From 1905 through 1915 “Wahoo Sam” Crawford was among the game’s top players. Crawford led the league in RBI three times and home runs twice – quite a feat since he was competing against teammate Ty Cobb for the league’s top statistical spots. During this time Crawford was one of the leaders of the Tigers clubs that won three consecutive pennants and the Cobb/Crawford combination was thought to be the most powerful offensive duo the game had ever seen. Thus, when bat manufacturers began producing player-specific and endorsed bats, Sam Crawford was one of the first signed to a contract.

This Spalding Sam Crawford Gold Medal model bat displays outstanding use with a repaired handle crack. Many vintage ball marks can be seen on the barrel along with cleat imprints. The knob end has the Spalding logo stamped into the wood along with the number “32” impressed into four places around the logo, the meaning of which is unknown. The stamped trademark on the knob identifies this bat as a retail model, however this does not rule out its being used in a Major League game. While the professional grade bats supplied to Major League players by Spalding omitted the company stamp on the knob and show visible lathe markings, PSA/DNA has documented that several ballplayers, including Sam Crawford, used retail Spalding Gold Medal Autograph Model bats alongside their professional grade bats. A Spalding bat signed by Crawford and dated “November 16, 1913” was part of early game used collector Eddie Maier’s collection and was featured in a 1916 photograph of him with his bats. The center brand on this bat is of the type used by Spalding during the 1910-1911 period. The bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B13049) for the game use.

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