How many signatures can fit onto a baseball bat?

Hobbyists at the
recently concluded National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago were shocked
to count some 240 on a bat on display at the Geppi’s Memorabilia Road Show
exhibit.

Indeed, the bat, Johnny Mize All-Star Game bat from 1949,
bearing virtually the entire American League and then some, is part of the Bert
Padell Collection, which will be auctioned online by Geppi’s concluding October
27.

Padell, then a Yankee batboy, received the bat from Mize and
proceeded to work the visiting clubhouse as teams came in. He got the Yankees
of course, including Joe DiMaggio twice.

Hall of Famers on the bat
include Mize, DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, Bill Dickey, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle,
Earle Combs, George Kell, Casey Stengel, Ed {Whitey} Ford, Yogi Berra, Larry
Doby, Bob Lemon, Lou Boudreau, Nellie Fox, Al Simmons, Bob Feller, Bucky Harris,
Early Wynn, Luke Appling, Rick Ferrell, Connie Mack and Dizzy Dean.
Twenty-three in all, counting DiMaggio once.

Padell went on to become the
“Financial Advisor to the Stars” working with everyone from DiMaggio to Robert
DeNiro to Madonna and Britney Spears. And the collection he is posting at
auction is considered the most significant from a single consigner since the
1999 Barry Halper Auction.

The auction, by phone, fax and email, will also include the Stanley
Weston-Toby Weston Cone Collection of boxing memorabilia, which at one time made
up the Boxing Hall of Fame in old Madison Square Garden, the Arthur Richman
Collection, from the longtime sportswriter and club executive, the Tom Seaver
“farewell to fans” note, the Craig Anderson Collection, and consignments from
Orioles great Brooks Robinson.

Geppi’s Memorabilia Road Show is unique in obtaining all consignments
directly from sports insiders, notably players, their families or their
representatives, or those who worked in the industry.

The company is
headquartered at 1966 Greenspring Drive, Timonium, Maryland 21093. The
telephone number is 877-ROAD-SHW. (877-762-3749). The website is www.geppismemorabiliaroadshow.com.