2019 Summer Premium Live and Catalog Auction Lots 1-82 Close Aug 1- 83-end close 8/10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/11/2019
Returning to his home state of Texas, Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan joined the Houston Astros at the start of the 1980 season, following eight seasons with the California Angels. Ryan, of course, was one of the most feared pitchers of his era. When his biting curveball was on, combined with his devastating fastball, it was sure to be a long night for hitters – as evidence by his Major League record seven career no-hitters.
Unfortunately for Ryan, joining the National League also meant he had to wield a bat. Ryan did manage to hit two career home runs but finished his hitting career with a .110 average. This offered Houston Astros batting helmet was worn by Ryan during his tenure with Houston. This size 7 ¼ American Baseball Cap manufactured helmet is navy with the Astros orange star and white “H” logo sticker adhered to the front. The left side of the helmet has the ear flap, consistent with a right-handed batter. Ryan’s number “34” sticker in white is affixed to the back of the helmet at the base and on the brim. The helmet has padding on the inner front but is missing the reverse padding. There is a crack on the left side of the brim that runs to the bottom tip of the “H” star logo. There are numerous wear marks present on the helmet that include scuff marks, abrasions and transfer marks. Also, on this helmet is a Jiminy Cricket sticker above Ryan’s number on the back. The game used experts at MEARS have stated in their LOA that accompanies this item, that this helmet is an “Ultra rare and one of the hardest to find of all Nolan Ryan collectibles.”
This helmet also comes with a LOA signed by Nolan Ryan that indicates this helmet was used between 1980-82 based on the Jiminy Cricket sticker. The LOA reads in part “In 1982, hoping to break out of my slump, I did a television interview with my longtime friend, Barry Warner, a popular sportscaster in the Houston area. He had a theory on what was wrong with my lack of punch at the plate…there was no Jiminy Cricket sticker to help me out…It was a running joke we had. At the end of the season, I gave the helmet to Barry as a memento of my career with the Astros and a token of our continued friendship.” This helmet comes with the aforementioned LOAs from MEARS (315707) and Nolan Ryan for the game use.