When All-Star time came around in the summer of 1968 the people at the Adirondack Bat Company naturally made some of their custom stamped All-Star bats for the great Roberto Clemente. However, for the first and only time during the entire decade of the 1960’s, Roberto Clemente was not voted to the National League team. During the off season Clemente has injured his shoulder doing work around his house and started the 1968 season fighting to hit above .230. After the All-Star break he went on a tear and brought his average up to just below the .300 mark by the season’s end.

     This All-Star stamped Adirondack 129X was created for Clemente’s use in the Mid Summer Classic, and though he didn’t make the squad he did use the bat during the later half of the ’68 season. The barrel is stamped with the custom “R CLEMENTE 1968 ALL STARS”. The Adirondack bat is un-cracked and shows heavy use. There is some checking from repeated ball contact on the back barrel and some of the original finish appears to be flaking from its surface. Bat rack paint streaks are in evidence and there are abrasion marks and scuffs on the barrel end. As befits a Clemente gamer, the barrel is covered with ball marks and stitch impressions. Model number “129X” is stamped into the knob end and a light coat of pine tar is on its handle. The bat comes with a full LOA from PSA/DNA (E36435) for the game use and has been graded a GU 7.

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