Gil Hodges 1959 World Series H&B Professional Model Bat With Hodges Family Provenance

Hodges was the Major Leagues' outstanding first baseman in the 1950s, with teammate Duke Snider being the only player to have more home runs or runs batted in during the decade. The Brooklyn Dodgers of the time were a team of great hitters, with Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, Carl Furillo, and others. It was a hard team on which to stand out, but Hodges was a fan favorite. The team was a perennial contender in the World Series, with Hodges appearing in seven Fall Classics with the Dodgers in 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, and in 1959 for which this bat was specially made for Gil. In the 1959 World Series against the Chicago White Sox (his first against a non-Yankee team), Hodges batted .391 with his solo home run in the eighth inning of Game 4 giving the Dodgers a 5-4 win, as they triumphed in six games for another Series championship. The Hillerich & Bradsby model H178 bat is uncracked and shows evidence of light use. A few ball marks and ball stitch impressions are visible on the back barrel. Also visible on the bat are blue bat rack streaks and a water stain on the top barrel. The model number (H178) is stamped into the knob. The bat comes with ideal provenance in the form of a letter from Barbara Hodges, Gil's daughter, outlining the bats history. Length: 35 inches. Weight: 31.6 ounces. An additional LOA is provided by John Taube of PSA/DNA (Graded GU7).