Drafted by his hometown Baltimore Orioles in 1978, Cal Ripken Jr spent the next two seasons in the low minor leagues. After hitting above .300 for 1979, the Orioles promoted Ripken to their Double-A team in Charlotte. Junior spent the entire 1980 season with the Charlotte O’s where he hit .276 and clubbed 25 home runs, a new club record. Charlotte won the Southern League Championship and Cal earned himself an invite to Baltimore’s spring training camp the next spring.

Ripken’s pre-rookie 1980 Louisville Slugger M159 model bat displays heavy use and has a handle crack. Many ball marks with stitch impressions are visible on the left and back barrel along with cleat imprints on the right barrel. Red and blue bat rack paint streaks can be seen, and a black residue is present in a few spots. The mid and upper handle has been taped in a spiral to enhance the grip and a moderate coat of pine tar applied. Ripken’s number “16,” worn during his time with the Charlotte O’s in 1980, has been handwritten on the barrel in black marker. The Iron Man has signed the barrel in blue marker and added, “Bluefield W.Va. 1978.” A stunning pre-rookie bat from one of the most revered ballplayers of the modern era. This bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B07221) for the game use and has been graded a solid GU 8.5 and a COA from Beckett Authentication for the signature.

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