Outstanding piece of memorabilia used by the infamously corrupt bad boy of baseball.  One of the most widely-collected deadball era players not enshrined in the Hall of Fame, Chase was known on the field primarily for his outstanding glove work, but did compile a lifetime .291 batting average, leading the Federal League with 17 home runs in 1915.  He also led the National League in batting with a .339 average the following season, at 33 years old.

Presented here is one of the tools of the trade, a massive club used by Chase at some point during the labeling period of 1912-1919.  Measuring 34.5 inches in length and weighing in at a whopping 41.3 ounces, the Spalding pro model bat exhibits outstanding evidence of use, with many ball marks visible on all parts of the barrel, along with cleat impressions at the front and left barrel.  A handle crack is evident, repaired with a screw and nails that add to the bat's weight.  A shadow exists on the bat handle where tape had once helped secure the crack.

The bat itself is identified as a professional model due to the brand and player name being displayed in block lettering at the center and barrel.  Retail bats offered by Spalding - including those of Hal Chase - were autograph models only, not in block letters.  These characteristics helped authenticator John Taube identify this as a professional model bat, manufactured for and game used by Chase.  Taube has also identified that some of the use occurred after the bat had been cracked, clearly attributed to someone other than Prince Hal.  

Based on the bat matching available factory records and clear signs of player use, along with the signs of repair, PSA/DNA has assigned the bat a grade of PSA/DNA GU 7.  An outstanding piece of memorabilia, a professional model Hal Chase gamer manufactured by Spalding, one of the finest deadball era gamers we have handled.