Cincinnati, Ohio, is the birthplace of professional baseball, with the Cincinnati Red Stockings earning the designation of the first professional baseball nine in 1869. Just eight years later, this trophy bat was awarded to the winner of the Shamrocks versus Hillrhines contest on July 4th, 1877. The bat was a part of Cincinnati’s “Porkopolis Days” event, which paid tribute to Cincinnati’s history as a focal point of America’s hog packing industry. Evidently, Shamrocks emerged as the victor in this early baseball game, scoring 39 runs to the 21 of Hillrhines. On the same day, the National League Cincinnati Reds recorded a 10-1 home win at Avenue Grounds against Jim Devlin and the Louisville Grays. This bat is 37 inches long and with its distinctive thick handle, is notable for being one of the earliest, and one of only a few trophy bats known, to have been awarded on July 4th, making this a true relic of America’s National Pastime. This bat is a hefty piece of vintage Ohio lumber, weighing in at roughly 50 ounces. “Shamrocks BBC 39 vs Hillrhines BBC 21”, “Porkopolis Days”, and “July 4th 1887” are painted in gold on the brown barrel. A remarkable piece of baseball history, this patriotic bat is a must have for the studious collector. 

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