Auction Item Details
Lot 867
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Lot Number: 867
Description: Incredibly rare 1954 Roy Campanella Brooklyn Dodgers home jersey. Stunning cream color flannel shirt with original cobalt blue "Dodgers" nameplate on front situated above a bright red "39". Enormous 2"x4 1/2" strip tag inside the collar retains black chain stitched "Campanella 44 39 1954" stitching alongside of the original Wilson tag. Back of jersey retains the original blue "39". Jersey remains in superb original condition with only a few very insignificant moth holes at the ends of the sleeves and on the back and an area of the strip tag in the collar that has partially separated from the stitching. The shirt along with the Don Drysdale pants (see Lot 867a) originated from a student at U.S.C. in late 1958 who was a member of the baseball team. At the urging of his coach he tried out for the newly transplanted L.A. Dodgers at Wrigley Field (CA) and was offered a bonus contract. Due to being newly married and wanting to graduate from USC he elected to think about the offer but in the meantime worked out with the Dodgers players at Wrigley Field. It was at this point that he was told to pick out a uniform in the dressing room from a selection of previously worn Dodger player uniforms. Roy Campanella's 1954 jersey fit nicely as did Don Drysdale's 1957 pants and the rest was history. The young player never did accept the contract but has retained the uniform in his possession until its sale. To our knowledge there are only three other authentic Campanella jerseys documented to exist all of which are in private collections. The rarity of Campanella uniforms is such that even the Campanella family themselves did not have a jersey (of any type) when we offered their collection in our August 2003 auction. Roy Campanella is universally accepted as one of the premier players of his era and without question was one of the most admired individuals in Major League baseball history for his undying optimism and generosity in giving back to the game and people in general. He did so even though he had lost so much on a personal level being confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life after a tragic 1958 automobile accident. Based on the rarity, condition, dating, and impeccable provenance the offered jersey must be considered to be the finest offered to date. Includes LOA from SCD Authentic David Bushing/Dan Knoll: EX-MT
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