This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2001.
In April of 1947 Major League Baseball experienced its single greatest moment when, for the first time, Jackie Robinson stepped onto the field and became the first black man to play organized baseball. We all know the player that Jackie turned out to be but what we do not know is how many others like him there were. When speaking of the greatest players in the history of the game we are always reminded of names like Ruth, Cobb, and Wagner but never names like O'Neil, Bell, Radcliff. How good these Negro League players were will always remain a mystery to us but one thing is for certain; Had these men been given the opportunity to play in the major leagues the record books would surely be different. This bat, produced by the Cooperstown Bat Co., honors these men and the teams they played for. Incredibly, this piece has been signed by more than 100 of these men and is the result of years of work by a dedicated collector and unfortunately could never be duplicated as many of these players are no longer with us. Space does not permit for a complete listing but signers include: Monte Irvin, Buck O'Neil, Radcliff, Lockett, Manning, Bostok, Jenkins, and countless others whose greatness lives on only in the stories told by the few who had the opportunity to play along side them. The signatures, all in one color black Sharpie, rate between 8 and 10, and the bat is in near mint condition. A tremendous offering.