This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2015.
This New York Yankees style jersey was worn by Max Patkin, former Minor League baseball player turned clown. Patkin’s career as a baseball clown began while pitching on a Navy team in Hawaii during World War II. Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio hit the ball out of sight and on a whim, Patkin began mimicking his trot around the base paths. The fans loved the act and his title of “Clown Prince of Baseball” was just beginning. Patkin would flourish in front of minor league crowds with all of his skits including his signature routine of taking long drinks of water and spewing a geyser. It was estimated that Patkin made more than 4,000 appearances and from 1944 to 1993 did not miss one. Another Patkin uniform exemplar resides in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. On the inner rear collar is the “MAPLE” manufacturer’s tag. On the left chest is the Yankees interlocking “NY” logo. Across the back is a large “?”. Both are done in the same navy blue tackle twill. The two buttons and zipper are fully functioning. The jersey is properly tagged, was presented to us as worn and in our opinion shows wear.