This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/12/2013
Buster Posey, winner of the 2010 National League Rookie of the Year award, and most recently the 2012 National League Most Valuable Player award, was originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft and was signed by the Giants on 8/16/2008. Posey made his Major League debut on 9/11/2009.
This blonde Buster Posey Louisville Slugger signature model C243 bat has labeling consistent with manufacture in 2008. It has Posey’s name in script on the barrel, indicating that he had already signed an endorsement contract with H & B at the time of the bat’s manufacture. The bat is a model C243 measuring 34 inches in length and weighing 31 ounces. It has a cupped end and a Flame Burned finish. The bat is uncracked and shows several signs of game use, including pine tar application, hit marks, ball marks, and cleat marks.
It is likely that Posey signed an endorsement contract with H & B shortly after signing with the Giants. As custom, H & B likely sent him 2 or 3 of his contract bats for approval, thus the ‘signature model’. It is possible that Posey ordered additional bats over the next four months, thus this bat is from one of Posey’s first orders in 2008 prior to the H & B labeling transition in 2009. The use on this bat is likely to be from Posey’s time with the S. F. Giants in 2009 Spring Training or his period with the San Jose Giants early in the 2009 season. It is also possible that the bat was carried forward to July, 2009 and used by Posey with the Fresno Grizzlies prior to his Major League debut in September. Regardless, it is not likely that there are any earlier Buster Posey bats in the memorabilia hobby today making this one especially sought after by bat collectors. Great early career bat from the young superstar who has helped lead the SF Giants to 2 World Series Championships in his first 2 full seasons with the team as he was called up late in 2009 and was injured for most of 2011.
(Michael Specht Authentication)