This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/5/2017
1975 is considered the break out season for George Brett. After finishing 3rd in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 1974, Brett continued to improve in all offensive categories while also establishing himself as a dominant American League third basemen. For the 1975 season, Brett finished with 195 hits and a .308 batting average, his first .300+ season.
A review of George Brett’s Louisville Slugger personal bat records document the fact this was the first season he used the T85 model, previously favoring the K55, K48, C89L, and others. The bat is also consistent with respect to length and weight for Brett’s 1975 bat orders of the T85 model. The following bats are recorded by Louisville Slugger:
(1975) T85: 34 ½”, 33 ounces, (12 ash bats) ordered during season, exact date unreadable
(1975) T85: 34 ½”, 32 ounces, (12 ash bats) ordered 12/23/75
Currently weighing 31 ounces, this bat may have originated from any of the referenced ordered. With the last order being 12/23/75, it is possible this bat was from the late season order and used during the 1976 season.
Game Use: The bat exhibits heavy game use with a light, 14” area of pinetar application. Deeply seated stitch and ball marks are found on the barrel end. Both red and blue bat rack marks can be found, indicating the bat saw use at least two ball parks. A red design, non-uniform number, is found on the knob. When shown the bat for his autograph, Brett replied that was added so that he knew his gamers from his bp bats.
Autographed / Inscription: Bat is signed in blue sharpie, “My 1975 gamer, 195 hits, 11 HR’s, 89 RBI’s, George Brett.”
Final Grade (MEARS A9): A base grade of 5 points was assigned for the bat matching factory records, 3 points for optimal heavy game use, 1 point for pinpoint factory record/player autograph inscription.
Ultra rare early George Brett game used bat, the earliest examples examined by MEARS.
(99A0552)
(JSA Auction Letter; MEARS LOA)