This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 7/8/2004.
At age 17, Willie Mays joined the Birmingham Barrons of the Negro National League and his contract was picked up by the New York Giants shortly thereafter. After playing just 35 games of Triple-A ball he was assigned to the Giants full time roster in 1951. An initially discouraging start in the big leagues ended when Mays homered off Warren Spahn and then lead the charge as the team won a come from behind pennant race. As his confidence grew so did his level of play, and in the decades that followed he never once failed to display a level of talent that has many calling him the best all around player baseball has ever seen. He wielded this bat while at the plate during the late 1960s, a time when he was polishing an already immaculate career. It shows outstanding use with ball hit and transfer marks visible on the right, left, and rear of the barrel. In addition, a few deeply embedded stitch marks remind us of the awesome power with which Willie swung the bat. A light coat of pine tar has been applied to the handle. The number "34" is written on the knob in pencil, placed there by the manufacturer to indicate approximate weight. Mays has signed the barrel next to his burned in name in black marker rating an 8. Manufacturer: Adirondack, Model Number: M63, Labeling Period: 1968-69, Length: 35.5 inches, Weight: 34.5 ounces, Wood: Ash, Finish: Flame Burned/Treated. The bat and autograph each come with a letter from PSA/DNA.