Description:Superb Jackie Robinson professional model baseball bat with uniform number “42” on knob c.1952. Louisville Slugger 125 model bat measures 35” long and weighs 35oz. retaining bold center brand and barrel factory stampings. The bat exhibits tremendous use including ball marks, stitching impressions, and rack marks throughout the barrel area. Model #C117L stamped on knob end along with a period “42” written in black india ink denoting Robinson’s uniform number. This particular bat was obtained in the 1950s by a Brooklyn area youth, Edward Guidi, whose father was well acquainted with a Brooklyn Dodgers clubhouse employee. On one of the occasions which the boy and his father attended a Dodgers game the team employee brought the offered bat to the man and gave it to his son indicating that, “He’d like him to have the bat since he did not have any kids and to enjoy it.” The bat has since resided in the collection of the original recipient until its current offering. Robinson’s import to the sport of baseball and American culture cannot be overstated. The regard in which he is held by society seems to increase exponentially over time with each generation gaining a better understanding for the struggles endured and their importance to our culture. Game used artifacts from Robinson are revered at the highest level by collectors and historians alike with a very small population having become available within the collecting marketplace. This particular Jackie Robinson bat ranks among the very finest of its type to have been offered with direct primary source provenance and extremely rare “42” player indicator on knob end. To our knowledge, this specimen numbers as one of approximately three known exemplars with the coveted “42” uniform number indicator written on the knob placing its significance among the finer Robinson bats to have been offered at auction. Includes LOA from Hunt Auctions and letter of provenance from Edward Guidi: EX