This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/4/2015
At 36 years old, Willie Mays still roamed centerfield at Candlestick Park with the same authority that made all batsmen fear him. He patrolled the portion of the ball park where many optimistic hits went to die as simple outs. Appearing in 141 games, his fielding average soared above .900 at .976, near perfect. Still possessing a rifle arm, he totaled 278 putouts. His trusty glove still saw much action during the 1967 season and he was elected to the All Star Team and won another Gold Glove award for his play in the outfield.
Supplied by the MacGregor company, available company catalogs document the fact that the Willie Mays GC12 personal model was produced from 1964-1972. Selling at $33.00, it was top end for player endorsed models, with only the un-endorsed Kangaroo hide selling for more. Unlike professional model bats and team supplied game worn jerseys; players did indeed use the top of the line catalog model gloves. This is documented throughout the career of Willie Mays. Examples have entered the hobby with some customizations, and many are the same model as offered to the public, identical in every detail, this gloves is consistent with the latter.
Documentation for the fact of Mays wearing this exact model glove is supported by another example that has entered the hobby. An East Coast auction house sold an identical model GC12 Willie Mays MacGregor glove with matching manufacturer’s wrist strap and pocket webbing. The markings and wear were also examined and confirmed by an additional noted glove expert.
When the glove originally entered the hobby, portions of the original description described it as follows:
“Presented is an extraordinary Willie Mays game-used glove worn by the legendary Hall of Famer during the 1967 season, signed, notated "My Gamer" and dated by Mays, and accompanied by a detailed letter of authenticity regarding the glove, personally written by Willie Mays.
This MacGregor "GC12" model glove exhibits considerable game use, indicating this was a favorite. The leather is soft and supple with substantial wear throughout the pocket, webbing, and the wrist strap's "MacGregor" label.
The manufacturer's stampings in the pocket read "Willie Mays Personal Model," surrounded by a few other stampings: "Natural Ball Pocket," Handlasted" and Flex-Pad."
The reverse of the pinkie is signed "My Gamer - Willie Mays - 1967" in black vintage marker. The signature grades a "7/8" and the notation has a slight bleed into the leather. The glove is accompanied with a signed typewritten letter from Willie Mays on San Francisco Giants stationery. The letter reads in full: "To Whom It May Concern: I have personally inspected this San Francisco Giants glove and deem it to be authentic as worn by me. This game worn glove has all of the characteristics as preferred by me. The glove was manufactured by MacGregor and Made in the USA. It is a model GC12. The glove shows much use from being used by me in many professional games. I have signed it My Gamer, Willie Mays, 1967. This is a very special game worn glove and worthy of any first class baseball collection. Sincerely, [signed in blue felt-tip pen] Willie Mays ("8")." The autograph has been authenticated by the expert staff of JSA and an accompanying letter is included with this lot.
The glove was originally sold and noted that this model was only available to Willie Mays. That statement is not accurate, as it is now confirmed the model, webbing, and wrist patch are consistent with the top of the line MacGregor offerings available via their catalogs. What is documented is that an identical glove, bearing the same manufacturers markings with player traits and provenance surface on the east coast and was identical to this offered glove, supporting the accompanying documentation as provided by Willie Mays as having been worn by him during the 1967 season.
Conclusion: When examining the actual glove for manufacturer, model, wear, provenance, and comparison to other examples that have entered the hobby, this glove is consistent with what you would expect to have been used by Willie Mays during the 1967 season and comparable to other examples that have been found in the hobby.
Grade: Authentic.
(73A0215)
LOA Troy Kinunen / MEARS
(JSA Auction Letter)