Summer Premium and Catalog Auction July 31 & Aug 8
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/9/2015
Every baseball fan knows the story of Shoeless Joe and the 1919 Black Sox, but fewer know what happened to Joe Jackson after he was tossed out of the game after the 1920 season. The disgraced White Sox slugger was one of the most popular and idolized ball players in the game - in fact emerging slugger Babe Ruth based his swing on Jackson's. Still in his prime, Jackson traveled the country hiring himself out for single games, often under an assumed name so other players would not be tainted by playing with one of the infamous Black Sox. This extraordinary Joe Jackson model bat dates from the late 1920's when the former star was traveling the south as a baseball mercenary. The Kren Special J13 model bat has "JACKSON" stamped into the barrel. The bat exhibits heavy use with a cracked handle and termite damage. Many ball marks with stitch impressions can still be seen on its barrel as well as blue bat rack paint streaks. The handle has been scored to enhance the grip and there is a spiral strip of adhesive tape wrapped around the handle to secure the crack. Though the bat now weights 35.25 ounces because of age, it was once a 36 ounce as indicated by the "36" stamped into its knob end. The bat experts at PSA/DNA have examined this bat and based on a combination of its handle, knob and barrel dimensions and stamped "JACKSON" have determined this to be a post-career model that matches others ordered and used by Jackson during this period. A stunning bat attributed to one of the greatest hitters of all-time. Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA who have graded this extraordinary artifact a GU 7.