A piece of baseball history will soon be coming to auction. Later this month, collectors will have the chance to bid on Jackie Robinson’s only known signed game-used bat at Heritage Auctions. It’s estimated to sell for at least $1 million.
This is the only known Jackie Robinson game used bat signed by Robinson and dates to the most glorious year in Dodgers history, the 1955 Title season
If that wasn’t enough it has tremendous use, covered in ball marks & stitch impressions
Coming up in our August Platinum Auction pic.twitter.com/dO6rit8x57
— Heritage Auctions Sports (@Heritage_Sport) July 3, 2024
The bat is from the 1955 season when Robinson won his only World Series with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Hobby pioneer Paul Hill obtained the bat personally from Robinson while the Dodgers were facing the Philadelphia Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium in the summer of 1955. In a letter of provenance, Hill says Robinson signed the game-used bat in front of him. The bat was in Hill’s personal collection for 40 years.
“The subject bat ‘shows evidence of tremendous use,’ according to PSA/DNA expert John Taube’s detailed assessment, referencing a left barrel coated in ball marks and stitch impressions, perfect for Robinson’s habit of batting right-handed with the label facing up. The blue-green paint streaks on the bat are perfectly consistent with the Ebbets Field bat rack, and a light coating of pine tar can still be found on the uncracked handle,” Heritage writes in the description lot.
This piece is just one of two or three known Robinson game-used bats from the 1955 season.
“We find the blue ink signature that makes this bat a mind-blowing one-of-one rarity placed atop the jumble of ball marks on the hitting surface, surviving to this day with impressive 8/10 boldness,” says Heritage. “When considering the autograph, the vintage, the key player modification and the exceptional game wear, there is little controversy in proclaiming this to be the most important and desirable Jackie Robinson game used bat in existence.”
Robinson was nearing the end of his career in 1955. After winning the World Series, he would only play one more year for the Dodgers, retiring following the 1956 season.
This isn’t the only iconic Robinson item Heritage is auctioning off as part of its Summer Platinum Sports Auction. The Hall of Famer’s home white flannel Dodgers jersey from 1951 is expected to net $6 million.
Bidding begins July 26.