This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/18/2014
Before he joined in a parade of fireworks and improbable heroics in the 1960 World Series, Hal r. Smith donned this swell Baltimore Orioles game-worn home uniform during the 1956 season. A 10-year major league veteran, 1956 was Smith's second season in the Bigs, a year in which he hit three home runs and knocked in 18. Through the course of his career, he would sock 57 more dingers in the regular season, all very handsome indeed, but nothing compared to his three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning off Jim Coates that pushed the Pirates ahead 9-7 (the Yankees would tie things up with two more runs in the top of the ninth) in one of the wild and wackiest Fall Classics ever. A certain Mr. Mazeroski then provided the rest of the heroics in the bottom half of the ninth.
This attractive flannel, zippered home garment boasts the famed “Orioles” angled script across the chest in orange-on-black felt.
The Orioles' famed bird chenille mascot patch appears on the left sleeve, in nice condition but with about 1 1/2 inches of the orange embroidery on the patch having separated from the black chenille. Smith's No. 22 appears on the back in orange-on-black felt; the shirt shows some staining front and back but nothing that dramatically detracts from the presentation. A Wilson Size “44” label appears on the left front, directly above a washing instructions tag and a felt strip tag with a stitched notation of “Smith 56.” There are six holes (as tailored) under each arm to facilitate ventilation. The all-original shirt shows good game use but is essentially problem free; the zipper on the front of the garment is intact and in working order. The Size 34 pants are likewise in fine condition, with Wilson tag near the inside front and wash tag at the back inside directly below a felt tag with "Held 56" in black stitching, presumably a reference to Mel Held, a pitcher who had a four-game cup of coffee with the Orioles early in the 1956 campaign. There is some other handwritten markings around the waistband and the expected bit of staining inside, but the pants are essentially problem free, as are the black, white and orange wool socks, save only for a couple of small holes. Truly an important artifact from a player who boasts a unique place in World Series legend.