This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/21/2023
One of the many "bonus babies" of the 1950s, outfielder Al Kaline became a full-time starter in his second season, then set a major-league record the following year but became the youngest player to win a batting title, taking American League honors with a .340 clip at the age of 20. But for all of the offensive numbers that "Mr. Tiger" posted, he was equally skilled with his glove. Fielding prowess wasn't widely recognized until Rawlings created the Gold Glove Award in 1957, an honor bestowed to the best fielder at each position. Kaline was among the first class of recipients and went on to take the honor 10 times in the first 11 years from 1957-67. The featured prize is Kaline's Gold Glove award from 1959, a season in which he committed just 4 errors while finishing third for putouts by an outfielder. This prize for fielding excellence consists of a Rawlings glove, gold-painted of course, and is stamped "American League All-Star Fielding Team" in the pocket with Kaline's signature just below. A gold-colored baseball is to the right, engraved "1959" with a wooden diamond housing a metal plaque that is inscribed "Rawlings Gold Glove Award", all mounted to a wooden base with a plate inscribed with "CF - Al Kaline, The Sporting News American League All-Star Fielding Team." It's important to note that this is not one of the modern duplicates that were issued to the players by Rawlings at a later date but the actual Gold Glove won by Kaline in 1959. A wonderful piece of baseball history, originally in the hands of one of the greatest players in baseball history.