When the 1969 season began, Hank Aaron had 510 home runs, a tremendous total, but still only good enough for the ninth spot on the all-time career list. Of the other eight, only Willie Mays was still active, and it was he, not Aaron, who was thought to have a shot at Ruth’s cherished record of 714. Aaron had never made a serious run at Ruth’s, then Maris’ single-season total, nor had he hit more than 45 in a year. Yet, slowly and consistently, Hank Aaron steadily climbed the list of home run heroes. In 1969 he’d hit his uniform number in home runs – 44 – the fourth time he’d do so. By the time the season ended, Aaron was number three on the career home run list, coming in just behind Ruth and Mays with 554.

     This Hillerich & Bradsby A99 model bat was made for, and used by, Hank Aaron in 1969 as he jumped six spots on the list of baseball immortals. The bat is un-cracked and, as you would expect from the man chasing Ruth’s magic number, it displays excellent use. Several ball marks with stitch impressions can be seen on the right, left and back barrel. Green bat rack paint streaks are visible and a light coat of pine tar still coats the handle. Aaron’s famous number “44” has been hand written on the knob in black marker and the weight “33” is noted in pencil. To put this Aaron gamer over the top, Hank has boldly signed the back barrel in black marker. A tremendous gamer from the period Aaron was honing in on baseball’s most hallowed record. This game used and signed bat comes with a full LOA from PSA/DNA (1B06246) who have graded this bat a GU 9 and a COA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication (B53056) for the signature.

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