1939 NEW YORK YANKEES WORLD CHAMPIONS BLACK BAT . THIS HILLERICH & BRADSBY COMMEMORATIVE BAT IS ENGRAVED WORLD CHAMPIONS-1939 IN GOLD BLOCK LETTERS ON THE BARREL, SURROUNDED BY 25 NAMES ENGRAVED IN GOLD BLOCK LETTERS OR FACSIMILE SIGNATURES, INCLUDING THOSE OF GEHRIG, DICKEY, GOMEZ, DIMAGGIO, MCCARTHY, AND MANY MORE. THE PRESENTATION OF BLACK BATS TO PLAYERS, FRIENDS OF THE CLUB, AND DIGNATARIES AS A KEEPSAKE OF CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS, IS A TRADITION THAT BEGAN IN THE MID 1930'S AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. 1939 IS A PARTICULARY EARLY AND RARE YEAR FOR THE BLACK BAT. THIS WAS GEHRIG'S LAST YEAR WITH THE YANKEES. IN NICE CONDITION, SMALL CHIP AT BARREL END AND HAS 2 EYE HOOKS IN IT, WHERE SOMEONE MUST HAVE HUNG IT AT ONE TIME.