With 435 career Home Runs, 2,725 hits (62nd All Time), and a total of 1,587 RBI’s (41st All time), Carlos Beltran is sitting in very select company awaiting his call for Cooperstown enshrinement soon. The former AL Rookie of the year was often a major piece of trade bait for contending teams, and in 2004, he was acquired by the red-hot Astros who were making a run at the World Series, while the Kansas City Royals were in a rebuilding period. The move paid off greatly for both Beltran and the Astros as Carlos went on to hit 23 Home Runs and steal 28 bases in 90 games with the NL Wild Card winning squad. Beltran’s hot hitting continued into the postseason in 2004 where he tied Barry Bonds single postseason record with eight Home Runs. The Astros ultimately fell to the Cardinals, winners of 105 games in the regular season, in seven games in the NLCS. Shortly after the season he became a free agent and signed a seven year, $119-million contract, the biggest in franchise history at the time for the NY Mets.

This Maple colored Louisville Slugger B373 model bat dates to Carlos Beltran’s very brief but effective tenure with the Houston Astros which may very well be considered the peak of his professional career. The bat has handle tape and a number “15” written on the knob and barrel in silver sharpie. The bat deep ball and stitch mark, white paint and blue ink transfers, and remains un-cracked. The barrel has been signed in gold by Beltran. This bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B17160) for the game use and has been graded a near-perfect GU 9.5, plus a LOA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication for the signature.

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