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1933-34 Hank Greenberg Game Used Sidewritten Rookie-Era Bat, PSA/DNA GU 10....
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Sold on May 17, 2024 for:
$102,000.00
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Description
1933-34 Hank Greenberg Game Used Sidewritten Rookie-Era Bat, PSA/DNA GU 10. Class tells," Jackie Robinson was once quoted as saying. "It sticks out all over Mr. Greenberg." These two legendary figures are linked by far more than Hall of Fame credentials and a mutual admiration (Greenberg was among the only opposing players to welcome Robinson to the Majors in 1947), as each also rates among the bravest men ever to wear a professional athletic uniform. Before African-Americans became the prime target for racist fans, it was the Jews, and Greenberg in particular who drew the taunts and curses of fans and opponents alike.It has been rather convincingly argued that 1938 would have seen Greenberg break Babe Ruth's 1927 home run record, but seeing the danger that a Jew might assume this throne, opposing pitchers chose to walk the Tiger slugger rather than give him a shot at the Babe. And so Greenberg would finish the season with 119 free passes, the highest in the American League that season, and the greatest total of his career.
Times were never tougher for Greenberg than they were during the earliest seasons of his career, the period from which this monumentally important and desirable war club derives. The block lettered "Greenberg" on the barrel of the provided Spalding No. 200 bat assured production prior to the Semitic slugger's American League MVP season of 1935 when a contract signed with Hillerich & Bradsby, beginning the production of the signature model he would use for the rest of his playing days.
This thrilling specimen is the bat from which that signature model was cloned at the famous Louisville factory, the proof found in the bold black handwritten text on a planed section of upper barrel that reads, "7-13-34 32oz. Hank.Greenberg 7-13-34 Detroit. BC." A few inches to the left, the upper handle bears lighter grease pencil text reading, "H.Greenberg Detroit BBC." The experts at PSA/DNA have confirmed that the writing matches that of Henry Morrow, who was the pro player representative at Hillerich & Bradsby and personally applied the sidewriting to hundreds of bats during his tenure.
As sidewritten bats existed for the purpose of duplication, it should come as no surprise that the war club exhibits outstanding game use because only a well-loved bat would be selected by a player for such a purpose. Ball marks and stitch impressions coat the barrel, while traces of pine tar appear on the uncracked handle. Length is thirty-six inches (36"), weight thirty-four ounces (34 oz.). With the bat having been delivered to Louisville in mid-July of 1934, we can attribute all game use to the first two hundred games of Greenberg's Hall of Fame career, so this lumber offers rookie-era bona fides to join its sidewritten status. And let's not forget that the Detroit Tigers made it all the way to the seventh game of the 1934 World Series before falling to the St. Louis Cardinals, so this bat participated in the capture of an American League pennant. Considering these facts, a strong argument could be made that this is the finest Greenberg bat in private hands. LOA from PSA/DNA, GU 10.
Auction Info
2024 May 16 - 18 Spring Sports Catalog Auction #50069 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
May, 2024
16th-18th
Thursday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 22
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 659
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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