Jay Johnstone played for eight teams during his 20-year MLB career, used primarily as a utility outfielder. The quintessential journeyman, he is best remembered for being one of the game's biggest clubhouse pranksters. Setting teammates' cleats on fire, nailing their cleats to the floor, cutting out the crotch area of their underpants, dressing up as a groundskeeper and sweeping the infield between innings, these were just some of his wild antics. He once put on manager Tommy Lasorda's uniform (with padding underneath) and ran out to the mound to talk to the pitcher while carrying Lasorda's book and a can of Slim Fast. Johnstone spent parts of the 1978 and '79 seasons with the New York Yankees, winning the first of his two World Series rings.
Presented here is Jay Johnstone’s 1978 New York Yankees World Series Championship 14 karat gold ring in a size 10 3/4. It features a large 3/4 carat diamond atop a blue sapphire stone surrounded by 21 smaller individually cut diamonds and the proclamation "WORLD CHAMPIONS". The "Yankees" team name, the facade of Yankee Stadium, and a World Series Trophy rendering with "New York Yankees 1978 World Champions" appears on one side. "JOHNSTONE", "1978", a large "NY", his jersey number "27", "PRIDE" and "TRADITION" appear on the other. The inside band is stamped "LGB 14K" to denote the maker, Balfour, along with "GREATEST COME BACK IN HISTORY". The Yankees were 14 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in July when they stormed back to finish the regular season dead even with their hated rivals. In a one-game playoff at Fenway for the American League East division, the Yankees' light-hitting shortstop Bucky Dent hit a rare 3-run homer that sealed Boston's fate. The ring does show moderate to heavy wear, but has no damage and retains its regal appearance.