January 22, 2020 Holiday Auction (#53)

Lot #1:

1902 Baltimore Orioles C.B. Burns Game-Used Road Flannel Jersey (Player Family LOA • Earliest Known Example • Graded 9+)

The iconic New York Yankee franchise began play in 1901 as the Baltimore Orioles. This team had no affiliation with the modern Baltimore Orioles and in 1903, Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchased the team after it ceased operations and moved it to New York City. The club was renamed the New York Highlanders at that time due to the team’s elevated location and to the noted British military unit, the “Gordon Highlanders”, which coincided with team president Joseph Gordon. As was common with all teams in the American League, they were referred to as the New York Americans. As early as 1904, New York Press Sports Editor Jim Price started referring to them by the unofficial nickname of Yankees or “Yanks”, because it was easier to fit into the headlines. The team was officially renamed The New York Yankees in 1913, and have since become baseball’s most successful franchise. Offered is the earliest professional baseball jersey we have ever sold being in business for 30 years. C.B. Burns played for the 1902 Baltimore Orioles, a two year Major League franchise. His baseball reference page states he had one at-bat that resulted in a hit, although the Burns family swears there were more. In the rear neck is the Spalding manufacturers tag. The strip tag located beneath the Spalding tag which likely housed the player ID is sans from the jersey with an outline present. On the left chest is an all-original Baltimore “B” logo in navy blue felt. The jersey features ¾ quarter length sleeves with eyelets for sleeve extensions and a cowl back around the neck area. The Spalding tag is correct for the period and the jersey has remained in fantastic overall condition. The jersey is sans the middle button. Uniform toning is present throughout the body of the jersey but does not affect the displayability of this relic. This jersey is properly tagged, was presented to us as game-used and in our opinion excellent use. Accompanied by a Burns Family LOA and a Photo-Match.com LOA grading the jersey a 9+.