Babe Ruth 100th Anniversary Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2014
Already the Yank's most popular player and among the best catchers in the game, Munson simply dominated the AL throughout 1976. His .302 average, 17 homers and 105 RBI combined with his undisputed clubhouse leadership won him the AL's MVP Award. In the post season Munson demonstrated his batting heroics when he hit .435 against the Royals and then a God-like .529 in the World Series. 1976 was the high point of Munson's brilliant career and this is one of the bats he used that centennial season. Due to Munson's untimely and tragic death in his 1979 plane crash, any Munson game used item is treasured. This bat, one of the few authenticated as game used by the Yankee great, is truly special as it dates to the greatest season of his short career. Besides the historic nature of this bat, it is further endowed with a feature that separates it from bats produced at any other time in the games history: to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the United States, bat maker Hillerich & Bradsby marked each bat ordered in 1976 with a special 1776-1976 Liberty Bell design stamped into the barrel between the oval brand and facsimile signature. Any Liberty Bat is prized by bat collectors, but this one is all the more special as it was used by that years AL MVP: Thurman Munson.
The Hillerich & Bradsby model S44 shows outstanding game use with a repaired handle crack. Many ball marks and stitch impressions can be seen on all sides of the barrel as are cleat imprints. Blue and green bat rack streaks mark the barrel and a light coat of pine tar coats the handle. Munson's number "15" is hand written in black marker on the knob end. The stamped centennial graphic is bold and deeply imprinted. Over all this is an impressive piece of lumber once swung by one of the most beloved Yankees of all time. Letter of Authenticity 1B07678 from PSA/DNA who have examined this bat and graded it a GU 9. Also comes with LOA from Ron Bardo, former Cleveland Indians batboy.