 years ago by a family friend.

I am looking, first, for an idea as to who makes this and secondly, a ballpark estimate of how much it may be worth. I appreciate your time in reading this far and look forward to the responses.

Best,
Patrick

EchoCanyon · June 16, 2011 1:34PM

A simple search in ebay completed auctions for "baseball bat bank" yielded this:

Are you sitting on a gold mine?

Dockers · June 16, 2011 1:36PM

Oh wow. I feel a little embarrassed now, ha. Well, thanks for the heads up!

hhmag70 · June 16, 2011 1:40PM

Based on the Cubs logo on yours I would guess it dates to the 70's, seems someone also made them more recently.

swartz1 · June 16, 2011 1:44PM

No reason to feel embarrassed...

that is the purpose of this forum...

to help one another...

heritage · June 16, 2011 2:11PM

No reason to feel embarrassed...

that is the purpose of this forum...

to help one another...

Well said!!

Blackie · June 16, 2011 2:47PM

Welcome Dockers.... There are quite a few good collectors on the boards. I learn something on here all the time.

captainthreeputt · June 16, 2011 3:34PM

It is truly amazing that on this board, very seldom are you unable to get a question properly answered. The knowledge is unbelievable, and the internet savvy of some others is unbelievable.

cincyredlegs · June 16, 2011 9:29PM

I bought the NL and AL version back around 1981 at a flea market for $1/ea. I still have them both. The funny thing is, they sold on Ebay for a ton more than I thought they would. I figured they were still worth $1/ea.

Mark

YogiBerraFan · June 16, 2011 10:47PM

That is a pretty cool bank.

gonzer · June 16, 2011 10:51PM

<< <i>No reason to feel embarrassed...

that is the purpose of this forum...

to help one another... >>

THE basic premise of any good forum.

frankhardy · June 17, 2011 2:09AM

Looks like these are worth between $20 and $40. I have one of those. I didn't know they were that valuable.

divecchia · June 17, 2011 3:02AM

to the boards...

Donato

vtbub · June 17, 2011 5:07AM

Looks very similar to a Little League World Series bank I got as a gift in 1980. Same base, same bat design, except the LLWS bats had all the champions year by year on each bat. Very cool.

I'd say by the Astros logo, pre-1978. Mid 70's is about right.

Very cool piece.

fkw · June 17, 2011 11:24AM

There are a few different types, yours is from the 1970's and has plastic bats. Its a bit nicer than the newer ones with the autographs (1980s), but not as nice and desirable compared to the wooden bats ones that are a bit older.

ie wooden
1960s wooden bats type
these have different color stands too

1980s plastic signature type

Hi! I need some help ID'ing this... thing?

Comments