Auction Item Details
Lot 315a
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Lot Number: 315a
Description: Unique September 6, 1976 Bill Russell professional model bat barrel from the Steve Yeager "Batting Circle Impalement" incident: Net Proceeds to Benefit the Baseballl Assistance Team charity. "The Labor Day game played on September 6, 1976 was not billed to be much of a contest. The expansion Padres club was facing the powerful Los Angeles Dodgers who were chasing the Cincinnati Reds for the NL pennant. ABC picked up the game for the national broadcast which for the Padres was a big occurence having only been in the league for seven years. As expected, the Dodgers seemed to be cruising to a victory leading by a score of 3-0 in the seventh inning when Bill Russell stepped into the batter's box to leadoff. Padres pitcher Randy Jones threw a hard sinker to Russell which , quite literally, exploded his bat into several pieces. Fans and players alike were rendered breathless as a piece of the bat along with several chards of wood impacted with Dodgers catcher Steve Yeager who was positioned in the on deck circle. Analogies of appearing as though he was struck by a 'sniper's bullet' were used as Yeager collapsed to the ground bleeding profusely. Thankfully, quick action by assistive players on the field and the medical teams on hand led to Yeager making a full recovery although it was noted by doctors that he came within inches of a potentially fatal outcome. The offered section from that very bat was presented by the Padres visiting clubhouse attendant, Herman Levy, to another Padres staff member Andy Strasberg who was well knwon within the organization as a collector of unusual baseball artifacts. Levy remarked to Strasberg that Padres trainer Doc Mattei ""thought you might want the bat"". The indicident remains to date one of the more unusual and oddly macabre in the history of the game. Thankfully, Steve Yeager made a full recovery en route to a successful MLB career. The bat is being offered for the first time publicly, with the blessing of both players, by Mr. Strasberg with the proceeds benefitting the Baseballl Assistance Team (B.A.T.) charity. The missiion of B.A.T. is The organization's mission is to “confidentially support members of the Baseball Family in need of assistance.”. The baseball family includes former players, both from the Major and Minor Leagues, former Negro leagues and All-American Girls Professional Baseball League players, umpires, scouts, and MLB and MiLB team personnel. Highly interesting and unique baseball artifact the sale of which will benefit a very worthy charity within the game. Includes letter of provenance from Andy Strasberg: VG-EX "Estimated Price Range: ($2,500-$5,000)
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