This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2001.
Hub "Dutch" Leonard was a hard-throwing southpaw who put in 11 seasons, five with the Boston Red Sox during their winning dynasty from 1913 to 1918 and five more with the Detroit Tigers. He hurled two no-hitters and his microscopic 1.01 ERA in 1914 (when he went 19-5) still an all-time record that has withstood the onslaughts of Bob Feller, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson and Pedro Martinez. In Leonard's first no-hitter, against the Tigers in 1918, he faced Ty Cobb as a pinch-hitter in the 9th inning and got him on a popup. It wasn't the last time he would cross the legendary Georgia Peach, who managed him with the Tigers. Years later, in 1927, when Leonard was a wine-grower in California, he claimed that he, Cobb and Tris Speaker had played in a fixed game in 1919. The accusation led to Cobb's forced retirement from the game. However, when Leonard would not press his case, Cobb was reinstated. This extremely rare classic Red Sox home flannel jersey worn by Leonard in his rookie year of 1913 has in the neck the "Horace Partridge" label. Below this is a white label with "Leonard" in red chain stitch. There are two small holes on the bottom of the shirt; one on the front right and one on the left front tail. There are two strings on the back tail. The strings were tied through the holes in order to keep the shirt tucked into the pants. The sleeves have been custom-cut. The jersey shows game-use and except for the above-mentioned changes, appears to have no other alterations of any kind.