In 1981 Cal Ripken Jr. just three years out of high school was already the hottest prospect in the Baltimore Orioles farm system. He began that year at Triple-A Rochester and immediately impressed Red Wings manager Doc Edwards with his all-around talent. On April 21 following a game in which Ripken hit three home runs Edwards returned to his office and sent a note to the Orioles brass. It simply read "Can't miss." Edwards obviously knew talent as Ripken led the team in nearly every offensive category that summer including batting average (.288) home runs (23) and RBI (75). In a foreshadowing of things to come Ripken played in all 114 games for the Red Wings that season before being called up to the Orioles on August 8th. The memory of that day remains one of Ripken's most vivid memories. As the player later recalled "It was 2 a.m. and we'd just gotten off the bus from a game in Syracuse. Doc called me into his office and said 'You're going up.' I said See you later." When asked about that moment years later Edwards remembered it exactly as Ripken had adding "I knew he wouldn't be back."

Presented here is a rare 1981 Cal Ripken Jr. Louisville Slugger Professional Signature Model P72 bat game used while the Hall of Fame shortstop stop was a member of the International League's Rochester Red Wings. Ripken has signed the bat on the barrel in 8-9/10 silver felt tip pen. Ripken's Rochester Red Wings number "5" is written in black marker on the knob. Bat measures 35 inches long and weighs 33.4 ounces. The beautiful ash bat with a hickory finish displays excellent game use with ball marks ball stitch impressions cleat marks and bat rack marks on the barrel. Bat shows evidence of a crack that has been professionally repaired. A significant bat from the dawn of one of baseball's most celebrated careers.

Full LOA from PSA/DNA(Malta/Taube) with a GU 8 rating.

Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.