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Complete Run of Game Used Bats from 500 Home Run Club and 3,000 Hit Club to be Auctioned by Vintage Authentics

Two of the most remarkable baseball bat collections will come before bidders next month, when Vintage Authentics offers a game-used bat from every member of the elite 500 Home-Run Club, and a game-used bat from every 20th century member of the 3,000 Hit Club. The auction concludes on August 11, and is the same auction featuring the rare Honus Wagner bat used to fashion the original Louisville Slugger signature bat.

The 500 Home-Run Club is baseball's most glamorous "fraternal organization". Only twenty players ever to wear a major-league uniform have joined the club, and the list of members is a virtual who’s who in baseball greatness. Aaron, Mantle, Ruth, Mays, Williams, names that are synonymous with pride, power, history and heroism. And now their authentic game used bats are being auctioned off together as one lot. This is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain a piece of game-used history from 20 of the greatest sluggers of all time.

The 500 home run club collection includes a game-used bat from each of the following players: Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Barry Bonds, Jimmie Foxx, Ken Griffey Jr., Reggie Jackson, Harmon Killebrew, Mickey Mantle, Eddie Matthews, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Mark McGwire, Eddie Murray, Mel Ott, Rafael Palmeiro, Frank Robinson, Babe Ruth, Mike Schmidt, Sammy Sosa, and Ted Williams.

"We expect a lot of attention for these bats," noted Steve Jensen, a partner and co-CEO of Vintage. "Some of them are extremely difficult to obtain. We expect some bidders will go after multiple bats and try to build a collection. It’s truly a remarkable opportunity."

The estimated combined value of the 20 bats is nearly $250,000. A game used bat used by Mickey Mantle during the All Star game in the historic 1961 season has an estimated value of $65,000-$75,000 and is the highlight of the 500 Home Run Club collection. The Ruth and Ott bats are estimated as being worth $35,000 each, and the Aaron bat, $30,000.

The 3,000 Hit Club Bats

Amazingly, there is a second run of game-used bats up for auction at the same time as the 500 Home-Run Club, and this collection carries with it an incredible roster of the masters of the art of hitting. Only 25 players in history have crossed the historical threshold of 3,000 Hits. When you think of hitting artistry, several names come to mind: Rose, Cobb, Wagner, Boggs, Carew, Ripken, Gwynn. And now game-used bats from every member of this exclusive club, with the exception of Cap Anson, are available for auction.

(Anson, the first to 3,000, accomplished his feat in the 19th Century, and it is believed only three of his bats exist).

A certified game-used bat from each of the following artists is included: Pete Rose, Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Tris Speaker, Carl Yastrzemski, Honus Wagner, Paul Molitor, Eddie Collins, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Nap Lajoie, Cal Ripken Jr., George Brett, Paul Waner, Robin Yount, Tony Gwynn, Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Rod Carew, Lou Brock, Wade Boggs, Al Kaline, and Roberto Clemente.

The estimated value of the 3,000 hit club bats is some $160,000. Topping the list in value is Lajoie at $25,000, followed by Cobb and Wagner, (which was a coach’s bat), at $20,000.

In addition to the Wagner bat, the auction will also include Lou Gehrig’s 1933-34 game used road flannel Jersey, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson’s 1917-1920 game used signature model Louisville Slugger bat, Rogers Hornsby 1928 game used road flannel, Joe DiMaggio’s game used 1940’s road flannel (year undetermined, but cannot rule out possibility of it being the uniform he wore when his 56 game hitting streak ended), and Roberto Clemente’s game used 1970 jersey.

The auction will culminate on Thursday, August 11, 2005, at 10 PM EDT. Bids can be placed via phone, fax (763-208-2890), and email. (staff@vintageauthentics.com) Visit www.vintageauthentics.com or call 866-304-3090 for more information.

Vintage Authentics is a sports memorabilia auction company based in Golden Valley, MN. Steve Jensen, Mark Redmond and Ryan Guldberg are the founders, partners and co-CEOs.

Source: Vintage Authentics
Date: July 6, 2005

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