The earliest known Ty Cobb game-used bat – this one dating to his rookie season of 1905 – sold for $1,074,544 in Grey Flannel’s November 2022 Holiday Auction. The bat is a Hillerich & Bradsby C28, a model specifically used from 1900-1905.
According to Grey Flannel, the bat “shows evidence of outstanding use with a slight crack on the upper handle. Ball marks can be seen on the right and back barrel.” Grey Flannel further described the bat as the “earliest known and best in existence.”