Summer Premium Live and Catalog Auction

Lot #26: 1959 Ted Williams Game Used and Signed Boston Red Sox Road Jersey (MEARS A10, PSA/DNA & Beckett)

Description

     More than just the greatest pure hitter in baseball, Ted Williams stands as a legendary iconic figure and great American hero (both as a ballplayer and WWII fighter pilot) whose complex and multi-faceted personality continues to be source of fascination generation after generation. As the last man to hit .400 in a season and the player with the 7th highest lifetime batting average (everyone in front of him played in earlier eras) Williams’ feats and accomplishments as a hitter are multitude – including six American League batting titles, two Triple Crown awards, 521 home runs and 1,839 RBI, and would have compiled more if not for serving in the military for three years during the prime of his career. Williams has to be included in any discussion concerning the greatest player of all-time.

     In his second-to-last full season with the Red Sox in 1959, Williams’ was coming off consecutive batting titles, even at the ages of 38 and 39 respectively. Although Williams didn’t produce “Williams’” type numbers that season in 1959, he was still selected to his 16th All-Star team at the age of 40 and only struck out only 27 times in 331 plate appearances.

     With a Mears grading of A10, this fantastic offered gray flannel button-down Boston Red Sox road jersey was worn by Williams during the 1959 season and may very well be the finest available Williams jersey known to exist and be offered at auction. Williams’ familiar number “9” is prominently appliqued in navy felt in the classic number style on the jerseys’ back with “BOSTON” running across the front. A "Tim McAuliffe" manufacturer’s label is sewn onto the bottom left front tail with a " ‘59" patch indicating the year, and "46" patch indicating the size. “TED WILLIAMS” is hand written in faded black marker to the right of the ’59 patch and below the McAuliffe tag. Both sides of this classic period wool flannel jersey, with ventilated sleeves, reveal heavy game use and even game wear. This impeccable jersey with an extremely strong authentication has been signed by the Splendid Splinter in blue marker on the inside back collar. Goldin Auctions previously sold a 1955 Ted Williams road jersey for $176,000 that was graded an A9 by Mears and this offered jersey has a perfect A10 grade from the same jersey experts at Mears that includes an official authentication worksheet. Also included are full letters of authenticity from PSA/DNA (P10498) and Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication (A03433) for Williams’ signature.

Final Bid (Includes Buyers Premium):$144,000
Minimum Bid:$50,000
Estimate:$200,000+
Number of Bids:13