After winning his seventh and final batting title in 1957, Stan Musial had one more milestone to reach entering the 1958 season; and that was to become the eighth major league player to reach 3,000 hits. His tenacious drive for the historic goal resulted in one of the most productive and sustained periods of offensive production in his career. From the opening thirteen game road trip of the 1958 season through the first home stand, Stan's excellence with the bat was nothing less than extraordinary. He rapped out 36 hits in the first 17 games, including 11 doubles and 5 home runs. He hit safely in 20 of the first 22 games and entering a five game series at Wrigley Field on May 9th, he was hitting an astounding .529 and needed just seven hits to reach the coveted milestone. On May 12th, after getting five hits in the first three games of the series, he hit a first inning double for his 2999th career hit. In his next four trips to the plate he would only produce a walk and three ground outs, finally cracking the offered war club in one of those attempts at the 3,000 mark. On May 13th, Stan would be allowed to sit out the game so that he may be able to collect the historic hit at home in St. Louis, but as it turned out, Fred Hutchinson needed him to pinch hit in the 6th inning and so Stan would comply. Stan selected a new piece of lumber and proceeded to do what he does best, lacing a double down the left field line for the 3000th hit of his career.
The offered bat is the war club that Stan used during his amazing start to the 1958 season on his quest for history. This is the bat that Stan Musial used to collect his 2999th career hit on May 12th, and the one he subsequently cracked in repeated attempts to get his 3000th hit. The 34.5 inch, 31.4 ounce Louisville Slugger M159 (Musial Model) bears labelling that matches manufacturers records for the 1955-59 period. The model number is stamped into the knob and Musial's number 6 is written on the knob in vintage black marker. Stan Musial has autographed the barrel in dark black ink ""Stan Musial Hit #2999"". Outstanding usage characteristics include numerous ball marks, ball stitch impressions, cleat marks, rack marks and the aforementioned handle crack. The bats ideal physical traits are only equalled by the documentation of provenance that accompanies it.
In an accompanying typewritten letter signed by Musial himself, he states that ""this H&B model 125 Stan Musial game used bat was the bat that I used during the 1958 season to get my 2999th career base hit at Wrigley Field against the Cubs."" In addition to the letter from Stan Musial the bat is accompanied by a LOA from John Taube of PSA/DNA (Grade GU9). Also includes full LOA from PSA/DNA(auto.).