Winner Branded Bat.

It is believed by some experts in the hobby that the "Winner" branded baseball bats were made to be given away for selling magazine subscriptions. It was also noted that they searched through 1930-40's H&B guides, and none could be found listed for sale. I did the research myself, and found a "Winner" Regulation No. 90 in a 1955 Belknap catalog on a page selling Louisville Slugger baseball bats. I'm still trying to find a magazine that gives away a "Winner" baseball bat for selling magazine subscriptions.

UPDATE: The D&M "Winner" bat was given away as a prize in 1925, for two, 3 month subscriptions to the South Bend Tribune newspaper. It is possible that the Winner bat was used as an incentive to sell other subscription to magazines or newspapers, but this bat was not made specifically for this reason. The D&M No. 40 Winner bat does appear in their Sporting Goods catalog around 1917-1925, for .50¢, but features the D&M trademark Lucky Dog center brand.

The "Winner" bats are a generic brand of inexpensive baseball bats, made & branded by Louisville Slugger to be sold by mail order companies' and department stores. The 1955 Belknap ad reads: "The 'Winner' Regulation, Dark brown finish, Turned from ash or hickory." The word Winner is branded in the center, and the word Regulation out on the end." The ad pictures the N0. 90, but uses the Belknap wholesale catalog No. D48-90, priced at, Less carton, per dozen $22.80, and Full carton, per dozen $21.60.

There are two models made with the "Winner" center brand. "Regulation" and "League" All of the "Winner" Regulation baseball bats I have found had the catalog No. 90 but three. One that had the catalog No. 20, One with the catalog No. G200, and another with the catalog No. BB303. Every "League" model had the catalog No. 80. I am speculating that the different model No.'s on the "Regulation" bats, were made for different companies.

There are two styles of "Winner" Regulation baseball bats. One has "Regulation" in script on the barrel (as does the 1955 Belknap bat) and the other has "REGULATION" in print uppercase letters, and the "R" has a tail that extends below the letters "EGULATION" up to the "N" The difference might be used to date the bats but, until a print uppercase "Regulation" bat is found in a catalog we can only speculate which is older.

There is also a slight difference in the "L" on the "Leader Bats. One has a fancier looped "L" and tails below the "ea" the other tail barley reached the "a" Again this might be used to date the bats, when other samples are found in catalogs.

The " Winner" baseball bat also appears in a 1950's McClurg's Co. baseball bat Catalog, advertised under "High School, Collegiate, and Professional Bats" The Bats lasted in order were "Winner," H&B Safe Hit Model, and the Louisville Slugger 125 Autograph models.

MORE PHOTOS


Winner Brand script Regulation Baseball Bat	Winner Brand print Regulation Baseball Bat


1955 Belknap Winner Regulation Bat ad	Winner League model Bats

1951 Stratten-Warren Hardware Company catalog Winner No. 90 Regulation bat

1951 Stratten-Warren Hardware Co. catalog "Winner" No. 90 baseball bat ad.

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