This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/20/2011
A franchise fixture in both the Nation's Capital and the Twin Cities, Harmon Killebrew headlined an offensive-minded juggernaut as perhaps the most feared right-handed slugger of all-time. Here offered is a monumentally important autographed Minnesota Twins home uniform, worn by the Idaho-born Hall of Famer during the 1971 campaign. In his 18th major league season, Killebrew’s punishment of opposing hurlers was relentless as he approached one of baseball’s most hallowed milestones. Finally, on August 10, 1971 Harmon Killebrew blasted the 500th and 501st home runs of his career in an extra inning losing effort versus the Orioles at Metropolitan Stadium. Killebrew became the tenth man to reach the milestone and did it during the first inning off Mike Cuellar. His second shot tied the game during the sixth inning, but the Twins' bullpen was unable to preserve the victory during the extra innings. Comprehensive photographic evidence indicates that this is the very uniform worn by Killebrew during that historic game.
The offered white pinstriped flannel ensemble includes his jersey and matching pants, manufactured by Wilson. Both garments are similarly tagged with a chain stitched strip tag in the jersey collar “71-44-Set 2” and in the waistband of the pants “71-3-P 65-23” Set 3”. Every element of the uniform is original and unaltered including the Twins logo patch sewn onto the left sleeve of the jersey. Both pieces show game wear, with the only notable condition fault being a 1” by 2” L-shaped tear on the seat of the pants that has been repaired. Killebrew has signed the jersey’s front tail with his added notation “1971”. The uniform's attribution to Killebrew’s 500th Home Run game is supported by numerous "photo matches". Every pinstriped flannel garment of this era is as unique as a thumbprint due to the variance of the pinstripe patterns each uniform featured. The alignment of the pinstripes on this jersey (most readily apparent at the seams of the shoulders, and relative to the lettering on front and number on back) provide exact matches to several photos of Killebrew’s historic at-bat on August 10, 1971. Giving the quality of this uniform and the visual verity of it being worn to hit his 500th and 501st career home runs, this is undoubtedly one of the finest baseball garments of its era.
Pre-certified by PSA/DNA. (auto.).