This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/31/2012.
Before earning the nickname “Mr. October” in the Bronx, Reginald Martinez Jackson’s career began as a Kansas City A in 1967. As a rookie that season, Reggie wore number “31” with the KC A’s for a brief time before wearing number “9”, the number he would wear from 1968-1974. During the 1967 season, Bob Duliba (5’10” 180lbs) also wore number “31” for seven games in Kansas City. Duliba started the season with the club and on May 11, was optioned to Vancouver. He did not return to the A’s thus making his final appearance in the Bigs on May 9, 1967 (confirmed in dated newspapers). Reggie (6’ 195 lbs) was called up on June 3, 1967 and was sent down on July 3rd. He was also recalled in September of 1967. In those days, A’s owner Charlie Finley was known to be extremely cheap making the chances of the A’s making a new number “31” home jersey for Reggie in 1967 highly unlikely. This shirt originates from a lot of 150 A’s flannel jerseys the team still retained that were purchased from a warehouse in the late 1970’s. It is accompanied by a photocopy of a 1967 box score listing “Jackson 31” as well as additional “Baseball Reference” and “Baseball Almanac” printouts listing “Jackson” on the starting roster for several games in June of 1967. On the left front tail is the “Tim McAuliffe” manufacturer’s tag. Below are the year “67” tag and the size “44” tag. On the left chest is the team “A’s” logo which has been restored. Player number “31” appears on both the front and back. All numbers and letters are done in green on yellow tackle twill. Reggie has signed the front in black marker adding the inscription, “My 1st Rookie Gamer Jersey from Kansas City June 1967” rating an 8. The jersey is properly tagged, was presented to us as Reggie’s first game-used jersey, and in our opinion, shows outstanding use. Other than what is mentioned, there appear to be no further alterations of any kind. Accompanied by a LOA from JSA for the signature and inscription. Rare opportunity to own the first flannel game-used jersey of a Hall of Famer.