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SPALDING BAT DATING GUIDE |
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Spalding
has used a number of center brands and logos for their
baseball bats over the years. The Logo samples pictured
below are dated to the years they appear in the
Spalding catalogs. By matching the samples with the
logo on your bat you could approximately date to that
era. Variations in branding and model numbers could
narrow down the years, and will be added to the
description soon. |
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Sample |
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Manufacturing Period
Description |
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| 1880's-1905 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| This "Spalding Trade
Mark" logo with a
large baseball Logo appears in Spalding base
ball guides back to the 1880's, and on circa
late 1870's-1880's baseball bats. Models
include the top of the line 3/0 Wagon Tongue,
0'X Axletree (0XB for boys) and the inexpensive
2X Antique Finish. All Black end bats. |
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| 1900-1905 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
This Spalding Trade Mark Logo is the same
as the previous but smaller and has a outer
circle that reads "A.G. SPALDING BROS." at the
top and A.D.-1876" at the bottom. Noted
models that used this logo include; the 0X
Axletree, and the Gold Medal line,
Interesting to note "AXEL TREE" is
a misspelling
on this bat. |
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| 1895-1912 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| This "A.D. 1876" Spalding Logo has a smaller inner
baseball design with a smaller "Spalding" font,
and a slightly larger font for "TRADE" MARK"
above and below "SPALDING" solid line
stitching.
The outer circle
reads "A.G. SPALDING BROS." at the top and
A.D.-1876" at the bottom. |
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| 1895-1907 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| This "Makers" Spalding logo was first used in 1890.
The inner baseball logo reads "SPALDING" with
"TRADE" "MARK" above & below the stitching. The outer circle reads "A.G. SPALDING
BROS." at the top and "MAKERS" at the bottom.
This logo appears on baseball bats along with
the "A.G. Spalding" (in script)
and introduced as the Spalding "Autograph Model"
it was introduced in
1901 and produced until 1907. |
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| 1908-1914 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| The Spading Record
line of baseball bats were made from 1908-1914.
The Record was one of the most popular line of
bats at the time. Moderately priced, they came
in assorted lengths of 30"-35" and weights of
36-42 ounces. |
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| 1908-1916 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| The Spading "City
League" line of baseball bats were manufactured
from 1908-1916. The Spalding City League
Baseball bats had the catalog designation No.
25, a "Boy's Model" No. 35, and 35T (T-Taped
handle) |
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| 1912-1925 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| The Spalding
Player Autograph Bat line was introduced in
1908. The bat has the player's signature
centered with "SPALDING" above, and AUTOGRAPH"
below. The player signatures can narrow
down the specific years the bat was produced. I
will add the list of players for each year
soon. |
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| 1905-1908 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| The Spalding Gold Medal
bats were introduced in 1905. The
bats featured a Spalding Trademark logo decal,
followed by the Gold Medal decal, and then Spalding in script
towards the barrel. The bats were made
available in three models; No. GM, No. GMT
(taped) GMP (professional finish) & GMB (boys) |
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| 1908-1911 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| Spalding Gold Medal
Autograph Series was introduced in 1909. The
previous Gold Medal bats sold in 1905 through
1908 had a Gold Medal decal, Spalding in script
on the barrel, and had no signature. In 1912
The Spalding Gold Medal Autograph Series was
discontinued and until 1918 the Gold Medal Bats
just had model numbers. |
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| 1912-1918 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
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The Spalding Gold
Medal Autograph Series ended in 1911.
Spalding continued to make the Gold Medal bats
from 1912-1918, without the Player Autographs.
