This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 3/27/2023.
Arguably the best all around player in Major League Baseball history, Willie Mays was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1979. Mays was a 24-time All-Star, a World Series champion, a two-time National League MVP and led the National League in home runs four times. In addition to his offense, Mays dazzled with the glove, winning 12 Gold Glove Awards while making some legacy-defining catches throughout his career. Hillerich & Bradsby manufactured S2 model bat that measures 35 inches and weighs 34 ounces. The ash wood bat with a flame burned finish is uncracked with substantial use. Numerous muddy ball marks and cleat marks are visible throughout the barrel. A few bruises can be seen on the right barrel. The player number “24” is written on the knob in black marker, the style of which is seen in Mays’ gamers. The bat has a thin line in marker on the handle. In PSA/DNA’s opinion the line was placed on the bat to disguise it as an Adirondack as Mays was under an endorsement contract with Adirondack bats. During the era disguising Louisville Sluggers, though not common, has been seen on the bats of other Adirondack endorsers such as Mike Schmidt and others. The “muddy” ball marks on the barrel indicate this bat was used during batting practice. They also inhibit PSA/DNA from determining the amount of game use present. The use of the bat during batting practice does not eliminate the possibility the bat was also game used by Mays. The use of a bat during the game as well as BP occurs frequently, more so during the 1950s and 1960s. Accompanied by a PSA/DNA LOA grading the bat a GU 7.