The one blip among the Mantles, Kalines and Williams on the list of 1950’s American League Batting Champions is Ferris Fain. For two consecutive seasons, 1951 and 1952, the Philadelphia Athletics first baseman turned out seasons of .344 and .327 that eclipsed some of the greatest ballplayers in baseball history. Indeed, Fain’s back-to-back batting crowns was something only Ted Williams was able to do during the decade. The A’s star looked as if he was perched on the edge of a Cooperstown-bound career, but too many late nights, a penchant for fistfights and injuries ended his career prematurely in 1955. Yet for two seasons in the early 1950’s Ferris Fain was the best hitter in the American League.

For his first award, given for his .344 in 1951, Fain received this 34-inch, 56-ounce sterling silver Louisville Slugger for the first of his two AL batting Championships. The bat is engraved with “BATTING CHAMPION 1951 AMERICAN LEAGUE B.A. .344.” The barrel has Fain’s facsimile signature just like the bats he used to win the batting crown. The award shows light wear with surface scuffing, pitting and dings from age and display, while the silver remains bright and clear. A hard earned award, the likes of which is seldom seen in the marketplace, from a slugger whose star burned bright and fast.