Circa 1966 Willie Mays San Francisco Giants Signed Game-Used Glove with Batboy Provenance - PSA/DNA

Sold For:

$63,000

Year:

1967

Auction:

2023 Summer

Lot #:

19

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Offered is one of the finest Willie Mays game-used gloves in the hobby, based upon its condition, unique markings, and, most important, its impeccable provenance, which includes a full LOA from PSA/DNA. This glove originates from a former Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium batboy (visiting clubhouse), Ray Hardy (John R. Hardy Sr.), who has provided a letter of provenance detailing its history. In part: In 1966, I was a 15 year old kid in high school. I had a friend, Mike, whose dad was a PR man for Southern Airlines in Atlanta. His dad was invited to a Braves breakfast and was seated next to Dave Pursley, the Braves trainer. Dave told Mike's dad that they were going to need some bat boys, ball boys and clubhouse boys. That's how I got the job as bat boy for the visiting teams at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. One evening, with the Giants in town, I was sitting in the dugout after the team had already had batting practice and warm-ups. Mr. Mays was walking up the three steps from the dugout to the field. He turned to me and said, "Get your glove kid." I went out to the field and played catch with Mr. Mays. After the game I went to my locker to undress and get ready to clean and polish the players' spikes. On my locker bench was Mr. Mays' glove. I immediately took the glove to him and told him that I didn't know how the glove got into my locker. He said, "That's not my glove, it's yours." Hardy also details how he later had Mays' sign the glove during a signing appearance and that Mays immediately remembered the glove and jokingly asked for the glove back, which, of course, our consignor politely declined. The MacGregor right-handed fielder's glove, model KC2, is a top-of-the-line pro-model glove and displays evidence of excellent game use. Despite the amount of use, the glove was obviously well maintained, with the leather still supple and all of the lacing intact. Mays' uniform number ("24") is written in vintage black marker on the outside of the thumb sleeve. Mays later signed the glove in black marker on the back of the pinky sleeve. In addition to the letter from the former bat boy, the glove is also accompanied by an LOA from noted glove expert Dennis Esken of PSA/DNA. With apologies to Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and others, many feel that Willie Mays was the single greatest ballplayer to ever take the field. Statistics don't lie. The "Say Hey Kid" finished a brilliant twenty-two-season career with 660 home runs, 1,903 RBI, a .302 batting average, 338 stolen bases and the well-earned reputation for being the greatest center fielder ever. Mays won a World Series ring in 1954 and was named NL MVP in 1954 and 1965. Willie was the complete package on the baseball diamond and is one of only five players to collect 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. In addition to his incredible offensive powers, it is testimony to Mays' all-around brilliance on the field that he is as highly respected for his defensive skills, so much so that the single item that might best represent his great legend for many is a glove as opposed to a bat. The image of Mays making his great catch in the 1954 World Series or demonstrating his trademark "basket catch" is powerfully ingrained in the collective consciousness of baseball memories. This is one of the key tools of his trade, one of the finest Willie Mays gloves in existence, and a worthy centerpiece to even the most advanced baseball memorabilia collection. Full LOA from PSA/DNA. Opening Bid $20,000.