Long before the Los Angeles Angels became a Major League franchise in 1961, they were the darlings of the Pacific Coast League. One of the PCL’s charter members, the “Looloos” or “Seraphs” – as they were often called – won 12 pennants from 1903 to 1957. Presented here is fabled PCL slugger Steve Bilko's 1961-62 game used bat dating to the Angels expansion era.
The power-hitting first baseman, often referred to as "the Babe Ruth of the PCL", had his best years with the Angels from 1955–57. His greatest season came in 1956 when he won the Triple Crown with a .360 batting average, 55 home runs and 164 RBI and led the Seraphs to their final PCL title. The following year, he blasted 56 homers and drove in 140. "He was just as popular as Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant," recalled a former minor league team president. "He was just as mobbed on the streets as any of those actors." Bilko had two productive seasons in the big leagues: first with the Cardinals in '53 when he hit 21 long balls and drove in 84 runs (also led the NL in K's); and later with the '61 L.A. Angels in their inaugural MLB campaign when he batted .279 with 20 dingers and 59 RBI in just 294 at-bats, perhaps using this very bat for one of his majestic blasts. "Stout Steve", as the lumbering 6' 1", 230-lb. slugger was called, died of a heart attack in 1978 at age 50 and was inducted into the PCL Hall of Fame in 2003 posthumously.
The Louisville Slugger professional model ash bat measures 35" and weighs 33.5 ounces. It remains un-cracked with evidence of light to moderate usage. The model "S2" is stamped into the knob with Bilko's No. "20" handwritten in black marker. His uniform number is again marked in black on the barrel end. The barrel end has a few ball contact and cleat marks as well as some green bat rack streaks. The handle is relatively clean and smooth, with little to no signs of pine tar or tape. A great vintage gamer from the L.A. fan favorite whose namesake became the title of Phil Silvers' main character "Sgt. Bilko" in the hit 1955-59 TV show.