Second baseman Bobby Doerr's career stretched over three decades, all spent holding down the Boston Red Sox' infield. As a 19 year-old rookie he muscled his way into a lineup that included Jimmie Foxx, Joe Cronin and Dom DiMaggio. The kid held his own and with the addition of Ted Williams in 1939, the five sluggers gave the Red Sox one of the most powerful lineups in baseball history. In 1944 Doerr was at his finest, leading the AL in slugging percentage before going off to war. The second baseman came roaring back from WWII by leading the Red Sox to their first pennant since 1918. In the 1946 World Series against St. Louis Doerr hit a stunning .409 with a home run. As explosive as he was with his bat, it's his glove that was most remembered by the Fenway faithful. Five times Doerr led the league in double plays, tying the old record and his career fielding percentage of .980 was the MLB record into the 1960's. As would be expected from the hardest working second sacker of the 1940's, this MacGregor Goldsmith Bobby Doerr Professional Model glove shows tremendous game use. The well-used leather has cracked with age and use and the original lacing has been removed. All the metal grommets appear to be intact and the finger tips exhibits the kind of wear and scuffs associated with game use. The wrist strap has started to come loose at the base and the button hole has been torn and widened. The wrist strap button is still affixed as is the original MacGregor Goldsmith label, which dates the glove to the years 1944-1952 - the sweet-spot of Bobby Doerr's Hall of Fame career. The silver stampings in the glove's leather is still legible, and though this glove is in well used  condition, it serves as a reminder of how rough and tumble the game was in the days before million-dollar contracts and player product endorsements. Though Doerr was a bonafide star at the time, he most likely used the same glove for a few season in row, unlike today's players who go through several in one year alone. The second baseman kept his old mitt for many decades after retiring, parting with it only this year when he signed the inside of the middle finger in silver pen and noted "Game Used" on it. A tremendous piece of baseball history from a Boston Red Sox legend and Hall of Famer. Letter of Authentication (X99622) from JSA and a signed letter of provenance from Bobby Doerr himself as well as PSA/DNA.

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