1952 Ted Williams Game Worn Boston Red Sox Jersey, MEARS A10 - Photo Matched!. ...

Click the image to load the highest resolution version.

Sold on Aug 18, 2018 for:

Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Get one of these:

Share this lot

Track Item Printable Auction Results

Sell One of These

Description

Auction Info

Guides & Info

Description

Narrow escape from Korean War fighter jet crash nearly makes this Williams' final roadster!

1952 Ted Williams Game Worn Boston Red Sox Jersey, MEARS A10 - Photo Matched!
It was widely reported that Williams was outraged when he felt the tap of Uncle Sam's finger upon his shoulder to report to Korea after already having lost three prime years to World War II service, but the famously gruff slugger was driven to tears by the adoring send-off he received at Fenway on April 30, 1952. "This is a day I'll remember as long as I live, and I want to thank you fans in particular from the bottom of my heart," he said, breaking tradition to doff his cap.

Williams two terms of military service, hundreds of games sacrificed to the protection of our national interests, serve to burnish career numbers that still place him in the rarest of company. So while this grey flannel gamer exhibits only slight hints of wear--just two road games at Washington's Griffith Stadium to open the season--the cultured historian would assess this garment as the ultimate symbol of Williams' dedication to a cause greater than himself.

The classic jersey style remains in vogue to this day, or at least the "Boston" obverse, as it has been many decades since the number "9" appeared on the back of a Red Sox shirt. Lower left front tail bears the proper "Tim McAuliffe [size] 46" labeling, with "1952, 46 1 in, 9" embroidered in red directly into the jersey body.

This jersey was nearly the last roadster Williams would ever wear, as an explosion to the underbelly of his F9F Panther jet in February 1953 forced a dangerous belly landing at Suwon's K-13 Airbase, too low to eject. Williams would narrowly escape the cockpit before his aircraft was consumed by the blaze. Instead, he'd survive the conflict and return to Boston late in the 1953 season, adding two more batting titles and 197 home runs to his resume before hanging up his spikes for good. LOA from Resolution Photomatching. LOA from MEARS, A10. LOA from Heritage Auctions.