1955 Art Ditmar Kansas City Athletics Game-Used Road Jersey - Inaugural Year

Sold For:

$2,610

Year:

1955

Auction:

2006 Spring

Lot #:

1040

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

1955 Kansas City Athletics road jersey worn by pitcher Art Ditmar during the team's first season in Kansas City. The grey, road flannel jersey is lettered is lettered "Athletics" across the front and features the number "28" on the reverse. All letters and numbers are appliquéd in red on blue felt. The A's "elephant" logo patch adorns the left sleeve. "A. Ditmar" is chain-stitched in red upon a grey strip tag located in the collar. Situated on the left front tail are both a "Rawlings Hall of Fame Flannel" label and an adjacent "42" size tag. Attached along the interior left front tail are a laundry tag and a flag tag that reads "Set 1 1955." The jersey is all original, with no alterations, and displays light wear throughout. 1955 marked a historic year for the A's as they left the city of Philadelphia, their home since 1901, and joined baseball's western expansion, moving to Kansas City, Missouri. Art Ditmar was the team's leader in wins during that inaugural 1955 season. Ditmar's 12-12 won-loss record in 1955 was particularly respectable in light of the Athletics' 63-91 sixth-place finish, but he could not help the team escape the cellar the following season, as his record slipped to 12-24 in 1956, and the A's finished the season 52-102. Two years later he joined the Yankees, appearing in three World Series with the "Bronx Bombers" before retiring (with Kansas City) in 1962. Graded A10 by Mears. LOA from Dave Bushing & Troy Kinunen/MEARS. Reserve $300. Estimate $600/$1,200. SOLD FOR $2,610.00