2019 Summer Premium Live and Catalog Auction Lots 1-82 Close Aug 1- 83-end close 8/10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/11/2019
Though Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Whitey Ford took all the headlines on the late 1950s-early 60s Yankees, it was the lesser known players that really formed the backbone of the team that won 5-straight pennants and back-to-back World Championships from 1960 to 1964. One key to their success was the rock-solid double-play combo of shortstop Tony Kubek and second baseman Bobby Richardson. During that five year stretch Tony Kubek not only excelled in the field but also made two All-Star Game appearances.
1960 was Kubek’s best season in the majors. He hit a nice .273 and hit a career-high 14 home runs as the Yankees won their final pennant under the leadership of Casey Stengel. In the World Series against Pittsburgh, Kubek also turned in his best performance out of the six Fall Classics he played in with the Yankees. Playing in all seven games, Kubek hit the Pirates pitching at a .333 clip. Of his 10 hits one was a double and he knocked in three New York runs. This offered bat was made specially for Tony Kubek’s use in the 1960 Series.
The Hillerich & Bradsby B211 model bat shows outstanding use with a slight handle crack. The barrel boasts the custom “WORLD SERIES 1960” and “NEW YORK YANKEES” stamping above and below Kubek’s name in block letters. Many ball marks with stitch impressions are found on the right and left barrel and cleat imprints are visible on the left, right and back barrel. Several black ink transfers are visible, particularly around the barrel stamping. Green and blue bat rack paint streaks are present and the model number “B211” is stamped into the knob end. Mounting holes once located on the top and knob ends have been filled, and “TONY” in faded black marker is on the knob end. The “ON” of “TONY” has been obscure by the mounting hole restoration. This is a tremendous example of a custom-made World Series bat with all the wear and detail one would want on a post-season Yankees World Series gamer. The bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B03588) for the game use and has been graded a near-perfect GU 9.