This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2011
Ron LeFlore's career can safely be field under the category "Oh what might have been." The man who was discovered in a prison of all places by Billy Martin helped the Expos to within a single game of first place in 1980.
When LeFlore was stealing his 97 bases, which paced the Senior Circuit, he did so in this jersey in 1980. Moderate staining appears on the button-up knit garment. An Expos team emblem is proudly displayed on the left breast while the numbers and NOB are crafted in single-color red tackle twill.
Blue and red ribbed material flows down the sleeves and sides for a little aesthetic flavor. Sewn in the collar is a Rawlings size "44" The Mark of a Pro manufacturer's tag. Rawlings was confirmed via the MEARS database as a supplier of 1980 Expos jerseys. Compared example included 1980 Larry Parrish Road Jersey.
Concealed in the inner side is a "Set 2 1980" flag tag. The tag is sewn alone, and again verfied as correct via the above referenced 1980 Larry Parrish Road Jersey.
LeFlore is sewn directly onto the reverse of the jersey, again consistent with known examples.
Also for the sake of comparison, this example was compared to the 1979 Ramos Expos Road jersey, which is part of the MEARS museum collection. We were able to conduct a side by side comparison which allowed us to examine body shell material, tagging, name application, and manufacturing/tagging. The jersey compared quite favorably.
Jersey exhibits heavy overall game wear, with light toning/dirt abbrasions in the area of the upper right shoulder area.
Overall, a eye grabbing powder blue top from one of baseball's most tantalizing base stealers.
i0435
(MEARS LOA)