Described as "arguably the best outfielder to ever play Major League
Baseball", Mays spent the majority of his 22-season career with the
Giants, first in New York and then in San Francisco.
His numerous accolades included the 1954 World Series title, 12 Gold
Glove Awards, two National League MVP awards, the Roberto Clemente Award
and the NL Rookie of the Year. Mays was also a 24-time All-Star,
two-time NL MVP, a NL batting champion and a four-time NL home run
leader.
The jersey dates back to the 1957 season, before the team left the
historic Polo Grounds and headed West to California. During this last
season in the Big Apple, Mays was named an All-Star, won a Gold Glove
Award and led the National League in triples, stolen bases and slugging
percentage.
It comes to the market after more than six decades of single ownership,
from a consignor who received it directly from the Giants themselves. In
the late 1950s, the team sent a box of old uniforms down to a
department store in Tacoma, Washington, to help publicize the opening of
Cheney Stadium, the new home of their farm team the Tacoma Giants.
"They sent us a box of old uniforms, which were handed down from the pro
level club from a few years prior," states the consignor. "I was lucky
enough to grab Mays’ jersey and Margoneri matching pants. When we were
told that we could keep the uniforms, I immediately knew I had something
special and put it away in a drawer for 60+ years."
Offered in completely original condition, the jersey is one of the
finest Mays jerseys to surface in the hobby, and bidding is expected to
easily reach six figures.
Further notable highlights for baseball fans include an early 1940s Joe
DiMaggio New York Yankees game-used home jersey, a Roy Campanella
Brooklyn Dodgers game-used home jersey from the 1952 World Series
season, and a rare Gil Hodges Brooklyn Dodgers game-used home jersey
from the 1949 World Series season.
