After missing the first month of the 2009 season due to a torn labrum, Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup with a vengeance by homering on the first pitch of his first at-bat during the May 8th game. 2009 also marked the first year of the brand new Yankee Stadium and Rodriguez didn’t get to play at the new ballpark until May 15th.

During the May 16th game, Rodriguez came up to bat in the bottom of the 11th inning with the score tied at four. Facing Minnesota Twins lefty reliever Craig Breslow with Mark Teixeira on first base, Alex Rodriguez sent Breslow’s 0-1 pitch deep into the left field seats to send the capacity crowd of 45,455 home happy with not only his first ever home run at the new Yankee Stadium, but a walk-off home run to boot. It was A-Rod’s 555th career home run.

This is the very bat that Alex Rodriguez used to hit his first-ever home run at the new Yankee Stadium. This Louisville Slugger C271L model bat displays outstanding game use and is un-cracked. There are ball marks, stitch impressions and chipped wood present on the barrel. Additional marks on the barrel also include cleat imprints. There is a coating of pine tar on the lower handle and “2/23/2009” and “34/32oz” is stamped on the knob, indicating the date of manufacture, length and weight. Rodriguez has signed his name on the barrel in bold silver marker and inscribed “game used 5/16/09 Career HR #555 vs. Craig Breslow Walk-Off”. This bat comes with an MLB Authenticated hologram (LH198249), authenticating this bat’s use for the May 16th and Rodriguez’s walk-off home run. Please note that the MLB database incorrectly listed the walk-off home run in the 10th inning. There is also a LOA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication for the signature and inscriptions.

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