Cal Ripken Jr. is considered one of the best shortstops and third basemen to ever play the game. During his 21 year career with the Baltimore Orioles, Ripken pioneered the way for taller, larger shortstops to be successful in that position. A two-time MVP, 19-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year winner, Ripken Jr. was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. This Louisville Slugger P72 model bat is from the Cal Ripken Jr. collection. The bat measures 35 inches long and weighs 33.2 ounces. The black ash bat shows outstanding use with a handle crack. Numerous ball marks are visible on all sides of the barrel as well as cleat marks. There is a moderate coat of pine tar on the handle. Ripken signed the barrel of the bat with the added inscription “9-15-96 2 Homers” in silver marker and in our opinion rates a 9. Ripken has applied a piece of tape to the right barrel that reads “9-15-96 2 HRs vs Det. Broken Bat Homer vs Williams”. Ripken hit career home runs #349 and #350 on this date. This bat is accompanied by a Ripken LOA, a PSA/DNA LOA grading the bat a GU 10 and a Beckett LOA for the autograph.