Signed Rawlings 'Big Stick' Professional Model Baseball Bat
Sporting Memorabilia / Autographed Equipment • Manufactured by Rawlings; Autographs attributed to professional baseball players (potential signatures include figures such as Tony Gwynn and others, pending forensic verification).
Style & Movement
Modern Sporting Memorabilia / Americana
Medium & Technique
Lacquered ash or maple wood with ink-based screen printing (branding) and various felt-tip permanent markers (autographs).
Creation Period
Late 20th to early 21st Century (c. 1990-2010)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 34 inches in length; cylindrical format tapering from barrel to handle.
Subject Description
The item is a vertical sculptural object featuring the Rawlings 'Big Stick' logo and 'Professional Model' designation. The barrel is covered in multiple hand-signed autographs in faded black and blue ink, representing a collective record of athletic engagement or a commemorative gathering.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; Significant fading of the ink signatures and visible surface wear to the wood finish.
Estimated Market Value
$100 - $500 (Highly dependent on the verification of key signatures and the rarity of the specific players).
Auction Estimate
$150 - $400
Provenance History
Likely acquired at a sporting event or charity auction; features a medical identification tag/label attached to the storage bag indicating personal property of 'James Wagner'.
Art Historical Significance
Represents the intersection of sport and material culture; functions as a totem of athletic achievement and fan engagement within the tradition of 20th-century American baseball history.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'Big Stick' branding; features an eclectic cluster of autographs; presence of a medical-style identification tag on the packaging suggests a personal history or archival storage sequence.
Condition Issues
UV light-induced fading of signatures, surface scuffing, minor indentations in the wood, and potential ink migration/bleeding into the grain.
Conservation Recommendations
Store in a UV-protected acrylic display case; maintain low-humidity environment to prevent wood warping; avoid direct sunlight to prevent further signature degradation.