The second African American man approached by Branch Rickey to play major league baseball Roy Campanella debuted in 1948 and held down the Dodger catching job for a decade. In addition to earning the National League MVP award in 1951 1953 and 1955 Roy Campanella caught every inning of every All-Star game for the NL for five years from 1949 through 1953. Campy helped lead the Dodgers to five pennants and a World Series title but also endured his fair share of heartbreak which is poignantly characterized by the offered bat.

The 1951 season saw Campy secure his first league MVP award and propelled the Dodgers into a tight race for the National League pennant. The pennant chase between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants culminated in a final three-game playoff that came to an earthshaking conclusion with Bobby Thomson's historic "Shot Heard 'round the World." The World Series match up for 1951 was decided less than twenty-four hours before the scheduled start of the Series.

Without any lead time the bat makers at Hillerich & Bradsby had to hedge their bets by making World Series model bats for each team. While the Giants models were delivered in time for Game One of the Series those crafted for the devastated Dodgers were seemingly discarded. The offered Roy Campanella model G80 is a remarkable exception that was not only spared but shipped to the Hall of Fame catcher but not before the obsolete barrel marking "World Series 1951" was stamped over or cancelled by a series of X and other letters.

In an accompanying LOA from bat expert John Taube of PSA/DNA he strongly asserts that "the bat is authentic and was game used by Campanella during the referenced labeling period. The bat exhibits heavy use and possesses identifiable player use characteristics." He references ball stitch and cleat marks on the barrel and a handle crack that has been repaired. Green and red bat rack streaks appear on the barrel as well. The G80 model matches factory records for Campy as do the 35.5 inch length and 34 ounce weight respectively. Includes LOA from PSA/DNA (Graded GU8).