In 1952 there was no better backstop in the American League than Yogi Berra. The Yankees starting catcher since 1948, Berra called the shots for the Yankees World Championships in 1949, 1950 and 1951. At the mid-point of the 1952 season, Berra and the Yankees were well on their way to another Championship when the fans voted Berra to his fifth straight Midsummer Classic. Yogi had been the All-Star Game’s MVP the previous year but managed just two hitless at bats before the books were closed on the 1952 game in the 5th inning due to rain.

For his selection to the team in 1952, Berra was presented with a pair of specially made Louisville Slugger bats for his use in the game. This Hillerich & Bradsby R43 model bat carries the special “ALL STAR GAME PHILADELPHIA 1952” stamped into the barrel above and below Berra’s facsimile signature. The bat shows excellent use with a repaired handle crack. Several ball marks are visible on the left, right and back barrel and there is a light coat of pine tar still present on its upper handle. The model number “R43” is stamped into the knob end and Yogi has signed the barrel in strong black marker. As one of only two bats made for Yogi for the 1952 All-Star Game, this is truly a rare piece. The bat comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (1B13294) for the game use and has been graded a near-perfect GU 9.5, plus a LOA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication (A56142) for the signature.