var _ndnq = _ndnq || []; _ndnq.push([’embed’]);

PHOENIX – The Hall of Fame asked Madison Bumgarner to donate the bat he used to crack two home runs on opening day.

They’re getting his helmet, instead.

Bumgarner said he isn’t much for memorabilia, but he’s keeping the piece of lumber he used to hit home runs off the Diamondbacks’ Zack Greinke and Andrew Chafin in Sunday’s opener at Chase Field.

He’s not going to put it back in the rack. He’s said he’s taking it out of commission, fearing it might disappear if he doesn’t put it in a guarded place.

It’s a valuable piece of history. Bumgarner became the first pitcher ever to homer twice on opening day. He also became the first Giants pitcher to homer twice in a game since Jim Gott in 1985. And he’s the first pitcher to homer twice and strike out at least 10 in any start since Rick Wise for the 1971 Phillies. Related Articles Home sweet home? Giants, visitors at Oracle Park, tie franchise record in win

Giants’ Crawford wouldn’t have been at ease playing in smoky Seattle

In baseball terms, SF Giants control their own destiny. In 2020, does that mean much?

SF Giants Gameday podcast: What ‘best news’ for Kevin Gausman means for Giants’ stretch run

Giants-Mariners Tuesday game postponed due to air quality, series moves to Oracle Park

With two homers and a walk, he leads the major leagues with a flat-out stupid 5.000 OPS.

The Hall of Fame has plenty of Bumgarner memorabilia already, including the hats he wore in Games 1, 5 and 7 of the 2014 World Series when he dominated the Kansas City Royals.

Bumgarner’s bat is a sturdy piece of wood. It’s a 34 ½-inch, 33 ½-ounce Marucci model that he first tried when Michael Morse introduced him to it in 2014. Morse said the model originally was made for former Cincinnati Reds thumper Adam Dunn.

“I tried it and just really liked it,” Bumgarner said last year. “It’s a bigger bat, but it’s really balanced. It doesn’t feel like a big bat.”

“Big handle, big knob. Everything about it is big. It all fits together.”