This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/24/2020
Hall of Famer Al Kaline was largely overshadowed as an up-and-coming prospect when he became a full-time starter in 1954. An emerging crop of rookies that included Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks had pushed Kaline out of the public eye, but not for long. Following a lackluster rookie season, Kaline exploded for 27 home runs and at just 20-years old, became the youngest player ever to win a batting title, topping all major league hitters with a .340 batting average. He was as skilled with the glove as he was with the bat, garnering 10 Gold Glove Awards over the entirety of his career. After concluding a 22-year career, all in Detroit, Al Kaline walked off the diamond with 399 lifetime round-trippers, membership in the 3,000-hit club, and a reputation of being the greatest baseball player to come out of Baltimore since the immortal Babe Ruth. The featured road flannel jersey is fresh to the hobby and was worn by Kaline during the 1964 season in Detroit. Inside the collar is the MacGregor size 42 manufacturer's label with an additional MacGregor "Set 2 1964" tag inside the front tail. On the inside of the left front tail, Kaline has autographed the jersey and inscribed, "To Chip, Best Wishes" in reference to Chip Steger, who spent 11 years working in professional baseball as a trainer. The jersey shows excellent game use, free of rips or tears but showing heavy signs of embedded infield dirt, and most importantly, it is all original with no restoration or alterations of any kind. A marvelous, museum-quality gamer from one of the greatest legends in "Motor City" baseball history! LOA from Sports Investors Authentication and Mile High Card Company.