Besides being responsible for pitching a perfect game masterpiece on Father’s Day, 1964, Jim Bunning is the only person in history to be both a member of the Hall of Fame AND United States Senate. Before he entered politics, Bunning made his reputation as a dominant right-hander who was a winner despite playing for poor teams. This bat was used by Bunning some time during the 1962 or 1963 seasons, and it was gifted to batboy Erik Erikstrup by the Hall of Famer after it was cracked during a game at Metropolitan Stadium in Minnesota. This Hillerich & Bradsby O16 model bat shows outstanding use with a handle crack. The back barrel exhibits checking from repeated ball contact and Bunning’s number “14” is handwritten on the knob in black marker. The bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B16174) for the game use and has been graded a solid GU 8.5. There is only one other Jim Bunning in PSA/DNA's database, which is a 1965-68 Philadelphia Phillies era bat. So this offered bat is only one of two Jim Bunning bats in the PSA/DNA's database and the only pre-1965 Detroit Tigers era bat. Additionally, there is a LOA from Erik Erikstrup, who was the Twins’ visiting team batboy in 1962 and home team batboy in 1963 who states in his letter that he received this bat from Bunning at Metropolitan Stadium.

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