Winter 2020 Catalog Auction Ending Feb 22

Lot #7: 1916-1921 George Sisler Game Used Hillerich & Bradsby Pre Model Bat Used For Record 257th Hit From 1920 (PSA/DNA GU 10)

Description

If it wasn't for a chronic sinus/eye ailment, George Sisler would be remembered next to Ty Cobb and Ted Williams as the greatest hitters to ever hold a bat. Sisler’s 1920 season was an incredible season with his American League leading .407 batting average and 257 hits. His 257 hits that season was not only a career-high, but also set the record for most hits in a single season that stood until Ichiro Suzuki’s 262 hits in 2004.

Offered here is a bat dated to the 1916-21 seasons that was used by Sisler. This Hillerich & Bradsby pre model bat displays heavy game use and is un-cracked. The right, left and back barrel have several ball marks and ball stitch impressions and green ink transfers. There are bat rack streaks defined by lathe marks in the handle. There were also small nails removed from the barrel and a moderate coating of pine tar was applied to the upper handle.

Attached to the barrel is a label from the Louisville Slugger traveling display that reads “13. GEORGE SISLER (MEMBER OF BASEBALL’S HALL OF FAME) Clouted with this Louisville Slugger his 257th hit – a home run – of the 1920 season, establishing an all-time American League record fro most hits in one season. Sisler led the League that year with .407.” That information is not accurate as Sisler’s last home run of the 1920 season was on his 252nd hit.

The Louisville Slugger traveling display was a means of marketing by Louisville Slugger that featured approximately 20 bats of the greatest hitters in the game. Each bat was labeled with its history, like this Sisler bat and this practice was in place for about 40 to 45 years. The display disappeared sometime in the early 1980s and the bats of Napoleon Lajoie, Pepper Martin and Ed Delahanty are the only known bats from those displays. This makes this George Sisler bat the most significant of any collection. A stunning game used bat from one of the greatest hitters of baseball’s Golden Era and it comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA (I02143) and was graded the highest grade of GU 10.

Final Bid (Includes Buyers Premium):$180,000
Minimum Bid:$50,000
Number of Bids:11