Auction Item Details
Lot 344
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Lot Number: 344
Description: Superb Joe DiMaggio professional model baseball bat c.1940-42. Louisville Slugger 125 model bat measures 35 7/8" long (just a hair under 36") and weighs 35.6 oz. The bat shows exceptional use including ball marks, stitching impressions, grain swelling, and rack marks. Knob end is absent any model number stamping dating to the bat to the 1934-44 labeling period. There is also a small amount of period staining to the end of the handle/knob area which appears likely to be tobacco juice of some sort, which, could easily be removed but was left intact with regard to the originality of the bat. The bat originates from the family of a contractor who resided in Asbury Park, New Jersey during the 1950s era. The contractor counted New York Yankee and DiMaggio teammate George "Snuffy" Stirnweiss as one of his former clients. The Stirnweiss family resided in nearby Red Bank, NJ and became acquainted with the contractor through their work relationship. In 1958, Snuffy Stirnweiss was tragically killed when his train derailed and went off the Newark Bay Bridge. According to family history, after the tragedy Mrs. Stirnweiss became understandably distraught and began giving away some of her late husband's baseball materials. This particular bat was given to the contractor at which time it was specifically noted by Stirnweiss to have been used by DiMaggio during his legendary streak of 1941. Included with the bat is a detailed letter of provenance from the widow of the contractor who vividly recalls the occasion on which her late husband received the bat and relayed its special history to her family. Based on comparisons with the Hillerich & Bradsby bat ordering records this particular "Rudy York" style bat was most likely used by DiMaggio during the 1940-41 period. The first notation of a Rudy York model having been ordered was on 8/24/40. During the aforementioned dating period however it is noted on several occasions within the records, "Mark Weights on Ends". While the offered bat does not have any weight stampings on the end of the knob it is certainly plausible that the offered bat was used during the 1940, 1941, or 1942 seasons. In fact, while interpretive, the factory records also indicate several order with instructions "same as above". While that can certainly be interpreted as having the weights marked on the ends it could also simply refer to the size and weight of the "above" bat orders. According to most reliable period newspaper accounts, it is generally accepted that DiMaggio used between three and five bats during the streak. Several of the bats have been accounted for including one which was auctioned in the period to raise money for the USO overseas. It is certainly not possible to guarantee that the offered bat was in fact used during DiMaggio's legendary streak but based on factory record information, provenance, and labeling period the possibility of that attribution must be strongly considered. In either case, the offered DiMaggio game bat is one of the finest to have entered the collecting marketplace. Includes LOA from Hunt Auctions and notarized letter of provenance from the widow of the original recipient: EXEstimated Price Range: ($25,000-$50,000)
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