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1957 Vic Wertz All Star Game Used Bat
<p>Vic Wertz Louisville Slugger pro-model ("S2") bat specially produced for use in the 1957 All-Star Game, played on July 9th at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. The barrel stamping, which is entirely in block letters, reads "All Star Game/Wertz/St. Louis 1957." The model number, "S2," is stamped on the knob. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">H&B normally issued position players two bats for All-Star Game use, making all such bats rare. The offered example, which measures 35 inches in length and weighs 32.5 ounces, displays excellent use, including ball marks, stitch impressions, rack marks, slight checking (grain separation), and a small crack in the upper handle. The amount of use displayed here indicates that the bat was used not only for All-Star play, but also for subsequent regular-season games as well. Wertz, who was the starting first baseman for the American League in the 1957 mid-summer classic, went 1-2 in the game, with his second-inning single driving home Mickey Mantle for the game's first run. The American League scored two runs in that inning and held on to win the game 6-5.</span></p><p>Although Wertz was an outstanding player during his seventeen-year career and a four-time All Star, he is best known today for his role in what is considered one of the greatest plays in World Series history. It was Wertz, batting for the Cleveland Indians in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the 1954 World Series against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds, who launched what appeared to be a sure double or possibly triple to dead center field. Unfortunately for Wertz and the Indians, the Giants center fielder was Willie Mays, who made an amazing over the shoulder catch for the out. If not for that catch, two runs would have scored and the Indians would have won the game, instead of losing in extra innings. Also forgotten by many people today is that Wertz had four hits in the game, including a double and triple, and if not for Mays' catch he would have been the first player in World Series history to record five hits in a game. Wertz retired after the 1963 season with 266 home runs, 1,178 RBI, a .277 lifetime average, and one really long fly out.</p><p> </p>
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