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Description

Best in Class

1956 Ted Williams 400th Home Run Bat PSA/DNA GU 10.

Best-In-Class Expert Analysis/Summary:

When historians and fans assemble their list of the greatest hitters in baseball history, it almost always comes down to two names at the very top: Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. Their most critical offensive numbers are virtually interchangeable, making the argument travel in a circular motion. One thing that makes the discussion so challenging is that Williams lost years during his prime due to military service. Even with the lost time, Williams achieved major milestones. While reduced, the sample size provided by Williams was more than sizable enough to grasp his unique talent. Williams finished his career with an impressive 521 homers, including one in his final at-bat. Still, we'll never know what could have been.

Williams used this extraordinary bat to record his 400th career home run in 1956. A letter of provenance from former Boston Red Sox batboy John Orlando, Jr. accompanies the bat. His father, John Sr., was the team's equipment manager. What makes this bat so exceptional, beyond the provenance and historical value, is that it is an ideal Williams gamer aside from those attributes. The extent of use and notable player characteristics, such as the heavy coat of olive oil and rosin along the handle and the painted "9" (Williams' uniform number) on the knob, add terrific eye appeal to a bat that has clearly been cared for properly over time. The combination of its origin, milestone connection, and beauty make it an elite example.