This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/31/2005.
The first 1961 All-Star Game was held in Willie's home Candlestick Park, in front of a crowd of 44,115 on July 11th, 1961. Mays delighted fans in a dazzler of a game, batting .400 with two runs scored and a RBI en-route to a 5-4 win for the National League. During the tenth inning, the American League took the lead when Ken Boyer made a throwing error which allowed Nellie Fox to score all the way from first base. In the bottom of the tenth inning, the National League came back. Hank Aaron singled, Willie Mays doubled moving Aaron to third, and Roberto Clemente singled in the pair, with Mays scoring the winning run. Mays continued to excel in the midsummer classic, when in Game 2, held at Fenway on July 31st, he hit .333 at the plate. The game was a defensive battle, and was set for another late inning tie-breaker with the score even at one run a piece at the end of nine innings. Heavy rains came, and the All-Stars were forced to end the game in a tie. This would be the only tie in an All-Star game until the 2002 season when both teams ran out of pitchers. This white ash Adirondack bat from the All-Star two-game series shows fantastic use with hit marks pounded into the right and back barrel. There are water marks on the left barrel and green dyed marks on the upper handle. A small crack is in the lower handle, with light cracking on the back barrel. The player name "Willie Mays" appears in script-style lettering along with "1961 All Stars" in block letters stamped on the front barrel. The bat model "M63" is stamped into the knob end. A tremendous Mays gamer and a remarkable piece of history! Man: Adirondack, Model: M63, Order Period: 1961 AS, L: 35 in, W: 31.4 oz, Wood: Ash, Finish: Flame Burned. Accompanied by a bat LOA from PSA/DNA.