tldr; My great grandfather may have gotten this bat from Walter Johnson as a gift.
My great grandfather was Henry Musser who worked as a farm hand in Germantown Maryland. Henry had three daughters (my great aunts). As a child my dad was very close to his grandfather Henry. Years later after Henry had passed one of my great aunts passed and this bat was in her belongings. It was assumed to be Henry's bat as it has a giant H on the bottom of it and was given to my dad as he was so close to Henry. Fast forward to a few weeks ago and Henry's last surviving daughter who is in her late 80's told us that this bad was not Henry's and was a gift to Henry's daughter from "Walt". The story goes that Henry worked on the farm that Walter retired to in Germantown. Walter and Henry became good friends and Henry would often bring his family to Walter's farm. At some point Walter gave to Henry or one of his daughters as a gift. When we asked why there is an H on the base my great aunt said she thinks either "Walt put it there as a gift to Henry" who gave it to his daughter or that Henry put it on the bat after the fact to mark it as his property. It seems unlikely that my great aunt is making this story up as our family aren't sports fans and nobody (including myself) even knew who Walter Johnson was other than Henry's friend. It wasn't until I googled Walter Johnson that I realized he is kind of a big deal and that this bat may have some significance .
Here is an album of the bat:
Can you guys point me in the right direction on authenticating this bat in some way?
My great grandfather was Henry Musser who worked as a farm hand in Germantown Maryland. Henry had three daughters (my great aunts). As a child my dad was very close to his grandfather Henry. Years later after Henry had passed one of my great aunts passed and this bat was in her belongings. It was assumed to be Henry's bat as it has a giant H on the bottom of it and was given to my dad as he was so close to Henry. Fast forward to a few weeks ago and Henry's last surviving daughter who is in her late 80's told us that this bad was not Henry's and was a gift to Henry's daughter from "Walt". The story goes that Henry worked on the farm that Walter retired to in Germantown. Walter and Henry became good friends and Henry would often bring his family to Walter's farm. At some point Walter gave to Henry or one of his daughters as a gift. When we asked why there is an H on the base my great aunt said she thinks either "Walt put it there as a gift to Henry" who gave it to his daughter or that Henry put it on the bat after the fact to mark it as his property. It seems unlikely that my great aunt is making this story up as our family aren't sports fans and nobody (including myself) even knew who Walter Johnson was other than Henry's friend. It wasn't until I googled Walter Johnson that I realized he is kind of a big deal and that this bat may have some significance .
Here is an album of the bat:
Can you guys point me in the right direction on authenticating this bat in some way?
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