October Legends
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2013
Former Yankees and A’s star Frank “Home Run” Baker discovered Jimmie Foxx playing for his Maryland high school. Sensing the raw power that this 16-year-old possessed, Baker quickly signed boy to play for his minor league Easton Farmers team. Baker had close ties with both Miller Huggins of the Yankees and Connie Mack of the A’s and as fate would have it, chose to offer the young phenom to Philadelphia. Foxx broke in as a 17-year-old catcher in 1925 and within a year was one of the AL’s rising stars. In a league with names like Ruth, Gehrig, Goslin and Simmons, the kid quickly made his mark and soon was leading the moribund A’s to a string of back-to-back World Championships. Any Jimmie Foxx gamer is a rare find - but this one is among the rarest as it dates from the years 1925 to 1928, Foxx’s rookie and formative years in the majors. This particular bat was Foxx’s favorite and after the handle broke in 1928, he packed it off to the Hillerich & Bradsby factory to be duplicated in his future orders. The factory notes hand-written in grease paint are faintly visible along the barrel. The crack has been repaired with a small nail and the barrel is covered with ball marks and stitch impressions. That this was one of Foxx’s favorite pieces of lumber is evident by the outstanding use that can be seen throughout. Over time, the bat has taken on a deep, warm hue which adds to the visual impact of this extraordinary bat. We’ve never seen an earlier Jimmie Foxx bat than this and its historical significance is unmistakable. Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA who have graded this bat a GU 8.