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The one worn to hit World Series Game Six walk-off homer?

1975 Carlton Fisk Postseason Game Worn & Signed Boston Red Sox Jersey, MEARS A8. His wildly gesticulating walk-off to force a seventh game in the 1975 World Series remains one of the most dramatic scenes in the history of our national pastime, assuring the immortal desirability of the garment we proudly offer here. This home white knit pullover is physically identical to the garment Pudge was wearing as he sent New England into joyous rapture with his ricochet off the left field foul post, and there is strong evidence to suggest that this very well may be the garment at the center of the greatest Red Sox moment between 1918 and 2004.

Regrettably, the simple design of this knit pullover, trumpeting "Red Sox" in red and navy tackle twill across the chest and number "27" on verso, offers none of the anchor points that can simplify photo matching--no pinstripes, no buttons. The experts at MEARS are only able to assert that they can find nothing that excludes this jersey from consideration as that glorious Game Six representation. Lower center front tail holds the distinctive "McAuliffe" labeling, with "1975" and size "44" tags above and below, and a washing instructions label to the right.

Throughout the regular season, the Red Sox had adorned the left sleeves of their gamers with a patch celebrating the Massachusetts Bicentennial. But the absence of a sleeve patch here--or of any stitching patterns that indicate removal thereof--assures that this could only be a postseason model, limiting potential wear to just two ALCS and four Fall Classic contests at Fenway. MEARS likewise notes that regular season gamers had manufacturer's labeling sewn at interior collar, and while that stitching pattern is visible in most film and photography throughout 1975, it is not seen in postseason footage, nor in the subject garment.

The jersey was gifted at 1976 spring training to its original seller, who had met Fisk in November 1975 when the Hall of Fame catcher spoke at the New Hampshire private school where that gentleman worked as athletic director. This provenance is documented in the lengthy MEARS evaluation.

The jersey exhibits strong wear, leading one toward a reasonable supposition that only a single non-patched postseason jersey was issued to each Red Sox player for home and road contests, though MEARS concedes that some wear may date to training use. They subtract two points from their assessment for the moderate staining apparent. A blue sharpie signature at upper left shoulder blade rates 8/10.

An exhaustive search for some clue that might definitively establish this jersey as that walk-off home run model has thus far come up short, but that doesn't mean it could never be located, and it's evidence likely worth hundreds of thousands of dollars if it is, indeed, out there. It would immediately establish this as one of the premier knits in the hobby. Today, we can only market this American League Championship garment as it inhabits that mysterious middle ground between "possibly" and "probably." LOA from MEARS, A8. LOA from Heritage Auctions. Full LOA from PSA/DNA (autograph). Full LOA from SGC Authentic (autograph).


Auction Info

Auction Dates
August, 2017
19th-20th Saturday-Sunday
Internet/Mail Bids: 12
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 2,227

Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.

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Sold on Aug 19, 2017 for: $19,200.00
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