Ted Williams Signed Commemorative Last To Hit .400 Baseball Bat

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2013

“The Kid,” “The Splendid Splinter,” “Teddy Ballgame,” and “The Greatest Hitter Ever,” are the fitting nicknames for this Hall of Famer who patrolled left field for the Boston Red Sox for 19 seasons. His third season, 1940, is etched in baseball lore forever. Williams entered the last day of the season hitting .401 and manager Joe Cronin was prepared to give him the day off to preserve his batting average. Williams insisted on playing both ends of a double header against the Philadelphia Athletics on September 28, and slugged six hits, including a double and a home run. He finished the season with a .406 mark that hasn’t been challenged in 72 years. The barrel of this pristine, 34-inch, Model 125 Hillerich & Bradsby Co. Louisville “Slugger” has been engraved with “COMMEMORATING/THE LAST/ .400 HITTER/.406 IN 1941/LIMITED EDITION 1985/205 OF 406.” Williams boldly signed in vivid blue Sharpie under the barrel header, grade 10. The knob is engraved with “W215.” A COA from PSA/DNA (#C83764) accompanies this item as does a COA from James Spence Authenticators (#B99929).