This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
899. Three Willie Mays 1951 Limited Autographed Mitchell Ness Jerseys
After seeing Willie Mays spear a line drive, then whirl and gun down a runner at home, Brooklyn Dodger manager Charlie Dressen once remarked, "I won't believe that play – until I see him do it again." That pretty much said it all about Willie Mays, a man who became a synonym for "amazing." Mays was likely the most complete of all big leaguers, excelling with his bat, glove, arm and feet. His 660 lifetime home runs are third all-time. While Willie played on each coast with the Giants, his coming of age was in New York from 1951-57. Mitchell & Ness, which Major League Baseball has entrusted exclusively to reproduce a "Cooperstown Collection" line of historic uniforms, recreated these replicas of Mays' #24 New York Giants uniform shirts that are pretty amazing themselves, one in home white, two in road grey. Mays signed each on the left breast in black Sharpie, with the signatures rating high 9s. On the right front of each shirt is the number of each within its edition; the L home shirt is 19 of 24, the XL road jerseys 19 of 24 and 36 of 51. On the left front of each shirt is a "Cooperstown Collection" label along with a "Say Hey Authenticated" sticker.