This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/1/2011.
This ring comes to us directly from the family of Al Campanis. Campanis played briefly in the majors and later worked as a Dodgers executive assembling teams that won four National League pennants and the 1981 World Series. The 1981 season is remembered best for the highly-criticized split-season format enacted by Major League Baseball in response to the 10-week players’ strike and subsequently shortened season. The first round of the playoffs saw the Dodgers, NL West champions of the first half of the season, face off against the Houston Astros, NL West champions of the second half, in the newly implemented Division Series. The Dodgers would defeat Houston then Montreal in the NLCS, winning both series in five games. The 1981 Fall Classic matched Los Angeles against the New York Yankees. After dropping the first two games in New York, the Dodgers would travel home and win three consecutive games, each by a one-run margin, to take the lead in the series. In Game 6, the Dodgers shelled the Yankees bullpen on their way to a 9-2 victory, giving the franchise their fifth World Championship. This size 13.5, 10k gold ring weighs 26 grams and was presented to Al Campanis after the Dodgers won the 1981 World Series. The top panel reads “LOS ANGELES DODGERS WORLD CHAMPIONS” and features a blue synthetic stone with a .40-carat round-cut diamond. The right panel reads “1981” above a casted image of the World Series Trophy. The base of the trophy is engraved and reads, “LOS ANGELES DODGERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY OCTOBER 28, 1981”. The left panel reads “CAMPANIS” in relief above the Dodgers’ ascending ball script logo as well as the interlocking “LA” logo. The inside of the ring is stamped “BALFOUR 10K”. The ring is in EX condition with wear from regular use. The ring is accompanied by a LOA from Al’s son, former major leaguer Jimmy Campanis stating, “The ‘81 World Series ring was the original Al Campanis ring and I’m transferring legal ownership to winning bidder”.