This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
Not many relics from baseball's inaugural All-Star Game have weathered time as immaculately as this magnificent grey flannel uniform shirt worn by Brooklyn Dodger outfielder Lefty O'Doul on that historic occasion. The game, played on July 6, 1933 at Chicago's Comiskey Park, was intended as a one-shot novelty event. But the novelty caught fire in the public's mind, fueled by the saintly images of Connie Mack and John McGraw managing two "dream teams" from opposite dugouts and Babe Ruth slamming the first-ever All-Star Game home run in the AL's 4-2 victory. The historic nature of the uniform is enhanced by the fact that O'Doul was the first pinch-hitter in All-Star Game annals, grounding out for Jimmie Wilson in the sixth inning. What's more, O'Doul's own history is a great baseball story. He switched from a pitcher to an outfielder after his arm went dead and against all odds won two NL batting crowns, in 1929 for the Philadelphia Phillies when he hit .398 and again in 1932 when he notched a .368 average for the Dodgers. He was also Joe DiMaggio's last minor league manager with the San Francisco Seals of the PCL in 1935. O'Doul's All-Star uniform, worn only one time, has the words "National League" stitched across the chest in black felt – adding to the singularity of the uniform is the fact that this was the only All-Star Game in which special uniforms were worn by the NL players rather than their own team's uniforms -- and the player number "16" is on the back. There is black trimming along the neck and the edge of the sleeves, and two thin black stripes down the front. The name "F. (For Francis) O'Doul" is stitched inside the neck in black. The jersey shows mild game-use and there are no alterations of any kind. We believe the jersey is an absolute stunner and that, like the All-Star Game, is among the best items baseball can offer.