19682

HSC: 1954 Warren Spahn Game Worn Milw. Braves Jer

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop / Sports - Game Used Memorabilia Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
HSC: 1954 Warren Spahn Game Worn Milw. Braves Jer
<B>1954 Warren Spahn Game Worn Jersey.</B></I> He's the number six man on the career wins ladder, and figures to remain as such unless Roger Clemens has two more good seasons in him. Spahn's figure of 363 victories has never been topped in the Live Ball era, and as of today there is not a pitcher within thirty games of the southpaw Braves ace who didn't register at least the vast majority of his wins prior to 1920. This fact becomes all the more remarkable when considering that Spahn left for World War II combat, experiencing the fiercest of fighting at the Battle of the Bulge, after appearing in only four games in 1942. He wouldn't post his first career victory until 1946, when he was twenty-five years old. Like the Rocket that tails him, Spahn not only had longevity, but tremendous quality in that longevity. Stan Musial once joked that Spahn would never make it into the Hall of Fame. "He'll never stop pitching," he explained.<BR><BR> Considered by most uniform collectors as the most aesthetically impressive style in post-war baseball fashion, this jersey commands attention even before the number "21" on front and verso reminds the observer just who it was that once wore it. The scripted black and red felt "Braves" gives way to a gorgeously rendered tomahawk on the chest, with the zipper front keeping the design tight and complete. The Indian head patch is a masterpiece of design on the left sleeve that housed Spahn's million-dollar throwing arm. The front left tail houses the proper "Wilson [size] 42" and cleaning instruction labels, which frame a white felt swatch with red chain stitched "Spahn 54," all details of which match exactly to other known Braves jerseys from this season. Wear is clearly evident from appearances at such ballparks as Ebbets Field, the Polo Grounds and Wrigley during a season that saw him win twenty-one games against just twelve losses. Breaking tradition from most of the flannels we see from this era, there is not a single incident of damage, be it staining, tearing, or the ubiquitous moth hole. In short, it remains exactly as it looked the last time that Spahn wore it on the mound.<BR><BR> This absolutely magnificent road grey flannel gamer stands as the finest Spahn jersey ever to reach the auction block, meriting an unbeatable rating of A10 from the knowledgeable staff of SCD Authentic. It was acquired directly from Spahn by the Milwaukee Braves switchboard operator, whose son later served as bat boy for the Braves from 1958 to 1961. A notarized letter from this former batboy details the provenance, and attests that the jersey has been in the sole possession of his family since Spahn gave it to his mother in 1954. <I>LOA from Dan Knoll & Dave Bushing/ SCD Authentic.</B></I>