The bat Ted Williams used during his final All-Star Game appearance in 1960 sold for $138,000 Tuesday afternoon at the All-Star FanFest Auction in Cincinnati.
Hunt Auctions offered the bat after it was discovered in the family home and consigned by his daughter, Claudia. The bat carries a hand-written note from Williams indicating it was used during the second All-Star Games held in 1960 at Yankee Stadium. Williams collected a single in a pinch hit appearance which was also his final base hit in his All-Star Game career.
Several hundred lots were sold during the annual auction, which serves as the culmination of the five-day MLB FanFest. A crowd of bidders and spectators at the Duke Energy Center near Great American Ballpark joined those placing bids by phone and internet.
Another All-Star Game used bat, this one wielded by Mickey Mantle in the 1953 contest, sold for $80,500.
All prices include a 15% buyer’s premium.
Mantle’s fellow Oklahoman, Johnny Bench, consigned numerous items to the auction. Items from his collection sold for a total price of nearly $80,000 and included All-Star rings, artwork, game-used gear and more. The bat from Bench’s three-home run game on July 26, 1970, at Riverfront Stadium sold for $22,500.
The auction included a huge assortment of pieces related to the career of star players and legendary teams from the Reds franchise. Pete Rose’s “Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat Award” was among them. It realized $36,800.
“We could not be more pleased with the results and overall support for the 2015 T-Mobile All-Star FanFest Live Auction.” said David Hunt, President, Hunt Auctions. “ Cincinnati fans packed the event all week and competed against bidders from all over the country to produce incredible auction results.”
A rare Kansas City Monarchs Negro League jersey, attributed to Walter Thomas in 1945, generated strong bidding before reaching $92,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $15,000-$20,000.
Seven Negro League bronzes from PNC Park crossed the block to benefit the Josh Gibson Foundation, selling for an astounding $224,250. The bronzes have been on display at PNC Park in Pittsburgh since 2006 and were then donated to the Josh Gibson Foundation by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The auction included several items auctioned by family members of past players. A 1911 Philadelphia Athletics World Champions pendant presented to Bris Lordsold for $51.750. A 1923 Yankees World Series pocket watch presented to Doc Woods brought over $46,000.
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