This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2016
ADDENDUM: Heading and images updated from catalog. Hooper played for Chicago White Sox during this era, not the Cubs. Bat has been restored and graded GU 8 by PSA/DNA since it was initially photographed for the catalog.
Hall of Famer Harry Hooper began his fine baseball career with the Boston Red Sox (1909-20) before finishing up with the Chicago White Sox from 1921 to 1925. Hooper was part of the fabled "Million Dollar Outfield" along with Tris Speaker and Duffy Lewis in Boston where he established himself as one of baseball's top defensive rightfielders and an adept leadoff hitter for the Red Sox during their run of four World Series titles. It was with the White Sox, though, that Hooper truly developed into an offensive force, batting .302 with 45 home runs in his five seasons there--30 points higher than his cumulative average in Beantown where he hit a total of just 30 home runs in twelve years. This lot features a circa 1923-25 Harry Hooper Hillerich & Bradsby 'H4' professional model game-used bat, graded GU 8 by PSA/DNA, from some of Hooper's better years at the plate.
The 34.88" and 37 oz. H&B ash bat originally was presented to us with a substantial handle crack that has since been professionally repaired. It exhibits evidence of excellent use with slight checking on the left and back barrel along with a small chip missing from the top right barrel. Many ball marks and ball stitch impressions are visible on the right, left and back barrel. The scarcity and antiquity of a Harry Hooper gamer, let alone any bat from the early 1920's, cannot be understated. Only one other Hooper game-used example has surfaced publicly according to our research, and that was a 1911-16 H&B Side Written bat that sold at auction for $23,116 in 2012. This marvelous example from his final playing days is sure to raise some eyebrows among early bat collectors.
Includes full PSA/DNA letter from John Taube graded GU 8.