After 15 years with the San Francisco Giants, the team traded Willie McCovey away in 1974. McCovey’s absence played no small part in the Giants quick nosedive into the NL West cellar. McCovey played the next two seasons with the Padres, adding 45 more home runs to his eventual total of 521. McCovey continued his tour of California based teams when the A’s picked him up in 1976. By that time the Giants realized what a mistake they had made in letting a future 500 home run club member go, and they traded for him after the 1976 season ended.

McCovey used this Adirondack 288RJ during his San Diego and Oakland sojourn. The bat shows excellent use with a handle crack. There are several ball marks and abrasions on the barrel with cleat imprints and scuffs from contact with other equipment. McCovey’s number “44” is hand written on the knob in black ink and the Hall of Famer has signed the barrel in strong blue marker. The bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B13132) for the game use, grading a near-perfect GU 9 and COA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication for the signature.

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