Sal Bando manned the hot corner for Charlie Finley’s Oakland Athletics juggernaut of the early 1970s. Though he didn’t hit for average, Bando defied the stereotype of a weak-hitting third baseman by making a name for himself as a long ball threat. Bando was just the second third baseman in American League history to reach the 200-career home run mark, and he would finish up with 242. Bando was one of those rare players who seemed to come alive in the post season, hitting five homers in 17 playoff games from 1971 to 1974. One of them, a solo shot in Game 3 of the 1974 ALCS, would be the game winner for the A’s.

This offered bat dates from Bando’s last season with the A’s, 1976. The bat is stamped with the special Bicentennial logo only found on Hillerich & Bradsby’s 1976-manufactured bats. What’s more interesting is that Bando signed and gifted this bat to Joe DiMaggio. The legendary Hall of Famer was a batting coach for the A’s during Bando’s time in Oakland. The Hillerich & Bradsby P89 Bicentennial model bat shows great game use. The barrel displays many ball marks and abrasions which include ink transfers. There are bat rack paint streaks on all sides along with cleat imprints. There is a light coat of pine tar on the handle and the knob end has “BP. 6” in black marker. The best part of this Bando gamer is his inscription to Joe DiMaggio, “DiMag To a great friend both on and off the field Good Luck, Sal.” This bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B18455) for the game use and a LOA from Beckett Authentication for the signature.

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