1979 Tony Perez Montreal Expos Signed Game-Used Home Jersey

Sold For:

$1,058

Year:

1979

Auction:

2008 Spring

Lot #:

1402

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Montreal Expos home jersey worn by Hall of Fame first baseman Tony Perez in 1979, his final season with the Expos. Graded A9 by MEARS. The white knit jersey is lettered "Expos" on the left breast, above which is displayed the team's distinctive tricolor logo. The number "24" appears on the right breast and reverse. "Perez" is lettered on the reverse above the number. All letters and reverse numerals are appliquéd in blue tackle twill. All front numerals are appliquéd in red tackle twill. A "Rawlings 44" label is located in the collar. Situated on the interior left front tail is a flag tag that reads "Set 2 1979." Perez has signed the jersey twice in blue marker (each grading "9"). The first signature appears on the right breast while the second has been scripted on the reverse below the number. Following the 1979 season this jersey was subsequently used by one of the Expos' minor league clubs, at which time Perez's name on the reverse was covered by a nameplate. That nameplate has since been removed, leaving a stitch outline of its former location; otherwise, the jersey is completely original with no alterations. Moderate wear is displayed throughout. Tony Perez was one of baseball's most consistent run producers during the late 1960s through the mid 1970s. Perez drove in ninety or more runs for eleven consecutive years, and his lifetime total of 1,652 RBI ranks twenty fourth on the all-time list. Although Perez was thirty-seven years old in 1979, he still posted impressive numbers, batting .270 with 13 home runs and 73 RBI. Perez retired in 1986 with 379 home runs and a .279 lifetime average. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2000. Graded A9 by MEARS (10 point base grade, with 1 point deducted for the addition/removal of the minor-league nameplate). This is one of only two Tony Perez jerseys listed in the MEARS population report (the other example is also a 1979 Expos home jersey that has been graded A10). This jersey has been consigned to this auction directly from the personal collection/inventory of world-renowned bat and jersey authenticators David Bushing and/or Troy Kinunen. LOAs from Dave Bushing & Troy Kinunen/MEARS and James Spence/JSA. Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000/$2,000. SOLD FOR $1,057.50