Instead the Gold Medal "Natural Finish" bats
came in 12 models, numbered N1-N12. The same
timber was used as their higher quality bats,
but "finished in a high French polish, with no
staining" otherwise, they were the same as the
Professional Oil finished bats |
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| 1909-1922 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| The Spalding League
baseball bat was added to the Spalding line of
Trade-Mark bats in 1909, and were continued to
be made into the 1920's. The early bats were
given the catalog designations, No. 50, 50T
(T-taped handle), No. 75 was added in 1911,
No.100 in 1919, and in 1921 No.'s 150, 150T. |
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| 1910-1920 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| This simple "Spalding"
center brand was used with a number of
different models and also appeared by itself. |
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| 1911-1921 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| The Spalding
"All Star" line of baseball bats was introduced
in 1911. Six models were offered that were
"composite" Models, "combining the best
features of several models in one bat" creating
an All Star model bat. In 1914 Spalding added
an additional 6 models to the All Star line
S1-S12. |
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| 1925-1930 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| This "A.G. SPALDING &
BROS" center brand has the model number above,
"OIL TEMPERED" below, reads HAND TURNED" at the
top, with "MADE IN CHICAGO." at the bottom,
cornered by an ornate engraved design to form
an oval. There are a couple of model variations
with this label that reads "CASED HARDENED" or
"PRO FINISH" at the top. |
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| 1926-1938 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| The "Diamond Ball" Logo two small
diamonds appear to the left and right of the
center brand Spalding baseball Logo. This
center brand starts hitting the market around
1926. The year of the "Autograph" Logos can be
narrowed down from the Player signature. |
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| 1934-1938 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| This "Diamond Ball" Logo differs
from the previous years. The logo is applied
with heat foil, and reads, "AIR DRIED-BONED" on
the left, Cased Hardened on the right. This
logo is used on bats for a short time starting
in 1934. |
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| 1937 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| This Spalding Logo was
used for a short time in the mid 1930's . The
heat foil "SPALDING TRADE MARK" baseball logo
is turned vertically and the diamonds are
removed, and reads, "AIR" & "DRIED"
to the
left and right of the Spalding Baseball logo, "Cased Hardened"
above, and "IMPREGMATED" at the bottom. This
logo is used on bats for a vary short time
possibly for one year around 1936. |
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| 1938-1939 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| This "SPALDING
TRADE MARK" baseball logo is simplified and
stands alone as the center brand. It is
the last year the words "Trade" & "Mark" appear
inside the baseball logo. |
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| 1940-1952 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| This Large
Spalding Baseball logo reads "MADE IN U.S.A."
at the top and "REG U.S. PAT. OFF." at the
bottom. Spalding uses 3 digit model
numbers inside the baseball logo. The words
"TRADE MARK" is removed from the baseball logo. |
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| 1953-1960 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| This Large
Spalding Baseball logo reads "MADE IN U.S.A."
at the top and "REG U.S. PAT. OFF." at the
bottom. Spalding starts using 4 digit model
numbers in 1953. |
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| 1961-1962 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| This Large
Spalding Baseball logo reads "MADE IN U.S.A."
at the top and "REG U.S. PAT. OFF." at the
bottom. Spalding starts using the Prefix 48-and
a 3 digit number for their bat models in 1961. |
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| 1963-1969 Bat
Manufacturing Period |
| The "SPALDING" Name Brand is
redesigned. Spalding is elongated and
is wider than the baseball logo behind it.
"MADE IN U.S.A" is placed at the top inside the
baseball, and the 3 digit model number with the
48 prefix remains at the bottom. In 1971
Spalding uses a 4 digit model number after the
"48-" prefix. |
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| Spalding Baseball Bat Timeline |
- 1877 Spalding introduces the
Spalding Line of "Trade-Marked" bats
- 1900 Spading becomes the
largest Manufacture of baseball bats in the United States.
- 1905 Spalding introduces the Gold
Medal line.
- 1907 Spalding introduces the
"Mushroom" bat
- 1908 Player Autograph Bats are
introduced.
- 1911 Spalding introduces the
All-Star Line of bats
- 1926 Spalding starts to use the
"Diamond Ball" Center Brand
- 1934 Spalding makes changes to the
"Diamond Ball" Logo
- 1940 Spalding places a 3 digit
model number inside the Baseball Logo
- 1953 Spalding uses a 4 digit model
number on bats
- 1961 Spalding
uses the Prefix 48-and a 3 digit number, model number
- 1971
Spalding uses a 4 digit model number after the
"48-" prefix.
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