Using his own philosophy to “keep your eye clear and hit ‘em where they ain’t," Willie Keeler became one of the greatest hitters of the Deadball era. Before Ty Cobb, Willie Keeler was second only to Cap Anson in career hits, winning back-to-back batting crowns in 1897 and 1898. Pitchers found that Keeler was almost impossible to strikeout, averaging more than 60 at-bats between whiffs, and his at-bat-per-strikeout ratio is still the Major League record. Contemporaries called him “Wee Willie” due to his diminutive build, yet for 18 big league seasons he effortlessly managed to out-hit men twice his size.

     While starring for the Orioles in the 1890s, Keeler originated the “Baltimore Chop”, in which he would “chop” the ball into the ground hard enough to make it bounce high above the infielder’s head. While the fielder was waiting for the ball to fall into his mitt, Keeler would use his blinding speed to beat the throw to first. In 1897, Keeler set the record for longest hitting streak with 44 games, a mark that held until Joe DiMaggio topped it in 1941. Keeler also held the record for most consecutive seasons of 200 hits with eight, unbroken until Ichiro surpassed it almost a century later. In 1903 Keeler was a member of the first New York Highlanders squad, and as such recorded the first hit in the history of the Yankees franchise.

     Keeler used this Pontiac Turning Co. model bat during the labeling period between 1900-1912. The Pontiac Turning Co. was a manufacturer of bats from the early 1900s to 1911 and although the company’s factory records are unknown, they did have a working relationship with Louisville Slugger. By 1912, the Pontiac Turning Co. was acquired by J.F. Hillerich & Sons Company as a way to increase production of their brand of baseball bats. Keeler was known as “Wee Willie” for his 5’ 4 1/2” frame and he’s the shortest player enshrined in Cooperstown, and as such, he also swung the shortest bat, 32 inches, just two inches longer than the MLB minimum. This offered bat weighs 36 ounces and is consistent with the weight range of bats used by Keeler during this era. The handle has thick black tape starting from the middle of the handle and runs to the lower barrel covering approximately 8 ½ inches. “KEELER” is stamped on the knob and the Pontiac Turning Co branding is on the barrel. This bat displays heavy game use displaying numerous cleat marks, checking on the barrel and deadwood on the back of the barrel. A museum-worthy bat if there ever was one and this bat comes with a full LOA from Mears (315376) authenticating the game use to Keeler.

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