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In a 15-season playing career, Kuenn was a .303 hitter with 87 home runs and 671 RBI in 1833 games. He led the AL in hits and doubles four times each, and finished with 2092 hits. Signed by Detroit as an amateur free agent in 1952, Kuenn was named the starting shortstop after joining the team late in the season. In his first full season in 1953, he hit .308 with 94 runs and led the major leagues with 209 hits, setting a major league rookie record with 167 singles. He received the American League Rookie of the Year and TSN Rookie of the Year awards. Also in that season, he received the first of his eight consecutive selections to the All-Star Game. After winning the American League batting crown in 1959 with a .359 average, Kuenn was traded to Cleveland for Rocky Colavito, who had won the home run title with 42 homers (the trade that is often referred to by Cleveland fans as "the curse of Rocky Colavito"). With the Indians, Kuenn hit .308 in the 1960 season. He finished his career in the National League playing for the Giants, Cubs and Phillies, retiring at the end of the 1966 season.
The bat for auction is a Harvey Kuenn "016" Signature Model Game Used Bat. The bat is un-cracked and measures 35" and weighs in at 32.6 ounce. The bat properly matches factory records for the 1950 - 1960 Louisville Slugger labeling period, with the first order being shipped in mid-1954. The bat displays heavy use, with ball marks, stitch marks, cleat / shoe marks and green rack marks all over the hitting surface. The back of the barrel has some light grain separation from constant use and the left hand hitting surface starting with the words "Genuine" on the barrel displays great checking from use. There is also a very slight area of grain separation below the signature on the barrel that runs through the words "Louisville Slugger". The handle also displays numerous green rack marks. It's one of the heavier used bats from the 1950's we have seen.View Lot Detail page
The bat for auction is a Harvey Kuenn "016" Signature Model Game Used Bat. The bat is un-cracked and measures 35" and weighs in at 32.6 ounce. The bat properly matches factory records for the 1950 - 1960 Louisville Slugger labeling period, with the first order being shipped in mid-1954. The bat displays heavy use, with ball marks, stitch marks, cleat / shoe marks and green rack marks all over the hitting surface. The back of the barrel has some light grain separation from constant use and the left hand hitting surface starting with the words "Genuine" on the barrel displays great checking from use. There is also a very slight area of grain separation below the signature on the barrel that runs through the words "Louisville Slugger". The handle also displays numerous green rack marks. It's one of the heavier used bats from the 1950's we have seen.View Lot Detail page