ADDENDUM: Based on the updated GU 10 grade for this bat, its value is sugnificantly higher than the starting bid would indicate.

For those who refuse to recognize Barry Bonds as baseball's true Home Run King, it would be remiss to discount his rise to stardom in the 1990's when he was arguably the best all-around player in the game. Initially a leadoff hitter with speed and pop in his early years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bonds evolved into a five-tool superstar by 1990 when he earned the first of three National League MVP awards in a four-year stretch (he retired with seven). A master of the strikezone, Barry never struck out more than he walked in a season from that point on. Bonds batted .302 with an average of 36 homers and 34 steals per year during the decade, putting him on a sure path to Cooperstown before anyone knew what the acronoym PED even stood for.

Presented here is a premier example of Bonds' weapon of choice during his run of MVPs with the Pirates. The 1991-92 Louisville Slugger 'H238' professional model bat features the Louisville Slugger center brand logo with "GENUINE H238", "BONDS", and "PITTSBURGH PIRATES" burned into the barrel. A heavy dose of pine tar coats the handle and the barrel is full of ball marks and stitch impressions from repeated game use. Green bat rack streaks are also present. And through it all, the ash bat remains un-cracked in ideal "pounded" form for astute bat collectors. Both the barrel and knob ends are inscribed with "24" denoting Bonds' number. Weight is 30.4 oz. and length is 33-7/8 inches.

The bat was just recently graded by expert John Taube of PSA/DNA, who has given it a perfect GU 10 score. A separate MEARS authentication letter from 2006 is also included.