Just getting to this thread for the first time, and wanted to thank everyone for their great comments.
This whole experience has been so much fun - the publicity has been nice for LOTG, but I can easily say that the experience of tracing the bat to that Comiskey Park photo would have been a blast even if nothing had come of it. The bat is absolutely gorgeous, and it's been a privilege to have had it all these months.
The only thing that will be more fun than the experience of working on the provenance and backstory behind the bat will be the experience of handing the consignor that check. That's a memory I'll keep forever.
Anyway, thanks again for the comments.
Oh, and if anyone has a mustard-stained Ruth jersey, I'm accepting consignments for the next auction.
-Al