This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/24/2024
Mark McGwire Signed, Game-Used and Photo-Matched Bat from historic 1998 MLB season.
Former MLB slugger Mark McGwire launched 583 home runs during his illustrious career. From his Rookie of the Year campaign in 1987 with the Oakland A’s through his final season in the bigs with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001, “Big Mac” posed a serious threat to opposing pitchers every time the 6’ 5” behemoth stepped into the batter’s box. Currently he ranks No. 11 on the all-time HR list, squeezed in between Frank Robinson (586) and Harmon Killebrew (573). Offered here is the bat McGwire used to hit his 423rd career home run on June 27, 1998. This was the same season in which McGwire and Cubs standout Sammy Sosa staged the great home run race of ‘98 where they wound up hitting 70 and 66 home runs, respectively, to both surpass the great Roger Maris’s long standing MLB record of 61 home runs in a season (1961).
The presented Rawlings Big Stick Mark McGwire bat (model # MAC25) measures 34.5” long and weighs 33 ounces. The uncracked ash wooden bat shows evidence of outstanding use with many ball marks and ball stitch impression marks visible on the left and back barrel. There is also a heavy coat of pine tar on the upper handle and Rawlings logo. The model number (MAC25), order number (511) and year (98) are stamped into the knob, while the weight “33” and “McGwire” are written on the knob in blue ink. McGwire has signed the bat barrel in blue marker and added the inscription “1998 70 HRS Season” underneath this signature. The two-run homer McGwire hit with this bat occurred in the top half of the seventh inning off right-hander Mike Trombley in an Interleague game between the Twins and the visiting Cardinals. The Cards won, 7-2. The bat has been photo matched to this particular game (6/27/98) by Real Game Used Photo Match Authentication.
Authentication: James Spence Authentication (JSA) Letter of Authenticity and a Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity.