This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/2/2014
Size: The tagged size of the jersey is a size 44 and this is the true size of the garment. This was compared with period on hand period Spalding products in sizes 42, 44, and 46 (Reds, Dodgers, and Giants). The 1940 Edition of Who’s Who in Baseball lists Rosenthal at 6’, 180lbs and as such I would consider this to be an appropriate sized jersey for him at this point in his career.
Dating the Jersey: The jersey is without any sort of annotated year identification. My evaluation revealed no signs or trace evidence that one was ever present. If present and as a Spalding product, I would have expected to have this chain stitched into the tail of the garment. The style manufacturers tag, with emphasis on the size tags suggests 1940 as opposed to the 1941. I use these two years since the general style is common to both 1940 and 1941. The 1939 White Sox offerings, while the same style, featured the 1939 Centennial Patch and there are no signs of this patch ever being applied. 1942 can be excluded as that was a one year style that featured “White Sox” in script across the front. Other years with the broad soutache and large SOX logo (1942-1945) can also be excluded since those years featured the Stars and Stripes patch (also no signs this was ever present). (PLATES I-II)
Use and Wear: The jersey shows signs of heavy use and the garment is well toned with moderate to heavy soiling and staining. While the jersey does feature an original period Talon brand zipper, the bottom of the non-tong track has pulled free from the lower portion of anchor stitching and the bottom few teeth, to include the metal lead is missing; as such the zipper is non-functional. All lettering and numbering is assessed as being original and surface wear to the wool blend athletic felt is commensurate with the overall condition of the rest of the jersey. The broad bands of soutahce along the placket and sleeve
ends remains fully affixed and free of fraying.
Opinion: In my opinion this jersey possesses all the characteristics you would expect to see in a uniform supplied by Spalding c1940 for home use and wear by John Rosenthal. It is assessed as being all original, without any apparent signs of alteration or contrived use and wear. At the time of my evaluation, there was no writing or autograph on the jersey.
The MEARS worksheet and grading criteria provides for 5 categories for which points may deducted, I found these reasons to deduct points:
Category I: -1 for non-functional zipper.
Category V: -3 for toning/soiling/staining.
No points are deducted for the lack of a year tag as the garment shows no signs or trace evidence one was ever present. Points should not be deducted for something that cannot be objectively shown to have ever been present. Same is said for the lack of player name for if ever present, I would have expected to have found it chain stitched into the garment
As such, the final grade for this jersey bearing hologram #313395 is A6.
Dave Grob
MEARS
PLATES I-II (60N0158)