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Jerry Grote was a big league catcher who played for the Houston Colt .45s, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals between 1963 and 1981. Grote was the starting catcher for the Mets from 1966 to 1976. His acquisition by the Mets from the Astros for pitcher Tom Parsons and cash ranks as one of the best trades in team history. He caught every inning of every playoff and World Series game for the Mets in 1969 and 1973. He was also the National League's starting catcher in the 1968 All-Star Game, played in Houston.
In Jerry's own words…
"I have experienced the thrills and excitement of playing professional baseball and I fulfilled my childhood dreams of reaching the big leagues.As a member of three National League Champions, two World Series championship teams and being selected to play in two All Star games were great chapters in my career. But there was nothing any more exciting than squatting behind the plate and giving the fastball sign to legendary Nolan Ryan or calling for Tom Seaver to put one low and outside. For 16 years my knees proved to be my best friends as they allowed me to bend, kneel, squat and run as I became the man in the mask for the New York Mets. Little did I realize when I first put on the chest protector and shin guards as a little leaguer that someday I would be playing in the same city where baseball was as big as King Kong and the Boys of Summer were more popular in Brooklyn than the Beach Boys at a California rock concert.
For almost two decades I lived with excitement, energy and electricity of playing in the Big Apple. It was a script to compare with Robert Redford's "The Natural" and it didn't take Hollywood special effects to light up Shea Stadium."
This is a Jerry Grote game-used professional model baseball bat manufactured by the Hillerich & Bradsby Company. It is a signature model with Grote's name stamped in script on the barrel as he had an endorsement contract with the company at the time of manufacture. This bat has what is commonly referred to as 1977-79 era labeling, however is specific to Grote's final season with the Mets, 1977.The Model Number G153 is stamped into barrel of this bat. The bat has a natural, or regular, finish. It measures 34 inches in length and currently weighs approximately 31 ounces.
The knob of this bat has been blackened out, likely for identification in the bat rack. Jerry Grote has signed this bat on the sweet spot, writing "Best Wishes Jerry Grote # 15." Grote wore uniform number 15 throughout his career with the Mets, into his final season with the team in 1977, prior to being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. . This bat exhibits a significant number of game use characteristics, including significant pine tar remnants extending fifteen inches from the knob, cleat marks, hit marks, ball marks, and rack marks. This bat is uncracked and has an outstanding display quality. This is an opportunity to obtain a great bat from an important member of the 1969 World Champion New York Mets. View Lot Detail page
In Jerry's own words…
"I have experienced the thrills and excitement of playing professional baseball and I fulfilled my childhood dreams of reaching the big leagues.As a member of three National League Champions, two World Series championship teams and being selected to play in two All Star games were great chapters in my career. But there was nothing any more exciting than squatting behind the plate and giving the fastball sign to legendary Nolan Ryan or calling for Tom Seaver to put one low and outside. For 16 years my knees proved to be my best friends as they allowed me to bend, kneel, squat and run as I became the man in the mask for the New York Mets. Little did I realize when I first put on the chest protector and shin guards as a little leaguer that someday I would be playing in the same city where baseball was as big as King Kong and the Boys of Summer were more popular in Brooklyn than the Beach Boys at a California rock concert.
For almost two decades I lived with excitement, energy and electricity of playing in the Big Apple. It was a script to compare with Robert Redford's "The Natural" and it didn't take Hollywood special effects to light up Shea Stadium."
This is a Jerry Grote game-used professional model baseball bat manufactured by the Hillerich & Bradsby Company. It is a signature model with Grote's name stamped in script on the barrel as he had an endorsement contract with the company at the time of manufacture. This bat has what is commonly referred to as 1977-79 era labeling, however is specific to Grote's final season with the Mets, 1977.The Model Number G153 is stamped into barrel of this bat. The bat has a natural, or regular, finish. It measures 34 inches in length and currently weighs approximately 31 ounces.
The knob of this bat has been blackened out, likely for identification in the bat rack. Jerry Grote has signed this bat on the sweet spot, writing "Best Wishes Jerry Grote # 15." Grote wore uniform number 15 throughout his career with the Mets, into his final season with the team in 1977, prior to being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. . This bat exhibits a significant number of game use characteristics, including significant pine tar remnants extending fifteen inches from the knob, cleat marks, hit marks, ball marks, and rack marks. This bat is uncracked and has an outstanding display quality. This is an opportunity to obtain a great bat from an important member of the 1969 World Champion New York Mets. View Lot Detail page