Already a star in the Negro Leagues before joining the Dodgers in 1948, Roy Campanella quickly emerged as both an offensive powerhouse and peerless leader behind the plate. "Campy" was voted the National League's MVP in 1951 and 1953 and his expert handling of the Dodgers' pitchers brought five pennants and one World Championship to Brooklyn. Then, on the eve of the team's move west, Campy was paralyzed in a tragic automobile accident. While Campy did not make it to Los Angeles, his legacy sure did.

     During his last two seasons, 1956 and 1957, Campanella broke in the two young pitchers who would be the mainstays of the Dodgers well into the next decade - Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. This Wilson 230CL model is the mitt Campy used to whip those two Hall of Famers into big league shape. Use by Roy Campanella is shown by his stamped facsimile signature on the mitt's heel. 230CL's with Campy's stamped signature were only made for his use. A July 21, 1957 dated photograph shows Campanella using this same model glove. The mitt of this two-time MVP shows outstanding game use. The pocket and web crotch are well worn with a tear in the leather located on the side of the thumb. Tears in this area are common on well used Catcher's mitts. About 30% of the leather laces are missing from the mitt's edge and the laces have been removed from the wrist strap. The original Wilson label has frayed with age but is still present at the base of the outer thumb. The fur lined wrist strap and leather interior show perspiration stains as is expected from a well used mitt. This awe-inspiring piece of leather used by Brooklyn's most beloved backstop comes with a Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA (1G00262).

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