Jackie jersey surfaces in Grey Flannel sale

Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 is retired from all of baseball. However, his jerseys are still making appearance on the auction circuit.

Extremely rare, one of Robinson’s jerseys will be the premier lot in Grey Flannel Auction’s Dec. 5 sale. The opening $50,000 bid is expected to jump quickly into six figures.

Richard Russek, president and CEO of Grey Flannel, said Robinson jerseys appearing on the market are very rare, with few known to exist.

“This Dodger jersey, worn by one of the greatest athletes of all time, much less a stellar ballplayer, bears the script Dodgers brand, which with the New York Yankees, is the greatest brand in sports,” Russek said. “Figure in the Dodger blue 42 worn by one of the most overall exciting players to wear a uniform, and collectors have one of the most cherished pieces that could come to the auction block.”

In keeping with Grey Flannel tradition, a majority of the 900 lots in the sale will be game-used jerseys. Among the most coveted pieces will be a Joe Morgan Houston flannel, an Early Wynn White Sox flannel and one of Stan Musial’s jerseys from 1962, when Musial’s career was winding down.
“This jersey bears the Musial name across the back, something we take for granted today,” Russek explained. “But only in Stan the Man’s last two years did teams add names, so this jersey represents not only one of baseball’s great players and great jersey designs with the St. Louis Cardinals, but it marks a transitional time in sports fashion.”

Pitcher Bob Friend’s 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates championship trophy also will be in the December sale. Of course, the 1960 Series is known for ending on Bill Mazeroski’s home run over the left field wall, thus making it one of the most remembered World Series ever. This trophy comes directly from Friend.

Other game-used jerseys in the sale come from a Who’s Who from all sports. A Bobby Orr Boston Bruins road sweater from the early 1970s is particularly desirable. Other stars whose jerseys are in the sale’s lineup are Gale Sayers, Joe Namath, Mark Messier and Hank Aaron.

Jerseys spanning Michael Jordan’s professional career are part of the Grey Flannel sale. A game-used home jersey from 1986 will be available, as is a game-used alternate Bulls uniform from 1995-96.

Game-used and signed sneakers from the 1995-96 Bulls round out the premier Jordan items.

Infamous clothing
The most infamous clothing article in the sale is a piece of Americana – a bulletproof vest found in the home of notorious gangster Al Capone. The vest first came to market in 1992 during an auction of the Capone estate. It surfaces once again in the Grey Flannel sale.

Items of note
A couple of items noting what many consider the greatest baseball team ever will be in the December sale. Two team-signed baseballs by the 1927 Yankees will be offered in separate lots.

Speaking of the Yankees, one collector can be the winning bidder of the 2000 Yankees “Team of the Century” Hall of Fame ring.

The December sale also features a championship ring awarded to the 1984 Detroit Tigers and Jose Cardenal’s ring from the 1996 champion Yankees.

For more information on this sale, visit www.grey flannelauctions.com or call (800) 242-8647.