Hillerich & Bradsby model 125 was endowed by the post-Major League use of the legendary Shoeless Joe Jackson. As his fabled history states, following his banishment from the sport of professional baseball by Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Joe Jackson, who knew nothing in life other than baseball, found a way to play in semi-pro leagues, under a pseudonym. Shoeless Joe went on to become one of the nation’s most popular barnstormers, selling out ballparks wherever he went. From his barnstorming days during the 1920’s, Jackson’s bat is stamped, “Jackson” on the barrel, as his first name was left out by the woodworkers, in order to distinguish between his ML bats and bats used during his barnstorming years. Bat shows extensive use with pounded barrel and several deep nicks. Weighs a whopping 42 ounces. The years have left the surface of this “hand turned” piece of ash somewhat darkened in color, but very little “deadwood” is apparent. Criss-crossed black tape down the barrel is vintage and further authenticating. There is an "X" carved into the end of the barrel, and unidentifiable initials carved into the knob. Joe Jackson was truly one of the most marvelous all time talents, whose indiscretions prohibited him from reaching true greatness. But none can take away from the absolute value of this important artifact from the Golden Age of our national American pastime. You can be certain that a bat such as this from Shoeless Joe Jackson’s barnstorming days are few and far between, and only two bats used in the Majors have ever surfaced.