Superb 1988 Red Sox road offering from one of the newest members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The jersey features the first year/transitional Rawlings tagging which is appropriate for the manufacturer and year in question. It is from Rice’s last full season as a player (135 games in 1988 vs only 56 games in his final season of 1989) so it is not a uniform he simply sat around in as his playing days closed.
The jersey features a custom “T” tag for tapered as it relates to supplemental tagging and we see this as a plus to this otherwise graded A5 offering. While other period Rawlings products offered through Score Board also featured similar supplemental tagging, Rice is not known to one of those players offered. All lettering and numerals on this Hall of Fame offering are original and the use and wear to both the body of the jersey as well as the applied lettering and numbering is even and consistent. If this jersey was not already autographed on the back, you might consider having Rice sign it Hall of Fame 2009.
Consigned from the collection of a MEARS Staff member. Estimate $2500-$3000