This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/14/2024
When Giancarlo Stanton goes deep, you almost always need the tape measure. Offered here is the bat he used to hit his third home run of his first full big-league season on May 1, 2011. The mammoth 442-foot solo shot to center was #25 of his young career and came in the 8th inning of a 9-5 Marlins win over the Reds in Cincinnati. The 6' 6" physical specimen, who went by "Mike" in his early years with the Marlins, remains one of the most feared power hitters in baseball as he and Aaron Judge look to end the Yankees rather long World Series drought.
The black-finished Marucci 'MS27 Custom Cut-M' professional model bat exhibits outstanding use with a crack running almost the entire length, from handle to mid-barrel). The crack is subtle enough visually with no splinters that it does not detract from the bat's display aesthetics. Like most Stanton gamers, this one is pounded from multiple games of use as his tendency is to stick with one bat until it breaks. Numerous ball marks, stitch impressions, blue ink transfers and cleat marks are visible all over the barrel. There is a heavy coat of pine tar on the handle and the barrel end is cupped. The blonde mark visible on the handle identifies the face grain of the bat and was a key identifier for the photomatches from MatchDocs. This is a mandatory marking, per Major League Baseball, for all maple bats since January 2009. The date of manufacture (2/20/2011), length and weight codes are stamped into the knob, along with Stanton's jersey number ("27"). The bat measures 33.75" in length and weighs approximately 32 ounces.
An MLB Authentication hologram (FJ 293995) states this bat was broken on May 3rd in St. Louis. MatchDocs paperwork confirms two photomatches to May 1st (including his HR at-bat) and attributes the bat to May 2nd usage against the Cardinals when Stanton went 3-for-5 with another homer and a triple. The consignor has provided a large 16x24" blown-up photomatched image. PSA/DNA authentication from John Taube is not necessary unless you must have it. Regardless of the crack, this bat should get a GU 9 grade with the heavy use and documentation.