1948 Enos Slaughter St. Louis Cardinals Game-Used Road Jersey MEARS A7

Sold For:

$11,400

Year:

1948

Auction:

2019 Summer

Lot #:

2066

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

St. Louis Cardinals jersey worn by Hall of Fame outfielder Enos Slaughter during the 1948 season. Graded A7 by MEARS. The gray 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 “9" is appliquéd on the reverse in red on navy felt. Both the name, "Slaughter," and the year, "48," are chain-stitched in red along the left front tail. Situated in the collar are a "Rawlings" label, a "42" size tag, and a laundry tag. The zipper is fully functional but appears to be a vintage replacement. Other than that, the jersey is original as issued, with no other alterations. Heavy wear is exhibited throughout, including three team-repaired tears on the reverse, light soiling, and a number of insect holes front and back, the largest of which occupy the area of the left breast. This jersey was later sent to one of the Cardinals' minor-league affiliates following the 1948 season and is accompanied by a letter of provenance signed by the daughter of the minor league player to whom it was issued. 1948 was also the last year in which the Cardinals wore this particular style of jersey, as the front logo changed slightly the next year. Enos "Country" Slaughter enjoyed a banner season in 1948, finishing the year with a .321 batting average, 11 home runs, and 90 RBI. Those numbers helped earn him a third-place finish in the National League MVP Award voting at season's end. Although best known today for his "Mad Dash" in the 1946 World Series that helped St. Louis defeat Boston, Slaughter was an accomplished hitter and finished his nineteen-year career with a .300 lifetime average and 2,383 hits (despite missing three full seasons due to military service during World War II). He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985. Slaughter's number "9" was retired by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1996. Graded A7 by MEARS (base grade of 10, with 3 points deducted for its use by another player in the minor leagues). Full LOAs from Troy Kinunen/MEARS and David Randolph and Bill Henderson/Sports Investors Authentication. Opening Bid $5,000. Estimate (open).