This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/26/2015
Steve Bilko was a home run-hitting first baseman of the 1950s and early 1960s, who enjoyed his greatest fame with the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League from 1955–1957. His greatest year came in 1956, when he won the PCL's Triple Crown with a .360 batting average, 55 home runs and 164 RBI. He was inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame in 2003. He wore this sensational gamer in his final season with the Cardinals. As a one-year style for this jersey, the importance is heightened for serious collectors. The gray zipper-front jersey is lettered "Cardinals" across the front in red embroidery, with the team's logo (a bat with a cardinal on each end) embroidered above. The No. 5 appears on the reverse in red on navy felt. Both a "Rawlings Hall of Fame Flannel" label and Size 48 tag appear in the collar. "S. Bilko" is chain-stitched in red on the left front tail. Located on the right interior front tail are a wash tag and an adjacent flag tag reading "Set 1 1954." The jersey is completely original, with no alterations, and displays moderate wear throughout.