Already coming off a dramatic World Series victory over the Boston Red Sox in 1975, the Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds, led by Pete Rose, continued their reign as World Champions in 1976 by winning 102 games in the regular season and sweeping both playoff series, including a 4-0 victory over the New York Yankees. Rose, of course, was in the middle of all the action as Charlie Hustle led the league with 215 hits and 42 doubles.

     Rose was issued this special Bicentennial Hillerich & Bradsby S222 model bat during the 1976 season and it carries the “1776-1976 National Pastime” Liberty Bell logo on the barrel between the H&B brand mark and the embossed Pete Rose signature. There is no evidence of game use and this bat is un-cracked. The bat has been signed o the barrel in black marker by Rose himself and four of his 1976 teammates, including Hall of Famers Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench, while Ken Griffey Sr. and George Foster comprise the other two signatures. This bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B14546) for the game issue, a LOA from PSA/DNA (AC02954) for the signatures and a letter of provenance from long-time umpire Harry Wendelstedt attesting that this bat was given to him after being signed by Bench, Morgan, Griffey and Foster.

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