Doug Mientkiewicz was a back-up player on the fabled 2004 Boston Red Sox as the team finally ended the 86-year-old "Curse of the Bambino" and won the team's first World Series since 1918, as the 2004 version swept the St. Louis Cardinals. Mientkiewicz batted .271 lifetime, with 66 home runs. He was a good fielding first baseman who occasionally would hit over .300 for a season. The "Curse of the Bambino" involves the legend that the Red Sox were cursed from when owner Harry Frazee, in order to raise money to produce a Broadway show, sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees on Dec. 26, 1919. Mientkiewicz played in four games in the 2004 World Series, usually as a defensive replacement for David Ortiz at first base. It looks like there are ball marks on the offered bat, but Mientkiewicz had only one at bat in Game 4, and he flew out in the top of the 9th inning and used a different bat. The bat is an M9 Louisville Slugger made of hard maple. Imprinted on the barrel is "Genuine M289 Doug Mientkiewicz 2004 World Series." The bat has a black finish, is 34" long, and weighs 31 ounces, with a hollowed-out barrel end. The handle has been taped and some of the tape higher towards the label is missing. The bottom of the handle is also taped, with black tape going over the earlier placed white tape. The bat shows excellent usage, and yet is in very good condition. The World Champion 2004 Red Sox are an iconic team in baseball history, and a game issued bat from the 2004 World Series is a valued addition to any sports assemblage.