This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2016
The year 1923 was a monumental one for the New York Yankees. They started their season on April 18 with the opening of the original Yankee Stadium. Fittingly, prolific slugger Babe Ruth would hit a home run that day to help the Yankees post a 4-1 decision over the arch-rival Boston Red Sox in the ballpark that would later be called “The House That Ruth Built.” The Yankees went 98-54 during the regular season to win their third straight American League pennant by 16 games over the runner-up Detroit Tigers. But this was also the season in which the Yankees would avenge consecutive losses to the National League Champion New York Giants in the World Series and claim their very first Fall Classic. Managed by Miller Huggins, the Bronx Bombers proceeded to outscore the Giants, 30-15, over six games to win their first championship.
Ruth ignited the offensive fireworks for the team that season with a league-leading 41 round-trippers, 130 runs batted in and 150 runs scored. On the mound, the Yankees were led by five different pitchers who recorded victories in double digits including Sam Jones (21), Herb Pennock and Joe Bush (19 apiece), Waite “Schoolboy” Hoyt (17) and James Robert “Bob” Shawkey (16). This lot features Hoyt’s 1923 New York Yankees World Championship gold presentation fob. The small gold ball is designed to look just like a baseball complete with stitch indentations and the team name – “YANKEES” – spelled out across the sweet spot in blue enameled letters. On the north and south panels of the gold baseball it reads “WORLD’S” and “CHAMPIONS,” respectively. On the opposite side, it reads “WCH” (representing Hoyt’s initials) in elongated blue enameled lettering that splits in half the season in question: “19” and “23.” The original clasp remains although it is detached from the gold presentation fob. Hoyt was eventually elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 by the Veteran’s Committee. Truly a coveted keepsake from the first World Series championship ever recorded by baseball’s most successful franchise in history.
Includes LOA from Waite Hoyt's son.