This is a 1983-85 Eddie Murray Louisville Slugger Professional Model Game Used Bat. This bat dates to the 1983-85 period based on the Louisville Slugger centerbrand and the numerous orders of Flame-Treated R161 35.5" model bats by Murray during this period. This bat is a Murray signature model bat and currently weighs 35.25 ounces and measures 35.5 inches.
There is one order for one F147 35.5 inch - 35 ounce Eddie Murray signature model bat placed by Baseball Miscellaneous on November 1, 1984, but based on the player characteristics, heavy use, and the very limited number of bats ordered during this order, 1, this bat has been attributed to one of Murray's numerous orders of this model bat.
This bat exhibits heavy use with ball marks visible on all sides of the barrel with a few of the ball marks exhibiting blue ink transfer marks from the casing of the baseball. This bat has a 12" H-style handle crack present along the back of the handle, which isn't visible if looking at the the front of the bat. Light deadwood is present along the back of the barrel, which can be felt on the back-top and back-bottom of the barrel. Murray's customary jersey number, 33, is present in orange marker on the knob of the bat. Scoring is evident along the handle of the bat, which is a consistent trait found on Murray bats.
This bat culminates some of Murray's best seasons for the Orioles. During the 1983-85 period, Murray won his only World Series, although he made two additional appearances with the Orioles in 1979 and the Indians in 1995, was selected to All-Star team three times, won the Gold Glove Award twice, 1983 and 1984, won the Silver Slugger Award twice, 1984 and 1985, and finished in the Top 5 of MVP voting all three seasons. A line of stats that most could only imagine accumulating during their entire careers. Murray would go on to a career in which he joined both the 3,000 Hit Club, with 3255 hits, and the 500 Home Run Club, with 504 Home Runs. Murray was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 receiving 85.28% of the vote on his First Ballot.
This bat grades out at the MEARS A8.5 grade, with five points for the base grade, three points for heavy use, one point for the Murray's jersey number on the knob, and a one and a half point deduction for the handle crack and light deadwood.
Collection of MEARS Staff.