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Carl C. Callahan, together with Owen
J. Bush, Frank McKinney and Stanley
Feezle, organized the Bush-Callahan
firm in 1937, when the four men
purchased the Gus Habich company. The
company named Bush-Feezle sporting
Goods company was established at 136
East Washington street, Indianapolis,
Indians. Owen Joseph "Donie" Bush was
the starting shortstop for the Detroit
Tigers from 1908 to 1921 and an
infielder for the Washington Senators
from 1921 to 1923.
In 1944 McKinney and Callahan acquired the assets of the Bush-Feezle
sporting Goods Company. The new owners
and the firm became known as the
Bush-Callahan Sporting Goods Company.
Carl Callahan purchased control, and was named President.
A WWI veteran, Callahan also organized
the Indiana Service Baseball League in
1944. Plans for the season were made by
representatives of the five military
units. The teams were Stout Field, Camp Atterbury, Freeman Field, Bunker Hill
Naval air Station, and Ft. Harrison.
The Bush-Callahan Co. was sold in 1957
to Otto L. Hurrle of the Ott
Hurrle Athletic Supplies Co. which he
continued to operate. The new company
became Bush-Callahan Co., Inc. In 1963
the Bush-Callahan store relocated to
occupy the fifth and sixth floors of
the L. Strauss & Co. building at
Washington and Illinois streets.
Bush-Callahan Sporting Goods Co. Inc.,
dissolved in 1978.
The "Bush-Callahan, Sporting Goods Co., Indianapolis" model pictured here
is the only known example in the hobby.
During World War II, many manufacturers
of sporting goods equipment contributed
to the war effort by dedicating their
time and materials to making military
equipment. There was a wood shortage
which continued after the war and
baseball bats were a rarity during this
period. It is more than likely that
this bat was produced some time around
1947-1957.
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Bush-Callahan Sporting
Goods Co. baseball bat |
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KEYMAN COLLECTIBLES
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