October Legends Closing November 1
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2014
In 1945, three-time MVP winner Jimmie Foxx returned to the city where his career began - Philadelphia. As a young catcher/first baseman, Foxx added the power to Connie Mack's famous 1929-31 Athletics, a club thought to be the greatest in Major League history. When Foxx returned to Philly, it was not to rejoin Mack and his A's, but to the city's National League franchise. Once called the Phillies, the team was renamed the Blue Jays for a time during the 1940's in order to try to separate from two decades of losing teams. It was hoped that Foxx's arrival would open up a new chapter in the team's history. Despite being 37, Foxx managed to hit .269 and slug seven home runs - but the most surprising aspect of his last season in the Majors was that he pitched in nine games for the Blue Jays, winning a game against no losses and an ERA of 1.59! Foxx retired after the 1945 season, ending a career that posted 534 home runs and a batting average of .325. This Hillerich & Bradsby Model F3 bat shows heavy game use with scattered cleat marks and ball impressions. Though Foxx was known to use the F2 model at the end of his career, Philadelphia Phillies bat records show that in April 1945 a Foxx model bat (no record of specific model or spec's) was shipped to the team from Hillerich & Bradsby. The only other order the bat manufacturer filled for a Foxx model bat was in 1946 from the Red Sox. Though not conclusive, MEARS, who have thoroughly examined this bat, states in their LOA that this may very well be the last bat ordered by Jimmie Foxx as a player. A very significant piece of wood indeed. Letter of Authenticity from MEARS who have examined and graded this bat an A7.