1969 Ernie Banks Signed Chicago Cubs Game-Used Home Jersey - MEARS A9.5 - Conclusively Photomatched to Home Run #483 and Possibly to Home Runs #475 and 476!

Sold For:

$99,000

Year:

1969

Auction:

2019 Summer

Lot #:

14

Category:

Featured

Presented is an exceptional Chicago Cubs home jersey worn by Hall of Fame shortstop Ernie Banks during the 1969 season. Graded A9.5 by MEARS and conclusively photomatched to Banks' career home run #483 (June 6, 1969), making this one of the most significant Banks jerseys ever presented at auction! The jersey also shows likely photomatches to home runs #475 and 476 (both hit on April 8, 1969), which would serve to make this jersey a true treasure for Banks collectors and 500 Home Run Club enthusiasts. Relative to other modern-day Hall of Famers, Banks jerseys dating from his playing career, especially home examples, are exceedingly rare. This is just the second Banks jersey we have ever offered, and we have seen probably fewer than six others at auction in the past 20 years. The white pinstripe flannel jersey features the Cubs' logo patch on the left breast and the number "14" on the reverse. All numerals are appliquéd in blue tackle twill. A Cubs team patch appears on the left sleeve and a Major League Baseball 100th Anniversary patch adorns the right sleeve. (It should be noted that the 100th Anniversary patch is an authentic example, but it has been restored.) The uniform number, year, set number and size ("14-69-2-40") are chain-stitched in black upon a white strip tag in the collar. Located on the left front tail are a "Wilson 40" label and the year, "1969," which is chain-stitched in black. Banks has signed the jersey in black Sharpie (grading "7/8") on the Cubs logo patch. Aside from the MLB Anniversary patch having been restored, the jersey is all original, with no other alterations. Moderate-to-heavy wear is exhibited throughout, including some light foxing on the interior of the garment. 1969 was Banks' final full season in the Majors. "Mr. Cub" appeared in 155 games in 1969, finishing the season with 23 home runs, 106 RBI, and a .253 average. The year also marked his eleventh and final appearance in the All-Star Game. A two-time MVP Award winner and member of baseball's elite 500 Home Run Club, Banks retired after the 1971 season with 512 home runs, 1,636 RBI, and a .274 lifetime average. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977 on the first ballot. Graded A9.5 by MEARS (base grade of 10, with a half-point deducted for the restored patch). LOA from Troy Kinunen/MEARS. Letter of Photomatch from Resolution Photomatching. Full LOA from PSA/DNA (for the signature only). Reserve $50,000. Estimate (open).