This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 1/23/2020.
Cal Ripken Jr. is considered one of the best shortstops and third basemen to ever play the game. During his 21 year career with the Baltimore Orioles, Ripken pioneered the way for taller, larger shortstops to be successful in that position. A two-time MVP, 19-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year winner, Ripken Jr. was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 on the first ballot. The Orioles were planning to keep Ripken in the minor leagues through 1981, but with the need to improve in the second half of the 1981 season, they called him up on August 7. Ripken played just 23 games in his debut season. Offered here is a rare true rookie example from Ripken’s career. Ripken did not play a MLB game on the road until August 19th, when he pinch hit and recorded his first hit on the road as an Oriole. This likely is the jersey he wore that day. Inside the rear collar is the Wilson manufacturers tag size “44” with washing instructions. On the front left tail is a strip tag reading “80 1” embroidered in chain stitching. Across the chest reads “Orioles” in script style writing. Adjacent below and on the back is the player number “8”. Across the back on a grey nameplate is the player name “RIPKEN”. All numbering and lettering is done in orange on black tackle twill. Ripken signed the front left tail of the jersey in black marker and has been graded by PSA/DNA a 9. This jersey was originally issued to Dave Skaggs in 1980. Skaggs’ contract was purchased by the California Angels on May 13, 1980 and he left the team. The team replaced the original Skaggs plate with Ripken. Early photos show Ripken on the field in 1981 wearing a carried-over jersey from the prior season, which differs from Rawlings jerseys supplied by the club that year. With Ripken being a late season call-up on August 7th, he was not a part of the team's original ordered set of jerseys. This jersey was re-issued to Ripken and in our opinion is the first road major league jersey of his historic Hall of Fame career. This jersey is properly tagged, was presented to us as game-used and in our opinion shows excellent use. Accompanied by a Full LOA from PSA/DNA.