Summer Games 2009

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on: 4/30/2009

This World Series trophy comes to us from the personal collection of Jim Leyritz. Many players in history of baseball have hit the home run that has sculpted them into the pantheon of the game's heroes. Pirate Bill Mazeroski in Game Seven of the 1960 World Series. Dodger Bobby Thomson winning the 1951 pennant. Red Sox Carlton Fisk's homer in Game Six of the 1975 World Series. Then there is Yankee Jim Leyritz blast in Game Four of the 1996 World Series, an eruption that more than any other helped to usher in the latest Yankees dynasty. Down two games to none and trailing by as much as 6-0 in Game Three, Leyritz steps up to the plate in the eighth inning and hits a three run homer off of pitcher Mark Wohlers to tie the game. The Yankees went on to win in extra innings and win the next three games, bringing home the World Series trophy and beginning their dominion as the next in a line of great Yankee teams. This World Series trophy was presented to Jim Leyritz upon winning the World Series in 1996. Each Yankee had a choice of receiving the smaller, players size or the team, full size trophy; several Yankees including Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jim Leyritz opted for the full size trophy. Almost 25" tall at the highest flag, the trophy features a gold crown atop an arc centerpiece over a silver baseball (engraved with the 1996 World Series logo), surrounded by 28 gold flags with black lettering on stanchions, one for each Major League team. The two World Series teams' press pins (Yankees and Braves) are mounted on small poles on the approximately 12-3/4" diameter black base, in front of the silver baseball. The surrounding gold band reads "Replica 1996 World Series Championship Trophy, New York Yankees, Jim Leyritz” and “Copyright 1983 Commissioner Of Baseball.” The word “Replica”’ is included to distinguish the one “original” full size trophy that was given to the team. In overall EXMT condition with some tarnishing and wear on the finish of the crown. The tops of four stanchions have been detached and the silver baseball was detached from the trophy and has been professionally repaired. Includes the original heavy duty presentation packaging case that the trophy came in. Accompanied by a hand signed LOA from Jim Leyritz, which reads in part, “This is my 1996 World Series Trophy that was presented to me by the New York Yankees. To my knowledge, there was never a duplicate made.”

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