Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak in 1941 is widely considered the most untouchable record in sports.
It’s such a preposterous record that it’s a mathematical feat to merely calculate the odds of it occurring at all — a simulation published in SABR concluded DiMaggio would be expected to notch a hit streak of 56 games or more just once in every 18,519 years.
Pete Rose’s 44-game streak in 1978 is the only run of more than 40 in the years since.
This otherworldly accomplishment is rightfully lauded to this day, with related memorabilia gaining value by association.
SCP Auctions is selling a bat used by DiMaggio during the 1941 season and attributed to Game 1 of the World Series, with bidding sitting at $85,000 and more than a week remaining at auction.
Beginning on May 15, the streak lasted until July 16, during which time Joltin’ Joe hit .408 with 91 hits. He would end the season with a .357 batting average, 30 home runs and a league-leading 125 RBIs — good enough to earn him his second of three career MVPs.
DiMaggio and the Yankees won the World Series that year, rolling past the Brooklyn Dodgers in five games. Prior to the first game of the series, which the Yankees won 3-2, photos of DiMaggio standing next to Dolph Camilli of the Dodgers are said to match the bat based on shared characteristics of the unique grain pattern.
The auction house says it is aware of only one other DiMaggio bat with an apparent photo-match to sell publicly, which sold for $157,333 in 2020 (attributed to the 1949 season).
Another bat said to be used during the historic streak sold in 2004 for more than $345,000.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.