Big Red Machine - historical piece pickup

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  • gorilla777
    Senior Member
    • Aug 2009
    • 1508

    Big Red Machine - historical piece pickup

    1976 Johnny Bench World Series GU bat:

    As a Big Red Machine collector and as a Johnny Bench collector, I was both lucky and surprised to be able to acquire this bat.

    It was used in the 1976 World Series until Game 3, with likelihood of the slight crack happening in the last at bat of that game, from what I have found. Bench had 6 of his 8 hits up until that point, including a double and triple, ending up at .533 for the Series and getting the MVP award.
    In looking at the heavy use, pine tar build up, it was a bat used for some time. I am trying to backtrack and place it to Game 3 of the NLCS when he hit the game tying home run in the bottom of the 9th, but only have a grainy picture that just matches up the pine tar application. It is hard to believe how few good pictures exist on Series just from the 70s.
    It has the Reds 580 Gift Shop tape on it, with date marked. Also came with a signed letter tracing the provenance from the original owner who used to get a call from the lady in the Reds 580 gift shop with a heads up on new items before they were made available. This was his big score.
    I am thinking of putting this '76 World Series full ticket in a display with the bat somehow.
    This Reds team was the last great one before the free agency period began a year later.

    Ben
    Attached Files
  • sox83cubs84
    Banned
    • Apr 2009
    • 8902

    #2
    Re: Big Red Machine - historical piece pickup

    Giggity-giggity-giggity!

    Dave Miedema

    Comment

    • HawaiiSportsNut
      Senior Member
      • Dec 2009
      • 896

      #3
      Re: Big Red Machine - historical piece pickup

      Awesome pickup.
      sigpic

      Comment

      • jbsportstuff
        Senior Member
        • Mar 2009
        • 362

        #4
        Re: Big Red Machine - historical piece pickup

        That bat would look awesome in the Johnny Bench display at the Reds Hall of Fame. They have a bi-centennial bat, but not one with this use and historical significance.

        SWEEET BAT. I've been DYING to buy a early to mid 70's Bench bat for a long time. I never seem to find one that has everything like this one. Great bat.

        Comment

        • chakes89
          Senior Member
          • May 2006
          • 1706

          #5
          Re: Big Red Machine - historical piece pickup

          Awesome Piece

          Thanks for sharing!
          I collect Jay Bruce and Cincinnati Reds Minor League stuff


          My email address: hakes89@gmail.com

          Comment

          • 5toolplayer
            Senior Member
            • Apr 2011
            • 797

            #6
            Re: Big Red Machine - historical piece pickup

            WOW, just an amazing bat and great piece of Reds Memorabilia! Congrats on the pick up
            5TOOLPLAYER@COMCAST.NET

            Comment

            • Manram
              Senior Member
              • Nov 2008
              • 1151

              #7
              Re: Big Red Machine - historical piece pickup

              Sweet bat man. I don't understand how you get all this stuff

              Comment

              • gorilla777
                Senior Member
                • Aug 2009
                • 1508

                #8
                Re: Big Red Machine - historical piece pickup

                Originally posted by Manram
                Sweet bat man. I don't understand how you get all this stuff
                Extorsion and blackmail mostly....

                Comment

                • sox83cubs84
                  Banned
                  • Apr 2009
                  • 8902

                  #9
                  Re: Big Red Machine - historical piece pickup

                  Originally posted by gorilla777
                  Extorsion and blackmail mostly....
                  I thought the response would be "I'd tell you...but then I'd have to kill you"

                  Dave Miedema

                  Comment

                  • Manram
                    Senior Member
                    • Nov 2008
                    • 1151

                    #10
                    Re: Big Red Machine - historical piece pickup

                    Originally posted by gorilla777
                    Extorsion and blackmail mostly....
                    Really???????? You bad person . Hahahaha

                    Comment

                    • dplettn
                      Senior Member
                      • Dec 2010
                      • 645

                      #11
                      Re: Big Red Machine - historical piece pickup

                      Wow, congratulations!!!

                      That is exactly the sort of Bench piece I've dreamed to have! Heck, I'd settle for much less!

                      plettner@fuse.net

                      Comment

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