Auction Item Details
Lot 141
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Lot Number: 141
Description: Historically significant Bobby Thomson professional model cleats attributed to the 1951 National League Pennant clinching "Shot Heard Round The World." It was August of 1951. The powerful Brooklyn Dodgers who vying to repeat as the National League champions for a third straight season. The beloved 'Bums' had cruised to a 13 1/2 game lead over the second place New York Giants. As one Associated Press reporter remarked, "Unless [the Dodgers] completely fold in their last 50 games, they're in." The next two months would bear witness to nothing short of what the reporter had warned with the Giants closing the gap to miraculously end the season in a dead tie with the Dodgers. The NL playoff format in the period was to play a three game series which in this case began with each club winning one of the first two games. The decisive third game would take place at the Polo Grounds. After a low scoring close game for the first seven innings the Dodgers took a fairly decisive lead of 4-1 entering the final frame for the Giants. In the midst of several timely hits and a few very controversial decisions the Giants had two men on base with one out and Bobby Thomson coming to the plate. Dodgers' relief pitcher Ralph Branca entered the game and just three pitches later was inextricably linked to Thomson for the ages. Bobby Thomson belted a ball into the stands sending the stadium into euphoric chaos with the Giants advancing to meet the New York Yankees in the World Series. Russ Hodges' famed and repetitive iconic radio call of "The Giants Win the Pennant!" travelled across the country with the home run becoming known as "The Shot Heard Round the World". By any measure, the dramatic home run ranks as one of the very elite iconic moments in the history of the game...and frankly of any sport. With very few artifacts having been documented from that historic moment we are proud to present Bobby Thomson's cleats attributed to have been worn during the historic "Shot Heard Round the World" home run. Pair of MacGregor/Goldsmith brand cleats has manufacturers tag on the tongue of the right shoe and both have the size "8 EE" punched in. It is important to note the specifically appropriate production period relating to the particular MacGregor/Goldsmith tagging of 1946-52 as it relates to the event date of October of 1951. "Bob Thomson Oct 3, 1951" is written on the underside of each in vintage ink. Strong use/wear is evident throughout and a good amount of dirt remains dried in the spikes. The cleats were stored ina cabinet within Horace's office at the staium preserved within the Stoneham Family archive since that fateful day in 1951. Included a period identification tag which reads "Baseball shoes worn by Bobby Thomson when he hit the home run that beat the Dodgers in the play-off game - October 3, 1951." "Giants vs. Bklyn" is written below in vintage ink. The thought of these very cleats touching home plate to send the Giants to the World Series certainly merits a deeper appreciation for the import of same. Incredible and historic equipment artifact with relation to one of the greatest moments in sports history. Includes LOA from Hunt Auctions (Cleats) and letter of provenance from the Stoneham Family: VG-EXEstimated Price Range: ($25,000-$50,000)
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