This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/2/2012
Signed right out of high school by the Tigers in 1953 Al Kaline would go on to enjoy a 22 year career which would see him finish with over 3,000 hits and a career .297 average. A fifteen time All Star, he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1980, one of only twenty-five players to be inducted in their first year of eligibility. This 34.5 inch, 34.2 ounce Louisville Slugger model M110 AI Kaline professional model bat dates from the final years of his illustrious career. It remains uncracked and shows evidence of light use. Several ball marks and ball stitch marks are visible on the left and back barrel. Ball marks include blue ink transfers. There is a light coat of pine tar on the handle. An accompanying letter of provenance on Detroit Tigers letterhead written by Dennis Clotworthy states that he received this bat directly from Al Kaline while serving as the Detroit Tigers bat boy in 1974. Additional LOA from John Taube of PSA/DNA (Graded GU7).