October Legends Closing October 29
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2016
In 1949 it looked like Eddie Waitkus was really bound for stardom. After playing three seasons with the Cubs, Waitkus was traded to the Phillies where he became the nucleus of the “Wizz Kids” who turned the moribund team into a pennant contender. While Waitkus was happy about his trade to Philly, his biggest fan in Chicago was not.
Ruth Ann Steinhagen was a mentally disturbed Cubs fan that had become obsessed with Waitkus when he played in Wrigley. Steinhagen’s obsession was so encompassing that she went so far as to teach herself Lithuanian, the language of Waitkus’ ancestors. Her obsession came to a violent head when she booked a room in the same hotel the visiting Phillies were staying in when they arrived to play Chicago. Steinhagen left a note asking Waitkus to stop by her room and when he appeared, shot him point blank with a .22 pistol. Waitkus, who had survived combat in the South Pacific and was awarded four Bronze Stars, now faced the battle of his life. The bullet barely missed his heart but the doctors had a hard time removing the missile. Waitkus reputably died several times on the operating table before he was stabilized.
In a miraculous recovery, Waitkus was back in uniform barely two months later. Steinhagen was never convicted of any crime, instead she was bundled off to an insane asylum. In 1950 Waitkus led the Phillies to their first National League pennant since 1915 and won the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award. His story inspired millions of Americans, one of which was author Bernard Malamud, who appropriated the shooting scene for his novel “The Natural”. The book was published in 1952 and was made into a Hollywood film starring Robert Redford and Glenn Close in 1984.
Eddie Waitkus’ Hillerich & Bradsby U1 model bat displays heavy use. A handle crack and a chip on the knob have been professionally repaired and the wood appears to have been oiled. A nice bat used by the man whose incredible comeback inspired a classic and loved sports movie. This bat comes with a Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA (1B10328).