April 7, 2011: Sports & Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/8/2011
When Willie McCovey launched his 500th home run in the first inning of a double header against the Braves it solidified his induction in the Hall of Fame. The ball sold for $18,000 more than a decade ago, but the bat has never surfaced until now. This 1973-75 Hillerich & Bradsby model M110L measures 35 inches and weighs 30.5 oz., shows light use with a few ball and stitch marks on the front and right barrel. The bat arrives with a notary public letter from son of former longtime (1963-1984) Braves equipment manager Mark Gladulich. In the letter, his son Jim states, “the Louisville Slugger H&B, M110L bat are the actual ball and bat Willie McCovey used to hit his 500th home run at Atlanta Stadium...After the game, my father took the ball to McCovey, who signed, dated, noted on the ball its significance and gave the ball and the bat used to hit the 500th home run to my father.” The bat has been authenticated by John Taube of PSA/DNA and although he confirmed it was a McCovey gamer and certainly could have been used during the 1978 season (similar labeling discrepancies have been noted in the past), he is unable to confirm the use of it for McCovey’s 500th home run, primarily based on a UPI photo, which shows an outlined edge of the knob apparent in the photo and not present on this bat. More details can be found on our website, including a photo of the last time the bat and ball were together, along with signed letters from James Gladulich and the current owner.
Willie McCovey Game-Used Bat Attributed to His 500th Home Run (PSA/DNA)
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