When you are a young New York Yankee player in the 1950s and 1960s, the only drawback might have been how many World Series rings can I possible wear at one time? The team were perennially favorite to win the American League, and always seemed to win the key World Series games. Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio, who was part of 10 on field World Series, experienced this “drawback” by one year giving back his ring to the company, wanting a shotgun or gold-embossed fishing rod instead, and Frank Crosetti often received shotguns instead of another ring of his 17 championships as player and coach. At this point, the major ring manufacturers began offering players fallback options to the standard Championship rings.

In 1961, the Yankees were riding their home run kings to another World Series championship. Rookie hurler Rollie Sheldon helped them achieve their goal with a stellar 11-5 rookie season, and at the end received a World Series ring. The following season, the Yankees won again in a stirring 7-game series win over the San Francisco Giants. Sheldon, who was 7-8 that second season, likely figured “Hey, this is easy. We’re gonna win every year!” So, instead of a second World Series ring, he opted for a set of 8 sterling silver drinking goblets with matching pitcher, each etched with the Yankees top hat insignia. Each of these 6 ½-inch tall goblets has “REED & BARTON STERLING X117” stamped in the bottom, and with the Yankee insignia, these are the only two markings on these handsome goblets. Each is housed in the original blue box, which has “Balfour” printed all around.

The central piece of this beverage service is 7 ½ -inch high, four-pint, Gorham Sterling silver pitcher. The front has been engraved with “PRESENTED TO ROLAND F. SHELDON BY THE BASEBALL COMMISSIONER”. The reverse has been engraved with the top-hat-and-bat Yankee insignia with “1962 WORLD CHAMPIONS” engraved below. Balfour likely contracted out with the premier silver maker to manufacture this set for Rollie Sheldon, and there is a high probability that this is the only beverage set specifically made for a Yankee player for any World Series championship. The set’s engraved and exclusive eight goblets and pitcher remain in excellent condition.              

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