This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
Ten-time All-Star Eddie Mathews was undoubtedly the premier third baseman of his time. Mathews pieced together an exceptional career from the start, hitting .302 with a league-leading 47 home runs and 135 RBI in 1953, his second season. His powerful stroke and bat speed were marveled at by opponents. "He swings the bat faster than anyone I ever saw," commented Carl Erskine. "You think you've got a called strike past him and he hits it out of the catcher's glove." Even Ty Cobb, who was reluctant to praise modern ballplayers, acknowledged that Mathews had one of the three or four swings he would describe as "perfect." Consistently ranking among baseball's top sluggers, Mathews hit 30 or more homers on ten occasions and at least 40 in four of those seasons. He combined with Hank Aaron to form perhaps the most prolific one-two punch of all time. Their total of 863 home runs while together ranks ahead of Mays-McCovey (800) and Ruth-Gehrig (772). Mathews himself hit 512 home runs in seventeen seasons, contributing to his Hall of Fame induction in 1978. Mathews wore this jersey in 1959, a year in which he led the major leagues with 46 home runs. In the neck of the jersey is a gray felt patch reading "Mathews 1959" in black chain stitch. Below this is an autograph in blue ink that rates a 7. On the left front tail is the "Wilson" label with the size "44." Across the front of this zipper-front style jersey is the name "Braves" in script style letters. The players number "41" appears on both the left breast and on the back of the jersey. The letters and numbers are made of red on black felt. On the left sleeve is the screaming "Indian Head" patch. The jersey shows game use and appears to have no alterations of any kind.