This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/26/2015
Let's face it. Yogi Berra stuff is de facto cool, but Yogi Berra stuff with additional mischief from his childhood pal and television personality Joe Garagiola is simply off the charts. Yogi Berra was the heart and soul of the Yankees juggernaut that won 10 World Championships in a 16-year span. On a team with such superstars as Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford, it was Berra who won three MVP Awards during the decade of the 1950's as the Yankees' dynasty rolled. The perennial All-Star was also among the most popular players of his day and many of his hysterical "Yogi-isms" have worked their way into our National lexicon, with little concern about attribution being from Yogi or some nimble sportswriter. One one of the people who helped to craft his joyous off-the-field persona was his childhood friend, Joe Garagiola, given to the occasional bit of hyperbole himself. This is a spectacular McAuliffe undershirt from the 1950's was given to Garagiola by Yogi, which we know by virtue of a Garagiola inscription beneath Yogi's blue Sharpie autograph that reads: "This is the first thing Yogi has given me since 1946!" and it is also signed by the loquacious former backstop in blue Sharpie. The undershirt has a natural color body and navy blue sleeves. Most period photos of Berra will show him sporting this type of undershirt beneath his Yankees jersey. Yogi has trimmed the sleeves short for freedom of movement and comfort under the broiling summer sun. Size 46-48 is listed on the McAuliffe label which has retained its three original buttons. "Berra" is hand written on the outside of the back in black marker along with his No. 8 and "Yogi" and "8" are also handwritten on the front left breast, with all of the handwritten elements faded to varying degrees. The shirt shows good game use but is in remarkably good condition betrayed only by couple of holes near the armpit - typically these undershirts were worn until they fell apart. Simply a wonderful, vaguely offbeat collectible from one, dare we say two, of the most beloved figures in the game.
Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.