In 1971 the San Francisco Giants made their return to the post season for the first time since 1962 edging out the Dodgers by a single game. Their success as team was due in no small measure by the performance of Bobby Bonds. Bonds would hit 33 homers and drive in 102 runs, along with capturing his first of three Gold Gloves that season and a 4th place finish in the voting for National League Most Valuable Player. Offered for your consideration is a uniform that can be tied to that 1971 post season and subsequent use in early 1972 until such a time as flannel gave way to knit in Candlestick Park. Stellar condition reflected in the grade of A9 and supporting information provided by hobby/industry icon Mr. Dick Dobbins. An absolute must for any serious Giants collector.
Subject: 1972 Bobby Bonds San Francisco Giants Home Uniform (1971 Post Season)
Size: The jersey is tagged as a size 42 and this is the true size of the jersey. This was confirmed by measuring the chest as well as comparing the jersey to on hand period Wilson jerseys in sizes of 40, 42, and 44 (one of which was a 1971 Giants home Wilson product in size 42). Period sizing data on Bonds from the 1972 San Francisco Giants Yearbook shows him listed at 6’ 1”, 198lbs. This jersey as function of size is also consistent with other period Bonds uniforms in the MEARS data base:
-1969, Home, McAuliffe, Size 42
-1972, Road, Wilson; Size 42
As such I would consider this to be an appropriated sized uniform for Bonds at this point in his career.
Manufacturer: The jersey is identified as a Wilson product by the manufacturer's label (c 1967-1973) in the lower left outside front tail. Wilson is known and confirmed supplier of home uniforms to the Giants during this period (along with McAuliffe). (PLATE I)
Construction: The jersey is constructed of professional grade flannel fabric as assessed by the weave and fabric quality as seen under a digital microscope. The jersey features Raglan style sleeves that are cut to a 3 ¼” upper bicep length and this appears appropriate when viewed against period images of Bobby Bonds. Although Raglan sleeves are not the norm for Giants home products from this period, images from spring training 1972 do confirm their use/presence on Giants home Wilson products. The jersey also features atypical supplemental tagging in the form of “72” as opposed to full year identification as well as the lack of a player name sewn on a swatch and affixed to the rear collar of the jersey. These anomalies appear to be explained in a letter written by Mr. Dick Dobbins on 7 December 1994. In this letter, Mr. Dobbins accounts for these by way of information provided by the Giants equipment manager in that these uniforms were ordered for the 1971 post season. There is corroborating contemporary and recent precedent for this as well as the Cincinnati Reds took possession of their 1971 Wilson provided road uniforms for use and wear in the 1970 World Series.
Period images also confirm the appropriateness of the alpha-numeric fonts found on both the front and back of the jersey. (PLATES II-VI)
Use/Wear/Condition: The jersey is in original unaltered condition and shows signs of light to moderate use in for form of wash wear and surface wear to the lettering and numbering. 5 of the 7 buttons are assessed as being original and all remain firmly affixed the garment. The pants show similar use, but do include two vintage repairs (one to the left rear seat area and one to the lower left knee area). The repair in the left knee is quite noticeable even from a distance. The elastic bands in the pants cuffs remain unbroken and very pliable. The orange and black soutache on both the jersey and the pants is assessed as being original and remains firmly affixed. The only area of soutahce that features fraying is a 2” section in proximity to the repair in the left knee. The only writing on this uniform is found in the pants and they include the hand written # “25” written in proximity to the Wilson manufacturers label as well as the name “Maddox” which is recorded in the same style of vintage laundry marker on the inside pant pockets.
Provenance: This jersey appears to have been last offered publicly in the hobby by way of the Lelands November 2009 Auction as lot # 78. In addition, the uniform is accompanied by a LOA from Mr. Dick Dobbins dated 7 December 1994 (San Francisco Giants Memorabilia Letterhead)
Opinion: In my opinion this jersey possesses all the characteristics you would expect to see in jersey manufactured in 1971 by Wilson for use and wear by Bobby Bonds in the 1971 post season and subsequent use in the 1972 season. It is all original (except two replaced buttons) and free of any alterations or evidence of contrived use or wear. I have no reason to question the opinion offered by Mr. Dick Dobbins, and although the issue of sleeve style was not addressed in his 1994 letter, they do appear to be consistent with images from spring training in 1972. This would also be consistent with uniforms ordered late in 1971 and used again briefly in the 1972 season. All of this is also consistent with the use and wear found on the uniform.
The MEARS worksheet and grading criteria provides for 5 categories for which points may deducted. I found this reason to deduct points for the jersey:
Category 1: -1 (2x.5 for replaced buttons)
Final Grade for jersey bearing hologram #311900 is A9
Pants are not graded and only deemed as being authentic.
Dave Grob
MEARS
PLATES I-VI
LOA Mr. Dick Dobbins (7 December, 1994)