Please note this jersey was originally sold at Sotheby's in 1999 as part of the Barry Halper collection as a game used Ted Williams Navy Flannel. It came with two letters from Ted Williams attributing such use., as well as a signed poster by Ted Williams pointing out the jersey.  Because there is no additional evidence suggested this jersey was worn by Ted Williams, we are offering it as a period correct, authentic Navy Flannel jersey signed by Ted Williams, with accompanying letters from Ted Williams.

After just four stellar MLB seasons, the United States called on Ted Williams to serve his country in World War II. So it was that Williams missed three MLB seasons from 1943-1945, in the prime of his career, while he served in the military. Teddy Baseball couldn’t stay away from the game he loved, however, and he would spend his military years playing ball for the U.S. Navy ballclub in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In 1945, he would tour, along with other Major Leaguers, as part of the USO Navy Championship Series. This button-down gray flannel jersey, is dated to circa 1943-45. The jersey has “NAVY” stitched across the chest in navy blue, and Williams’ recognizable #9 on the back in matching style. “Williams” is stitched in brown cursive letters on the lower front tail of the jersey, and the interior collar has been signed “Ted Williams” in blue marker. The Wilson manufacturer’s tag on the interior collar has shredded a bit, but is still readable. Both sleeves have been roughly trimmed, likely for comfort as war era climes were warm in summer, particularly in Hawaii. Included with this jersey is a Navy Baseball team poster that has been signed and inscribed in blue ink “Barry This matches the uniform of mine Ted Williams.” The photo of William’s features a sleeved jersey, indicating that the cutting of the sleeves would have taken place after the photograph was taken. Additionally, there are two framed index cards with handwritten notes accompanying this jersey. The first note, written in black ink, reads “This looks like the real article as best I know. Barry finds things nobody else can. Ted Williams.” The second note, in blue marker, reads “To Barry I had to have worn that for sure Navy 43 1943 Ted Williams.” An absolute gem of a collectible here, with four Williams signatures, each accompanied by an LOA from PSA/DNA. The jersey was originally the property of well known collector Barry Halper, who showed the jersey to Ted Williams which prompted the two letters from Ted Williams which accompany the lot. After just four stellar MLB seasons, the United States called on Ted Williams to serve his country in World War II. So it was that Williams missed three MLB seasons from 1943-1945, in the prime of his career, while he served in the military. Teddy Baseball couldn’t stay away from the game he loved, however, and he would spend his military years playing ball for the U.S. Navy ballclub in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In 1945, he would tour, along with other Major Leaguers, as part of the USO Navy Championship Series. This button-down gray flannel jersey, dated to circa 1943-45, was likely used by a member of the Navy team during that tour. The jersey has “NAVY” stitched across the chest in navy blue, and Williams’ recognizable #9 on the back in matching style. “Williams” is stitched in brown cursive letters on the lower front tail of the jersey, and the interior collar has been signed “Ted Williams” in blue marker. The Wilson manufacturer’s tag on the interior collar has shredded a bit, but is still readable. Both sleeves have been roughly trimmed, likely for comfort as war era climes were warm in summer, particularly in Hawaii. Included with this jersey is a Navy Baseball team poster that has been signed and inscribed in blue ink “Barry This matches the uniform of mine Ted Williams.” The photo of William’s features a sleeved jersey, indicating that the cutting of the sleeves would have taken place after the photograph was taken. Additionally, there are two framed index cards with handwritten notes accompanying this jersey. The first note, written in black ink, reads “This looks like the real article as best I know. Barry finds things nobody else can. Ted Williams.” The second note, in blue marker, reads “To Barry I had to have worn that for sure Navy 43 1943 Ted Williams.” An absolute gem of a collectible here, with four Williams signatures, each accompanied by an LOA from PSA/DNA. The jersey was originally the property of well known collector Barry Halper, who showed the jersey to Ted Williams which prompted the two letters from Ted Williams which accompany the lot. This jersey has been inspected and appears to be period correct for a Navy jersey.

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