Goldin Elite Auction Ending May 22-23
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/23/2021
This lot closes on May 23rd, 2021 at 10:00 PM EDT for initial bids.
Believe it of not, coming out of spring training in 2001 the Cardinals felt they did not have room for a rookie named Albert Pujols, despite the fact that he pounded the ball all spring. It took veteran Mark McGwire to convince Cards manager Tony La Russa that not taking the kid to St. Louis would be the biggest mistake of his career. McGwire was right – Pujols went on to have one of the greatest rookie seasons in Cardinals history.
Pujols’ rewarded La Russa’s decision by belting 37 home runs and driving in 130, all while maintaining a lofty .329 batting average as he was the unanimous selection for NL Rookie of the Year. Offered here is one of the bat used by Pujols during his breakout 2001 and rookie season. This Louisville Slugger C243 model bat displays outstanding game use and is un-cracked. There are ball marks, blue ink transfers and black bat rack streaks present on the barrel. Pujols’ number “5” is handwritten in black marker on the knob and inside the cupped barrel end. Pujols has signed his name in black marker on the barrel and inscribed “#5 ‘01”. This bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA for the game use and has been given the highest possible grade of GU 10, plus a COA signed by then-Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa, whose Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation acquired this bat and that the bat was signed by Pujols.