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1919-22 Bill Wambsganss Cleveland Naps Game Used Bat (PSA)
"Funny thing," said former Major League second baseman Bill Wambsganss to writer Lawrence Ritter. "I played in the big leagues for 13 years, 1914-1926, and the only thing that anybody can remember is that once I made an unassisted triple-play in a World Series.... You'd think I was born the day before and died the day after." Presented is a circa 1919-1922 Hillerich & Bradsby Bill Wambsganss Professional Model Side Written ash bat. Wambsganss was of German descent, and his long and unusual last name was often shortened to "Wamby" by headline writers. He was the regular second baseman for the Cleveland Indians (usually called the Naps, for player-manager Nap Lajoie) at that time, for over ten years, and Wambsganss also played for the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Athletics. An excellent fielder, he amassed 4,269 assists, 3,420 putouts and 605 double plays in his career. He hit a lifetime .259. His unassisted triple play occurred in Game 5 of the 1920 World Series with his Cleveland team facing the Brooklyn Robins (in an era when nicknames were loosely conferred and changed, the Brooklyn Dodgers became the Brooklyn Robins in honor of their manager, Wilbert Robinson). In Game 5, Wambsganss caught a fifth inning line drive by Clarence Mitchell, stepped on second base to retire Pete Kilduff, who was on second, and tagged Otto Miller coming from first base to complete his epic play, still the only unassisted triple play in World Series history. The bat is 34.875" in length, and it weighs 38.4 ounces. It has a standard finish. The bat shows outstanding use with a handle crack. Checking (grain swelling), caused by repeated ball contact, is on the back and front barrel. The handle crack and the checking have been secured with small finishing nails. The left barrel has been side written "Frank. Tobin. 7-12-23." Tobin was a catcher for the minor league 1923 Seattle Indians. The bat comes with a PSA LOA, certification #1B29236.
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