This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2003.
It's hard to imagine a professional sports team to which historical lore is more important than it is to the New York Yankees. The Yankees have Monument Park and a string of retired numbers, which is made all the more significant by the fact that they are known for resisting other teams' innovation of putting players' names on the back of their jerseys. The reason for this? People just know that Ruth wore #3, Gehrig wore #4, Mantle wore #7, and so forth. Even today, one need not be a Yankee fan to know that Derek Jeter wears #2; that's how important jersey numbers are to the New York Yankees.
The jersey number #32 is no different, having rested on the back of Yankees great Elston Howard as he proved himself as an excellent defensive catcher, team player, and pioneer. These qualities led the Yankees to retire Howard's #32 on July 21, 1984, four years after his untimely passing. On that day, they presented the framed jersey number offered here to his wife, Arlene. The navy full-size tackle twill numbers are sewn onto a 13" by 10" swatch of pinstripe knit jersey material and are framed and double matted in the original 20" by 16" silver and navy frame from the Yankees.