CINCINNATI — The black Mizuno bat that Pete Rose used for his final, record hit — No. 4,256 — is being auctioned by a New York firm that expects it to become one of the most expensive bats ever sold.
The 34-inch, 32-ounce bat is the featured item in a collection being sold through Lelands.com. Rose has authenticated the bat, saying he used it for his single off San Francisco's Greg Minton on Aug. 14, 1986. Rose is baseball's all-time hits leader.
Leylands.com president Mike Heffner says the highest auction price for a bat was $1.3 million, paid for the one that Babe Ruth used to hit his first homer at Yankee Stadium. Heffner thinks Rose's bat could go for something close to that amount.