This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/1/2015
Very rarely do collectors know the exact day a game used bat entered the hobby. For this lot, the exact date the bat was used is documented, and accompanying this bat is the actual game day lineup card removed from the dugout and given to the original owner along with the Puckett bat!!! And to top it off, Kirby Puckett hit a homerun this game, making this a possible homerun bat!
Measuring 34 ½” and weighing 29 ounces, this bat has the 1986-89 labeling period, which means it was a carry over to the 1990 season. As far as Puckett bats go, this one is an absolute phenomenal example. Heavy game use can be found from the barrel end to the remaining tip of the broken knob. Heavy amounts of pine tar, multi-color rack marks (meaning the bat saw time both at home and on the road), ball marks, and deep stitch marks are found on almost all surfaces of the bat.
On May 26th, 1990, the Red Sox traveled to Minnesota to play the Twins. The Twins won 6-5 behind a 6th inning homerun to deep left center field by Kirby Puckett off pitcher Rob Murphy. It is not known if Puckett broke the bat before, during or after the homerun, but we do know that at the end of the game, this exact bat and the accompanying dugout lineup card were gifted to the original owner. Due to being wheel chair bound, he was seated near the dugout. The Twins, appreciative of his support, gifted him these items immediately following the conclusion of the game. It is certain that his bat was used by Puckett on May 26th, 1990, whether or not it was the homerun bat, that detail has been lost to time.
Final Grade (MEARS A8): Perfect in every aspect, this bat started its life as A10. Due to the broken handle that has been broken off extending to and including part of the knob, per the MEARS grading criteria, 2 points were deducted. Although most of the knob is gone, the latter portion of Puckett’s uniform number 4 can be clearly seen.
Although not intact, the crack was the impetus of the gift, and an important part of this very special story. A Puckett bat that has a great history and worthy of a collector that understand there is more to an item that a top grade.
Note: With respect to the possibility of Puckett using this bat for the HR, it has been brought to our attention that Puckett hit his HR in the bottom of the 8th inning and had no ABs after that. Also, his
worst result (infield grounder that created a double play) came in the
bottom of the first.
Here are his AB results from that game, per baseball-reference.com website:
b1 Ground Ball Middle Infield Double Play (likely broken bat play)
b3 Line Drive Double to RF
b5 Flyball to Short LF (slightly less likely broken bat play)
b8 Home Run to Deep LF-CF