1955 Ken Boyer St. Louis Cardinals Rookie Game-Used Home Uniform

Sold For:

$22,325

Year:

1955

Auction:

2008 Spring

Lot #:

1358

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Complete St. Louis Cardinals home uniform (jersey, pants, and socks) worn by perennial All-Star third baseman and former National League MVP Ken Boyer during his 1955 rookie season. Graded a perfect A10 by MEARS. The white flannel zipper-front jersey features the team name "Cardinals" embroidered on the front, above which is displayed the club's distinctive logo of two cardinals perched upon a bat. The number "14" is appliquéd on the reverse in red on navy felt. Both a "Rawlings Hall of Fame Flannel" label and adjacent "44" size tag appear on the left front tail. Directly below the manufacturer"™s label is the name "Ken Boyer" chain-stitched in red. Located on the interior left front tail are a laundry tag and adjacent flag tag reading "Set 1 1955." The matching white flannel pants feature the name "Ken Boyer" chain-stitched in red upon a white strip tag in the waistband. Also located in the waistband are a "Rawlings Hall of Fame Flannel" label, a "36" size tag, a laundry tag, and a flag tag reading "Set 1 1955." The number "39" is written in black marker along the waistband (possibly suggesting that these pants were later worn by another player in spring training of 1956 or were subsequently sent down for use by a Cardinals minor league affiliate). Completing the ensemble are a pair of vintage red stirrup socks with red/white/blue stripes. Both the jersey and pants are completely original, with no alterations, and display moderate wear throughout including a small repaired tear in the pants. Boyer debuted with the Cardinals on April 12, 1955, and his rookie campaign foreshadowed his stellar career. The slick-fielding third baseman batted .264 with 18 home runs and 62 RBI in 1955. Boyer remained a fixture in the Cardinals lineup for the next ten years. During that span he appeared in seven All-Star Games, won five Gold Glove Awards, and was voted the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1964. He finished his career in 1969 with 282 home runs, 1,141 RBI, and a .287 lifetime batting average. The jersey is graded A10 by MEARS, while the pants are labeled "Authentic" (MEARS doesn't grade pants). Currently, this is one of only seven 1950s Cardinals jerseys listed in the MEARS database and one of only two graded A10. The significance of the grade is put into proper perspective when one notes that this jersey is just one of only four St. Louis Cardinals flannel jerseys ever graded A10 by MEARS (the other three are a 1953 Stan Musial road jersey, which is from the very same collection and is also featured in this auction, a 1962 Stan Musial home jersey, and a 1964 Pepper Martin Old Timers' Day jersey). Boyer's number was retired by the Cardinals in 1984. This is an extraordinary uniform in all respects, worn by the greatest third baseman in Cardinals history. LOA from Dave Bushing & Troy Kinunen/MEARS. Reserve $1,500. Estimate $3,000/$5,000. SOLD FOR $22,325.00