I was going to post this in the November pickup thread, but technically it's not vintage so I figured I'd give it its own thread.
One of my best friends is a nephew of
Paul Gillespie, catcher for the 1942-45 Chicago Cubs. Though he had a short career due to war service and then injury in the '45 Series, Gillespie has his own special place in baseball history as one of just 2 players to hit home runs in their first AND last career at bats.
I included an illustrated story on Paul Gillespie in my book "
The League of Outsider Baseball" which made his extended family very happy to see their relative in print. I've kept in touch with several members of his family over the years and was honored when I was included in the family's order of exact remakes of Paul Gillespie's signature model bat.
For those who don't know, Louisville Slugger will reproduce the bats of past players who have had a signature model with them. The reorder has to come from the player himself or a direct relative, in this case it was Paul's sister.
This beauty just arrived this afternoon. 35" G62 model bat as ordered by Gillespie in his August 4, 1945 contract with Hillerich & Bradsby. I know it's not an original gamer, but it's as close as I'll get and means all the more because it came from his family.
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You can read more about Paul Gillespie's career
HERE