1959 Hillerich & Bradsby Bob Allison Game Used Bat PHOTO MATCHED
 

This is a true "NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK".

Finding a photo of one bat...from one player...from one season...from 55 years ago is a one in a million chance.

This is the 1959 H&B Bob Allison game used bat I just received in the mail today. Allison played for the Minnesota Twins from 1961 to 1970, but before that he played 1958, 1959, and 1960 with the Washington Senators (before they became the Twins). He was the Rookie of the Year in 1959 after batting .261 with 30 HRs and 85 RBI.

The knob markings are a perfect match to a photo I found from the November 1959 issue of SPORT Magazine of Harmon Killebrew and Allison together in their Washington Senators road uniforms.

Allison only wore #26 with the Senators in 1959 and 1960. Since the photo was used in November of 1959 the bat could only have been used during his 1959 rookie season. The bat also comes with a letter of provenance from the Washington Senators bat boy who acquired the bat directly from Allison in 1959. Check out that pine tar!

http://www.hofbats.com/images/allison/BAllisonBrl.jpg
http://www.hofbats.com/images/allison/BAllisonFull.jpg
http://www.hofbats.com/images/allison/BAllisonKnb.jpg
http://www.hofbats.com/images/allison/Allison1959.jpghttp://www.hofbats.com/images/alliso...oseMatched.jpg

It was meant to be!

Amazing. Did you just find the photo after the bat arrived?

No, not quite. I wanted to buy the bat and was given a price. While I was thinking it over I found the match almost by accident. I don't even remember what it was that I was looking for but I came across a black and white 8x10 image of that photo for sale on ebay.

Needless to say as soon as I saw that it was a likely match I contacted the owner and told him I would take it.

Very cool.

Congratulations on a great acquisition! Amazing to photomatch a bat from that period.

Nice pick up.
Glad the photo matched.

Amazing match. I have issues finding useful photos from the '90's!

Allison Bat
 

Now that is cool...

Great find

Great pickup & detective work

I love this hobby and incredibly cool stuff like this just makes it even better.

For sale
 

Would you be willing to sell this Allison bat.

Nice!!

Excellent!!!!! :D

Great work and a BEAUTIFUL bat!