On a mighty team made up of strong personalities - Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, Carl Furillo, Roy Campanella - one man stood out for his quiet, rock-solid presence - first baseman Gil Hodges. The voice of reason and strength, Hodges emerged from being a third-string catcher to become one of the most beloved players ever to wear a Dodger uniform.

The Dodgers made it to the Fall Classic in 1947, 1949, 1952 and 1953, only to fall short of the ultimate prize each time. What was even more frustrating – as if the losses weren’t enough – was the fact that on each of these occasions, the Dodgers were beaten by the cross-town New York Yankees, with the Series twice going the full seven games. At long last, and with great relief to all of their fans, the Dodgers finally crossed the finish line in 1955, reaching baseball’s summit after an epic seven-game World Series victory. Their opponent? Naturally, the Yankees.

This offered Rawlings Adirondack 113A model bat was one of the sticks used to dethrone the hated Yankees and was used by the great Gil Hodges. Hodges had a solid World Series collecting 7 hits in 24 at-bats for a .292 average. Hodges blasted a home run to deep right-center at Ebbets Field off Don Larsen in Game 4 that helped tie the series. This un-cracked bat displays light game use with ball marks on the left and back barrel. “WORLD SERIES 1955” is prominently stamped on the barrel, along with the engraved signature “Gil Hodges” with “PERSONAL MODEL” above and “LIGNINIZED” below. The bat’s model number “113A” is stamped on the knob. This bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B19199) for the game use and has been graded a solid GU 8.5. Additionally, there is a letter of provenance from Irene Hodges, the daughter of the late Gil Hodges.

Auction Notepad