2019 Winter Auction Closing March 2
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/2/2019
In the late 1930’s, Ben Chapman was the best lead-off batter in the game and the most daring base runner in the American League. Playing for the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians, Chapman hit .340 and .290 in 1938 and 1939, the seasons this gamer dates to. The Hillerich & Bradsby pre-model bat shows heavy use with a crack from the handle into the front barrel. Two chips are missing from the handle and the barrel shows many ball marks. The handle had once been taped to secure the crack, but this has since been removed. Chapman has signed the barrel in black marker, completing this great pre-war gamer. The bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B14817) for the game use and has been graded a GU 7.5, plus a LOA from JSA (Z67445) for the signature.