Spring 2021 - Item detail
1950 Roy Campanella Brooklyn Dodgers Game-Used Home Jersey MEARS A8
- Sold For:
- $186,000
- Year:
- 1951
- Auction:
- 2021 Spring
- Lot #:
- 17
- Category:
- Featured
Presented is one of the most impressive and rare game-used jerseys we've ever had the privilege of offering for auction: a 1950 Brooklyn Dodgers game-used home jersey belonging to Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella. A three-time National League MVP, Campanella was considered one of the greatest catchers of his era. He was already a star in the Negro Leagues when Branch Rickey recruited him shortly after Jackie Robinson to join the Dodgers organization. When Buffalo Bisons manager Paul Richards, a former catcher himself, saw Campanella play against his club in the minors, he immediately declared him to be "the best catcher in the business - major or minor leagues." The Dodgers felt the same way, and in 1948, he was promoted to the parent club, where he helped lead the team to five pennants and one World Championship over the next ten seasons. He was eventually elected to the Hall of Fame in 1969. During the 1950 campaign, Campanella led all National League catchers in home runs (31) and RBI (89). His home run total led all Major League catchers, and his RBI total was second only to Yogi Berra’s total of 124.
Campanella played ten seasons with Brooklyn between 1948 and 1957 before his exceptional playing career came to a tragic end as a result of an automobile accident in January 1958. The accident left Campanella paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair for decades prior to his death in 1993. Game-used jerseys from his career are exceedingly rare. This is only the third example we have seen at public auction in over twenty years. Of those three, this is the earliest. In its letter of opinion, MEARS references a total of five confirmed Campanella examples and affirms that the offered jersey is the earliest known example. It was a common practice for the Dodgers, and many other teams of the era, to repurpose Major League jerseys to minor league or other affiliates, which no doubt contributed to many significant jerseys being lost to time. Thankfully, the offered jersey has survived in remarkable condition after its use by Campanella and a short stint with a member of the Ponca City Dodgers, a D-League affiliate. The white flannel jersey is lettered "Dodgers" across the front and features the number "39" on the reverse. All letters and numerals are appliquéd in blue felt. Located in the collar are a "Rawlings" label, a "44" size tag, and a laundry tag. Both Campanella's name and the year ("R Campanella 50") are chain-stitched in blue on the left front tail. The jersey is completely original, with no alterations, and displays moderate-to-heavy wear, including light soil stains on the collar and in the shoulders. Stenciled on the inner lower placket of the jersey is the name "Lloyd Brazada," a pitcher for the Ponca City team. Brazada appeared in fifteen games for the team in 1951, and while he likely wore this jersey for some or all of those games, it is unlikely that he contributed to much, if any, of the wear present given his role as a pitcher compared to that of Campanella as a catcher. In 1950, Campanella made his second All-Star team and was part of the club that finished two games behind the Phillies in the National League.
1950s Brooklyn Dodgers jerseys have always been highly prized by collectors, and this garment, worn by one of the team's key players, represents a truly outstanding example worthy of even the most advanced collection! Graded A8 by MEARS (base grade of 10, with a half-point deduction for minor league use and 1.5 points deducted for staining and repairs). Full LOA from MEARS/Dave Grob. Opening Bid $25,000. Estimate (open).
Campanella played ten seasons with Brooklyn between 1948 and 1957 before his exceptional playing career came to a tragic end as a result of an automobile accident in January 1958. The accident left Campanella paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair for decades prior to his death in 1993. Game-used jerseys from his career are exceedingly rare. This is only the third example we have seen at public auction in over twenty years. Of those three, this is the earliest. In its letter of opinion, MEARS references a total of five confirmed Campanella examples and affirms that the offered jersey is the earliest known example. It was a common practice for the Dodgers, and many other teams of the era, to repurpose Major League jerseys to minor league or other affiliates, which no doubt contributed to many significant jerseys being lost to time. Thankfully, the offered jersey has survived in remarkable condition after its use by Campanella and a short stint with a member of the Ponca City Dodgers, a D-League affiliate. The white flannel jersey is lettered "Dodgers" across the front and features the number "39" on the reverse. All letters and numerals are appliquéd in blue felt. Located in the collar are a "Rawlings" label, a "44" size tag, and a laundry tag. Both Campanella's name and the year ("R Campanella 50") are chain-stitched in blue on the left front tail. The jersey is completely original, with no alterations, and displays moderate-to-heavy wear, including light soil stains on the collar and in the shoulders. Stenciled on the inner lower placket of the jersey is the name "Lloyd Brazada," a pitcher for the Ponca City team. Brazada appeared in fifteen games for the team in 1951, and while he likely wore this jersey for some or all of those games, it is unlikely that he contributed to much, if any, of the wear present given his role as a pitcher compared to that of Campanella as a catcher. In 1950, Campanella made his second All-Star team and was part of the club that finished two games behind the Phillies in the National League.
1950s Brooklyn Dodgers jerseys have always been highly prized by collectors, and this garment, worn by one of the team's key players, represents a truly outstanding example worthy of even the most advanced collection! Graded A8 by MEARS (base grade of 10, with a half-point deduction for minor league use and 1.5 points deducted for staining and repairs). Full LOA from MEARS/Dave Grob. Opening Bid $25,000. Estimate (open).