Oscar Taveras Rawlings PRO Model Black Bat Beautifully Signed in Silver Sharpie.
Lot 41. Oscar Taveras Rawlings PRO Model Black Bat Beautifully Signed in Silver Sharpie. The 22-year-old St. Louis Cardinals outfielder autographed this bat on Oct. 17, 2014 - just one day after his team’s season-ending NLCS loss to the San Francisco Giants. Sadly, that game was the young star’s last. Just nine days later, baseball lost a rising star when he and his girlfriend died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic. Cardinals chairman William DeWitt, Jr. called Taveras “an amazing talent with a bright future who was taken from us well before his time.” John Mozeliak, the team’s general manager, said “I first met Oscar when he was 16 years old and will forever remember him as a wonderful young man who was a gifted athlete with an infectious love for life who lived every day to the fullest.” Before reaching the Majors in 2014, Taveras spent six seasons in the minors and batted .321 with a .519 slugging percentage. He won batting titles in two minor leagues and frequently was prepared to Vladimir Guerrero. Like Guerrero, Taveras was born in the Dominican Republic. From ages 12-16, he lived in Canada and obtained Canadian citizenship. Subsequently, he returned to the Dominican Republic. Taveras’ autograph on the 34” bat with his name is gem mint 10, and the bat is nm-m. PSA/DNA Pre-Certified. Winning Bid $25.
