Nobody was more dedicated to the art of putting bat on ball than Ted Williams, a human hitting machine equipped with near-perfect eyesight, lightning reflexes, powerful forearms and unnerving patience. The "Splendid Splinter" also came with a heavy dose of self-confidence that bordered on arrogance, the most conspicuous trait of a baseball maverick who terrorized American League pitching from 1939 to '60. If Williams wasn't the greatest pure hitter of all time, an acclaim which he fervently sought, he certainly was the best of his generation. His career resumé is filled with accolades – two MVPs, six-time batting champ, .344 batting average, 521 home runs, four homer titles, five RBI crowns and 2,654 hits – that would have been considerably higher if he had not lost four prime seasons to military service during World War II (1943-45) and the Korean War (1952).
Teddy Ballgame used this Hillerich & Bradsby ash bat during the 1951-55 period according to bat records and authentication work by John Taube of PSA/DNA. Measuring 35” and weighing 33.4 oz., the signature model W166 remains uncracked with excellent use in the form of ball marks, stitch impressions and cleat marks on the barrel, along with blue and green bat rack streaks. There is a light coat of pine tar on the handle which has been lightly scored to enhance grip. The bat received a perplexing GU 7.5 grade when it was initially evaluated back in 2015. We inqured about the reasoning behind a 2.5 point reduction and were told it was primarily due to Williams' uniform number missing from on the knob. This seems excessively harsh. The other attributes – no crack, excellent usage, etc. – should qualify it for at least GU 8.5 in our book. The missing "9" in black marker (typically done by the team equipment manager) – visible on roughly half of Ted gamers – may have just worn off over time.
Regardless of its final bat grade, this legendary piece of lumber survives as a premium tool of the American hero whose book, The Science of Hitting, continues to educate and inspire.
Includes full LOA from John Taube of PSA/DNA (GU 7.5).