In 2013 Bo was named by ESPN Sports Science as the greatest athlete of all time and just recently at half-time of the BCS Championship game, Bo was named the 3rd best college football player in history...only behind Hershel Walker and Jim Brown. 35 years after his days at Auburn, Bo is still the school's all-time leading rusher. He was Auburn's first three-sport Letterman in 40 years lettering football track and baseball. In 1985 he won the Heisman Memorial Trophy. Also in 1985, Bo was timed by NFL scouts at 4.13 seconds in the 40-yard dash which is the fastest time ever recorded. https://youtu.be/A-hn5pHK1Qk

With his football and track fame at Auburn University preceding him, Bo Jackson became a professional baseball player in 1986 when he signed with the Kansas City Royals. A year later he was in the Majors where he instantly became a star by hitting 22 home runs and swiping 10 bases. He reached the pinnacle of his baseball career during the 1989 All-Star Game where he performed a stunning first inning catch of Pedro Guerrero’s line drive, robbing the Nationals of what looked like a sure two runs. Coming to bat moments later, Bo slammed a prodigious 448-foot home run off Rick Reuschel. An inning later his speed enabled him to beat out what appeared to be a sure double play, driving in what proved to be the game winning run. Jackson then stole second base, making him and Willie Mays the only players in All-Star Game history to hit a home run and steal a base in the same game.

His exploits that night earned him the 1989 All-Star Game MVP Award, also making him the first ever two sport All Star. In 1990 Jackson hit home runs in four consecutive trips to the plate, tying the Major League record. At this time Bo decided to take advantage of his almost in-human athletic ability by signing on with the Los Angeles Raiders, making him one of the rare 2-pro sport athletes. Lucrative endorsements flooded in, and his “Bo Knows Baseball” Nike campaign made advertising history. Bo’s incredible upwards trajectory was forever altered when he suffered a debilitating hip injury in the 1990 NFL Playoffs. Jackson was traded to the Chicago White Sox and began a long-attempted comeback, culminating in a 1993 hip replacement surgery.

Showing flashes of his former brilliance, Bo hit a home run in his first at back after surgery, fulfilling a promise he had made to his mother, who had passed away before he finished rehab. In 1994 Bo was traded to the California Angels where began hitting the ball better than he had since 1990. After 75 games he was hitting a nice .279 with 13 home runs when the players decided to strike, ending the season prematurely. Now 31, Jackson decided to call it a career, coming to the conclusion that it was more important to him to be with his family than to pursue a career in professional sports. Though 1994 was to be Bo Jackson’s final season and was several years past the days when he was the most exciting player in the game to watch, he provided fans with one final spectacular Bo moment. On April 6 the Angels were playing the Twins at the Metrodome. Jim Deshaies was on the mound for Minnesota when Jackson came to bat in the Angels half of the second. Deshaies disposed of Jackson with three strikes. Two innings later Deshaies again quickly ran up an 0-and-2 count on Bo, who became visibly frustrated with each strike. Deshaies’ third pitch was an up and out fastball that Jackson swung on and missed. The angered Jackson immediately left the batter’s box and seemingly effortlessly snapped the bat over his right knee. As the crowd roared, Jackson continued walking towards the dugout, seemingly unfazed by the feat of strength he had just displayed. Miraculously, Bo was unhurt by the outburst and went on to tag Deshaies for a double his next time up and then hit an RBI single off relief pitcher Carl Willis in the Angels 4-1 win.

The iconic Bo Jackson moment can still be watched at MLB’s website (https://www.mlb.com/video/bo-breaks-bat-over-knee-c1623330183 ).

This is the bat Bo busted over his knee in what proved to be his last great highlight reel moment in the game. Bo’s Cooper C271 model bat shows tremendous game use with the afore-mentioned break. The barrel is covered with distinctive ball marks with stitch impressions and white leather ball scuffs. There are cleat marks present and abrasions from contact with other equipment. The handle has been taped with white athletic tape to enhance the grip and a coat of pine tar applied. The knob has been stamped with the bat’s weight and length and Bo’s number “22,” worn only in 1994 with the Angels, has been handwritten in black marker. There are other Bo Jackson gamers available, but none have the historical significance and visual documentation as this one. The bat has been photo-matched by Sports Investors Authentication (200117F8).

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