Very popular and attractive style worn in the Nation’s Capital by the expansion Washington Senators from 1963-1967.
Player Attribution and Dating: The jersey is attributed to Willie Kirkland by the combination of the number “6” on the back of the jersey and the remnants of the MacGregor year tag and supplemental year/set identification tags. While the number “6” on the back of the jersey is well worn, it appears to be original to the jersey with no indications that another number was ever present or that this one has been restored. Both the c 1961-1966 MacGregor tag in the collar (sewn only through the first fold of the material in the collar) and the supplemental year/set tagging in the tail are torn and well worn. However, when seen in comparison to period on hand examples, the information contained on them becomes discernable and of use in the evaluation, dating, and player attribution. The jersey is tagged as and measures to be a size 44. Willie Kirkland is listed in the 1966 Street & Smith Yearbook as being 6’, 1”, 210 lbs. As such I would expect to find his jerseys in the size 44-46 range. (PLATE I)
Construction: The jersey is constructed of professional grade 4oz flannel; sleeve cut is Set-In which also appears to be team/period appropriate. Sleeve length appears appropriate as well when compared to period images of Kirkland with the Senators at this time. The lettering and numbering are done in red over blue twill fabric, affixed with a zig-zag stitching pattern. This along with the MacGregor style two-hole, opaque convex buttons are consistent with on hand exemplars and period images as well (PLATE II)
Use and Wear: The jersey features signs of heavy or excessive use and wear, most evident on by the condition of the twill lettering and numbering. This includes discoloration, fabric tears, and tears/separation of the anchor stitching, more prevalent on the rear numeral “6” than to the “SENATORS” across the front. The fourth button from the top is missing material from the outer portion of roughly half of the button, but remains firmly attached. There is minimal spot staining/soiling to the jersey, although these do not detract from the display appeal of the jersey in any appreciable manner.
Opinion: The jersey possess all of the characteristics that I would expect to find in a MacGregor jersey provided to the Washington Senators for use and wear by Willie Kirkland in 1966 and appears to be free of any changes or alterations. The MEARS grading criteria for pre-1988 jerseys begins with a base grade of 10 and five categories for deductions. I found these reasons to deduct points from this jersey:
Category 1: -.5. Chipped Button
Category 5: -4. Excessive Use is Evident
While Category 5 includes specific deductions for holes and tears to the fabric as well as broken anchor stitching, no separate and additional deductions were made for them since these are in fact the physical characteristics that manifest themselves in excessive use and wear. To deduct points for the condition would be tantamount to deducting points for the same thing twice. The maximum deduction left to the evaluator’s discretion is 5 points. Category 2 deductions with respect to tagging are for those cases when the tagging is completely missing. In the case the tagging, while well worn, is present and discernable with respect to its material effect on the dating and evaluation of the jersey. This too is factored into the overall excessive use grading metric for this jersey.
As such, the final grade for this 1966 Willie Kirkland Washington Senators Home Jersey with Cert #311410 is A 5.5.
Dave Grob
MEARS
Enclosures: PLATES I-II