This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/1/2019
Willie Mays is one of the greatest all-around players the game of baseball has ever seen. Although he started off his rookie year in a slump, he finished the season with a .274 batting average, 20 home runs, and 68 RBIs, showing the world a glimpse of what was to come in his 22 season career. A National League Rookie of the Year and two-time National League MVP, he was the first player to reach both the elusive 500 Home Run Club and the 3000 Hit Club. Offered here is a seldom-seen game used bat from the Say Hey Kid. The Adirondack model 113A bat shows evidence of outstanding use with a crack on the handle. Many ball mark and stitch impressions are present on the barrel, while both the model number and Mays' number "24" is on the knob. The black ring on the handle has been removed and the bat has been refinished. It is worth noting that Mays' number "24" has been drawn over what appears to be a fading number "29". The number "29" was worn by Nate Olivier in 1968 and Tito Fuentes in 1969-1970, so the bat may have been used by one of the two of them as well during this era. The 35" ash piece of lumber has been graded a GU 6 by game used bat expert John Taube with PSA/DNA.