This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/13/2011
This spectacular offering features a vintage 1910-15 Honus Wagner Louisville Slugger 40W decal bat that shows evidence of outstanding use with numerous ball marks visible on the right, left and back barrel and cleat marks visible on the front, left and right barrel. This professional model bat has a hand turned knob, measures 34.75 inches and weighs 43.4 ounces which matches documented Honus Wagner bats. This bat has the "Wagneresque" ultra thick handle and unique vintage black tape job. This specific tape application has been seen on several photographs from the era and we have provided a few examples for visual comparison. The decal on the barrel of the bat has approximately 40% remaining and is all original. Accompanied by a very detailed Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA's John Taube grading this historic offering a GU 6. This is the very FIRST decal bat ever graded by PSA/DNA. Taube stops short of putting this bat in Wagner's hands with 100% certainty due to the lack of records in the early 1900's but the combination of it's "Wagneresque" length, weight, thick handle, hand turned knob and photo matched black taped handle gives overwhelming evidience enough to become the first and highest grade ever given a GU grade form PSA/DNA. We had a similar Wagner bat graded an A8 by MEARS that sold in 2004 for $92,500. This bat would fill a big hole in most collectors 3,000 Hit Club collection.