(LOT 10)

1961-63 Duke Snider Game-Used Signed Hillerich & Bradsby Professional Model Bat - PSA/DNA GU 8.5
SNIDER LUMBER!!! Nicknames can come from anywhere and can often last a lifetime. Such is the case with Edwin Donald Snider, dubbed "Duke" by his father during his formative years, who showed self-assurance and confidence as only a five-year-old. Brooklyn Dodgers scouts signed the Southern California boy straight out of high school, and his on-field exploits made him a local hero of the neighborhood that encompassed Ebbets Field, to which he was baptized the Duke of Flatbush. Duke Snider played 16 seasons for Dem Bums (1947-1962), hit a career .295 with 2,116 hits, including 358 doubles and 407 home runs, and drove in 1,333 runs while leading the Dodgers to six National League pennants and two World Series titles in 1955 and 1959.

He was an eight-time All-Star and nearly captured the 1955 NL MVP, ultimately presented to teammate Roy Campanella. The Duke followed the Dodgers to Los Angeles (his hometown) and played five seasons in LA before being sold to the New York Mets (1963) and finishing his career with the San Francisco Giants. But by then, he was labeled the Silver Fox, as his brownish-blond locks turned gray and silver, but the Duke's swagger remained. During those Silver Fox seasons, the Duke swatted 91 homers and drove in 330 with a .275 batting average and this bat. This 1961-63 Hillerich & Bradsby C117L Duke Snider Professional Model bat, graded PSA/DNA GU 8.5, measures 35 inches and weighs 33.5 ounces. Consistent with the Duke's standard models, this bat has a Ruth-style knob that has been stamped "C117L" and the #4 has been written in black marker. The handle still carries his traditional soiled crosshatched athletic tape and the mid-barrel remains fairly clean, up to the logo and heart of the barrel.

Heavy usage in the form of cleat marks and multiple stitch impressions is evident on the barrel and it is signed "Duke Snider" ("9-10" strength) in deep blue Sharpie right of the Louisville Slugger logo. The barrel displays heavy pine tar on the back of the barrel and was evidently cracked during batting practice in 1962, according to Snider, who gifted the bat to our consignor. According to our consignor, years later Snider related a story about the bat, indicating the heavy pine tar and cigar box nails he used to repair the lumber ultimately got him ejected from a previous game. After thirty years of storage and personal display, the Duke confirmed the authenticity of the bat at a card show, making it one of the great relics of the Duke's storied career. And what a story this is!

MIN BID $2,500
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