March Premium Auction Ending April 3, 5 & 6
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/6/2021
Jose Abreu took a more circuitous route to the Major Leagues, defecting from Cuba in 2013, establishing residency in Haiti before making his way to the Dominican Republic, where he showcased for MLB teams to test the free-agency waters. The Cuban phenom had good reason: Abreu put up impressive numbers playing for the Cuban national team during the 2013 Baseball Classic. In six games, Abreu batted .383, hit three home runs, and recorded nine RBIs.
The Chicago White Sox would sign Abreu in October of 2013 with a $68 million contract. Abreu would immediately make an impact during the 2014 season, earning All-Star honors, batting .292 with 73 RBIs and an MLB-leading 29 home runs at the time of the break. Abreu was named Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month, the only player to achieve such honors, en route to winning the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year Award. Abreu finished his rookie season batting .317, with 80 runs scored, 176 hits, 36 home runs, and 107 RBI. The first baseman and designated hitter continues to make an impact for the White Sox, recording two more All-Star nods (2018, 2019), leading the AL in RBI for two consecutive years (2019,2020), and was named the AL MVP during the Covid-shortened 2020 season.
Offered here is a white and black pinstripe, button-down Chicago White Sox game used home jersey worn by Abreu during the White Sox 8-2 loss against the Minnesota Twins on August 28th, 2019. Abreu would go 2-for-4 on the day with an RBI double during the first inning. The number "79" is located on the front right breast and back of the jersey in black and silver tackle twill. The iconic interlocking "SOX" logo is on the left breast in black and silver tackle twill. A Majestic manufacturing tag with size "46" is located on the jersey's front left tail. A tackle twill black majestic logo is on the left sleeve. There is an "MLB 150" logo, commemorating 150 years of Major League Baseball, on the right sleeve in navy and red on matching white. A black, white, and silver MLB logo is sewn on the back collar. "ABREU" in black and silver tackle twill is stitched across the back of the jersey. The game-used jersey is in pristine condition, with a slight blue mark along the back collar. The jersey comes with an LOA from Sports Investors Authentication (201231E4) and an MLB Authenticated Hologram (JD765267).