of the wood exterior is evident, largely at the underside of the box. The lid of the footlocker is emblazoned with the words “THE HELL FIRE BOYS” in metal rivets. The nickname “Hell Fire Boys” was given to the 30th Engineer Regiment (Gas and Flame) in a November, 1917 re- port in the Baltimore Evening Star . In July of 1918 it was redesigned as the 1st Gas Regiment, and included Baseball Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson and Branch Rickey. The catching equipment is well-worn, the three adult-sized chest pro- tectors exhibiting visible staining and tearing with two of them miss- ing their straps and the straps of the third only attached on one side. All three appear identical, the manufacturer unclear. The masks have fared somewhat better, as follows: 1) Goldsmith model: Well-used, but with all padding, straps and buckles intact. Staining is evident throughout, as is oxidation on the metal cage. The Goldsmith tag is clear and legible. 2) Unknown model: Well-used, with straps and buckles intact. Light chipping and tearing to the piping and padding as well as some cracking to the leather buckles and oxidation on the met- al cage. 3) Unknown model: Buckles intact but straps missing, visible chipping, cracking and tearing to the leather padding and oxidation on the metal cage. Beyond the footlocker, it is the nine bats that are the selling point here. All well-preserved, with deep, visible stamping and a rich, auburn hue, the bats are of different sizes and weights. Bats include 1) Hillerich & Bradsby Eddie Collins model: Beautiful YMCA stamping near the centerbrand, Collins’ script signature clearly visible. Bat measures 34” in length and 34 oz., with a thin knob. Some light streaks and minor chips are visible, with no visible deadwood. 2) Hillerich & Bradsby Ty Cobb model: approximately 34” and 38.5 oz, a gorgeous bat with deep stamping and a visible YMCA logo at the centerbrand. Rich, brown coloring with little visible deadwood, heavy signs of wear including cleat marks and what appears to be ball impressions on the back barrel. 3) Hillerich & Bradsby Ty Cobb “Major League Special” decal mod- el: approximately 32 3/4” and 35 oz., well-worn with visible abrasions at the decal, though Cobb’s name is still visible. Deep stamping and clear YMCA logo, a very thin crack in the handle and many scuffs and cleat marks around the barrel. Surface abrasions have scuffed
away some of the stamping at the centerbrand. 4) Hillerich & Bradsby Frank Baker Decal Bat: approxmately 32” and 42 oz., retail model 40 FB. Well-worn with significant scuffing having worn away most of the decal, the subject identifiable only by the model number. Still, the bat is well-preserved, a rich, auburn color with some cleat marks visible around the barrel. 5) W.E. Mains “Oil Hardened” Bat: Gorgeous bat manufactured by W.E. Mains of Sand Creek, Maine. Wide-handled, 32” bat weighs 35 1/2 oz., well-preserved and clean with some cleat marks and scuffs throughout and minor checking on the back barrel. 6) Spalding KC Indoor Bat: Gorgeous fungo-style bat measures 32 3/4” and weighs just 28 1/2 ounces. Very thin barrel measures approx- imately 1.5” in diameter. Some light scuffs, and a very faint Knights of Columbus stamp on the back barrel. 7) Spalding League Bat: Beau- tifully-preserved 31” bat weighing 42 1/2 ounces, “Spalding League” stamped into the centerbrand. Signs of light use including a few cleat marks. 8) Spalding KC M4 Bat: Approximately 33 1/2” in length with a deeply-embedded KC stamp on the back barrel, well-worn with cleat marks, a few chips and some areas of light checking. Approximately 33 ounces. 9) Spalding M8 Bat: 32” thin bat weighing 31 oz., clean with some light staining at the back barrel. An outstanding and historically significant collection of well-pre- served wartime relics. Please note that the size and weight of this item will result in significant shipping costs.
MINIMUM BID: $3,000
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