1931 Jack Crouch/Benny Bengough St. Louis Browns Game-Used Road Jersey - One of the Earliest St. Louis Browns Jerseys - First Season with Uniform Numbers!

Sold For:

$5,520

Year:

1931

Auction:

2020 Spring

Lot #:

1831

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Scarce St. Louis Browns jersey worn by catcher Jack Crouch and most likely Benny Bengough, during the 1931 season. Graded A6 by MEARS. This is one of the earliest St. Louis Browns jerseys extant. It also dates from the first season in which the Browns displayed numbers on their jerseys. While we have seen one or two Browns jerseys from this approximate early 1930s time period, we are aware of only one example that predates it (a 1924 Hub Pruett jersey that appeared as Lot 2019 in REA's Summer 2019 auction, where it realized $17,400). The gray flannel jersey is lettered "St. Louis" across the front in brown chenille lettering. The number "10" is featured on the reverse in brown felt. The name "Crouch" is chain-stitched in brown on the left front tail. A partially torn "Rawlings" label appears in the collar. Although no year is listed, and Crouch played for the Browns in 1930, 1931, and 1933, the jersey can be conclusively dated to the 1931 season because that was the only season in which Crouch wore number 10. The Browns traded Couch in midseason of 1931 to Milwaukee of the American Association for catcher Benny Bengough, who was also assigned number 10 when he joined the club. As such, it is most likely that Bengough wore this jersey in 1931 as well. Crouch appeared in only eight games with the Browns in 1931, going hitless in his 12 at-bats. In his three seasons with St. Louis, Crouch appeared in a total of 33 games. He ended his Major League career in 1933 with a .125 lifetime average. The jersey has two replaced buttons (team replaced) but is otherwise original as issued, with no other alterations. Heavy wear is displayed throughout, including moderate staining and tears along the collar and both rear and front tails. Graded A6 by MEARS (base grade of 10, with 1 point deducted for the replaced buttons and 3 points deducted for its having been used by more than one player). Full LOA from MEARS. Reserve $1,000. Estimate (open).