Joe Jackson Bat Fetches $583K at Christie’s Auction

A “Shoeless” Joe Jackson professional model bat sold for $583,500 at Christie’s Golden Age of Baseball, Selections from the National Pastime Museum auction Wednesday in New York.

The hammer price for the bat, a Hillerich & Bradsby model manufactured by Louisville Slugger dating from the 1917-1920 period, was $480,000. The buyer’s premium inflated the price to the final amount during the first day of a two-day live and internet auction at Rockefeller Center.

The bat is burned with a “signature” of Jackson, according to a description on Christie’s auction page. Jackson, who died in 1951, was banned from major-league baseball after the Black Sox World Series scandal of 1919. The outfielder was illiterate and rarely signed anything except legal documents or paychecks.

The bat measures 35½ inches long and weighs 39.2 ounces, Christie’s said. The auction house said the bat was one of two known Joe Jackson professional model bats, but the only full-name script Signature model manufactured by Louisville Slugger that can be attributed to being used by Jackson.

A 1911 Jackson bat sold for $956,000 in bidding by Heritage Auctions in February 2014. That was Jackson’s first full season in the majors after brief stints with the Philadelphia Athletics (1908) and Cleveland Indians (1909-10). As a full-time regular in 1911, Jackson batted .408 in 147 games and finish behind Ty Cobb’s .420.

The one that sold Wednesday in New York was authenticated and graded a 7 by PSA/DNA.

The bat was one of nearly 500 items on the block on Day 1.  The lots up for bid included letters, contracts, memorabilia, game-used bats and vintage baseball cards, but the professional model bats drew the most attention from bidders.

Other items sold included:

• Cap Anson bat $427,500
• Lou Gehrig bat  $415,500
• Jackie Robinson bat $295,500
• Josh Gibson bat $319,500
• 1952 Topps Willie Mays PSA 9  $247,500
• Mike “King” Kelly signed photo and dinner program  $199,500
• 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax PSA 9  $162,500
• George Sisler bat  $137,500

Related Stories:

Bat Signed by Ruth and Gehrig Brings $458,250 at FanFest Auction Robinson World Series Bat, Ali Robe, MLK Speech Tops at Auction Items from Christie’s Baseball Auction on Display in Chicago National Pastime Museum Collection Heading to Christie’s Robinson, Gehrig Bats Bring Nearly $300,000 at Louisville Slugger Auction Newly Discovered Gehrig Bat Sells for $436,970 Notes: 1913 Proof Sheet, Jackson Bat Generating Interest

About Bob D'Angelo

Bob has been a sportswriter and copy editor for more than 35 years and a blogger for a decade. He is celebrating his 50th year of card collecting, and still counts his 1965 Topps Mickey Mantle as his favorite. You can reach him at [email protected].