This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/1/2002.
Ten-time All-Star Eddie Mathews was undoubtedly the premier third baseman of his time. Mathews pieced together an exceptional career from the start, hitting .302 with a league-leading 47 home runs and 135 RBI in 1953, his second season. Opponents marveled at his bat speed and powerful stroke. "He swings the bat faster than anyone I ever saw," commented Carl Erskine. "You think you've got a called strike past him and he hits it out of the catcher's glove." Even Ty Cobb, always reluctant to praise modern ballplayers, acknowledged that Mathews had one of the three or four swings he would describe as "perfect." Consistently ranking among baseball's top sluggers, Mathews hit 30 or more homers on ten occasions and at least 40 in four of those seasons. He combined with Hank Aaron to form perhaps the most prolific one-two punch of all time. Their total of 863 home runs together ranks ahead of Mays-McCovey (800) and Ruth-Gehrig (772). Mathews hit 512 home runs in 17 seasons, contributing to his Hall of Fame induction in 1978.
Included in this lot is an Eddie Mathews Milwaukee Braves road jersey from 1962, when Mathews hit 29 home runs and drove in 90 runs. In the neck of the zipper-front jersey is a beige felt patch with "Mathews Set 1-1962" sewn on in black chain stitch. On the left front tail is the "Wilson" manufacturer's tag with the size "44." On the left sleeve is the "Indian Head" patch and on the right breast is a black Sharpie autograph that rates a 9. The team name "Braves" is sewn onto the front of the jersey in red on black felt and below it is the black, red, and yellow embroidered felt "Tomahawk" patch. The player number "41" appears on the left breast and the back of the jersey in red on black felt, and red and black embroidery lines the zipper, neck, and sleeves. The tagging and stitching are consistent with tagging and stitching we have seen on other Milwaukee Braves road jerseys from the early 1960's. The jersey shows game use with nice, even wear, including evidence of sweat around the neck. It appears to have no alterations of any kind and the autograph comes with a letter from PSA/DNA.