Christie’s is offering a full size silver presentation bat gifted to old-time baseball star Adrian “Cap” Anson (1852-1922) by the students of Notre Dame University.

The lot (valued at $100,000-150,000) is set to appear in the online-only Golden Age of Baseball sale, which runs from August 16-24.

'Cap' Anson played first base for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Chicago White Stockings 

It’s inscribed: “Presentation Adrian C. Anson, By the Students of Notre Dame University, As a testimony of their pride in him, One of the earliest and greatest, Athletes of their Alma Mater, February twenty second, Eighteen Hundred and Ninety Eight.”

While Anson did spend some time at Notre Dame, in his day it was run as a correctional boarding school for teenage boys.

He also attended the University of Iowa, but was kicked out for being disruptive.

But like any number of non-academically gifted boys before and after him, Anson found a home on the baseball diamond.

He became one of the most celebrated and influential players of his era.

However, he was also one of the most fervent supporters of segregation in baseball and refused to play any team that fielded a black player.

In fact, he’s regarded as one of the main reasons the colour line endured as long as it did.

Other highlights include a pocket watch belonging to legendary slugger Big Ed Delahanty.

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