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1924 Johnny Neun St. Paul Saints Minor League Batting Championship "Silver" Bat and Ball Trophy

This Sterling-Silver plated Bat and Ball Award was presented to St. Paul Saints first baseman Johnny Neun for winning the Minor League Batting Championship in 1924 with St. Paul, where he batted .353 with 100 RBI's and lead the American Association with 54 steals!

The bat is engraved, "Frank A. Ubel Trophy Presented to Johnnie Neun Leading Hitter, St. Paul Club 1924 Pennant Winners."

This Silver Bat Award pre-dates the famous "John A. "Bud" Hillerich Award", named for the founder of the Louisville Slugger, that was first given out to the minor league batting champions starting in 1934. In 1949, the Hillerich Award was expanded to the majors and included batting champions from the National and American Leagues. The first winners were Jackie Robinson (Brooklyn) and George Kell (Detroit). Kell had won the award as a minor leaguer in 1943.