This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/24/2014
Ray Schalk was a professional baseball player, coach, manager and scout during the early 20th century who played catcher for the Chicago White Sox for the majority of his career. In fact, he played backstop for the ChiSox in 1,755 games spanning 17 seasons from 1912 to 1928. A terrific catcher, he led all American League catchers in fielding percentage eight different times and caught four no-hitters. This is Schalk’s catcher’s mitt from the 1920’s. Made of dark brown leather, it’s heavily padded and well-constructed with slight separation near the thumb area. A soft glove, it sports a strap and buckle closure across the back. The manufacturer’s label, which was at one time was stitched to the thumb area, is now completely gone.
Includes a Letter of Provenance from the Helms Athletic Foundation/LA84 Collection.