A vintage Louisville Slugger brand baseball bat used by Roger Maris during a 1962 home run experiment to defend his record-breaking season.

After Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's single-season home run record, using a bat that was 11 ounces lighter than Ruth's, a sports writer named Leslie Lieber persuaded Maris to test the theory that the heavier bats from the early 20th century would be more difficult to hit home runs with, implying that Roger's lighter bat was the reason he was able to break the record. Maris took exception to that idea and was happy for the opportunity to prove his skills. Lieber and Maris commissioned Hillerich & Bradsby, the makers of Louisville Slugger baseball bats, to produce four different bats based on the same models used by Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Pete Browning, and Frank "Home Run" Baker.

Setting up in Fort Lauderdale Stadium, Lieber and Yankees coach Frank Crosetti put the experiment into action, measuring home runs hit by Maris with each of the four bats. The Cobb bat, weighing 42 ounces, produced the longest distance of 1,621 feet. The Baker bat, measuring a whopping 47 ounces, came in second with a distance of 1,549 feet. Browning's 46-ounce bat came in third, and Ruth's 44-ounce bat came in fourth. Finishing dead last was Maris' own 33-ounce bat.

It's safe to say Maris crushed the theory and proved exactly why he is considered one of the greatest power hitters to have ever lived.

Offered here is the photo-matched Frank Baker bat used by Maris during that great experiment.

Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity from PSA and copies of the 1962 Baltimore Sun article detailing the experiment.

35.5 x 4 x 4 in; 90.17 x 10.16 x 10.16 cm

35.5 x 4 inches

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