2026 Spring Auction
Thu, Mar 12, 2026 01:00PM EDT - Sun, Mar 29, 2026 10:30PM EDT
Timed Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Lot 77
1998 Mark McGwire Game Used & Signed Rawlings 'MAC25' Pro Model Bat from 70-HR Season (Given to Cards' Bat Boy) – PSA/DNA GU 9.5
Current Bid
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
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| $50 | $5 |
| $100 | $10 |
| $200 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $30,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $25,000 |
| $500,000 | $50,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $100,000 |
| $2,500,000 | $150,000 |
This 1998 Mark McGwire game-used Rawlings 'MAC25' professional model bat from the season in which he hit 70 home runs—shattering Roger Maris's record of 61—carries a PSA/DNA GU 9.5 grade. Big Mac signed the bat during the '98 season and gifted it to St. Louis Cardinals' then-bat boy Drew Benes (son of longtime MLB pitcher Andy Benes).
The 1998 home run chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa is among the most watched and discussed individual seasons in the history of professional sports. McGwire's pursuit of Maris's record captivated the nation through the summer, drew enormous television audiences, filled ballparks across the country, and—by virtually any contemporary account—reinvigorated interest in baseball following the damaging 1994-95 strike. When McGwire reached 62 on September 8, 1998, and eventually finished with 70, the moment was simultaneously historic, electric, and culturally significant in a way that transcends pure statistics.
The Rawlings 'MAC25' bat exhibits excellent use with a very slight crack on the lower handle. Several ball marks and ball stitch impressions are visible on the left and back barrel. Also visible are blue and green bat rack streaks. There is a moderate coat of pine tar on the handle. The 'MAC25' is a massive, heavy implement consistent with the legendary dimensions of McGwire's swing—a visual confirmation of the physical tools that produced those historic numbers. Mac signed and inscribed the bat "To Drew, '98 Mark McGwire STL 25" in bold black marker that appears 9.5/10 in eye appeal.
Bat whisperer John Taube is very strict about authenticating '98 Big Mac gamers as there are an abundance of fakes in the market. He has given this one a near-perfect PSA/DNA GU 9.5 grade with the only blemish being the slight handle crack. Additional authentication from JSA (cert. sticker) and PSA/DNA for the autograph (LOA to be posted upon arrival). It should be noted that our consignor chose not to submit this bat for a professional photo-match due to the added fee required. If it were to match conclusively to a game or a home run from the '98 season, the value would be $50k+. (We sold a '98 Mac bat from Javy Lopez's collection without a photo-match for $49,555 in 2021.)
For the baseball historian, the McGwire collector, the record-breaking season enthusiast, or any buyer seeking a piece of one of baseball's most consequential individual campaigns, this bat stands alone as a documented, graded, dual-authenticated artifact from the most scrutinized offensive season in the modern game. The 1998 season will be debated forever—but the bat itself is authentic, graded, and waiting for its next home.
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