Tom Tresh was a journeyman player who platooned between the infield and the outfield for the New York Yankees in the early ‘60s. The 1962 season began with Tresh playing shortstop. However, when Tony Kubek returned from active duty in the Army Reserves, Tresh was moved to left field to become one-third of the Yankees outfield corps alongside Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. It was going to be a challenge for Tresh, who hadn’t played the outfield since high school, but one he was excited about taking on. His locker was situated right next to Mantle’s in the Yankee locker room and one day, as he grabbed his glove to head out for outfield practice, Mantle noticed his small mitt. Remembers Tresh: “Mickey reached into his locker, took out his alternate glove off the shelf and tossed it to me. ‘You can’t play outfield with that little glove,’ he said. ‘Here take this one.’ What a thrill. How could I miss? I was destined to become a good outfielder because I had ‘Sure Catch Jr.’”
This lot includes the Rawlings glove that Mantle gave to Tresh that day. The XPG-6H professional model outfielders glove, circa 1962/63, displays evidence of extremely heavy use. The glove is discolored from exposure to rain. Additional lacing has been added to the thumb and bottom of the fingers in the palm. The wrist strap has been restored and a 1960’s Rawlings label has replaced the original. The web appears to be original. The glove is constructed of Rawlings “Heart of the Hide” leather bound with rawhide laces. The glove features a pro style H-web, double laced palm hinge and a conventional back. To the left of the Rawlings label on the wrist strap is Tresh’s number (“15”) and to the right “Tresh 15.” Both notations are in black marker. Included with this lot is a letter from Tresh that accompanies the glove. He also states that with this glove he won the 1965 Gold Glove Award which indicates that the glove was used for at least three seasons.
A photograph of Tresh and Mantle presented here shows the pair together posing with identical model Rawlings gloves. While the gloves in the photo are "spiral web" models as oppsed to the "H-web" model offered here, it does show a commonality in their choice of leather. A late 1960's Tom Tresh Rawlings advertising premium (not included, but show here) shows Tresh wearing a Rawlings H-web model similar to the offered glove.
Includes Full LOA from John Taube/Denny Eskin of PSA/DNA.