After winning his seventh and final batting title in 1957 Stan Musial had one more milestone to reach entering the 1958 season; and that was to become the eighth major league player to reach 3000 hits. His tenacious drive for the historic goal resulted in one of the longest sustained tears in his career and has been described by historians as "one of the greatest quick starts in baseball history." From the opening 13 game road trip through the first home stand Stan's excellence with the bat was nothing less than unbelievable. He rapped out 36 hits in the first 17 games of the season including 11 doubles and 5 home runs. He hit safely in 20 of the first 22 games and entering a five game series at Wrigley Field on May 9th he was hitting an astounding .529 and needed just seven hits to reach the coveted milestone. On May 12th after getting five hits in the first three games of the series he hit a first inning double for his 2999th career hit. In his next four trips to the plate he would only produce a walk and three ground outs cracking the offered war club on one of those at bats. On May 13th Stan would be allowed to sit out the game so that he may be able to collect the historic hit at home in St. Louis but as it turned out Fred Hutchinson needed him to pinch hit in the 6th inning and so Stan would comply. As Stan selected a new piece of lumber and headed towards the plate he would end up doing what he does best and that is get a hit as he laced a double down the left field line for his 3000th hit of his career.

The offered bat is the war club that Stan used during his amazing start to the 1958 season on his quest for history. This is the bat that Stan Musial used to collect his 2999th career hit on May 12th and the one he subsequently cracked in one of his three previous attempts to get his 3000th hit. The bat is a Louisville Slugger M159 (Musial Model) that was manufactured between 1955 and 1959. The length of 34.5 inches and weight of 31.4 ounces have been confirmed by the manufacturer's ordering records as being ordered by Stan during the referenced labeling period. The model number is stamped into the knob and Musial's number 6 is written on the knob in vintage black marker. It shows outstanding use with numerous ball marks ball stitch impressions cleat marks and rack marks. It is evident that this bat was used in numerous games and multiple at bats and it is hard to imagine a Musial bat of this significance that exhibits more use than the offered bat. Particularly one with direct provenance from Stan himself.

Stan was nicknamed "The Man" not just for all of his career accomplishments. He was nicknamed "The Man" not just for his seventeen major league records his 29 National League records or his nine All Star records at retirement. He was nicknamed "The Man" as much because of who he is and always will be one of the most consistent decent and honest human beings to ever play major league baseball. Sportscaster Bob Costas once said that "All Musial represents is more than two decades of sustained excellence and complete decency as a human being."

Telling words that are unarguably true to all that have known him and words that lend to the iron clad provenance of the offered bat. Stan Musial has autographed the bat in dark black ink "Stan Musial Hit #2999." He also has signed a letter of provenance that states that "this H&B model 125 Stan Musial game used bat was the bat that I used during the 1958 season to get my 2999th career base hit at Wrigley Field against the Cubs." Both autographs rate a 9-10/10. Letter from Stan Musial. PSA.DNA FULL LOA